Transport concerns after thousands flock to Hastings and Camber Sands

Jonathon Stoodley, deputy chairman of Hastings and Rye Liberal Democrats, has written an open letter to Hastings mayor Nigel Sinden’s office.

He said he fears that the problem is ‘likely to become worse as the summer continues’.

In the letter, he said: “It would be very useful to know what planning and organisation may already be in place.

“We only need to mention the experiences of traffic and beach congestion already experienced on hot weekends recently in places such as Southend, Bournemouth, Brighton and Margate, reported in the national media, as well as Camber Sands and Pett Level, to see that the situation has started to become a problem.

“Litter tends to be left around overflowing bins and across pavements and streets. Facilities such as public toilets are inadequate to cope with demand and in Hastings and St Leonards the beach has sometimes been seen as being used as a public toilet.

“There have also been stories of the frustrations of those travelling have sometimes led to very anti-social and sometimes even aggressive behaviour. The issue is not a new one.

“In Hastings last summer, it took one car two-and-a-half hours just to exit a car park one evening due to traffic congestion, and that in more normal times.

“Professor Martin Marshall, of the Department of Primary Care and Population Health at University College, London has advised on the serious risks of post-lockdown overcrowding.

“At the same time, it is critically important the local economy picks up and shops, hotels, restaurants and other businesses are able to resume their trade.

“This will depend on the town continuing to be an attractive resort to be visited by a maximum number of people that the facilities can effectively manage.

“This situation would seem likely to benefit from concerted planning and management between all of the authorities concerned.

“Any policy would seem likely to require the publishing of information on what limits are set and requirements imposed to ensure (a) that visitor numbers are manageable and (b) all visitors benefit from a friendly and comfortable visit.

“I noted on a recent drive along the A21 that there is a single electronic sign that Camber is closed, but nothing more, or on any other town.

“It is not an easy issue to manage, but it seems important that some form of management be developed through widespread consultation, then to be widely published and effectively implemented. It could be useful for this to be done in combination with other south east coastal towns, and perhaps even other coastal resorts more widely, to work out the extent of common concerns and possible actions, which could lend additional force to the project.”

Read more:

Road to Camber Sands closed by Sussex Police.

Sun-seekers urged to avoid Camber Sands after thousands of cars left ‘in gridlock’ for hours.

Hastings and Rye MP ‘horrified’ at images from Camber Sands.

New plan to tackle Camber Sands gridlock problems.

Here is how Hastings is preparing for more lockdown easing and re-opening.

Hastings ‘cautiously welcoming’ back visitors to town.

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