North East Lincolnshire Council is reminding people to respect the unique environment and keep safe on the beach this bank holiday.
Beach visitors need to be wary of the mudflats, sand banks and fast rising tides along large stretches of the beach.
Scott Snowden, Cleethorpes Resort Manager, said:
“The estuary mud along our coastline is dangerous. Please avoid it.
“Our resort management officers regularly rescue people who get stuck in the mud after walking too far out from the beach. Resort officers are placing signs on the beach daily to alert the public to stay away from dangerous areas. If you do find yourself getting trapped in mud, please do not panic, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
“Our advice is stick to the sandy parts of the beach to avoid getting cut off by the incoming tides.
“While the resort management officers are here to help when problems arise, we need people to be mindful of the dangers and take extra care to keep themselves out of danger.”
Beach dog ban
Dog owners are reminded that dogs are banned from the main tourist beach from Good Friday until the end of September.
Enforcement officers patrol the beach regularly. All officers wear uniform and carry an identification card.
Dog walkers will be fined £100 if they take their dogs on the restricted section of beach between those dates.
Signs with information about the restrictions can be found at the main entrances to the beach.
In addition to the ban on dogs on the beach, a borough-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) covers not picking up dog mess, not carrying the means to pick up after your dog and to put your dog on a lead when told to do so by an authorised officer.
During May, any dog walkers found not carrying a bag or other means to pick up after their dog will be given a verbal warning and from June onwards, they will be fined £100.
Report dog mess problems to the Council using an online form at www.nelincs.gov.uk/dog-mess.
Officers will also fine people they see dropping litter in the resort and other parts of the borough.
Cleethorpes has more than 60 litter bins along the Promenade – including newly installed recycling bins and sets of extra-large bins near Ross Castle.
Look after wildlife
Dog walkers visiting other sections of the beach are advised to stick to the main footpaths and to keep their dogs under control so they don’t disturb nesting birds.
Cleethorpes Beach is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to a number of rare habitats and bird species.
Wildlife along the stretch of coast can be disturbed by dogs, which can cause distress to and damage the health of the birds living on the beach.
Several species of birds make their home in the salt marsh, including oystercatchers and bar-tailed godwits. A number of these birds are internationally important and have special protected status.
Most people respect the area but a minority are causing a nuisance and disturbing the rare birds as they roost.
PSPO
A fixed penalty notice can (FPN) be issued to any person who breaches a PSPO, giving them an opportunity to avoid prosecution by paying a fixed penalty of up to £100.
FPNs are issued as part of North East Lincolnshire Council’s contract with Doncaster Council.
Anyone found guilty of an offence in the Magistrates’ Court is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level three on the court’s standard scale of fines (currently £1,000).
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