Sign the petition to save Newhaven West Beach

12.30.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Mar 2008

Newhaven councillors celebrate after their successful campaign to keep the beach open in 2007.

A massive petition has been launched by councillor Carla Butler to keep Newhaven West Beach open.

Carla says: "The West Beach is very popular with local people and is used by thousands of people. The decision to close the beach yet again is a real blow for Newhaven. It has been clear for a long time that NPP want to close the beach. They have not been prepared to adequately address the health and safety issues and have chosen to prevent public access instead. When it was re-opened last year they said they would provide a warden but this was not realised. We recognise there are safety concerns, but with a bit of goodwill these could be addressed."

Newhaven MP Norman Baker says: "This is a backward step. NPP may own the beach, but the people of Newhaven see it as theirs. Of course we are in this position because the Conservative privatisation programme of the 1980s took this area out of public control. I will be strongly campaigning against the decision to close the beach."

You can sign the petition online:

http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/savenewhavenwestbeach

Download hard copies to print off and circulate and display a poster in support of the campaign:

http://www.leweslibdems.org.uk/resources/index/