North East Lincolnshire bans metal detectors and barbecues

The bans will cover all council land and beaches including Cleethorpes

Metal detectors and barbecues are to be banned from council-owned land and beaches in North East Lincolnshire.

Ten new Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) are to be introduced on 1 April after approval by the council's cabinet.

Other prohibitions include lighting bonfires, digging for fishing bait and releasing Chinese lanterns.

Anyone who breaks the orders can be issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice by enforcement officers.

The original plan for a total ban on metal detectors and Chinese lanterns was amended. Both activities can still be done, but will require prior written approval from the council.

This follows a public consultation on all the proposed bans and restrictions which found high levels of support for all the PSPOs, except a complete ban on metal detecting, which was opposed by 59% to 41%.

Other restrictions include riding a jet ski too close to other water users, using council-owned land as a take-off or landing site for paragliders and parking on beach slipways.

Metal detectorists will need to apply for written permission beforehand

Conservative councillor Ron Shepherd said if the PSPOs proved successful more could be introduced.

"In Cleethorpes, we also have an internationally important habitat for wildlife," he said.

"These places are treasured by most people, but some activities can harm the environment and wildlife or put people at risk.

"We have PSPOs in place to tackle problems such as dog fouling, cycling in the pedestrian zone and anti-social behaviour."

The council said the new regulations would be soft-launched, with individuals caught breaching the restrictions initially receiving a warning, but a zero tolerance approach starting from 1 May.

Data recently released by North East Lincolnshire Council showed more than 5,300 penalty charge notices were issued between April 2022 and January 2023.