West Beach defiants - Newhaven - 30.1.2014

Because of the poor state of the seawalls around this beach, the Newhaven Port Authority, run by the French ferry company, has barred its use. Newhaven residents have had it declared their village green which should give them rights over it. But it remains fenced off, but there have been protest invasions and there is now a gap through which defiant townspeople pass to walk their dogs etc. The ferry company is massively subsidized by the French authorities, who have little interest in the leisure activities of the British residents, whose authorities are not legally able to support the port or ferry, it would seem.
On the left is the East Pier, which helps to reduce the channel silting up and provides line fishing opportunities. It is of timber construction and isn't a pleasure pier. Behind that, across Seaford Bay, is Seaford Head,
March 2015 - the Supreme Court has now decided that the beach cannot be a village green!