More than 2,200 permits have been granted to metal detect on Cleethorpes beach in 18 months with the council declaring the scheme “a success”.
North East Lincolnshire Council brought in a requirement for metal detectorists to obtain a permit before using their detectors on the beach in 2023. It was part of changes to Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) made that year.
A freedom of information request by Grimsby Live has revealed that more than 2,200 free permits have been issued to metal detect on Cleethorpes beach since the scheme began at the end of May 2023.
All applications for permits have been approved. The permits cover detecting between the rock groyne at Wonderland, and Cleethorpes Leisure Centre. A council spokesperson said it regards the permit scheme as a success.
An outright ban was originally considered by the council. This was watered down after consultation feedback to a ban only on unauthorised metal detecting on the beach and reinforcement of a prohibition in council-owned parks and open spaces.
Metal detectorists at the time had concerns about the change to Cleethorpes Beach. It was justified on preservation of habitat and wildlife grounds, though metal detecting on the adjacent SSI site was banned already under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and safety reasons with it claimed some holes created were not filled in.
Cleethorpes Beach in the summer
(Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford)
Eventually, a trial of a free permit scheme was introduced in summer 2023, in conjunction with Natural England. There was also an amnesty period for people to get used beforehand to the change, though one incident saw a council enforcement officer apparently unaware of this.
After the amnesty, individuals caught detecting without a prior permit faced a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £100. Plans to restrict allowed reasons to metal detect on the beach were also dropped, meaning anyone could metal detect so long as they got a free permit first.
The free permit scheme was made permanent in December 2023. There have been 13 FPNs issued for unauthorised metal detecting on Cleethorpes Beach since the permit regime’s introduction. All occurred between April and November 2024. As of December 2, ten FPNs had been paid in full.
Six FPNs had also been issued for unauthorised metal detecting outside of the Cleethorpes beach designated permit zones since May 2023, five paid in full. In total, 2,284 free permits were issued to detectorists between May 2023 and November 2024.
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A total of 1,002 were issued between May and December 2023, and 1,282 permits granted between January and November 2024. A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson said: “The scheme was introduced to allow metal detecting on Cleethorpes beach to continue whilst ensuring the council are meeting their legal responsibilities to manage the SSSI appropriately to conserve its special features.
“The numbers of applications received show that people continue to enjoy metal detecting responsibly within the designated areas, without causing damage to the very sensitive habitats on our coastline and disturbing the wildlife on site. For that reason, we would regard the scheme as a success.”
A spokesperson for the National Council of Metal Detecting said it was made aware of the original potential metal detecting ban by members. “The NCMD then threatened to challenge the decision in the High Court and the council changed its mind and instead, brought in a free permit scheme, which the council claimed was necessary to understand the number of detectorists that are detecting the beach.
“Feedback from our members has been that the online application process is easy to use, the permit is free and of course, a free permit is far more preferable than an outright ban. Should the situation change, then the NCMD will of course, get back involved.”
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