independent Cornish news and comment

Restormel: 'Snob yobs' to be banned?

Holidaymakers face being turfed off one of Cornwall's most popular family beaches as a knee-jerk reaction to prevent young people gathering at beaches near Rock and Polzeath.


Alleged violence and criminal damage caused by gathering of hundreds of youngsters is being used to close Daymer Bay between 10pm and 3am each night.
Police say problems of anti-social behaviour by groups of up to 500 14 to 20-year-olds at Daymer and at Polzeath, during the six-week summer period have led to the proposed ban.
The problems came to a height in 2000 when parts of Polzeath and Rock – nicknamed Chelsea-on-Sea – saw a large number of pupils from public schools descend on the area to party.
Believed to be the first of its kind in Britain, the ban at Daymer will involve the closure of the beach by its owners. The ban will be enforced by a private security company.
Sgt Robin Hogg of Wadebridge Police Station explained the closure will be undertaken by its landowners, who include Prince Charles's Duchy of Cornwall.
This will involve the creation of a round-the-clock, six-month "dispersal area" on the beach which will mean that if more than two people are causing a disturbance they can be asked to leave and told not to return within 24 hours - or face arrest.
Letters explaining the position have been sent out to owners of letting accommodation and to public schools across the country, for whose pupils summer holidays on the Camel Estuary are almost a tradition.
North Cornwall MP Paul Tyler, who has campaigned in the past for an end to problems at Rock and Polzeath said he thought the proposals were "a realistic response".
He said the problem of 'snob yobs' along the Camel Estuary had been going on for some years.
"We have seen some improvement as a result of more effective policing and publicity, particularly with the private fee-paying schools.
"There has been vandalism, destruction of property as well as binge drinking and I'm not surprised something like this is now being looked at.
"It is a sad reflection on the behaviour of some parents who seem happy to allow their teenagers to behave in this manner, and in some cases fuel the situation by buying them the alcohol."