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Fraisthorpe Beach 'Incident'
Update 07/08/06 by John Wymark-Hoar
Readers of NUFF will be aware already of an incident last week when a woman walking to the south of the beach at Fraisethorpe traditionally used by naturists for over fifty years, was approached by a naked man. She clearly felt threatened and harrassed by his behaviour and made a complaint to the police reporting the matter also to the local newspaper, indicating that it was her intention of starting a petition to prohibit nudity on the beach
While as yet we do not know the full details of the incident, its report has sparked off a considerable debate and I wanted to update everyone using NUFF as to the current situation.
You will be aware that Fraisethorpe beach has been the subject of great endevours by British Naturism over the years to secure it's continued use as a naturist venue, albeit an unofficial one, on behalf of all nude users of the facility. Along with Coast and Country we made every effort to convince the local authority to continue the "official" status some years ago, sadly without success.
Subsequently BN has continued to make every effort to combat the various attempts to intimidate nude beach users from visitiong. The stance of the local Council is that as they lease the foreshore from the crown, as such are entitled to deny nudists the use of the beach and erected various signs to that effect. These, of dubious legality, did however put off many, especially families from attending but it should be noted that their case has never been tested in a civil action and it is doubtful if the signs are anything more than a bluff. The local police have confirmed that they do not view naturism per-se as a matter for them and this was clarified in the 2003 Sexual Offences Act. They do however reserve the right to investigate any legitimate complaint, which might well come from a member of the naturist public.
The news item of last Thursday (3rd August 2006) related the unfortunate woman's experience and I immediatly contacted the "Bridlington Free Press" to clarify the situation. Since then I have had considerable liason with their chief reporter who intends running another full article in this weeks edition opening the debate about naturism at Fraisethorpe more generally. So far he appears sympathetic to the legitimate and quiet enjoyment of naturism at the beach and is aware that the nude pound is a significant and much needed source of revenue in the town. He is also aware that many local residents use the beach.
It is true to say that naturism at Fraisethorpe has suffered from "our" beach being geographically adjacent to a well known "dogging" and "cruising" area (situated further to the south of the nude area towards Barmston and around a small stream entering the sea at that point).
In the past and possibly on this occasion (as I am unconvinced that the man in question is a naturist - When do naturists persistently accost clothed users of the beach?) we have suffered from being blamed when the more "horizontal" activities become blatantly practiced under the gaze of passing dog-walkers and those exercising horses. It was these very activities, enjoyed by those exhibitionistically inclined that lost us the "official" status in the first place and there was a danger that we were again last week going to be blamed.
I am making every effort to both secure the beach for naturist use, to disabuse any misguided assertions as to naturists being involved in the sort of activity complained about and hope for the support of all nudists, whether BN members or otherwise in this.
Please help by reporting any negative behaviour and keeping me informed should any official body take it unto themselves to act against or reprimand nude beach users. We do occasionally have problems from over enthusiastic HM Coastguard officials and constables new to the beat, unaware of the law!
Lastly but not least; if anyone has to go to the beach for those "other" reasons, please confine your activities in a discrete and discreet fashion to the well screened section by the stream and don't do anything sexual on or near the beach. The police are well aware of the "goings on" there and will probably leave you well alone if you are sensible.
Keep using Fraisethorpe beach sensibly. Last week there were aproximatly 200 people, families and nudists of all ages using the beach. Let us keep it that way.
John Wymark-Hoar
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