Information on beach bylaws
Beach bylaws preamble
1. Bylaws are produced by us under Sections 82 and 83 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907, with respect to the seashore and promenades.
Interpretation
2. In these bylaws "The Council" means the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk.
"Promenade" means each of the esplanades and promenade, including ramps and steps thereto.
"Seashore" means all that area of beach and foreshore from time to time situated above the level of low water mark of medium tides.
Extent
3. These bylaws apply to the concrete promenade in Hunstanton from its junction with the cliffs in the north to the raised section in the south known as 'The Hump', a distance of approximately two thousand and thirty five (2,035) metres and to those parts of the seashore in Hunstanton which are adjacent to this extent of the promenade except that Bylaws 4, 5, 6 and 9 shall not apply to that length of the promenade from the power boat Launching Ramp to 'The Hump' a distance of approximately five hundred and sixty five (565) metres so far as bylaws made by The Anglian Water Authority under and by virtue of powers and authority vested in them by section 34 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 made 20 March 1985 and confirmed by the Minister of Agriculture, fisheries and food on 5 March 1987 applies.
Erection of structures
4.1 Where any part of the seashore has, by notices affixed in conspicuous positions on the seashore, been set apart by the Council for the erection or placing of such booths, tents, sheds and stalls (whether fixed or moveable) stands as may be specified in the notices. No person shall erect or place any structure so specified on any other part of the seashore.
4.2 This bylaw shall not apply to a windbreak for personal use.
Horse riding
Except with the prior written approval of the Council in relation to the Council's donkey/pony ride concession on the seashore:-
5.1 Between 1 April and 30 September inclusive in any year, no person shall break in any horse or other animal or ride or drive any horse or other animal in a race so as to cause danger or annoyance to any person using the seashore.
5.2 No person shall ride a horse or other animal on the promenade.
Vehicles
6.1 No person shall ride or drive a cycle, motor cycle or motor vehicle on the seashore or promenade, or bring or cause to be brought on to the seashore or promenade a motor cycle or motor vehicle.
6.2 This bylaw shall not extent to invalid carriages.
6.3 This bylaw shall not apply to a motor cycle or motor vehicle belonging to the police, fire or ambulance service, or where entry to the seashore or promenade is required for the purpose of any emergency in connection with the saving of life.
6.4 This bylaw shall not apply to the riding of cycles on that part of the promenade between the Power Boat Club Launching Ramp and 'The Hump' (a distance of approximately five hundred and sixty five (565) metres.
6.5 This bylaw shall not apply to a motor vehicle where -
a. It is used in connection with the launching of boats at the Power Boat Club Launching Ramp or the Sailing Club Ramp; or
b. Prior written approval or a license has been obtained from the Council for its use.
6.6 No person shall on the promenade, skate, slide or ride on rollers, skateboards, wheels, mechanical contrivances or other equipment in such a manner as to cause damage or nuisance or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to other persons lawfully using the promenade.
6.7 In this bylaw:
"Cycle" means unicycle, bicycle, a tricycle, or a cycle having four or more wheels, not being in any case a motor cycle or motor vehicles.
"Invalid carriage" means a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, the unladen weight of which does not exceed 150 kilograms, the width of which does not exceed 0.85 metres and which has been constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of one person, being a person suffering from some physical defect or disability and is used solely by such a person;
"Motor cycle" means a mechanically propelled vehicle, not being an invalid carriage, with less than four wheels and the weight of which unladen does not exceed 410 kilograms, not intended or adapted for use on roads;
"Motor vehicle" means a mechanically propelled vehicle, not being an invalid carriage or motor vehicle, not intended or adapted for use on roads.
Fishing
7. No person shall fish from any part of the seashore or promenade to danger, obstruction or annoyance of any person using the seashore or promenade
Removal of life-saving operations
8. No person shall, except in the case of emergency, remove from or displace on the seashore or promenade any life-saving appliance provided by or on behalf of the Council or other competent authority.
Access
9. No person shall leave on the seashore or promenade (otherwise than on a road) a vehicle, trailer or object so as to obstruct the access to any launchway, slipway, ramp or approach road to any part of the seashore or promenade.
Touting
10.1 No person shall on the seashore or promenade, to the annoyance or obstruction of any person using the seashore or promenade for the purpose of selling or advertising any article or of obtaining custom, tout or importune, either verbally or by the distribution of handbills, circulars or advertisements.
10.2 Provided that this bylaw shall not apply to any collection of money or sale of any article in accordance with any Regulations made under Section 5 of the Police, Factories etc (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916, for the time being in the Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
Selling and hawking
11. Where any part of the seashore or promenade has, by notices affixed in conspicuous positions on the seashore, been set apart by the Council for the sale and hawking of such articles, commodities, or things, or classes thereof, as may be specified in the notices, no person shall offer for sale or hawk the same on any other part of the seashore or promenade.
Games
12. No person shall on the seashore or promenade in any game, sport or pastime so as to cause danger obstruction or annoyance of any person using the seashore or promenade.
Removal of barriers etc
13. No person shall, on the seashore or promenade, without reasonable excuse, remove from or displace any barrier, railing, post or seat or any part of any structure or ornament or any notice or flag displayed by or on behalf of the Council or any other competent authority.
Obstruction
14. No person shall on the seashore or promenade -
- intentionally obstruct any officer of the Council in the proper execution of his duties;
- intentionally obstruct any person carrying out an act which is necessary to the proper execution of any contract with the Council, or;
- intentionally obstruct any other person in the proper use of the seashore or promenade, or behave so as to give reasonable grounds for annoyance to other persons on the seashore or promenade.
Penalty
15. Every person who shall offend against any of these bylaws shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.
Saving for officers
16. An act necessary to the proper execution of his duty on the seashore or promenade by an officer of the Council, or any act which is necessary to the proper execution of any contract with the Council, shall not be an offence under these bylaws.
(1) Nothing in these Bylaws shall restrict, prevent, interfere with or prejudice the due and proper exercise of any statutory rights or powers which are now or hereafter maybe vested in or exercised by the Environment Agency.
Saving of Crown and other rights
17. Noting contained in any of the foregoing bylaws shall be deemed to be or shall operate as a grant by or on behalf of the Crown as owner of the foreshore below high water mark of any estate or interest in or right over such foreshore, or any part thereof, nor shall anything contained in or done under any of the provisions of the foregoing bylaws in any respect prejudice or injuriously affect the rights and interested of the Crown in such foreshore, or prevent the exercise thereon of any public rights, or prejudice or injuriously affect any right, power or privilege legally exercisable by any person in, over and in respect of the seashore.
Further information
The resort of Hunstanton (including the promenade and seashore) is managed by our Resorts Manager. If you would like further information about the beach bylaws, or would like to discuss how they might impact on any activities you wish to conduct on Hunstanton beach please contact us.