Council could close down nudist beach
CONTROVERSIAL plans to axe one of Britain's oldest nudist beaches have moved a step forward after councillors agreed to launch a public consultation exercise.
CONTROVERSIAL plans to axe one of Britain's oldest nudist beaches have moved a step forward after councillors agreed to launch a public consultation exercise.
Waveney District Council says coastal erosion has led to the loss of so much of the beach at Corton, near Lowestoft, that the nudist section should now be returned to general use.
The proposal have sparked an angry response from the British Naturism organisation, but Waveney council's cabinet last night agreed to start a two-month consultation exercise from next month.
Mary Rudd, who represents the Corton area, said: “I know the residents of Corton will welcome this. There is very little beach left for them.”
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Malcolm Cherry added: “This has been an issue for many years. There have been numerous problems and I think we should be looking at bringing the beach back to the community around there.”
The nudist beach was founded by Waveney District Council in the mid-1970s, but officers say coastal erosion has affected Corton so badly that action is needed.
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Cabinet member Colin Law said: “We are following a democratic process and we are giving everybody the opportunity to put forward their views.”
While there was widespread support for removing the nudist status from the beach, some councillors said an alternative site elsewhere in the district should be designated for use by naturists.
Sue Allen said: “There are beaches that are getting more sand and I'm just wondering if we should designate somewhere else for them.”
Keith Patience suggested Southwold as a possible option, but councillors were told they were tasked only with discussing the issue at Corton last night.
British Naturism has insisted that the nudist beach has a “clothes optional” status, meaning anyone can already use it.
