Petition to re-open Newhaven's only sandy beach gains hundreds of signatures
The town's West Beach has been closed off by owners - who are based in France - since 2008.
Calls for Newhaven's only sandy beach to re-open have heightened as a petition gains hundreds of signatures.
The town's West Beach has been closed off by owners - who are based in France - since 2008.
Local woman Jamie Yaxley began the petition after questioning whether there are solutions that haven't yet been explored when it comes to re-opening the beach.
"For me, this isn’t about blaming anyone," she said.
"I understand there are genuine concerns about safety and the condition of the access route.
"What I’d like to see is everyone coming together to look at what options might be available."
Her move comes after MP James MacCleary tabled a bill in parliament earlier this year to make sure public access to the beach to only be restricted for safety reasons or harbour operations.
Speaking previously, he said:
"For 17 years, families have been locked out of our town’s only sandy beach. Parents who played there as children have never been able to take their own children there – mine included.
"That is a real loss.
“We are now seeing genuine momentum."
The MP is also talking to French counterparts and officials about re-opening the space.