Who's fault is this? Newhaven Port may close

[adrian29uk]

I have to blame the council for this. Sounds like the french want to develop the port and beach which has only got to be good for Newhaven in the end. The council has decided to take the French to court for not opening the beach.

The beach was initially closed due to health and safety reasons. What's your take on this?

BBC News - Dispute over beach closure threatens Port of Newhaven

If Newhaven does lose the ferry it could possibly to stop any future development.

 

[vegster]

The French are unwilling to pay to do the H&S work needed to open it up, pity as it used to be good fishing off the West arm

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Undoubtedly the fault of the Lib Dem council, who seem to think that confrontation, rather than negotiation, is the way to get what they want. Typical of that lot - as we well know, they just love POSTURING.

The fact that the people of Newhaven and district all want the beach to re-open is no excuse for failing to talk sensibly to the port owners.

It's the best beach for miles, imho.

 

[Colossal Squid]

Can't they just fence off the dodgy wall and erect signs saying "we accept no liability for people who f*** about on this beach"?

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

Lord B obviously has local knowledge, but whoever is to blame, it's a right pain. I am a keen birdwatcher, and the jetty at Newhaven was a very useful place to get one's numbers up early in the year (anorak I know, but you get Purple Sandpipers on the jetty, which were very easy to see, you get them on the East Pier, but not nearly so easily). We still get to see the Fulmars on the cliffs but it's a bally nuisance not being able to go anywhere else. Why can't the council just talk to the owners? I've just outlined my annoyance, which is trivial compared to the effect the loss of jobs could have. Get round the table!! Mind you, why do the residents of Newhaven keep electing Liberal Democrats? I thought the town had a Labour tradition.

 

[adrian29uk]

Its just been on the news if anyone saw it. Newhaven Town Council need to stop this stupidity. By the sounds of it, the French have at least got some plans to make things better for the port.

Newhaven is now a dead town, and has been for a good few years. Last thing we need is the ferry going as well. If the Ferry did go, I just cant see any other company coming in to take on that route.

 

[Barnham Seagull]

Lib Dem Council, Lib Dem MP theres your answer.

Busy body numties with a large sence of self importance.

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

Cameron,
Tory Scum.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

The 'West Beach' is actually a spending beach which should take the impact from the wash caused by the coming and going boats. It for all intents and purposes is a working part of the Port, which the Health and Safety Executive have advised that the Port keep shut (even if safe) being operational land. The Town Council subsequently applied to make the land a village green which if approved opens the Port up to all sorts of liability. The Port, as a peace seeking measure, offered the TC a contract whereby the TC take on the liability, as long as the TC removed the village green application. The Port were meant to meet the TC to discuss this but before this could happen Norman Baker went out to the press claiming that the Beach will reopen for Summer, which has led to the situation which now exists. The TC refuse to withdraw the village green application and its simply not worth the risk for the Port.

The Port do have really forward thinking plans with support from the Council so it is all a bit of a SHAME.

 

[beorhthelm]

reckon the french owners must be calling the councils bluff, as it cant be worth their while shuting up shop. they'll just sell up worse case.

 

[Working class pride]

its nobodys fault. Thankfully the world does not stand still. Newhaven port and the docks were there for a reason - ut was the old London to Paris train route, with the boat taking people accross the channel. Also the docks were and still are a working docks, that my grandad worked on. But sice dover was the faster way accross the channel and then with planes at Gatwick and now with t tunnel, the old London, Newhaven, Dieppe Paris route is just not used. Its not anyone's fault. Its good that there are better ways of getting to Paris, not good for newhaven but good for the customer and its the customer that is important.

 

[porkypie]

Norman bakers!

 

[Jackthelad]

I like Norman Baker there i said it.

Newhaven is a dump no money should be spent on it and all the rubbish from Brighton should be dumped in Gibbon Road.

 

[mona]

its nobodys fault. Thankfully the world does not stand still. Newhaven port and the docks were there for a reason - ut was the old London to Paris train route, with the boat taking people accross the channel. Also the docks were and still are a working docks, that my grandad worked on. But sice dover was the faster way accross the channel and then with planes at Gatwick and now with t tunnel, the old London, Newhaven, Dieppe Paris route is just not used. Its not anyone's fault. Its good that there are better ways of getting to Paris, not good for newhaven but good for the customer and its the customer that is important.

Agreed (I can remember it being the fastest train/boat trip between London and Paris) - but the crossing still offers Normandy as a lovely part of France for tourists and Dieppe as well placed for lorries heading west and south-west.

As for Lewes DC, what do you expect?

 

[newhaven seagull 85]

Can't they just fence off the dodgy wall and erect signs saying "we accept no liability for people who f*** about on this beach"?

bloody be clever to do that the arm has holes in it the size of double decker buses

 

[btnred]

good idea totally blot on thw landscape, they should close the whole place down

 

[Lord Bracknell]

But sice dover was the faster way accross the channel and then with planes at Gatwick and now with t tunnel, the old London, Newhaven, Dieppe Paris route is just not used.

The great advantage that Dieppe - Newhaven offers the long distance haulier (eg fruit importers from Spain) is that the crossing time slots very effectively into European drivers' hours regulations, allowing truck drivers to use the route, take their statutory rest break while on the ferry, and then continue their journey. The Calais routes (either by ferry or Eurotunnel) are too quick to allow that to happen.