A 17-YEAR campaign to reopen a sandy beach shut by FRANCE in a UK seaside town has taken a giant leap forward.
The popular beach was closed to the public by a French-based company in 2008.
Protesters are becoming increasingly “angry and frustrated” at the decision, according to the local MP.
But talks are now ongoing between officials in the south of England and northern France on how residents can be granted access to West Beach in Newhaven after the 17-year row.
The beach was closed by Newhaven Port and Properties (NPP), which owns the port in the town.
The company maintains it is “too dangerous” to reopen the beach, which sits at the bottom of the cliffs and below Newhaven Fort.
NPP says this is because the beach is part of the working area of the port, with large ferries regularly making the journey between Newhaven and Dieppe.
Mass trespass
Campaigners have fought for years to have the beach reopened – with a “mass trespass” of the area taking place in 2014.
Dozens of protesters used ladders to climb over a fence to access the beach.
They were also reportedly joined by two campaigners from France.
At the time, a spokeswoman for the group said for over 100 years they had “used this beach safely and sensibly”.
The spokeswoman added NPP was showing them “nothing but the deepest contempt in not even replying to any pleas that we’ve given them”.
The mass trespass followed a successful Court of Appeal ruling that East Sussex County Council could register it as a village green.
The judges said this was because it had been used by the public for 20 years.
However, NPP appealed, with the Supreme Court ruling in the company’s favour in February 2015.
Ongoing fight
Since then, campaigners have kept up their fight, which has also been taken up by local Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary, who lives in the town.
He is now working with the Mayor of Dieppe on plans to reopen the beach after they met at a war memorial service in Newhaven last month.
It comes after Lewes District Council’s planning committee approved proposals to build a new restaurant and outdoor play area near to West Beach last year.
The project is part of a £7.5 million revamp of the town, which includes an outdoor gym near the area and upgraded facilities for children.
The meeting with the Mayor of Dieppe came just weeks after James met senior management at NPP – with the firm stating there was “no prospect” of it reopening.
“It’s part of our local culture and history and to have it shut off to us is a source of frustration and there is a lot of anger locally,” James told the BBC.
He said hopes the two towns can now work “closer together” to allow residents to use the beach in the future.
“I’m going to keep that dialogue going [with the Mayor of Dieppe] and I think there are some opportunities there.
“There’s a lot more open-mindedness and a better attitude to what the future might look like for the beach.”
The Sun has approached Newhaven Port and Properties for comment.