Anger in Felpham over Summerley Estate signs

A petition has been set up to stop the Summerley Estate Management Company (SEMCO) blocking residents who live off the estate from accessing a beach – something they have been able to do for more than three decades. SEMCO said it ‘sincerely regret’ the bad feeling which has been caused and will review the decision.

Paul More has lived in Lay Road for the past 30 years and regularly uses Summerley Lane to walk his dog on the beach. He said: “They have upset a lot of people. I think they need to make some kind of U-turn. The whole thing is a real stink.”

A petition to West Sussex County Council has been signed more than 1,700 times.

Dave Smart, chairman of Felpham Parish Council, said councillors were working with district and county councillors to ‘find a way forward’.

“It’s about understanding what is being proposed. There is very little the parish council can do but I think everybody is trying to find a solution.”

The SEMCO spokesman said: “Summerley Estate has recently installed new signage at the various entrances to its estate identifying those roads and twittens which are not public rights of way.

“However, these new signs have clearly, but unintentionally, given rise to a lot of criticism from those who believe that there is an historical right of way through the estate to the beach. There was no intent to prevent foot traffic from our neighbours, but we do accept that the signs (although based on similar signs on other local estates) gave the opposite impression.

“There was never any intent to cause distress either on the estate or to our neighbours.

“However, the fact remains that the twittens, roads and verges are legally owned by SEMCO, who thus have a responsibility not only for their maintenance but also for any health, safety and public liability issues.