DetectingWales.com

                    Not been out for a while now due to some minor health problems but decided to perhaps try a couple of hours on the sands and see how things went. First things first; renew Crown Permit.

                    Logged on to Crown Estate only to find that permits were not presently being issued and they were looking at the permits and one could continue to detect providing that one accepted the normal rules and conditions that went with the normal Crown Permit. Me thinks that they are planning to change the rules of engagement!  ;)

Watch this space then Chris.  ;D

Hemmm !!!......Thin end of the wedge springs to mind !!!....⚠....⛔....!!!

Yes here it is in black & white...
Metal detecting permit application
Metal detecting permit application - Service
We are currently looking into the metal detecting registration process and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

In the meantime, you are allowed to metal detect on Crown Estate foreshore, but must read our terms and conditions here before doing so.

The Crown Estate generally seeks to encourage access over, and responsible use of, the foreshore and as a result Crown Estate consent for non-commercial metal detecting on the foreshore will not incur a charge.

Seabed Metal Detecting

At present The Crown Estate does not grant permits for the sea bed as the Treasure Act does not apply below the foreshore.

Finds above the low water mark are generally the property of the landowner, unless classified as Treasure. Wreck on the seabed may still legally belong to a third party, therefore we recommend that any finds, particularly whilst you are diving or snorkelling, are not removed and are reported to English Heritage and the Receiver of Wreck.

https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/rural-and-coastal/coastal/metal-detecting/metal-detecting-permit-application/terms-and-conditions/ (https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/rural-and-coastal/coastal/metal-detecting/metal-detecting-permit-application/terms-and-conditions/)

Sounds quite positive to me Kev. Maybe they've decided we're a load of unimportant cranks.
On the other hand maybe they have finally decided they might make a bob or two. Time will tell.
Taking into account the shortage of funds and staff I'd say they're better off ignoring us.

I'd agree with Val, I can see a small fee being added for the issue of them, like the port of London Permits for the Thames foreshore.

                        I think in the meantime, keep a copy of your last permit plus a copy of the site statement in your pocket when detecting on the beach. I'm betting that they also dictate some extra conditions to issuing the permit.  ::)