Another controversial planning application from the National Trust: threat to Sussex walking route

The Telegraph reports:

The National Trust is locked in a row over plans to close one of the South East’s most popular walking routes.

Ramblers have criticised the charity’s proposal to close and flood two paths on Cuckmere Haven, a walking route which runs via the Seven Sisters from Seaford to Eastbourne, East Sussex.

The plans, which are part of National Trust conservation efforts, could see the permanent closure of the riverside path to allow flooding of the western floodplain.

The main path, which carries part of the King Charles III England Coast Path, could also be restricted under plans to flood it for 173 days per year.

The charity said the proposals aim to restore intertidal habitat, increase biodiversity and improve the hydraulics of the estuary in Cuckmere.

The trust has suggested revellers use a new alternative path that would run along part of The Avenue Verte, a cycle route which links London and Paris via a ferry.

But residents have hit out at the charity, arguing an alternative route would cause collisions with cyclists and highlighting the historical significance of the paths – believed to have been coast guard or smugglers paths from the 16th century.

Chris Smith, a local representative of the Open Spaces Society, told The Telegraph: “We have discussed at great lengths the proposals from the National Trust with local walking groups and Seaford Ramblers.

“It is an incredibly popular walk, in fact it is one of the most diverse walks in the country as people all over the world have got it on their apps as a walk you can do.

“It is becoming more and more popular and the National Trust doesn’t seem to have realised this.

“What we feel the trust is doing is a major undertaking and it has not been thought out.

“I suspect both paths are old coastguard paths and smugglers paths, they could be as old as the 16th century.”

Mr Smith added: “It is going to make walking the Seven Sisters more inconvenient and throw in conflict with an iconic cycle route.

“We don’t feel their alternative options are good enough. We think the National Trust ought to go back and think again about it.

“The second path is the route of the King Charles III England Coast Path and it is a path which runs down the Cuckmere valley – which is one of the most popular areas for walking in the whole of south-east England.”

The National Trust’s planning application for the paths argues the development would “improve biodiversity” and “restore intertidal habitats to the existing reclaimed farmland”.