With the inept loss of West Beach car park to the sea by the council there is now clear conflict emerging between swimmers and water sports enthusiasts.  

The council is in clear non-compliance with mandatory Blue Flag Beach Criterion No.30 which says There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents. It clearly states that the council “must enforce the zoning of the different recreational areas in the water. Different activities on the beach must also be clearly marked and zoned”  The council is failing to do this.

In the summer water sports enthusiasts typically cannot park close to the sports zone west of the Inn on the Beach. This necessarily means they have to park much further to the east. Consequently, their only viable option is to launch their equipment to access the bay’s open water directly through the swim zone, this is 100% sub-optimal. This of course puts swimmers in considerable danger of collision with fast moving equipment that could do them very serious harm. Conflict is already happening on the beaches every day!  Some swimmers are actually abstaining going into the water at the swim zone to keep themselves safe from the significant dangers presented by unauthorised craft trying to access the Sports zone - this is clearly unacceptable.

Continued disregard for the health and safety of water users on a blue flag beach within the bathing season is wholly unacceptable. We call upon Havant Borough Council to ensure its compliance with Blue Flag Beach Criterion 30 to properly segregate swimmers and water sports to prevent conflict and accidents.

This is a problem of the council's making. HBC might want to consider all of the following

1. Manage parking to ensure watersport participants can park close to the watersport zone
2. Rearrange/remap zoning arrangements  to ensure the health and safety of all water users
3. Install a competent arrangement to  define, signpost and manage the health and safety of all water users