Question:
Why are camper vans allowed to stay on the beach for months and years on the beach at Cooden both by fishing hits and next to beach huts.
Why are the parties and bonfires not prosecuted.
Why are water ski allowed to be launched under the Rother signs prohibiting launching.
Beach hut owners have seen cars now driving along the beach onto beach hut grounds and car marks are all over grass.
Human excrement has frequently been found outside our beach huts. Signs need to tell people where the loos are.
The recent beach works has created a road along the beach!!!! As a result many cars are parking on the beach. (11/02/2021)
Answer:
Thank you for your feedback regarding the activities on Cooden Beach, many sections of which is in private ownership, and we share your concerns on many of the points you raise. I will address each of your questions in turn:-
Why are camper vans allowed to stay on the beach for months and years on the beach at Cooden both by fishing hits and next to beach huts. Legal action is being taken but due to Covid there are backlogs in the Courts, which is delaying enforcement action.
Why are the parties and bonfires not prosecuted. They may have permission for parties etc. from the individual beach owners; beach ‘events’ are investigated by officers according to individual circumstances to see if action can be taken e.g. breach of COVID 19 regulations or noise pollution.
Why are water ski allowed to be launched under the Rother signs prohibiting launching. It is necessary to catch someone in the act of launching a jet ski by enforcement officers in order for meaningful enforcement action to be taken. It is not always possible for officers to be on site at the time of launching. Coastal officers patrol the area when sea conditions are likely to encourage jet skis and will speak with people who may be likely to launch a jet ski to discourage them from doing so.
Beach hut owners have seen cars now driving along the beach onto beach hut grounds and car marks are all over grass. I am sorry to hear this. Now that civil parking has been introduced to Bexhill, this summer will see an increased presence of East Sussex County Council car parking enforcement officers in the area. This may deter people both from parking on the roads illegally, but they will not be able to prosecute people for driving on the beach. Like other unsociable behaviour, this will need to be reported to the police as it arises. RDC are working closely with the police to reduce undesirable behaviour in the area, particularly for the coming summer season. Due to the narrow width of Herbrand Walk it is not possible to put barriers along the edge of the road to prevent access to the beach.
Human excrement has frequently been found outside our beach huts. I am sorry to hear this. We will investigate installing directional signage to the toilets. (15/02/2021)
