Birling Gap to re-open a week ahead of schedule

Birling Gap beach is due reopen a week early after works to repair the staircase were completed.

The beach has been out of use for two months after cliff falls caused damage to the staircase, which takes visitors from the car park down to the beach.

Wealden District Council, which owns and manages the foreshore on behalf of The Crown Estate, confirmed the works had been completed and the beach would reopen to the public again from Friday, instead of from 2 May.

A council spokesperson said, "We are pleased that Birling Gap beach is opening ahead of schedule, as it allows our residents to enjoy a much-loved scenic area, especially in the great weather we are currently having."

The beach stairs have been closed since January due to the cliff erosion, which happens at a much faster rate than that of its neighbours, the Seven Sisters and Beachy Gap.

This is due to the fact that the cliffs are made of coombe rock, which is highly susceptible to erosion.

During the winter storms of 2013/14, seven years worth of erosion was said to have taken place in just three months.

The stairs had also previously been moved closer to the cliff in 2017, after "significant" erosion made them unsafe.

The council spokesperson said: "We would like to express thanks to the National Trust, RNLI and the Coastguard for their continued support and the contractors for completing the works ahead of time."

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