Hunstanton seafront trader Rebecca Terrey, who runs Kay’s Donuts, ‘gutted’ at new restriction which will stop her opening over Christmas week

A seafront trader has said for the first time in years she will not be able to serve up hot drinks and doughnuts to tourists and Christmas Day swimmers over the festive period.

That’s because officials insist that her kiosk must be moved off of Hunstanton promenade each night.

Rebecca Terrey, who has owned Kay’s Donuts for 20 years, says West Norfolk Council has told her and other seafront traders that they can have their kiosks on the promenade during the day next week, but that they must be removed by 8.30pm in a bid to protect the sea defences.

But Rebecca says that it is not possible to move her stall each night – particularly due to the hot oil, used to cook the doughnuts, within it.

“I have spent years trading at Christmas time but I’m now battling the council as they have changed their tune,” she said.

“I can’t move in the evenings, I just can’t be doing that.”

Rebecca added: “Nobody [from the council] will come to a meeting with me.”

Usual permission states that the seafront traders can operate between April and October for the summer season, along with an extra 28 days – including the period between Christmas and New Year.

“This year we were all ready to go and finish our season and then we’re told that,” Rebecca added.

Kay’s Donuts is usually located at the end of the promenade close to the Pier Family Amusements centre and behind the sea wall.

Rebecca said she was told the new restriction had come about due to the Environment Agency’s concerns about the sea defences – but she says she would know how to respond if there were alerts regarding high tides or storms, having lived and worked in the town for many years.

The businesswoman added that not only will the restrictions affect her staff due to the lack of work, but also visitors to the town.

“There would be nothing for people in Hunstanton over Christmas,” she said.

“You need something. I want to open, I want to make money and I want to support the swimmers on Christmas Day.”

One of the biggest events in Hunstanton’s festive calendar, the Hunstanton Christmas Day Swim, organised by Hunstanton and District Round Table, sees hundreds take to the icy waters to fundraise for local good causes.

Rebecca said she usually does not take home a huge amount after the Christmas Day event, as she gives most of it to her workers – a full-time manager and another staff member.

“I need to keep them in employment – one of them is a university student,” she added.

“I just wanted to go down there and be a service to people and earn money – as any business would.”

But if the council continues to insist that kiosks must be moved off of the promenade overnight, Rebecca said Kay’s Donuts will not be able to trade next week.

“We are so gutted that we cannot support the swim and the town over Christmas,” she said.

A West Norfolk Council spokesperson told the Lynn News that there have always been seasonal trading restrictions and conditions attached to planning permissions relating to the kiosks, due to flood risk issues.

The concerns relate to the risk to individuals as well as the potential for structures such as kiosks to cause damage to the sea defences if there was a particularly fierce storm or tidal surge.

These conditions have been imposed by the Environment Agency as a statutory consultee in the planning application process.

“All kiosk operators are aware of the seasonal trading restrictions and they have been contacted informing them that they do have the ability to trade for up to 28 days outside of the summer season,” the spokesperson said.

“The council has explicitly agreed that the kiosk operators can trade between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, however to comply with the planning permission, and to mitigate any potential risk to the sea defences, kiosks must be removed by 8.30pm at the end of each day.

“Knowing these restrictions, most kiosk operators have kiosks that are wheeled and can be towed away easily.

“Anyone who has chosen a less mobile kiosk has done so knowing the seasonal restrictions that apply.”