The battle for a French-owned beach...in Sussex: Moment teenagers scale fence to cool off in the sea - after firm stopped locals using it for 18 years

Published: 13:34, 27 June 2026 | Updated: 13:47, 27 June 2026 This is the moment a group of teenage boys trespass onto a beach owned by a private French company that blocked public access almost 18 years ago. The boys climbed over a security fence and cheered as they sprinted down the sandy beach and into the sea to cool down as temperatures soared beyond 33C. The incursion came just days after up to 100 sweltering residents cut through a padlock on the metal gates and invaded the beach. It was a quintessential seaside scene that had not been seen at this beach for many years.  Children and their parents built sandcastles, enjoyed picnics and lazed in the sun while other people splashed happily in the waves. Sussex Police said it received a report of dozens of people gaining access at 11.45am on Sunday, June 21. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, five local boys, aged 14, managed to climb around security fencing and onto the sand. They said the beach was ‘lovely and sandy’ and said they were within their rights to enjoy it. West Beach in Newhaven has been closed to the public since 2008 when the owner, Newhaven Port and Properties Ltd erected fencing.  Newhaven Port and Properties Ltd, which is itself owned by a French public body, deemed the beach unsafe for visitors. The group of teenage boys were spotted trespassing on Newhaven Beach, which has been closed to the public for almost 18 years The group of teenagers celebrating after climbing the sandy fence erected by Newhaven Port and Properties Ltd The French owned firm has closed the beach, which is one of the only types of its kind in the area, after deeming it unsafe for visitors  And despite an outcry and a campaign by local residents, it has remained off-limits ever since.  The sandy beach is one of the only ones of its kind in the area.  Razor wire mounted on top of padlocked gates bar one access point, while another has a padlocked gate and spear fencing. Signs around the fencing warn: ‘Unsafe structure’ and ‘Strictly No Admittance’ and urge parents to supervise children on the quayside. At one time, local Linda Allen spent many happy childhood summers on the shore before it was stripped away from the public.   ‘I think it’s shocking that our coastline can be carved up by a foreign company, which is allowed to take away something that was part of the community,' she said.  ‘I spent lovely summers down here with my parents and brother, and then, when I was older, as well.  'There was a candy floss stall, amusements like dodgems and people would sunbathe all day. It’s such a shame it no longer happens.’ Her brother Peter Allen, 68, from nearby Seaford, lambasted the issue as 'outrageous' before calling for it to be returned to public use.   ‘It’s outrageous really. I don’t think it’s right at all. It should be returned to public use. ‘They say it was dangerous but that’s just rubbish. It’s more dangerous now because the steps to the beach haven’t been maintained.’ The beach was created in the late 19th century during the construction of Newhaven’s western pier and is technically artificial. The beach is therefore allowed to be the property of a foreign-owned authority, as it does not fall under the Crown Estate, National Trust or Ministry of Defence.  And this is the case for most of Britain's coastline.   Unstable sea defences and high waves caused by ferries are among a number of reasons given by the French-owned company for why public access to the beach has been restricted. Phil and Judy Hobbis, who were visiting from Lewes, said it was ‘shocking’ that a private company could take possession of part of the British coastline. Judy said: ‘It shouldn’t be allowed. It would be such a lovely public amenity if it were allowed to open. If it was properly managed and looked after I can’t see what the problem would be.’ Phil said: ‘It’s the only bit of sandy beach on this stretch of the coastline for many miles and it is not right that it should remain shut.’ Americans, Wendy and John Lechner, who now live in London, said the potential for the beautiful spot, which sits beneath the Napoleonic Newhaven Fort, was ‘enormous.’ Wendy, originally from New Jersey, said: ‘It could be so great and I feel for the residents who are deprived of it. It’s not fair.’ John, originally from Chicago, said: ‘I think a stronger word like ‘outrage’ would be more appropriate in this case. There is so much potential for this area and the beach is lovely.’ Phil Hobbis said it was ‘ironic’ that under a Napoleonic fort built to keep the French from invading sat a beach owned by a French firm. World War II fortified pill boxes, built to defend the UK from the Germans, also look down onto the 100 yards of sandy beach. Kelly Shephard, a carer from Brighton, said: ‘It’s strange that a foreign company should be allowed to have the last say on a British beach. ‘I would support the campaign to open up the beach to the public again. It’s lovely and with a little refurbishment, I’m sure it could be made perfectly safe.’ Local politicians have also been campaigning to reopen the beach. James MacCleary, local Liberal Democrat MP, has campaigned to reopen the beach. He said: ‘West Beach is not just a strip of sand, it is part of Newhaven’s history, its identity and its community life. For 17 years, local families – including my own – have been denied access to a beach where generations once swam, played and made memories. That cannot be right.’ The beach has remained off limits to the public despite an outcry over denial of access to the shore (Pictured: The teens near the fence) As the beach is technically artificial, it is allowed to be the property of a foreign-owned authority (Pictured: The boys on the beach) Last month, MacCleary introduced a bill in Parliament calling for public access to Newhaven West Beach to be restored. But he has emphasised that he does not wish the closure of West Beach to be turned into an ‘anti-French issue’. He said: ‘My West Beach Bill is about fairness. It is about standing up for a community that has been shut out of its own seafront for far too long. Of course safety and harbour operations matter. But they cannot be used forever as a blanket excuse to keep people away from a much-loved public amenity.’ Brian Stace, 64, who fishes from the area, said: ‘I was here at the weekend and the kids were having a great time. It was like how it used to be and I think depriving people of a traditional British seaside experience is wrong. It should be opened up again.’ In a statement, NPP said: ‘West Beach has been closed on safety grounds since 2008. Access to the area remains dangerous and is restricted with security measures and clear warning signage to protect public safety. Forcing entry into a restricted area is a criminal offence and places those involved at risk of serious injury. ‘As the organisation responsible for managing the site, we have a duty to put public safety first and ask everyone to respect the restrictions that remain in place.’ The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.