Council to reconsider KiteSurf ban?

- Fri 18th Jul 2003

Attendents of last night's "Meet the Councillors" session, organised by HIRA have today been discussing an apparant change in stance by local councillors over the topic of Kitesurfing.As a response to concerns from Hayling Golf Club and some members of the public, HBC have recently been pushing to instigate a bylaw banning the popular sport from Hayling's beaches. Outlawing the sport from the island has been seen by many as a heavy handed approach to ensuring safety and has led to much public debate and criticism.




Although the topic will be discussed offically at a council meeting next week (23rd), it was also raised at the HIRA meeting last night that gave Islanders a chance to meet their councillors and put questions to them.




In what has been described as some as a U-turn, councillors raised concerns at the length of time it would take to have such a bylaw introduced and also acknowledged the high number of objections they have received to the proposed ban. The feeling from some of those who attended is that a ban will no longer be pursued and that safety will be enforced by the more popular method of designated areas.




Paul Fisher, Chairman of HIRA told us "The Golf Club are also reconsidering their position and it looks like they will be extending the permission to kitesurfers to use their beach, with HBC assuming public liability insurance, coupled with assurances from the kitesurfing fraternity that they will step up their self-regulation and also take out insurance cover via their national federation."

By forum user, Mat