Byelaws

The Public Health acts of 1936 and 1961 and the Local Government Act 1972 give the council the legal power to create and enforce byelaws regulating activities on the beach and water users up to 1000 yards out from mean low water. Chichester District Council has created 3 byelaws to do this. They are the Byelaws for:

1. The Seashore which regulates dangerous games, trading, excessive noise, public shows, fires / BBQ's and horse riding on the beach.
2. Seaside Pleasure boats which limits watercraft to 8 knots up to 300m from mean low water.
3. Navigation of Sailboards which regulates dangerous windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Following several incidents involving jet skis and a public survey in 1990 the council resolved to limit the use of jet skis along it's shoreline. This proved not possible through the vehicle of byelaws but as land owner of the foreshore the council resolved to ban Jet skis / personal watercraft from launching / recovering from council owned slipways. Whilst the council cannot prevent jet skis from navigating in tidal water they are obliged to stick within the 8 knot speed limit within 300 yards of mean low water.

There are also various other laws that apply to beach users such as the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea ('Colregs') , section 34 of the Road Traffic Act that prohibits motorised vehicles on the beach, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 making it an offense to harm animals, plants, birds and the protected fossils beds.