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LEISURE & VISITORS > |
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| KEEP TO THE 8 KNOT SPEED LIMIT WITHIN 250M OF THE SHORE WHO OWNS THE BEACH? Colchester Borough Council owns and maintains the the section of the beach from Seaview Avenue to Broomhills Road below the Esplanade - and also the greensward West Mersea Town Council owns and manages the Monkey Beach The beach below Beach Road and Grove Avenue along to the Monkey Steps is privately owned There is a public footpath running along the length of the beach Seashore Byelaws A copy of Seashore Byelaws is available at the Council Offices in Melrose Road - West Mersea Set out below are just a few Guidelines taken from the extensive byelaws for the seashore at Mersea * No person shall sell or advertise tout or importune either verbally or by the distribution of handbills or adverts. * No person shall break in a horse or other animal or negligently drive a horse or other animal in a race so as to cause danger or annoyance. * No person shall light a fire - this byelaw shall not prevent the lighting of a properly constructed camping stove or cooker. * Fishing no person shall fish to the danger or obstruction of others. * Sandlines no sandlines shall be laid so as to cause danger to others. * Bait Digging no person shall dig for bait within the restricted area. It shall be a defence to any prosecution brought under these byelaws for a defendent to prove that digging for bait was done for purposes other than commercial purposes. If you need any further information regarding the beach please contact: Leisure Services Colchester Borough Council PO Box 331 Town Hall Colchester CO1 1GL Telephone 01206 282947 or West Mersea Town Council - 01206 382128 |
| Keep a look out for boats trying to land on the Pontoon
so you can move when necessary The Pontoon sections that lead to the Hammerhead can be busy with trolleys and boats being pushed up and down. Please be aware of this and move out of the way to ease safe passage Picnics and deckchairs are not allowed on the Pontoon link to top of page |
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Beach Patrol (only joking) |
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Windsurfers |
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| KITESURFING AND WINDSURFING Safety Advice for the General Public Avoiding Kitesurfers and Windsurfers The best way to avoid Kitesurfers and Windsurfers is:- Avoid using the designated Kitesurf and Windsurf launch area Come tothe beach when it is not windy - Kitesurfers and Windsurfers need around 10mph + wind to be usable Use a beach with an offshore wind. Kitesurfers and Windsurfers generally don't use beaches with an offshore wind. Caution - do not use inflatable craft in offshore winds What to be aware of when Kitesurfers and Windsurfers are using the beach Keep clear of the equipment A change of wind direction may cause a kite or sail to flip over. The launch area is designated for your safety. It is best to avoid this area especially if you have young children with you. Keep dogs under control Dogs can damage equipment and if not on a lead can dangerously distracta windsurfer or kitesurfer during launching or landing Be aware of the "No Bathing" area For your safety, bathing is prohibited in the Windsurf/Kitesurf launch and land area. The waters edge will be busy with windsurfers and kitesurfers launching and landing creating a potential hazard for bathers Anglers - pleas show consideration Please avoid beach casting in areas where there are Windsurfers, Kitesurfers or Bathers. Hooks and line are difficult to see and present significant danger to water users Kite Launching/Landing and Rigging Kitesurfing kites are usually flown on 4 by 30m+ lines. They are very thing and can be hard to see. Please keep well clear when kites are launching and landing COMPLAINTS Mersea Windsurfers have a Code of Conduct and take complaints seriously and will do their best to resolve any issues caused by kitesurfing or windsurfing. To help them they ask that you try and get the following information Riders equipment . Windsurfers use a sail. LEI kites have inflated struts. Foil kites look more like a mattress Colours of kite or sail Make/model/wording/logo on kite or sail - any text printed on canopy Description of rider e.g. height, build, hair colour etc. what was thje rider wearing e.g. rash vest, shorts, wetsuit or drysiot Colour/make of board Riders vehicle e.g. car/van/make model etc Riders name/nickname Please contact them with any concerns, complaints or queries website - www.themerseawindsurfers.co.uk. email - infor@thermerseawindsurfers.co.uk |
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Watch out! Don't float out! |
| THE BEACH WORKING GROUP The Beach Working Group is a Mersea/Colchester Council Committee which includes Councillors and Co-opted Representatives from interested beach user groups (includes kitesurfers, windsurfers, beach hut owners, dog walkers, etc) The Committee meet twice a year, at the beginning and end of the season to discuss waterfront matters and decide on projects. BWG has a limited budget. WORKS COMPLETED RECENTLY Hammerhead - Three new ladders installed on floating pontoon and 20 metres of handrail plus new timbers for walkway. Car park resurfacing for Coast Road. Two new seats and one bin to be replaced. Esplanade - drop kerb installed beside viewing plat- form. Verges - no funds available to reinstate damaged verges where cars park in winter - possibility of signs saying “do not park on verge”. Broomhills Pathway repaired. Bathing Rafts to be brought in by oystermen. Beach - Warning “bathing signs” at end of breakwaters - new signs ordered. Other Beach Signs - Committee decided one large sign for everything rather than lots of small signs - example shown (of one in Portugal!) and similar one agreed. Esplanade Black Wooden Shelter - following re- sponse to question on website seems that residents wish this shelter to remain. However, it is in need of repair and quotes have been sought - grant application possible. Former Putting Green - regret expressed that application for mini golf facility was withdrawn. After much public protest a Planning Application (2011) by CBC for 30 new beach huts on Victoria Esplanade Car Park was recently withdrawn. Toilets on Esplanade. There is no money available at the present time to install new toilets at the Esplanade, current toi- lets are frequently vandalised. Former plans to put toilets and showers on seaward side have been shelved; one new toilet would costs in the region of £160,000. Revised opening times for toilets- 8am to 8pm summer - 8am to 6pm winter. Report - Cllr S.Wargent |
| BEACH HUTS IN MERSEA Colchester Borough Council has about 400 sites that are rented out on a long term basis to beach hut owners The sites are below Victoria Esplanade between Seaview Avenue and Broomhills Road Within this area there is a site known as the Spinney the beach huts here are freehold (i.e.not owned by the Colchester Council) The Seaview Beach Cabins below Seaview Caravan Site are also not owned by CBC Who can rent a site? Residents and non residents can rent sites but they provide and maintain their own beach huts. Colchester also rent out some sites to charities They do not have beach huts available for short term holiday lets How can I obtain a Beach Hut? You need to find a Beach Hut owner who wants to sell their hut. Owners who wish to sell will put a private notice on their hut or advertise in the local press or via the local estate agencies When you purchase the beach hut you need to make sure that the owner completes a transfer form and pays a transfer fee, You should also make sure that there are no unpaid site fees. How much will it cost me? The beach hut owner will decide the selling price Colchester Council charges a site rental that is payable in advance each year from 1st April The charge varies with the size and position of the site. You will pay more for a front row beach hut than for a beach hut on another row Colchester Borough residents are charged a reduced fee and there is a special rate for charities There is also a charge for National Non Domestic Rates on each beach hut Beach Hut Owners receive a separate bill for NDR and a form to apply for Small Business Rate Relief - some charities may be eligible for additional relief for more info contact 01206 282327 There is a transfer fee for all Beach Huts- transfers to a husband, wife or parent are free of charge In 2011 - Colchester Borough Council doubled the rents on West Mersea Beach Huts. Another rent rise is due in 2012. Telephone 01206 282913 or e mail beachhuts@colchester.gove.uk |
BATHING RAFTS Most of the bathing rafts moored off the beach in summer were made by ex Cllr Stephen Vince Bathing rafts now come under the authorityl of the Town Council and are brought in and put out to their moorings by local Oystermen |
| SPEED LIMITS ON THE RIVER A Speed limit exists throughout the entire River Blackwater which restricts the speed of all vessels to 8 knot within 25 metres of the shore. This area is marked by bouys. This byelaw also prevents access to the saltmarsh - oyster layings and other such habitats. Fines will be imposed. |
| TIPS FOR EVERYONE USING MERSEA BEACH Mersea Beach works on a "Live and Let Live" Agenda - However The Beach is used by thousands of people for many leisure activities - sometimes these activities overlap causing safety hazards and frustration - so please be aware of other beach and water users and respect their right to safety AND Take Litter Home or use Bins provided Do not allow children to climb on Beach Huts Choose the location for playing ball games, flying kites or listening to the radio carefully - don't cause annoyance to other beach users! Ensure that children who dig holes in the sand do so in a position which doesn't present a risk to others Tips for Swimmers Be sure you can be seen and voided by users of water craft If you like to swim under water wear a marker or swim with a friend Be aware that people learning water sports may not be very skilful - so keep well clear INFLATEABLES THE BLACKWATER ESTUARY HAS STRONG TIDES AND SOMETIMES STRONG WINDS RUBBER CRAFT AND OTHER INFLATEABLES CAN BE CARRIED OUT TO SEA VERY QUICKLY Tips for dog and horse Owners Use a pooperscoop to clear up after your dog and leave the waste in the dog bins provided Keep dogs on a lead on the beach Horse riders should keep below the high water line Tips for Windsurfers, Kitesurfers Dinghy Sailors and Canoeists Keep well clear of swimmers and bathing platforms Please do not park or set up your gear in the spaces in the car park reserved for disabled people Avoid leaving your gear unattended, but if this is unavoidable, ensure it is in a safe position relative to the wind direction and other beach users Tips for owners of Power Driven Water Craft and Jet Skis Always be on the look out and keep well clear of swimmers and water craft Remember POWER GIVES WAY TO SAIL If you launch your boat from a holiday park your boat should be registered under the voluntary Boat Registration Scheme KEEP TO THE 8 KNOT SPEED LIMIT WITHIN 250M OF THE SHORE |
Most of all Have Fun On the Beach! |
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