The West Beach - Village Green

* LATEST NEWS - EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL HAVE DECIDED THAT A PUBLIC INQUIRY SHOULD BE HELD TO HEAR EVIDENCE AND LEGAL ARGUMENTS CONCERNING THE APPLICATION.  THE DATE OF THIS IS STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED*

Newhaven Town Council is making an application to East Sussex County Council to give the Town's West Beach "Village Green" status. The sandy beach was closed at the beginning of 2008 by the owners Newhaven Port and Properties (NPP) on the grounds of health and safety. The French owned company say that the walls are in a dangerous condition and the beach has been closed for public safety. However, if Village Green status is granted NPP would be forced to open the beach back up to the public.

Village Green status is granted if local residents can prove they have used an open area as of right for activities such as kite flying, dog walking, picnicking and sporting activities for at least 20 years.

Throughout the summer of 2008 the Town Council was busy gathering evidence from local residents to support the application. Over 1,000 people filled in initial forms stating that they had used the beach and from these 60 people then filled in more detailed evidence questionnaires and agreed that, if necessary, they would be willing to appear in person to corroborate their evidence at any public inquiry that may be held. About 300 family photos taken on the beach between the 1930s and 2008 were brought in to the Town Council offices, where they were scanned, printed and made into an album of photographic evidence accompanied the application.

Once all the evidence had been gathered, the Town Council put together a 14 page Statement of Facts, which has been submitted with the application. The application itself, a legal document, has been filled in by the Town Council's solicitors.

The application was submitted to the County Council on Tuesday 16th December 2008.