THERE are fears visitors are going into the sea off Winterton Ness unaware of the dangerous currents swirling around it.

Temporary signs giving general advice people to take care have been posted in several locations approaching the beach after the death of a woman in the water in July. 

But people have regularly been seen swimming off the spit since then.

A planning application has been lodged to bring back the Coast Watch station to a new spot just north of the Beach Road car park. But it’s unlikely new permanent signs will be installed until planners have granted permission.

Borough councillor James Bensly told the Winterton Newsletter: “We have all options open at the moment but are waiting to have the planning application approved for the new coast watch building, then working with the team there to deploy signage and wording with their guidance and knowledge.

He said he wanted to get the new signs installed in their locations, although they might have to be delayed until spring next year. “But that’s a conversation to have with the team and we will work/implement accordingly.”

The plan is to put up warning signs on accesses to the beach, including the diamond gap close to the ness, along with a wind sock. 

Winterton Newsletter columnist Kenny Chaney, who has fished the waters off Winterton for decades and has hauled people from the sea in the past, is backing the call for signs to be put up as a matter of urgency.

The spit where it’s understood the woman went into the sea is the most dangerous place, even when it’s calm. “The Ness is not to be played with,” he said. “You could be an Olympic swimmer, it doesn’t make any difference.”

He explained the currents ran in different directions and one minute you could be standing in two feet of water, a few yards further out it could be 12 feet. “You must be very aware of rip tides and strong currents, no matter how inviting the water looks.”

Nowhere on the sea was safe, although the area in front of the car park and south was alright as long as people took care. But he said if someone did get into trouble, once the alarm was raised and even though crews responded fast, it could take 10 to 15 minutes for the lifeboat from Hemsby to arrive.

As reported in last month’s Winterton Newsletter, 30 years ago there were large wooden signs over Beach Road and on the beach itself, indicating the danger area. When one collapsed and the other became irrelevant they were not replaced. In the years since the risk has moved around half-a-mile north but it has not gone away.

Kenny believes one of the reasons there have been fewer deaths in recent years is that the beach is not as busy as it was in the 1970s. But this part of the coastline was once notorious for drownings. One victim commemorated in his own churchyard here is Rev Clarence Porter who died of a heart attack after rescuing a drowning child.

The latest victim, a woman in her 60s, was recovered from the water near Hemsby following a two-hour search by lifeboat crews and the Coastguard. On the same day they were called out to rescue two young girls who had drifted out to sea on an inflatable

The Coast Watch station, which had to be taken down from its location at the old entrance to the car park earlier this year because of erosion, is set to return as a mobile unit mounted on a trailer, which means it can be moved back if needed.

It already has backing from Cllr Bensly. He said: “This lifesaving emergency service and its team are needed in this village as soon as possible.”

Anyone who sees a swimmer in trouble in the water should call the Coastguard on 999.