A tradition started nearly 100 years ago by fishermen which sees a coastal campsite in South East Cornwall used by locals rather than tourists is being allowed to go on. 

The story of the private campsite at Sandway Beach, Kingsand, came into focus after an association of users applied to Cornwall Council for planning permission to pitch 20 tents there between April 1 and September 30 each year for five years. 

Applicant Tim Fishleigh said that the original fishermen received permission from the Mount Edgcumbe estate to camp for a small ground rate and that the third generation of the fishermen’s families still use the site. 

Climate change with the resulting sea level rises was said by the Environment Agency to present an increased flooding risk to the site.

However, councillors voted by a majority on Monday to allow the camping to continue.