Muddy waters hide high stakes for seafront athletes

The signs, which stretch from Galley Hill to Normans Bay, cordon off four distinct "Award Areas" along Bexhill seafront, forbidding kitesurfing and windsurfing. Watersports athletes claim Rother District Council (RDC) are evicting them from one of their favourite spots along Bexhill, and limiting the safe space available for their pursuits. David Waite, of St Leonards, has been wind and kite surfing in Bexhill for 30 years. He said: "The windsurfers are up in arms about this. "We all pay our taxes and work hard so we can enjoy our sports. Some of us go down every evening after work if it's windy." The four Award Areas have been in place for some years, but the introduction of new signage marks an effort by Rother District Council to exercise greater control over the water. No bylaw currently supports the ban, but an RDC working party iscurrently reviewing that situation. The beach in front of Beaulieu Green, near Cooden, is one crucial area which is now off-limits. Sportsmen chose the spot for its lack of rocks, and relative quiet. Other Award Areas have caused confusion. While all the signs forbid watersports, only some - the "primary signs" - include a map showing where the award areas are. The natural inference, says Ian Spears, who runs a windsurfing business in Hastings, is that watersports are forbidden all along the front. He added: "It's an increasingly narrowing strip of freedom for us." One Award Area neighbours Bexhill Sailing Club. Ken Wyatt, club secretary, said they were investigating whether the restrictions would have an impact on club activities. He said: "It could be a problem but we are not going to start jumping up and down without the facts." A RDC spokesman said: "In producing the new information signs the council is seeking the co-operation of the various users groups and individuals in creating zones where some activities should not be performed. "The object being to create four small safe areas, one each at the Bexhill Colonnade, Beaulieu Green, Cooden Beach and Normans Bay, for traditional beach and swimming activities. The location of the primary or main signs containing the maps coincides with key access areas. "The council is currently working on new bylaws and these will form an integral part in the way the council provides its coastal facilities in the future. "The council understands that some of the new signs have caused some confusion regarding the Quality Beach Award Area. Although the signs have used the nationally accepted layouts, the lack of a map on the smaller signs can be confusing and we are working with the sign manufacturers to resolve this problem. "The council has also received comments from some beach user groups who have expressed concern at the possible limiting of their activities to certain areas only. "As a result of their concerns, we have arranged to meet with their representatives in March with the intention of agreeing a way forward which will serve the best interests of all beach users." Has the council made a hash of their new signs? Do restrictions around windsurfers need to be tighter? Leave your comments below.