A yoga instructor has been left “heartbroken” by a council’s decision to charge her £1,000 to use the beach for classes.

Angela Brier-Stephenson has been hosting early morning sessions on the sand at West Bay in Westgate-on-Sea, which she describes as a “great way to start the day” and costs £5 a person.

But earlier this year, Thanet District Council (TDC) began inviting concessions to apply for licences to operate at beaches. This has been applied to existing businesses, including sunrise yoga classes.

The authority is charging Ms Brier-Stephenson £700 for the summer season - May to September - with a £380 estate’s fee on top.

One councillor has branded the level of payment being requested as “ridiculous” and “crazy”.

And Ms Brier-Stephenson says the charges will cripple her small business, called Another Journey Begins.

She said: “They expect me to pay them over £1,000 for something I offer out of the goodness of my heart - not a huge money-making scheme - to my local community to get outdoors, meet people and reap the benefits of mindfulness and yoga in the great outdoors by the sea.

“I don’t think the sea bed is ‘owned’ by TDC.

“I’m clearly being discriminated against for being a sole trader wanting to help my local community, boost mental health and help promote my home town of Thanet.”

Different fees have been set by TDC for different activities.

Running an ice cream van on the promenade for the summer season costs £4,750.

Fees for other food and refreshment businesses are set at £1,655 a year.

On its website, the council states: “The fees are set for each business type, and do not change by location.

“Fees will be reviewed annually and may be subject to increase at the council’s discretion.

“The council reserves the right to review and change these fees.”

Ms Brier-Stephenson, who has lived in Westgate-on-Sea since 1990 and has taught yoga there for the past eight years, added: “I feel heartbroken.

“I’m so sad - my mental health has taken a battering over this.”

Applications for licences are being welcomed on all of Thanet’s beaches with the exception of Pegwell Bay in Ramsgate and Joss Bay, Viking Bay and Louisa Bay in Broadstairs.

Cllr Reece Pugh was the cabinet member responsible for beaches, property and estates from June 2021 to May 2023, while the Conservatives were in power.

The Tory says he understands the need to charge commercial businesses for making money on the beach so that the council can recoup legal and upkeep expenses.

However, the Birchington North ward representative said: “Where things are of a wider community benefit, I do think it's important that actually the council encourages things like that, particularly from a health and well-being perspective.

“I think a £700 fee and then £380 for legal fees is ridiculous.

“If it was just that they've got to pay the legal fees, then I think that's understandable because you need to make sure that all the checks have been done, but £1,000 for a yoga instructor to hold a free session on the beach, I think, is crazy.”

He also pointed out that 6am yoga sessions are fairly non-invasive and are unlikely to result in any litter or disruption.

“In the grand scheme of activities that cause quite a lot of disruption on our beaches, this is very minimal,” Cllr Pugh added.

“The council probably needs to focus more on tackling people who litter on our beaches and dog fouling, more than trying to stop local classes from being held on the beach.

“Open space is open space, and the beaches were there before TDC existed and will be there long after TDC ceases to exist in a couple of years.”

In a statement, TDC said it is running a “pilot programme for seasonal, coastal businesses, including fitness and leisure activities”.

A spokesman said: “Seasonal licences (May 1 to September 30) cost £700 (approximately £140 per month), and the annual licence is £1,000 (less than £20 per week).

“Before setting the cost for 2025, we conducted market analysis and aligned our pricing structure with those of other councils. Applicants can choose the licence period that best suits their business model.

“We recognise that the cost of the licence may be more accessible for some businesses than others. We will assess the demand for licences, and gather feedback from licence holders, to inform the pricing structure for subsequent years.

“Businesses, including yoga instructors, trading on publicly-owned land, must submit a risk assessment, and hold suitable public liability insurance, first aid and instructor qualifications. The safety of participants is paramount, and the licensing process ensures that current regulations are met.

“Only businesses that charge people to participate require a licence. Free of charge fitness sessions or events organised by a charity do not need a licence.

“Council officers are identifying businesses operating without a licence. Business owners will be asked to apply for a licence.

“If this is unsuccessful, they will be instructed to stop operating on council land.”

Who owns beaches?

A common misconception is that all the UK’s shores are public land, with a right for anyone to ‘roam’.

This is the case in Scotland, where everyone has a right to access the beach.

But in England and Wales, all of the coastline is owned - by default - by the Crown Estate.

Much of it has then been given away or sold to local authorities such as Thanet District Council or private landlords.

Thankfully, local authorities give free access to the public in nearly all cases, but can put in whatever restrictions they feel are necessary.

This can include licensing businesses or enforcing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) for measures such as banning dogs at certain times.

TDC is not the first local authority to charge yoga instructors to hold beach sessions. Swansea Council had planned to do the same - but dropped its plans after sparking a local backlash earlier this year.

Meanwhile, in Waltham Forest, London, a group which held free outdoor exercise classes in the borough’s parks suspended the sessions last year after the local council demanded it started paying £25 per class.