The new Coalition Government have invited the British people to put forward their ideas on what laws and regulations should be done away with. The consultation website features a suggestion that the laws relating to naturism should be simplified because they are "confusing and many people... (including police and social workers) do not understand them".

'N.Smith' proposes a system where naturism is permitted on all beaches apart from town beaches and in rural areas away from towns and villages - rather like the current legal situation in Spain. This would, it is said, allow all people know it is legal (unless you are deliberately offending others) and also ensure there is provision for the hundreds of thousands who practice naturism.

The Government promise that "your ideas, comments and ratings will directly inform... policy making".

You can see the full text of the proposal and add to the forty-plus comments on the website:

http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/about_the_dialogue

http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/.../simplification-of-the-naturism-laws

After various consultation exercises and interventions by BN, Waveney District Council and Suffolk Police are seeking to clarify the situation at the formerly "official" naturist beach at Corton Sands.

In a statement issued on 28th June 2010 the Council said:

"Although the beach is no longer designated specifically for naturist use, by-laws do not prohibit nude sun-bathing and it is not an illegal activity. However other activities - for example a man deliberately exposing himself, or other obscene acts - are illegal and police will continue to take action against anyone carrying out any activity which causes harassment, alarm or distress. This also includes anyone who is abusive towards naturists using the beach."

On 27 April, 2009, Waveney District Council announced their decision to "de-designate" the naturist beach at Corton in Suffolk as from 1st November 2009. The rationale for this decision was to enable the residents of Corton Village to have access to the beach now that their beach was no longer available due to erosion.

Signs were erected near the beach stating:

"Waveney District Council advises users that as of November 1 2009 this stretch of Corton Beach is NO LONGER DESIGNATED AS A NATURIST/CLOTHES OPTIONAL AREA. All visitors are kindly asked to respect this decision and show consideration for other beach users."

At the same time WDC promised to explore potential alternative sites which might be suitable for naturists. In a consultation process WDC contacted Parish councils along the coast. They  were asked to confirm whether, in their view, they were able to recommend a site fo a new designated naturist beach within their locality.

Work is currently underway on the NUFF Guide to naturist beaches around the coast of the British Isles.

This will involve updating the information on each page and incorporating user comments from previous years into the body of the text. The work will take some time to complete, but all pages remain online in the mean time.  A new comment facility is now available at the foot of each page of the naturist beach guide, so that  visitors can add extra information, corrections, etc.