Council looks to ban camping on beaches in Sussex

Footage and interviews by Gabriel Morris. BBC LDRS (Local Democracy Reporting Service).

Transcript

00:00 A chilly March evening, but come the summer, this stretch of beach will be flooded by tourists.

00:08 But by then you could be fined thousands for parking your car here.

00:13 It comes following the increasing number of caravans pitching up for the night, which

00:16 has been causing an issue for locals.

00:19 It's not just Herbrand Walk, but also up the coast at Canberra and down by Normans Bay.

00:24 Now this car park is one of the illegal camping hotspots.

00:28 Residents tell me that some caravans would be there for weeks, if not months, and when

00:33 they go to confront them, well, they've received violent threats.

00:38 Julian has lived and fished in the area for decades, but come the summer, he feels he

00:43 won't be able to use his beach and will be trapped back in his home.

00:46 There's all sorts of weird and wonderful people that come down in the summer and they're not

00:53 all very pleasant.

00:55 It's out of order, it completely clogs up the whole village.

01:00 The caravans and other strangers, they invade the village, they take up all the parking

01:08 spaces where they're not supposed to.

01:11 Every year it's becoming a bigger problem.

01:15 There is already a public space protection order in place, but Rother District Council

01:19 is set to consult on strengthening the PSPO.

01:23 Prohibiting all vehicles from being driven or parked on the beach.

01:27 Failing to comply could see you being hit with a £1,000 fine.

01:32 It's a very quiet and reflective part of the district.

01:36 It's a bit of unspoilt beach with no tourist infrastructure.

01:40 We need a new one to make it stronger.

01:42 The officers who were trying to enforce it last year were subject to a certain amount

01:45 of abuse and aggression and it's not fair on our staff to subject them to that.

01:51 So sadly, much as though instinctively I'd rather rely on people's good manners, we've

01:55 had to resort to legislation and a banning order.

01:59 The council expects locals to be in favour of increasing fines and it will be voted on

02:03 in June this year, ahead of when caravans are expected back on these beaches this summer.

02:09 Gabriel Morris in Bexhill.