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Eastney Beach - Page 1

Planning Committee Meeting

The Planning Committee Meeting took place as detailed below and Naturists were represented by Allan Kidney.

Allan has been unwell since the meeting but is hoping to let me have a report for this page in the next few days.

In the meantime you may wish to take a look at the following report from Portsmouth Today http://www.portsmouthtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=455&ArticleID=1275606 'Rooms with a full frontal view'

A report about the proposed next steps for the campaign will also be here published shortly.

Dave Storey

6th December 2005

Planning Committee date confirmed

The outline planning application by QinetiQ (to build flats on the Fort Fraser site) will be heard on Wednesday 30 November. This will be at the Portsmouth City Council Development Control Committee meeting which will be at 2:00PM in Conference Room A at The Guildhall. BN will be speaking near the start of the Committee discussion on planning application A*26996.

As I am currently recovering from an operation my very experienced BN colleague, Allan Kidney, will travel from Welwyn Garden City to speak in my place. The meeting is open to the public, so we urge any campaign supporters to also attend and listen to how the application is dealt with. Details of the meeting, the Application, and the planning officer’s report, are all available on the Council’s website at http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/

You are probably aware that the naturist beach is outside of the planning application site. Future clothing-optional use of this beach may not be decided at this particular meeting. We expect the local media to cover the meeting, and Allan will use the opportunity to draw attention to our campaign. Once the Council decision is known on the outline planning application we shall discuss with local campaign supporters the next stage of the campaign.

Please spread the word about this important meeting to other supporters. Allan will be available to meet campaign supporters at the meeting room in the Guildhall from 1:45PM. Allan is white haired, with glasses, and will be wearing a blue BN sweat-shirt.

I, and the campaign team, look forward to your continued support.

John Paine
BN Research & Liaison Officer

25th November 2005

Planning Committee date

We have been advised by Portsmouth City Council that it is expected that the Planning Committee will be discussing the QinetiQ's Planning Application for the land at the rear of Eastney Beach on the 30th November.

However, there is a possibility that the date could slip to the 21st December if English Heritage require more time to examine the extra information that has been supplied.

Please check here about 10 days before the 30th November for confirmation of the date.

27th October 2005

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EASTNEY BEACH LATEST

There has been little news to report over the past few weeks on the Eastney Beach situation. Very many naturists have been continuing to enjoy the beach in the hot summer months, and I spoke to Dave and Jim on the beach when I visited at 5:00PM on Friday 16th September.

Meanwhile QinetiQ (the developer) were ordered by Portsmouth City Council to provide documents giving more detailed research into some aspects of the land of Fraser Range, and the environmental impacts that their proposed scheme would have. These, I understand, do not affect the basic design of the buildings and their proposed location on the land.

When the Reports were received by Portsmouth planners they then had to evaluate this additional highly technical information. With staff summer holiday, and other ongoing commitments, this has meant that the planning application could not be ready for the council's two Wednesday dates for Development Control committee in September, 7th and 28th. In fact the public hearing will not now take place in October, either.

When I spoke to Ian Parkinson, the council's case planning officer, earlier this week, Ian told me that the earliest that the Committee Report would be ready was for their November committee dates. These are 2:00PM on Wednesday 9th or 2:00PM on 30th. At present I do not know whether the full Council is likely to decide that the nature of this particular planning application will require it to have to be heard by a separate Special Council meeting.

Naturally, we still have the right to speak and make our case on the day to the Committee. At the present time this is a task falling to me as BN's Research & Liaison Officer but if any local resident would like to help by doing this (with detailed briefing and support from me) that would be great!

I shall continue to get further information from Ian Parkinson, and discuss the matter with ward councillor Terry Hall (she has already indicated support for continuing the naturist use of the beach). As well as continuing to visit both Portsmouth and the beach (several times already) I shall also look at when is the best time for us to have another open Campaign evening meeting at The White House at Eastney.

It would be helpful, even if it is an afternoon Council meeting to have naturists who support the Campaign actually present in support (in the public seats) when the Council's committee meeting is held to deal with the planning application.

John Paine

17th September 2005

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Press Review        by Rex Watson

Eastney beach was really 'in the news' on June 24 when The News (Portsmouth) devoted a highly favourable double-page spread to the Save Eastney Naturist Beach Campaign.

After some preliminary 'anguish', amusingly recounted, News reporters Elise Brewerton and Jeff Travis stripped off on the beach and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

They joined about 80 other beach-goers who had shed their clothes and were enjoying the sunshine. A dog-walker strode past, 'completely at one with nature'. Swimmers coming out of the water chatted easily with those just going in, and single women sat au naturel, 'reading Catherine Cookson novels'.

"The reason people get into naturism isn't to stare at other nudies," wrote Elise, "they are simply there to feel the warm sun and cool breeze on bits that rarely see the light of day. And with this in mind, my embarrassment, along with my clothes, fell away."

Terry Williams, 46, from Somers Town, told The News that he visits the beach up to four times a week if the weather is good. He said: "Being naked breaks down a lot of the barriers we have in society. Everyone is equal down here - you don't know who's wealthy, who's not got much money. It's very liberating. My new girlfriend has taken to it like a duck to water and we are both very open about it."

The News report outlined the threat to the beach posed by the planned new flats and commented: 'Although it is not an official nudist beach, naturists have been using it for decades and Portsmouth City Council has refused to ban them. Almost unnoticed, it has become a haven for the unclothed.' And for News reporters, apparently. Elise Brewerton wrote: "Next time I go sunbathing I will definitely head to Eastney."

If BN still awards media prizes Elise and Jeff must be leading the field for 2005.

1st July 2005

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Report of the Meeting of the Campaign Group held on the 16th June in Portsmouth

BN Research & Liaison Officer John Paine chaired a meeting of the SAVE EASTNEY NATURIST BEACH CAMPAIGN group at the White House pub in Eastney Road, Portsmouth, on Thursday evening, June 16.

Earlier, he had met me off the FastCat from Ryde and we had found a reasonably-priced curry house called The Last Viceroy. The waiter thought the last viceroy was Lord Curzon (interestingly, father of Cynthia, Sir Oswald Mosley's first wife who died tragically young). Read urn for social news. The waiter was wrong of course, by several viceregal generations, but reminded me of some doggerel about Curzon, not a man noted for his modesty.

'My name is George Nathaniel Curzon,
I am a most superior person.
My cheek is pink, my hair is sleek,
I dine at Blenheim twice a week.'

(Reminds me of Baron von Wunderkind!)

Curzon, always splendidly attired, said of himself: "If I walked stark naked down Piccadilly everyone would still look at me!"

John Paine said that this was an important meeting because the campaign group must take control of its own affairs. He himself lived in Oxford, RW (me) lived on the Island - a £40 car-ferry trip away. Local people must run the campaign, though he was always ready to advise. A member volunteered as Coordinator, though reluctant to deal with media enquiries.
Other members were equally hesitant. It was agreed that RW would deal with the media for the time being.

Much had happened since the last meeting in May. As R&LO, John Paine had written a formal letter to the City Council calling for a planning provision to retain naturist use of the beach. Local media had picked up the story of the nudist beach being under threat. RW had fielded enquiries from several news agencies. Members of the campaign group had written to Mike Hancock MP, local councillors and the press. Many campaign leaflets had been distributed to users of the beach. More of this type of activity was needed. It paid to keep up the pressure. An interesting development was support for the nudist beach from elected representatives on Portsmouth City Council. One wrote that she supported this 'harmless and healthy recreational activity'.

But some members of the campaign group felt that even if the beach was 'saved', the noise and disturbance would be intolerable while the existing buildings were demolished and the new flats built. One felt strongly that the invasion of privacy from the six-storey flats would make nudist use of the beach impossible. Should another beach be sought? For a time members discussed possible alternatives. But, eventually, everyone agreed that established naturist use of Eastney was too valuable to abandon. Eastney must be saved for naturism. The flats will dominate the naturist area. But, as someone pointed out, Eastney is quite a long beach. And only quite a short stretch is currently used for naturism...

Hmmm! Now there's an interesting thought, I reflected as I hopped aboard the late FastCat!

(John Paine adds: Further discussion later that evening led to a coordinating group of local people for the Campaign now being set up, details to follow....)

Rex Watson

EC Representative for the South

CONTACTS

19th June 2005

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EASTNEY - update 8 June

The Campaign is growing, with 18 members now on the group contact list. Last week-end the weather was unkind to us, cloudy and wet, down at Eastney Beach! Good weather Saturday 4 June for para-gliding surfboarders - scudding across the sea in the stiff breeze - but not for naturists! This did not deter several Campaign members from checking it out, hoping to meet up on the Beach, but all at different times!

Having driven down from Oxford that morning I saw two Campaign members, John and Barry, on the beach at 3.00pm Saturday 4 June - and on the rainy Sunday I visited Karen, as well as having a phone discussion with Rita.

There were no naturists to chat up on the Beach on Saturday afternoon. We sat in my car and exchanged latest information and Campaign strategy and leaflets. We discussed issues about developing the Campaign, in particular writing/emailing into the planning department and lobbying local councillors. John had been firing off letters to local Councillors, including Mike Hancock (who is also the local MP).

We now know that the key councillor on Leisure, Cllr. Terry Hall (Eastney and Craneswater Ward), is away for two weeks. It is still worth writing to her now (if you do not have her address write c/o the Civic Offices), this will swell her postbag for her return!

My BN draft letter to the Head of Planning Services was also discussed and amended. I can still take your comments on this until 12noon on Friday 10 June, as I want to finalise and post it in that afternoon. YOUR letters should also go in now.

Thursday 16 June will be another good day for the Campaign. I have now arranged to meet up with people again at Eastney Beach from 12noon - 2.00pm and from 4.30pm - 6.00pm (in the car park if bad weather). That evening we shall meet up as a Campaign Group, 7.00pm onwards at The White House, corner of Eastney Road and Goldsmith Avenue. The White House is a pub painted blue! On the day my mobile phone number is 07932 124036.

The local paper, Portsmouth Evening News, has also been carrying stories about how the prospective residents in the proposed flats will be overlooking the nudist beach. I look forward to seeing the articles - and the letters to the Editor in response from Campaign members.

John Paine BN Research & Liaison Officer

10th June 2005

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Letter
To all members of the

Save Eastney Naturist Beach Campaign

1 June 2005

Hi

THIS WEEK-END ON THE BEACH - 4/5 June 2005

This may be a bit short notice for you but I have just arranged details for me to be able to spend this week-end visiting Eastney Beach. I would very much like to see you, if possible, and, together, develop the Save Eastney Naturist Beach Campaign further.

My time-table is:

Saturday 4th

 -       drive down from Oxford

 -       afternoon on the beach

 -       6.30pm onwards at The White House pub, Eastney Road (meals available)

                   Discuss developing the Campaign further

 -       make a decision at that time about Sunday (weather forecast is bad!)

Sunday 5th

 -      depending on the weather, I may stay down overnight, to then leaflet and campaign on the beach again.

I have lots of updates to pass on to everyone, and it will be an opportunity for you to be involved in finalising the official letter to go into Portsmouth Council.

Please note that, due to my many other commitments, I shall not be able to get down from Oxford to Eastney Beach again until some time in July. However, I look forward to you keeping in touch over the next few weeks!

John Paine BN (voluntary) Research & Liaison Officer

2nd June 2005

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Report of the Meeting at Portsmouth on 26th May 2005

We had a good meeting at the White House pub in Eastney on Thursday evening. It turned out to be a welcoming sort of place which didn't mind us commandeering one end of the lounge bar for our own purposes. Decent food, too.

Thirteen people turned up, not bad for what had been little more than word-of-mouth news of a meeting. An interesting bunch of people - young and not so young, more women than men, all concerned about the future of a much-loved beach. Having spent an hour there earlier I could see why. It's a nice spot, a south-facing shingle beach with some sandy bits showing up as the tide falls. Eastney is not an 'official' beach but Portsmouth City Council maintains signs saying: 'The beach beyond this point is used by nudists'.

Much of the nudist beach is overlooked by apparently little-used former War Department buildings behind a high wire-mesh fence. It is on this site that 131 high-rise (6-storey) flats, in three blocks, are planned. Further east is the listed Fort Cumberland behind grassy earth ramparts.

John Paine, BN's Research & Liaison Officer, and RW, Regional Rep (me), had spent most of the afternoon at the Civic Offices in Portsmouth looking at plans for the site by developer QinetiQ. We had aimed to spend more time urging beach-goers to attend the meeting - but as we approached the Civic Offices entrance a fire-drill was declared and the whole place shut down for an hour-and-a-half. Luckily, I had plenty of biscuits to feed the pigeons.

A lot of work has already gone into the plans, which have probably been under discussion for more than a year. This is now a scheme which has a tentative nod of approval from Portsmouth's planning officers, though there is a long way to go before it gets final approval.

Is this stunning modern architecture? Will it enhance its surroundings? Frankly, no. It's a disaster. These three (6-storey) blocks of luxury flats are monumental grain silos dumped on the low, flat Eastney peninsula and visible for miles around. From certain angles they merge to give the impression of a grounded super-tanker. There's your maritime theme, you see. This is more than just a threat to a nudist beach. This is a threat to the English coastline. (I hasten to say that this is my highly subjective opinion. You may think this scheme is the best thing since the Torrey Canyon disaster.)

Back to the White House pub. John Paine has experience in working with people on community issues and it was interesting to see how those present responded. From an initial sense of helplessness in the face of the big battalions of planners and developers, a sense of purpose quickly emerged. All expected that efforts would be made to push nudists off the beach. John and I were able to explain that it would not be so easy to do that. There would be pressure, but it could be successfully resisted. This is a beach where 'textiles' and nudists have mingled quite happily together for years. That was a very strong position to be in and to maintain. John and I would back them up to the hilt.

So, at the end of the evening, we had an Eastney action group, determined to spread the word amongst beach users, generate support, write to councillors, local papers, and the local MP, and to generally support the well-being of this long-established nudist beach - not 'officially' designated as such, but certainly the most official unofficial beach in the country. The first shots have been fired.

SR Members' Rep Dave Storey has set up an e-mail address group for circulating messages to all interested people.

There is a link to an Eastney page on the SR website: http://www.bnsr.org.uk/ (You have found it, you are reading it DS)

Rex Watson
Southern Region Regional Representative

29th May 2005

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You are invited to a Meeting

Naturist use of Eastney Beach threatened

All interested naturists can meet with R&LO John Paine and SR Rep Rex Watson to get an update on the situation. Rex and I will be at The White House, Eastney Road (corner of Goldsmith Avenue), Portsmouth, at 7.30pm on Thursday 26 May.

Naturists have used part of Eastney Beach, by Fraser Range, for decades to get an all-over tan. Now there are concerns that QinetiQ Fraser, who are the owners of this ex-MOD land and that part of the beach, may want to stop nudists using the beach. They propose to build 131 luxury flats in three blocks overlooking the beach. QinetiQ have suggested that there will be continued use of the beach, except for “non-conforming use."

As the national Research & Liaison Officer for BN I am in discussions with Portsmouth City Council about this. My colleague, Rex Watson (BN Southern Region Officer) is in discussions with QinetiQ.

To find out more you can contact me, John Paine on 01865 513103, or email me at . Rex can be contacted on 01983 562245, or email Rex at .

John Paine
Research & Liaison Officer
Central Council for British Naturism

19th May 2005

www.british-naturism.org.uk

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Eastney Beach - Is it under threat?

It has been reported that the Ministry of Defence is selling or has sold the land behind Eastney Beach for development. It is understood that a development company from Birmingham is involved.

Information from the Local Council is that they have not received any Planning Application for the site but that they are expecting one.

The Local Council's position regarding the Naturist Beach is that it is an "Official Naturist Beach" and they are not aware of any moves to change that.

This does not mean that there is no threat to the status of the beach.
Any proposals to develop the land could initiate moves to stop the Naturist use of the beach.

In order that we can keep an eye on the situation we need a team of users of the beach who can keep a watch on the local papers etc and keep BN informed of anything that could be the start of any action to change the status of the beach.
Also if you are prepared to contact the Council etc if it becomes necessary please let me know.
The more names I have of users of the beach the better, numbers help our arguments.

So;-
are you a user of the Beach?
or do you live near the Beach?
or do you have any information about the proposed development?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes will you please contact me so that we can collect as much information as possible to defend the Naturist use of the Beach.

Dave Storey
Southern Region Members Representative.

10th April 2005

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