SEA coalers will soon be allowed to once again legally access beaches in Hartlepool.

There was controversy in the town early last year when Hartlepool Borough Council banned motorised vehicles on the beaches making it much harder for the town's 19 'coalers' to collect washed up coal and sell it on.

The authority relaxed the ban last April but in a significant move, councillors have now backed the introduction of annual licences of the sea coalers' vehicles.

It is almost certain that the licences will clear up a potential problem between the council and The Crown Estate who own the beaches. The council lease the beaches but the Crown Commissioners wanted to impose a term of the lease banning vehicles from the sands.

Under the new proposed deal, backed by councillors on the Neighbourhood Services Committee following a provisional agreement with the Crown Commissioners, the coalers would pay £50 a year to the Crown Estate for the right to drive on the beach in return for a variation on the lease.

Cllr Marjorie James said: “I am pleased that the council has been able to reach provisional agreement with the Crown Commissioners to vary the existing lease agreement to allow sea coalers to access beaches legally. This is a long-running issue and it is nice to reach a conclusion that the sea coalers themselves are happy with.

“Sea coaling is a long-standing tradition in Hartlepool, with successive generations of some families being involved in the trade.

“It is reassuring that under the terms of the licensing scheme members of the public and the sea coalers themselves will have insurance protection should anything untoward happen."