Locals say the area at Corton, Suffolk, is becoming famous for the wrong reasons and they want to reclaim the sands for everyone to enjoy not just the “exhibitionists”
Angry villagers who claim their seaside beach has been taken over by people having sex have won the backing of their MP in a bid to reclaim the sands.
Locals say they are disgusted by the behaviour of those travelling to the sands and cliffs in the pretty village of Corton near Lowestoft, Suffolk. Now local MP Jess Asato has joined residents and councillors in a walk along the beach in a bid to reclaim the area for children and holidaymakers.
The MP said: “Residents are fed up with their beach being made a no-go area due to criminal sexual behaviour. Our walk was a symbol of their efforts to ensure that no-one is feels afraid to use it – and send a signal that we will not tolerate what amounts to criminal acts.”
One local, a retired newspaper executive, said: “It’s no longer safe to take children there to play on their beach. It started about three years ago and has got worse every year since since – I was with my two and three-year-old grandchildren last summer and there were naked men deliberately showing off and flaunting themselves.
“It is so offensive that we can no longer take our grandchildren to play on the beach. Unfortunately the beach is now getting a reputation – and becoming famous – so the problem will only get worse.
“Apart from the holidaymakers here, there are people who live here all the time and now in the summer they can’t go down to the sea.”
The Azure Seas village, which has more than 100 holiday and permanent cabins and homes which cost up to £200,00, is set in 15 acres of woodland on the cliffs overlooking the controversial beach and has its own direct access to the sea.
Sales manager Duncan Gooch said: “It’s got nothing to do with nudity whatsoever – it is the behaviour of some of the men who go there, a group who think it is OK to indulge in lewd and sexual behaviour on the beach, openly in front of other people.
“It is blatant and deliberate – some men are clearly exhibitionists and we take offence – as does everyone living or staying here – at their behaviour.
“Things have got worse over recent so year and are now so bad that a lot of people simply won’t go onto the beach because it is full of naked exhibitionists parading up and down and having sex. We have complained to the police and they say they will look into it.
“But they told us there was nothing we could do about it. Callers who complain are simply give a reference number. We have 100 holiday and permanent homes here but this perverted sexual activity – which goes on from dawn until after dusk – is not what they want to see.”
A controversial notice – which has since been removed – warned: “Corton Beach is not a naturist beach. Lewd behaviour will not be tolerated and may be recorded by CCTV and reported to the police. Causing an offence to others is a criminal offence and all cases will be reported form prosecution. By order of Corton Parish Council.”
The parish council say they put up the sign after numerous complaints from local people about indecent behaviour on the beach, including individuals openly engaging in sexual acts and walkers being accosted. But it disappeared after just a few days.
A parish council spokesman said: “Businesses overlooking the beach have also been severely impacted, reporting substantial financial losses directly attributed to these behaviours. The parish council is obligated to support and protect the parishioners and businesses within its jurisdiction.
“This is our fundamental responsibility, and the sign was intended to serve as a warning that engaging in such acts would be reported to the police. This stance remains unchanged. It stated that the beach was not a naturist beach and was intended to clarify that it is no longer a designated as such since nudism can be practiced anywhere.
“The council recognises that nudism is a legal activity and was not attempting to prohibit, outlaw, or prevent naturists from enjoying the beach and we don’t intend to imply that naturists were responsible for this behaviour in any way.
“The sign was a warning to individuals whose lewd activities were causing distress to other beach-goers but we do not intend to imply or suggest that naturists were responsible for this behaviour in any way.”
District councillor Paul Ashdown said: “Most people are aware that sunbathing in the nude on the beach is not illegal but some residents have witnessed lewd behaviour which is offensive and should not be conducted in a public space.”