The much-loved Undercliff Walk needs an upgrade, and the Conservatives at Brighton & Hove City Council are putting forward a local plan to improve the facilities and infrastructure along the route and boost its status.

The Undercliff Walk covers a significant section of Brighton & Hove’s coastline, is a big asset for our City.  It unites the communities along the eastern seafront, providing 3 miles of uninterrupted leisure space east of the Marina.

It runs from behind Asda in Brighton Marina to the Brighton & Hove City boundary at Saltdean marked by the last rock groyne.  A further short section beyond lies the neighbouring Lewes District Council area.  On its way it passes through Ovingdean and Rottingdean beaches.

The continuous pathway between these points are shared by many uses, including pedestrians and cyclists; as well as well as beach swimmers and families accessing the beaches; and beach hut owners.  There are a number of cafes and amenities such as beach showers and public toilets are provided along the route.

Some of these mixed uses have required management in the past, and Conservative Councillors arranged to put the barriers in place requiring cyclists to dismount at the Ovingdean Café, to protect walkers and those seated at the tables.  These have been a great success.  To improve the situation for pedestrians and dog walkers, fast cyclists are instead encouraged to use the cliff top cycling path.

As well as its recreational use, The Undercliff Walk is also a key part of the city’s coast defences to protect the cliffs from erosion. Waves will occasionally come over the seawall during high tides and stormy weather, and falls of chalk and flint can occur from time to time and the Council regularly closes the Undercliff during stormy weather.

The Conservatives have focused on delivering improvements for the Undercliff Walk and have recently delivered a new beach shower at Ovingdean and the funding for a disability beach ramp at Saltdean section, which will be rolled out before the summer.

Lynda Hyde, who has been campaigning and speaking to residents ahead of the Rottingdean Coastal by-election on Thursday 5th May, has been hearing from community groups that there is a need to upgrade more facilities across Undercliff Walk. 

She has heard that there is a need for a variety of improvements, including new bins, beach signage, additional beach huts and chalet infrastructure and upgraded and accessible toilet and changing facilities, particularly at Ovingdean and Saltdean.  Groups would also like to see more disability beach access ramps and beach showers; cycling safety measures; seafront railing restoration; and beach defibrillators.

There is a sense that the Council is lacking an overall plan in undertaking the upgrades required, leading to frustration from local residents groups who are trying to get needed works agreed to.

While other sections of Brighton & Hove City Council seafront have their own strategic council plans, The Undercliff, does not.  This has led to a fragmented approach from the council along the Undercliff and a backlog of works needed to bring the facilities to better standards.

Lynda Hyde has put forward a practical proposal to address this and has said that if elected she will be bringing forward a motion to require the Council to consider the full 5 km stretch as a whole and compile a fully budgeted list of the improvements works required, with a view to establishing a continual programme of improvement works over the next few years.

Working to a plan would allow the council to better allocate funding to the Undercliff Walk as and when it receives it.  For example, the Council has also just received a £330,000 grant from the Government’s changing places fund for better disabled facilities.  These are very much needed in the east of the city where there are very few facilities at present and with the new beach ramp facility set to be in place for the summer in Saltdean, this location would be a good strategic spot to add a changing places facility.

A strategic approach will have the added benefit of opening up new external funding possibilities, as has been achieved at Hove Lagoon and at Black Rock.  The designation of Hove Lagoon in a broader ‘Kingsway to the sea’ project area, a vision led by Cllr Robert Nemeth and Cllr Garry Peltzer Dunn, led to £9.5 million of investment from the Government last year.

By focusing on Undercliff Walk in a practical and strategic way we can secure further funding for improvements.  If elected Lynda Hyde will bring these proposals forward at the first opportunity.