Lib Dem campaigners hand in petition from thousands of local people

10.30.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 16th Jul 2008

Newhave town council leader Judith Ost, and local County Councillor David Rogers hand in a petition to East Sussex County Council to support the reopening of the West Beach.

Newhaven Lib Dem councillors handed in a petition with thousands of signatures, to the Chairman of the County Council last week, demanding action on the West Beach.

Newhaven County Councillor David Rogers says: "Local people and visitors have shown their overwhelming support to get the beach reopened. It is the only sandy beach for miles around and it is sad that children have missed out on using it this summer. The County Council must listen and take the necessary action, working with others, to get the beach reopened."

Lib Dem campaigners are pushing for the beach to be given 'village green' status. Newhaven Town Council and voluntary groups will now collect evidence that the beach has been used as a community resource by local people, and submit this evidence to the County Council.

Leader of the Lib Dem Town Council, Judith Ost says: "We are working as a town council to get the beach reopened. Unfortunately its not going to be a quick process. We need to gather a lot of evidence to make sure this is a convincing bid. It will then be up to the County Council to decide whether it should be granted village green status."