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« on: February 21, 2021, 07:17:10 AM »
I have placed this message on my Facebook group, "Lincolnshire Naturists UK" which I admin.
Hopefully, I may get some response.
Regards, Phillip Green
Hi all, I have become involved as Lincolnshire area Representative in a new countrywide "Beaches" campaign for 2021, by The Naturist Action Group, lead by Duncan Heenan. (NAG director)
When they go to the beach in the summer, most naturists would prefer to go naked to enjoy the sun and sea. For that reason, many confine themselves to the few officially recognised naturist/clothing optional beaches, or one of the out-of-the way ‘tolerated’ ones. Legally this self-imposed ghettoism is not necessary because innocent, passive nudity in the UK is legal. So why don’t we naturists just strip off on the most convenient beach, and enjoy it as nature intended? Generally it’s because whatever the law may say, people don’t want hassle, and because society hasn’t yet caught up with the law, many naturists or would-be naturists, fear that they will get hassle if they strip off somewhere where it isn’t the accepted practice.
This reticence to be a pioneer is understandable. Naturists go to the beach to relax, not to run the risk of aggro from other beach users, the police or park wardens. The very few conflicts which do occur almost never result in any official action; but just the possibility in the back of the mind is enough to make people either travel big distances to find somewhere ‘safe’, or to keep their clothes on, or to just not go to the beach at all. So having the right to do it doesn’t seem to be leading people to actually do it. What they need is that feeling of safety which comes from official acceptance of naturism.
Following this train of thought, Naturist Action Group has decided to mount a campaign in 2021 to try to persuade more Local Authorities in coastal areas to formally recognise suitable beaches in a way that will give people the confidence to use them, knowing that no-one will object. Fortunately we already have a few ‘official’ beaches in the UK to point to, plus of course many hundreds on the Continent and further afield, where such arrangements are common. We acknowledge that there is an argument that this will arm the prudes with the notion that if naturists have ‘official’ beaches, they should therefore stay clothed on other beaches. However, as we said above, naturists aren’t going naked on 'textile’ beaches currently anyway, so in practise there is nothing to lose, except a theoretical argument. The hoped for benefit is that if nude beach use can be increased this way, more people will try naturism, and practice it regularly; and so it will become increasingly normalised. Other local authorities might see a fashion developing, and follow suit. It could also have economic and social benefits to such areas, by attracting visitors and allowing local naturists to stay local instead of having to travel miles out of their area just to strip off.
NAG has a wealth of experience from 11 years of successful campaigning to both national and local authorities. However, the key to any kind of local or regional campaigning is local people and local connections. - Duncan Heenon
My role is to gather a group of interested people who feel they would benefit from areas of beaches along the Lincolnshire coast, to enjoy naturism and which would ultimately become hassel free if the campaign is successful. I will also coordinate communication with the authorities concerned.
1. We need to form a local campaign pressure group for when we are ready to approach the local authority.
2. We need to identify at least one, and preferably two or more, beaches in the area which would be suitable. Many naturist beaches are very remote, but it defeats the object a bit if they are too difficult to get to. And of course we don't want to be relegated to somewhere that no one wants to visit.
3. We need to find out which Council/Authority would have the legal authority to designate a beach as officially 'Clothing Optional'.
4. We need to identify who the voting councillors are and prepare ourselves to test their existing opinion, and make out a case for a CO beach.
From experience, I personally haven't engaged any problems on the beaches I have used but for many, the thought of possible conflict can be very off-putting.
The nearest officially recognised naturist beach is in Holkham, North Norfolk, which is 88 miles from Lincoln. Our nearest unofficially accepted beach is at North Coates.
The beach I tend to use most is North of Theddlethorpe. (North of Churchill Lane car park) I avoid the Dunes further down as there is lots of activity which is not of the Naturist ethos.
Please let me know if you are interested, or know anyone who may be interested in joining in the campaign and also if there are any areas of Lincolnshire beach you feel would be suitable. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Thank you, Phillip.
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