The board licensed dredging on the east sands twice in the 1950s. It granted two licences on 12 March 1953 and renewed them for four boats on 9 May 19581.

In between, the cockle beds were closed: the minute of 3 October 1956 says so, and the pier master turned two boats away that same week2. Okonjo leaves the closure out, so in her account the sands look open the whole time