CONTRARY to media reports, Winterton beach has not been washed away.

It has had another hammering, thanks to the Beast from the East, but we do still have a large expanse of sand, as our picture, taken today, shows clearly. The old tank traps in front of the cafe are also still in place.

Confusion has been caused by a news report showing photos of a section of beach to the north of Winterton at Somerton Holmes towards Horsey. That has been damaged and is down to the clay.

The cafe and car park are operating their normal opening hours and there is still access to the beach from the dunes.

This winter has been tough on Winterton, with storms and very high tides causing a severe setback in the battle against erosion. But with the worst of the season’s weather and expected high tides now past, the hope is the beach will have a chance to recover a little.

Chairman of the parish council Eric Lund said: “Although there is obviously concern for the café and car park, especially from the owners, we are assured by all the agencies involved, (as far as one could with nature), that there is no immediate danger to the village and besides monitoring the situation closely they are also mounting a study into the whole area.

We have had much worse cases in the past, notably 2004 when the Low road was flooded and 1937 when it was possible to row a boat from Winterton to Somerton but it has always recharged itself. 

The main beach is still safe if avoiding the netted areas and the concrete blocks and taking care on the drops in the sand levels.” he said.

“There’s actually tons of beach there,” one local who was on the sand at low tide this afternoon said. “The beach has built up naturally before, so it may do so again.”