Kitesurfing to continue at Lancing beach

Sea lovers will rejoice as not only kitesurfing will be maintained in Lancing but now paddleboarding will be included in the new licence due to increasing popularity.

At Lancing Parish Council’s meeting on Wednesday, January 7, clerk Colin Hunt said two training schools, BN1 Kitesurfing and the Brighton Kitesurfing and SUP Academy, would like to include paddleboarding because it has ‘caught on’.

“Apparently, when the winds aren’t blowing it’s another recreation where they can just take a board and paddle. They did it last year as a trial and it’s been very successful,” he said.

However, councillor Steve Martin raised concern that paddleboarding could conflict with other recreational users.

“I have no problem renewing the kitesurfers’ licence,” said Mr Martin. “Their use of the sea was always based on the fact that other people down there don’t use the sea when it’s rough so there’s no conflict of interest.

“If we’re now going to permit something else, we’re going to put them in direct confrontation with people who want to use it for other recreational use.”

Chairman James Butcher said: “The majority of people doing it will be recreational users.”

It was agreed to renew the kitesurfing licences and paddleboarding was added.