Nudists left fuming after council attempts to block ‘lewd’ sunbathing in beach access row
A parish council has sparked controversy after erecting an unauthorized sign attempting to ban naturism at a designated nudist beach in Suffolk.
The dispute centers on Corton Beach near Lowestoft, where local authorities accused nudists of committing lewd acts that have disturbed nearby residents and holiday park guests.
The move has angered the naturist community, with nearly seven million Britons identifying as nudists or naturists, according to a 2022 IPSOS poll.
The sign, which appeared earlier this month, stated: “Warning: Corton beach is not a naturist beach. Lewd behaviour will not be tolerated and may be recorded by CCTV and reported to the police.”
It also warned that “causing an offence to others is a criminal offence and all cases will be reported for prosecution”.
The sign raised eyebrows for naturists as Corton Beach was officially designated as a naturist beach in the 1970s.
There is no legal prohibition on naturism in Britain, leading campaigners to challenge the parish council’s authority to restrict access to the beach.
Nigel Newman, British Naturism’s eastern region organiser, strongly contested the sign’s message.
“To say that Corton beach is not a naturist beach is inaccurate,” Newman told The Times.
He emphasised that the parish council lacks authority over the matter, as “it’s enshrined in national legislation that naturism is perfectly lawful”.
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Newman stressed the distinction between naturism and inappropriate conduct, adding: “It’s not immoral, it’s not lewd, it’s not criminal – it’s perfectly lawful.”
“We don’t want naturists to feel that they are no longer allowed to go onto a beach which they are allowed to go on. That’s the bottom line,” he claimed.
East Suffolk Council has firmly rejected the parish council’s authority over the beach.
A council spokesman confirmed to The Times that Corton Parish Council has no jurisdiction over the disputed shoreline.
The council has demanded the removal of the sign, which was placed without proper permissions.
According to College of Policing guidelines, naturists have a right to freedom of expression.
This right only becomes a criminal matter if they commit sexual offences or engage in disorderly behaviour that they know may cause harassment, alarm or distress to others.
Corton Parish Council defended their actions, stating they were not targeting naturists specifically.
“We are not targeting or trying to outlaw the naturists. The parish council recognises that naturism in the UK is legal,” a spokesman said.
They maintained the sign was intended to warn those committing lewd acts about police involvement.
Local resident Michael Monk, 71, supported the council’s initiative.
“If you’ve got young families here you don’t really want it. Having the warning here’s probably a good thing,” he told The Times.
“Some people get very upset, some people have a good laugh, some just have binoculars up there and have a look,” Monk added.