NORTH Somerset Council has dropped plans to impose charges on people using Uphill beach's WindZone after kite boarders threatened to boycott the area. The council wanted to charge people £20 a year to use the restricted area for sports such as land yachti
NORTH Somerset Council has dropped plans to impose charges on people using Uphill beach's WindZone after kite boarders threatened to boycott the area.The council wanted to charge people £20 a year to use the restricted area for sports such as land yachting.Health and safety regulations at the site are strict because members of the public also use the beach.Wardens have to carry out checks every two hours to make sure people using the WindZone are insured and belong to a club.Signs separating the area also have to be maintained and the council claimed the annual fee would have covered such costs.The council held talks with the 'extreme' sports clubs in the area and each one said they would no longer use the WindZone if a charge was imposed.Dave Mitchell, who is a member of the SwatK club for kite surfers, boarders and kite buggy enthusiasts, said: "I'm pleased we are not going to be ripped off. The WindZone is popular and really good for Weston and it's getting busier all the time. But I think the charges would have put a lot of people off.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here