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30th November 2011
LYME REGIS: Council probe Beach Missionby Francesca Evans A LEADING town councillor has opposed the Christian group United Beach Missions returning to Lyme Regis this summer after receiving complaints from parents stating that they were not open enough about their religious values. Councillor Mark Gage reported at Monday’s Tourism and Advertising Sub-Committee meeting, during a discussion about seafront concessions, that both he and town clerk Mike Lewis had received complaints in summer about the United Beach Missions, which have been visiting the town for decades. The group sets up on the beach every summer to lead children’s games and teach them Bible stories and Christian values. Councillor Gage, a confirmed atheist, said people had complained that they were not open about their purpose and their evangelistic activities were not appropriate for a beach resort. He added that he did not know much about the aims and objectives of the group so had looked at their website, which states the United Beach Missions “exists to glorify God and to save souls”. Councillor Gage read some of their objectives, implying that some of the language used was of an extreme religious nature. He continued: “One of the complaints I received was that they were teaching creationism, which is amazingly ironic on a Jurassic Coast beach. They were also telling children to be wary of non-believing adults because they might be paedophiles, which I heard on one occasion. “They should operate in a more open manner so when parents send their children off to play games they know that afterwards they will be learning Bible stories from quite a hard line Christian group.” The town clerk said he would be doing research on the group following the complaints before their contract is agreed for next summer. Councillor Terry O’Grady asked whether the group paid a fee for using the beach and was told they did not. He said they used up a large section of the main beach for no fee and thought they should be moved to the shingle beach next year. The Mayor, Councillor Sally Holman, said: “First we should be looking at whether they are appropriate.” It was agreed for the town clerk to look into this before next summer. * LYME Regis Town Council discussed a number of requested seafront concessions at Monday’s Tourism and Advertising Sub-Committee meeting. Proposed concessions included a traditional candy floss cart and bungee trampoline unit, a bouncy castle, cartoon portraits and a number of water-based concessions including kayaks, paddle boards, pedal bikes, water skiing, ring-go rides and banana boats, plus water sports tuition by Boylos - the water sports shop at the Marine Parade shelters. Local resident Carl Salter also made a suggestion of creating a volleyball court next to the current beach trampolines, which would not operate as a concession but be free to all. Councillor Rikey Austin said that some were “obvious no nos”, adding that they would not fit in and she would be “uncomfortable” seeing them on the beach. She said: “Banana boats worry me somewhat but I like the Boylos idea, particularly because they’re local and would be offering training, and I like to volleyball. I don’t think we need much else. We don’t need to pack our beach.” Councillor Austin also suggested that local businesses could provide candy floss themselves and local artists could do cartoon portraits, rather than bringing in people from outside the town. Councillor Terry O’Grady said: “I don’t like the idea of ring-go rides and banana boats out in the bay. We’re in Lyme Regis not Lanzarote. It’s just too much for the space we have.” Councillor O’Grady also argued very much in favour of the volleyball court. The Mayor, Councillor Sally Holman, expressed concern about having too many water-based concessions, adding: “Boylos, yes, because they are professional and have taken into consideration safety. I don’t like the idea of seeing anything else in the water.” She also pointed out that water-based concessions were an issue for West Dorset District Council and the harbourmaster to discuss. Councillor Anita Williams said that if they were considering any water-based concessions they had to ensure they gave out strict safety guidelines, adding that the town had “never recovered” from the fatal canoe incident of March 1993 when four teenagers died. She said: “We cannot have another incident like that.” Chairman of the Strategy and Policy Committee, Councillor Mark Gage, said he would take their opinions on board. CommentsAdd new commentThe code you entered was incorrect, please try again Return to news headlines | |||||||||||||||
 
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I commend Councillor Gage for raising the issue of the United Beach Mission and their evangelical practices on the public beach during the summer holidays. As a youth I remember gently mocking them when they attempted to engage us in religious discussions. But I have grown concerned over the years as to whether parents are fully aware of the agenda being pushed onto their children by the UBM. I am also a little shocked to hear that they pay no fees for their use of the beach as they always rope off a prime spot of sandy beach for their open air evangelism. This appears to have worsened over the years as they have begun setting up volleyball nets and engaging in activities outside of their roped area. If the UBM are going to continue using Lyme then I believe such �beach creep� needs to be curtailed, as the sandy region already gets incredibly overcrowded on hot summer days. However, if creationism and biblical literalism is being promoted by this group then I feel they should be refused use of the beach altogether. As Cllr Gage points out, we live on the Jurassic Coast where evidence of evolution is all around us! As to the suggestions that non-believers may be a danger to children, well what irony considering the appalling child abuse stories that have emerged in recent years from within the Catholic Church.
Posted by Alex Cozens on 30th November, 2011
I do not live in Lyme Regis, nor have I holidayed there for some years however this article was forwarded to me by someone who was involved in the beach mission and, as a christian, I have an interest in its contents.
Personally I am sick and tired of the persecution being meted out by those who claim to be atheist who seem to revel in ridicule and petty put downs.
Surely most beach users would be aware that a mission is just that, a mission.If parents who do not share these atheistic views choose to allow their children to participate then surely actions speak louder than words.
This is a free country and that includes the right for children to enjoy themselves in a safe environment and for parents to relax in that knowledge.
Despite the strenuous efforts of Richard Dawkins and his disciples most people are not interested in an atheistic agenda and Mark Gage should learn some tolerance for others if he is to be deemed suitable as a representative for the majority in Lyme Regis in the next council elections.
Posted by Lorraine Porter on 2nd January, 2012
One thing puzzling me relates to the following paragraph : < He continued: �One of the complaints I received was that they were teaching creationism, which is amazingly ironic on a Jurassic Coast beach. They were also telling children to be weary of non-believing adults because they might be paedophiles, which I heard on one occasion.> I can't understand why children should be weary (tired?) of non-believing adults. It surely is hard to get to the truth of an issue if there is such inaccuracy in the use of words - I suppose the word 'wary' was intended here? Is it not the case that children who are in schools are told to be cautious about strangers? I certainly tell my own children (as, indeed, my mother told me when I was a child) to be cautious about engaging in conversation with strange adults - I don't see how this is anyway sinister. Regarding the perceived irony of 'teaching creationism' on 'a Jurassic Coast beach' - if it is evidently baloney, why worry?
It is apparent, from the report, that there are those on the town council who are resentful of the work that UBM does on the beach at Lyme Regis. For myself, we have made Lyme Regis our holiday destination for the past 10 years - BECAUSE of UBM. I have sat and chatted to those who have no church allegiance who have told me that the reason they, too, are there is because of the activities provided, free of charge, by UBM.
I daresay that the town council are at liberty to improve their financial position by charging organisations to 'offer' entertainment on the beach, for the holidaymakers, but whether that is RIGHT is another matter. It will be, from my point of view, a sad day when the fun and games and the stories and songs offered by UBM will no longer be available to holidaymakers at Lyme Regis, however, with such an antagonistic and mercenary set of councillors, it seems inevitable, sooner or later. I dare say we can find another holiday location for the summer, as, doubtless, will others who do not want to sit on a beach over-run with mercenary, noisy 'entertainments'. We used to go to Looe - but increasingly, areas of that (small) beach have been committed to the occupation of 'bungee' seats and swing-boats - it didn't increase its attraction to us.
Posted by T vdBroek on 2nd December, 2011
An interesting article on UBM. I'm a former UBM team member although don't speak for them a a regular holiday maker to the British coast. United beach mission is a giveaway title that this is a religious organisation and in my experience we were not a baby sitting service rather expect parents to accompany their children so there is not secret agenda that they are unaware of. The literature handed out in vast quantities details this clearly and feedback is welcomed. The suggestion of moving to the shingle beach or banning UBM would clearly deny many the free activities such as volleyball which was suggested separately at the council meeting. As for mr. Cozens who 'mocked' them in my experience I was happy to engage openly and honestly with anyone and far from being hard line most of UBM teams simply seek to point people to the bible which we believe contains the ultimate truth. Again it's easy to say Jurassic coast but creationism is widely believed in the uk and indeed in lyme Regis and evolution as described here is far from proven. Perhaps this needs some further exploration as mr cozens opinion seems as closed and hard line as UBM is alleged to be. Finally the councillor is right to raise any genuine concerns and I hope that they will consider the issue wisely considering the electorate and work constructively to accommodate positive activities in the town. Jesus said : I am the way the truth and the life. I have found this to be true. And in believing this along with UBM am totally open about it.
Posted by F hill on 2nd December, 2011
The real irony is that the Jurassic coast holds the abundant evidence of the flood which destroyed the world in the time of Noah - the evidence being the fossils of all those creatures who perished in it. There is nothing about the Jurassic coast that speaks against the Bible, God, or his creation :-)
Posted by Wesley on 28th August, 2013