Can you close a beach? Totland no longer suitable for landing?

Well rather than being overly pessimistic and whining on the interweb I 'phoned the lady responsible at Totland Parish Council. She's very friendly, and agreed that an inflatable being rowed is less of a threat than a paddleboard, and that I wouldn't immediately be machine gunned if I took one in to the swimming area. She did point out though that there's much more beach available outside her zone than there is inside it.
I’m probably missing something obvious but why is a tender being rowed less of a threat to swimmers than a paddle board? .… if anything the paddle boarder is standing up so has a better view of things.
 
And what jurisdiction does the council have off a beach? How far does their 'authority' extend?
"local authorities have the power to create byelaws on a range of connected topics,
including under:
(a) section 231(1) Public Health Act 1936 which provides the power to create byelaws which:
(i) require persons providing accommodation for bathing to provide and maintain PRE;
(ii) regulate the areas in which, and the hours during which, public bathing shall be
permitted; and
(iii) regulate, for preventing danger to bathers, the navigation of vessels used for
pleasure purposes within any area allotted for public bathing during the hours
allowed for bathing; "

See full text at:
https://assets.publishing.service.g...the_legal_responsibility_for_beach_safety.pdf
 
Bear in mind:
(i) The IoW Council is skint.
(ii) It is trying to do the right thing by everyone - this will take a little time.
(iii) Even for those requiring 2-3m at LAT, the beach is sub-250m away.
(iv) There is a paddleboard rental place, "SupDog", on the south end of the beach so you won't be alone.

Re the saftey issue, only a few weeks ago I was anchored in Colwell Bay and I saw a number of jetskis anchored in groups about 10m from the shore, making a big display of zooming along the beach on departure. There were also kids using those inboard powered tenders flying around the swimming areas. It was an accident waiting to happen.

Obvious Solution: paddle ashore -- going over the safety ropes if you absolutely have to -- your paddleboard, tender, kayak, or giant pink inflatable water melon .

Basically, live and let live!
:)
Tell that to the people in Facebook complaining to the council about tenders getting inside the safety zone to land part of the reason this thread was started.
 
Tell that to the people in Facebook complaining to the council about tenders getting inside the safety zone to land part of the reason this thread was started.


Remember, Facebook folk don’t make the rules.

No engines or fast moving vessels is the point here, one which the IoW Council seems to accept.

I‘m not convinced there’s a problem here at all.
 
I don't think it's legal to close off a foreshore like this. It's crown estate, not council property.
I too am sceptical about that.
I suspect it all hinges on the word "regulate" which means management/organisation rather than ban/prevent.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if the council was outside it's jurisdiction by closing off a foreshore rather than limiting access but it would doubtless take a big court case to prove it.
Simply banning boats from landing seems excessive zeal to me.
 
Once they've started closing the beaches, they'll close the sea next...


I’m going to visit these beaches this w/e.

Will use an inflatable kayak or paddleboard to land.

Or possibly a pink inflatable pelican!

Will report if there’s any probs and take some pics for the forum.

Edit: My bet is this is a non problem! ?
 
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I’m going to visit these beaches this w/e.

Will use an inflatable kayak or paddleboard to land.

Or possibly a pink inflatable pelican!

Will report if there’s any probs and take some pics for the forum.

Edit: My bet is this is a non problem! ?
1ff4b0a8f006b3617b53316b085ab67e.jpg
 
I’m going to visit these beaches this w/e. ?

We passed Totland Bay on Saturday afternoon about 2.30pm. Lots of Mobos anchored there, but not surprising since it was a bank holiday and everywhere else would have been chocka. Shame about the idiot on the Jet Ski doing loops around the anchored boats.

4 more were sighted speeding around the yachts anchored out by Newtown Creek entrance at 8am on Sunday morning. They had the whole of the Solent to play in, but no altered course across our bow and made a bee line for the yachts anchored in the bay. These weren't young people btw, must have taken some years to get beer bellies that size because even the wetsuit didn't pull it in. Another had a receding hairline due to going so fast for an hour. Clearly not a good look.
 
And what jurisdiction does the council have off a beach? How far does their 'authority' extend?

Might mention that the Crown Estates have a site thats accesable on line , with clearly marked out the Areas that our Crown understand are within their juristiction ; thats the Sea /River areas that are ouitside of Council owned forshore rights

Might be well worth investigating !

Each Crown Estates areas have as I understand it a nominated Office /Person to contact in the first instance when enquiring about access , mooring , etc etc

Best of luck
 
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