Beach to be kitesurf mecca

11:21am Thursday 22nd November 2007

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Plans to turn a Sussex beach into a haven for kitesurfers have been put forward by a council.

Adur District Council wants to turn a 200 metre stretch of Shoreham Beach into a designated summer kitesurfing zone.

The area, 100 metres either side of Shingle Road, would become a dedicated launch and landing site for the sport where surfers use a giant kite to harness the power of the wind to propel them along the waves on a surfboard.

A report drawn up by council officers will be presented to the community and leisure services committee next week for approval. If councillors decide to back the scheme, safety signs would be placed on the beach telling surfers and the public about the zone which would be in operation between May and September.

Bathers would still be allowed to swim in the area although kitesurfing would not be allowed outside of it.

The report states: "Shoreham Beach has grown in popularity over the past seven years to become one of the premier kitesurfing sites in the UK, hosting up to an estimated 50 surfers on the water at peak times.

"There have not been any accidents involving kite surfers reported directly to Adur District Council that indicate that this sport is an immediate danger to residents or other beach users."

The scheme already has the backing of the Stormriders Kitesurfing Club, based at Ferry Road, and the Shoreham Beach Residents' Association.

Johnathan Ellman-Brown, owner of Stormriders Kitesurfing Club, has been heavily involved drawing up the plans with the council and has been lobbying for such a zone for the past seven years.

He said: "I have been trying to get this zone sorted out for years and years.

"It had seemed to be one step forward and two steps back but finally everyone's behind it and hopefully it will go through."

He added: "The purpose of designating a specific area for kitesurfing is to help ensure safety for all beach users during the summer months and to help the sport develop itself into a well structured and conatined scene.

"There will be a 'Kitesurfers Code of Conduct sign' put in place with its purpose to lay down the rules to kitesurfers that arrive at Shoreham Beach helping to keep the accident rate at zero and also stop any kiters from getting into trouble."

The report, which is due before the council next Tuesday, also states there would be no threat of damage to fauna and flora on Shoreham Beach, which is a local nature reserve, from the zone.

What do you think of the kitesurfing zone?