Michael Stevens, of Lower Contour Road, Kingswear, writes:

I think there is a typographical error in Jan Henshall's letter last week.

In the phrase 'the tide always reached the bottom of the steps at high tide' the word 'always' should surely read 'rarely'.

There are 694 high tides in a year and on only 54 occasions does the height reach 5m or more when the high tide might approach the steps.

Because of the interest in the matter, I previously photographed the tide when it reached the exceptional height of 5.2m above datum. It was then about 2m short of the steps.

When the county council built the steps they would have been down to the level of the beach. However, on occasions in the past the level appears to have become eroded just below the steps, so that one had to jump down the last bit – not what the the county intended I am sure – although the beach is now back to its proper level.

Maybe it was when the beach was so eroded that the water reached the bottom of the steps.

If anyone has a photograph of the water up to the steps I would be most grateful for a copy for historical records.

But go and see for yourself. The next high spring tide is at 7.42pm on September 28 when it again reaches 5.2 m.

Some claim that land cannot be registered under the Commons Act if the land is not accessible for 24 hours a day.

I understand this is not the case as other land has been registered although parts are inaccessible due to overgrowth or after dark.

This could be something for the lawyers to debate should the application to register Lighthouse beach go forward to a public inquiry, as I hope.