There is currently a ban on metal detectors being used on Cleethorpes beach.

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.............WE NEED YOUR HELP.............

..........PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION.............

We would be very grateful if you could sign our petition against the ban and ask that NELC & Natural England Will reconsider their decision and uplift the ban on Hobbyist metal detecting.

 

We also do not want to have permits or prior permission  to detect on the same beach that locals and visitors to the beach are digging giant holes and making sandcastles on. It's unfair and double standards by NELC & Natural England.

 

The ban is for Hobbyist detectorists, that live to visit the area individually or meet up  in groups to detect, socialise and enjoy a relaxing day detecting.

For many people this is not just a hobby to them, they enjoy getting away from hussle and bustle of every day life and are in a world of their own, releasing their minds of any stress ir anxieties they may have, they enjoy the fresh air, and peacefulness of their day out, this enhances their health, and mental wellbeing, so means so much to some detectorists.

The detectorists not only are local but all visit the area from all over Lincolnshire and beyond, bringing much needed business to the area.

The detectorists , love to search for any hidden treasures, but also do detect discarded metal  rubbish that has been left on the beach , such as old barbecues. / Rusty tent pegs / there's been rusty old nails / old rusty pop and beer cans / knives and worst of all they've found many needles that have been discarded and just thrown on the beach, the detectorists have carefully wrapped these up and safely disposed of them.

They have also found many other items such as old trolleys / metal posts and old bombs some that have been unexploded and had to be safely detonated.

These all wouldn't have been found if it wasn't for the detectorists, they help to keep the beach clean and take away and dispose of all rubbish they collect, all for free.

What we cannot understand is why the council have said that the  ban is because the beach is an SSSI, area and the ban is to protect the natural habitats of nature, however we don't understand why there are still families and children digging the biggest if holes on the beach and not even filling them back in, when all detectorists so fill in the holes they dig.

Also every year there is a sandcastle competition on the beach that the council approve to go ahead all along the beach, how is it ok for this to go ahead, but not allow detecting on the beach.

The council also have said that the ban is because beach safety buggy that patrols the beach is getting stuck in the holes the detectorists dig, but these are the holes of families and children.

We feel that this is double standards and that detectorists are just being targeted for no reason.

We have contacted Natural England and awaiting a reply.

We have individually contacted the council and MP and they are sticking with what Cllr Ron Sheperd  has said which is  written below .........................................................

According to a NELC spokesperson, it is "illegal" to use metal detectors on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). “This is to prevent people from damaging or disturbing the habitat and wildlife. The Cleethorpes coastline is an internationally important habitat for wildlife and sits in the Humber Estuary SSSI," they said.

 

Cllr Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safe and stronger communities, previously stressed that the new public space protection order (PSPO) does not outright ban metal detecting, and that permits will still be available for certain purposes

He said: "There is no form of ban at all. What we're saying to people is if you want to metal detect, you apply for a licence. That goes across any of the council's land and the reason for that is we need to know who it is, who's on there metal detecting. If they do dig holes and don't fill them in, then at least we know who's doing it."

No permits will be given for speculative metal detecting but they are obtainable for archaeological purposes, finding lost property, or locating underground services, a council spokesperson previously said.

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