Landslip hasclosed path

Recent heavy rainfall has destroyed steps at Ecclesbourne Glen just weeks after the footpath re-opened after a year of being closed.

Lead member for the Country Park, Cllr Dawn Poole, explained :- “We had a report yesterday that the new steps that the volunteers and rangers had installed on the coastal path down Ecclesbourne Glen had been affected by a further landslip.

“When we inspected the steps it was clear the landslip is far more dangerous and serious than we first thought. Many of the steps that we put in with the hard work of the rangers and volunteers have gone. The land is continuing to move and the area is extremely muddy.

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“Together with East Sussex County Council Rights of Way and Natural England we have decided that the path, unfortunately, is now too dangerous to remain open, especially given the further wet weather forecast and the fact that we still have a couple of months of winter weather to come. Once the weather dries up again in the spring we will obviously look at reopening the path.

“We will erect a temporary barrier but are considering installing a wooden post and rail barrier across the top and bottom of the steps, and provide signage to tell people why the path is closed.

“It is very disappointing indeed that after trying so hard to keep the path open for walkers through Ecclesbourne Glen from the East Hill we have been left with no option but to close it again.”

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