Naked hostility as naturists lay claim to beach

and WITH golden sands and sweeping views Vault Beach is one of the finest spots on the Cornish coast.

So much so that Richard Curtis used it as a backdrop for his 2013 romantic comedy About Time.

But its tranquillity has been shattered by reports of “naked aggression” between beachgoers and a group of naturists in the area.

The naturists, who have taken to using one part of Vault Beach, near Gorran Haven, St Austell, have been accused of wandering naked across the rest of the beach, to the embarrassment of nearby bathers, walkers and families. There are even claims some have harassed other beach users and vandalised official notices asking them to stay refrain from offensive behaviour.

Police have been called in to investigate repeated claims levelled against the naturists. Lamledra Hart Trust, which owns the beach above the high water mark, says naturists had wrongly claimed the beach as theirs, leading to clashes with other users. A spokesman said: “The problems have not arisen from peaceful lowkey nudists often with families enjoying the beach and swimming nude without causing offence to others.

“Rather, the problems have arisen from the claiming of this as a special area with hostility and threats to anyone clothed using that part of the beach.

“It is an ongoing problem for the large numbers of people who want to enjoy the whole beach without fear of harassment or feeling that the far end of the beach is a no-go area.”

Kay Lobb, of St Gorran parish council, said: “There have been a couple of less pleasant instances on that area of the beach which have upset some beach users. They’ve been brought to our attention and on more than one occasion people have got angry. Some people have been frightened.”

James Mustoe, Cornwall councillor for Mevagissey, said: “I’d ask everyone to respect the lifestyle choices of everyone else, whether they want to wear clothes or not.”