Jetski ban at Herbrand Walk

Beach owner Steve Hall decided to ban the controversial machines after an exhibition of his reworked planning application in Hamilton Hall, Eastwood Road, on Saturday.

The focus of the beach will be on kayaks, windsurfers and other naturally-propelled devices, although boats will also be allowed to launch.

Steve said: "I can stop people driving vehicles with jet skis on to my beach. They're not going to be able to park on the road.

"If the council want to impose conditions on me it's up to them, but I'm going to say no jet skiing down there.

"All I want there is kayaking, windsurfing and the manual sports I suppose you could call them, for the schools and the people of Bexhill to enjoy. That's what I want.

"I'm not going to make any money out of those jet skiers, it's just that they were there in the first place. I automatically thought people were happy with them."

An access lane from the beach for motorised vehicles including jet skis was set up some years ago by Rother District Council, a feature of the land Steve inherited when he bought it this year.

Complaints about the noise of jet skis have been a common theme in the Herbrand Walk saga. The initial application '“ for 20 beach huts, two car parks and bollards on the beach '“ was submitted in March and rejected by the district council in May after attracting 200 objections.

Steve hopes a number of changes to his first application will appease some objectors.

The new designs, to be submitted this week, create free parking parallel to Herbrand Walk, meaning vehicles will not have to reverse on to a small, but busy, stretch of road.

Free public toilets will be available in season. The beach huts have been reduced to standard size and will be removed for the winter.

Consultations with the Environment Agency, Natural England, Network Rail, Pevensey Coastal Defences and Sussex Police have resulted in the backing of authorities that had not previously signed up to the scheme.

Reclaimed timber replaces concrete bollards, and new fencing will be erected along the railway line in place of the current dilapidated wire-mesh.

Schools can use the kayaking facilities for free during the week.

Of the exhibition on Saturday, Steve said: "We had around 60 or 70 people turn up.

"It got to about 2pm and it started hammering it down, but they kept coming in.

"The feedback from the people who turned up was excellent. Plus it gave me a chance to put my point across face to face."

Madeleine Gorman, Rother District Council head of amenities, said: "The council has no powers to make by-laws on the water and we are not accountable for the regulation of jet skis.

"As a responsible local council we can advise jet ski owners, which is why we installed a nominated area away from swimmers.

"Pending the outcome of the planning application we will continue to work with Mr Hall to manage activities in this area appropriately."

Speaking on Saturday, Keith Rhodes, of Southcliff, said: "I am happy to see some controlled development on the beach with provision for safe kayaking and watersports that enable the youth to enjoy themselves.

"But I welcome also the ability that Mr Hall has to control the current unregulated access for motor sports.

"I wish him every success with the project. He's engaging all the right authorities and it's a privately funded initiative.

"We cannot stop progress. The town's been treading water for 12 years."

Richard Wheeler, of Osbern Close, Cooden, owns a beach hut on Herbrand Walk. He said: "We are trying to take a balanced view of things. We think its good he's put this exhibition on, but one reason why we are still mindful to object is the amount of traffic.

"It's a good dialogue and we appreciate him putting it forward but our concerns still remain."

Jeanne Bini, of Millfield Rise, said: "I came along with an open mind. As long as there's adequate parking facilities I won't mind.

"It sounds like a reasonable idea if certain things are taken into consideration."

Councillor Paul Lendon, who along with Cllrs Christopher Starnes and Patrick Douart visited on Saturday, said: "Credit to someone who's prepared to put this together.

"It's good to see both sides of the argument. I commend anybody who goes to these lengths to put an exhibition on."

n See page 7 for Steve Hall's letter to the Observer.