ePetition - Annual charging for Watercraft owner Saltdean Beach

Council response

Response provided by the Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage & Tourism at Full Council on 26 March 2026:

These fees are formally approved at Budget Council each year, alongside all other council charges and are updated in line with inflationary increases. During the Covid pandemic, active collection of these particular storage fees was paused. The Seafront Office is now reinstating the permit system so that all beach locations are managed consistently and in line with the approved budget framework.

The council also has a statutory duty to ensure value for money in the use of council land. Where individuals make exclusive or long term use of a defined area of council-owned space, a charge is required to ensure fairness and to avoid subsidising private storage through general public funds. Charging for the storage of small craft is common practice among local authorities, and we are not able to apply charges in one location but omit them in another, as this would be inconsistent, inequitable and contrary to the council’s approved fees and charges policy.

We understand the view expressed by several residents that Saltdean’s informal storage area originated from community use and that the craft are kept there at owners’ risk. We also appreciate the point that many kayaks are low-cost or second-hand and that users value the affordability of the activity. However, where storage occupies public land on a long-term basis, the council must ensure there is a transparent and consistent permitting structure across all seafront locations. Without this it would be difficult to manage competing uses of space or to address issues that arise from abandoned or deteriorating craft.

Some residents have also raised concerns regarding enforcement. The intention of the permit system is not to create a heavy enforcement presence but to enable clearer management of the beach environment. The previous signage at Saltdean, which asked owners to remove craft during winter, proved difficult to maintain without an accompanying system to identify ownership. A permit approach supports better communication with users, ensures consistent expectations and helps us to address problems such as abandoned or unsafe equipment more effectively.

Regarding the number of kayaks stored at Saltdean, we do recognise that the current volume is modest. Nonetheless, the principle of value for public land applies regardless of scale and the council must apply the same policy fairly across all storage sites. The revenue raised forms part of the broader seafront services budget, which supports maintenance, safety and management across the entire coastline.

We acknowledge the disappointment that some residents have expressed, both directly and on social media.