Lined with chalky white cliffs and grassy banks, Newhaven West Beach in East Sussex was once a bustling seaside destination. However, the beach has been closed to the public by its owners, Newhaven Port and Properties, since 2008 after being deemed unsafe for visitors. Issues such as crumbling walls and high waves were cited as making it 'dangerous' for public access, according to Time Out.
New Bill Aims to Reopen Beach
A new bill being introduced to parliament may soon change this situation. Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary is championing the Newhaven West Beach Public Access Bill, which seeks to open up the beach through a right of access. This would also enforce the creation of safe routes to the sandy shores.
MacCleary emphasised that the beach 'is not just a strip of sand' but a significant part of local history and community. He added: 'For 17 years, local families – including my own – have been denied access to a beach where generations once swam, played and made memories. That cannot be right.'
History of Protests
Since the closure in 2008, there have been numerous protests. In 2015, townsfolk were reported to scale fences to use the stretch of land and hold 'protest picnics' on the sand. The Supreme Court later ruled that West Beach could not become a village green, meaning it would remain fenced off under the instructions of its owners, a joint venture of French local authorities. This ruling followed a campaign by local residents to register the beach as a village green for unrestricted access.
In 2014, around 300 people stormed the fence surrounding the beach. The group gathered as low tide exposed the sand, using ladders to climb over the barricade. They then ran onto the beach to spread Union Jack flags and write messages in the sand, including: 'Give us our surf beach back.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Newhaven Port and Properties for comment on the new bill.
