After twenty years of the current flood defence scheme, the need to continuously shore up and move the shingle around Seaford Beach is now starting to cause widespread local concern in it’s accessibility and safety for users.

In short, Seaford Beach is a shadow of what it once was and is undoubtedly now starting to undermine both Seaford’s and the wider Lewes District’s future economic prosperity.

Seaford Beach has no artificial protection from the full fury of the sea, and due to Newhaven West Arm blocking replacement shingle from the west, is slowly but continuously losing shingle. This means that at least twice every year huge diggers and lorries are brought in to try to reshape the beach at considerable and increasing year on year cost.

Jason recently visited the beach to see for himself the problems.

Jason said “It was really helpful to see the beach problems and talk to local people who are very concerned about the future of the beach. It is becoming hazardous now for users and often parts of the beach are so steep it cannot be used by swimmers, fishermen and walkers easily and safely. My concern is that unless a proper long term solution is found someone could be trapped or injured. It is a nonsense to employ huge diggers and lorries at least twice every year to try to reshape the beach. This strategy should no longer be considered acceptable.”

Jim Skinner, a resident of Newhaven and Seaford for over 45 years, who has taken a great interest in the beach problems, particularly over the past few years, explained the problems to Jason. He explained that the beach now consists of two parts. A top compacted unwashed part used twice a year by diggers and lorries as a means of moving the shingle around, and a mobile lower part. Each is separated by a steep escarpment which only the fittest can safely negotiate. The elderly and young families in particular are increasingly finding it hard to use the beach in safety.

Unless a more permanent and robust sea defence strategy can be found it will always be necessary for shingle repositioning and replacement to be undertaken at an ever-increasing cost.

Jim has started a petition calling for a proper investigation into the problem to find a cost effective safe solution, which returns the beach to an all year around community amenity it once was. The petition already has in excess of 1100 signatures. Jim said “I am very pleased that Jason and local Conservative Councillors responded so quickly and positively to my request to become involved in this issue which is so important for Seaford.”