UK: Residents banned from beach have it declared a ‘village green’
8th October 2010
The French owners of historic Newhaven port closed the town’s pristine West Beach in February 2008, claiming it was a health and safety hazard.
Campaigners launched a legal battle against Newhaven Port and Properties (NPP) to get access to the fenced-off shoreline, which is the only sandy beach in the area.
Now a planning inspector has ruled the stretch of sand should be classed as a village green, meaning locals would have the right to use it.
Even though the beach does not have grass, a piece of land that has been used by a town’s inhabitants for more than 20 years can legally be registered as a village green.
Ironically, the beach is overlooked by a famous 19th century fort built to fight off a possible French invasion.