Comments on: DO YOU USE PAGHAM HARBOUR ENTRANCE / BEACH

By: carl

carl — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:22:15 +0000

Not surprising that the local yokels are upset. I found a bit in the local wrag from March 2008 : see Chichester New No Go Zone Bylaws
It looks like the byelaws are a done deal from the report, gauranteed to upset others too (cyclists are not flavour of the month either), and it mentions kitesurfing in the same breath as jetskiing!
It does say that the Reserve is a refuge for wildlife and “PEOPLE”. That suggests that co-existence is possible, - just needs people to be sensible.
Good that the dog owners have to clear up - so long as they dont just place the steaming pile in a bag, and chuck it on the beach!

By: carribean blue

carribean blue — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:28:56 +0000

You guys are not alone, there has been a long history of upsetting the locals, when they just want to enjoy themselves. Some seem to be fighting back now!

There is a rather long report (in Sidlesham Parish Council minutes), but it makes very interesting reading, and it is a potted history of how the bird spotters have tried to rule the roost (pun deliberately intended!)

Sidlesham.org Sidlesham Parish Council

I am an old git with a boat, I know the coast from Littlehampton to Portsmouth, fairly well. There are very few restrictions, when it comes to the use of the sea, long may it remain so, it is one of our last few freedoms.

By: Airhead

Airhead — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:10:48 +0000

I seems that interested parties are progressing with the problems at Pagham and the surrounding area… will post more news as we get it… watch this space.

By: carl

carl — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:33:54 +0000

“Please make sure you understand the rules of this area to avoid loosing the use of Pagham Beach for your sports”
The loss of this site is already underway. Revisions to the byelaws, which include the following prohibitions, are currently being considered by DEFRA:

“(xvi) Within the Harbour or Pagham Lagoon as marked in light and dark blue on the attached map, the following are not permitted: Water skiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing (on land or water)…..”
&
“GENERAL PROHIBITIONS
(xxxi)
Setting up and transportation of kitesurfing equipment any where within the nature reserve boundaries, including the area marked in green on the attached map.”
The green areas are Pagham Spit and Church Norton Spit. The carpark is within the Reserve.

These (and other) revisions were put to DEFRA by West Sussex County Council in March 2008.
The plan to prohibit kitesurfing was explained thus:”For example the increasing popularity of kite surfing is damaging to rare and fragile coastal habitats, interferes with wildlife using the Harbour and is hazardous to other site users (there have been a number of collisions with members of the public on Pagham Spit and Pagham beach). Kite surfers know the Reserve as an especially good location and pressure from this sport can only increase if it is not prohibited through the byelaws”.

DEFRA’s guidelines suggest that consultation with those affected should take place first, & that byelaws should only be considered if a voluntary arrangement has been tried and failed. Objections were invited last March, and these have delayed the process. (It may not be too late to write in, even though the deadline has passed, it could be worth a try)

Check out this link:
WestSussex.gov.uk PDF

It may be worth contacting DEFRA to see if a voluntary code of conduct can be agreed, instead of a byelaw banning kitesurfing altogether.

If you want to take it up with DEFRA then have a look at these guidelines:
DEFRA wildlife pdf - protected-areas byelaw.pdf
See s.20 for DEFRA contact details.

By: Airhead

Airhead — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:32:13 +0000

Things are still heating up over Climping and West Beach… MP’s are called to action over flood risk for Climping homes.

More news at the Littlehampton Gazette

By: Airhead

Airhead — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:26:12 +0000

There is a piece on Pagham and West Beach / Clymping on the front page of this weeks Littlehampton Gazette regarding sea defences which is interesting….

Read about it at the Littlehampton Gazette

By: Airhead

Airhead — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:33:05 +0000

This issue is of major concern, it may also affect West Beach in the near future. West Beach is near Clymping and Littlehampton…

This is from Arun District Councils web site “Climping Beach Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which has national protection. It includes:-sand flats, the tide line, shingle, sand dunes and the plants, birds, molluscs, reptiles and mammals which either live or feed on them.”

If you are unsure please check with Arun District Council.

Please make sure this summer you respect the beach it’s wild life and other users