Brighton beach access is restricted after flock of visitors

Brighton and Hove City Council said shops selling alcohol are enticing people to the seafront, causing “nuisance, urination and littering issues”. 

It has now taken the drastic step of restricting the numbers using the beach and has warned visitors that they must stay away. 

A spokeswoman said: “There is no doubt that part of the attraction for people to visit the seafront and beach is due to many premises now offering take away food, soft drinks and alcohol, especially those on the lower promenade at King’s Road Arches.

Read more: Vodka bottles and paper plates discarded as lockdown is eased

“This is exacerbating the issues of crowding and groups gathering, in direct contravention of the legislation and Government’s guidelines on physical distancing. 

“This is also intensifying public nuisance, urination and littering issues.

“With this in mind, we’re taking action to address the problems we’re seeing.”

From today, the central beach area from East Street to West Street will be monitored to restrict the number of people at any given time. 

There will be stewards stationed at entry and exit points from midday to 9pm every day including bank holiday Monday. 

The spokesman added: “We also need to remind people that there are fewer toilets for them to use as Government guidelines only permit businesses to operate on a takeaway basis – and this does not include accessing seating or toilet facilities. 

“We are opening public toilets where possible but capacity is limited and these are likely to become over-used and over-run if people continue to flock to our beaches.“

The usual lifeguard service is not in operation this bank holiday weekend. 

Lifeguards normally patrol the city’s beaches from the end of May until the end of the school holidays in September.

The council said the Covid-19 pandemic and physical distancing restrictions has “interrupted our usual recruitment drive”.

Councillor Carmen Appich, chairwoman of the tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee, has appealed for visitors to stay away.

She said: “ We are used to catering for up to 11 million visitors each year and are renowned for the warm welcome we usually give to all our valued visitors.

“We are so proud of the city we share but to promote Brighton and Hove as a place to visit at this time would be utterly irresponsible and an insult to the NHS staff and frontline workers who have protected the whole county throughout this devastating crisis. 

“We urge anyone thinking of travelling to the city at this time to consider very carefully how their journey will impact on others and what sort of experience they will have when they arrive, without access to the usual high standards of hospitality.

“Our priority is to keep residents and visitors to the city safe but don’t feel able to do this effectively at the moment.

“To highlight this, we are writing to ministers to urge them to consider the effect their easing of lockdown restrictions is having on tourism hotspots like ours. 

“We miss our visitors and are desperately looking forward to the day we can get back to being the welcoming and vibrant destination we’re best known for but right now it is not business as usual in Brighton and Hove."

• The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund