Newhaven needs breakthrough
NEWHAVEN beach, the best beach for miles around will be out of bounds for many years to come unless some agreement is made with the French owners.
Norman Baker and Carla Butler have tried their hardest to make headway in freeing up the beach but it has been a difficult task. Evidently the problem apart from costing a great deal to renovate the walls and steps, is the one of insurance claims against anyone who harms themselves due to a faulty wall and steps.
If you go to any rocky precarious place whether it be in the UK or France or anywhere else for that matter, no one talks about insurance even though hundreds of people have accidents all around our coastline.
So what is the position there? Does anyone sue the council? I do not profess to know all the answers but it seems totally wrong that a company can buy a property then let it fall into disrepair. Is there no legal ruling that says it should be kept decently.
If you go to West Wittering, they charge 5 to park in their car park to enable people to use the beach. If money is the problem with the French company, then would it be feasible to charge the same to use the Newhaven Beach? Entry could be free for foot passengers but charges for cars and motor-homes may be a start.
The French company could surely repair the steps and notices put up against the walls warning of the dangers and that no responsibility would be taken for persons ignoring this warning?
In any case, the company certainly made the beach available for a film company to make a commercial, the steps were shored up with scaffolding and a very pleasant day was had on the beach in the wonderfully hot sun a few summers ago. I know as I was there.
The people of Newhaven deserve the use of the beach, the children especially need somewhere to let off steam and so do many stressed parents.
If a car parking charge is made then the public can enjoy the delights of the beach as did the TV company.
Newhaven is dying and to see the littered streets in the town centre is depressing and shows a lack of hope for the area. Newhaven can be a delightful place, its location is brilliant and the harbour is fascinating. Surely some breakthrough can be made? After all, regarding the residents of Newhaven, surely as the ad goes – 'They are worth it'.
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Weather for Lewes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
