I would like to reply to Roger Hudson (Letters, September 16) and his views on Newhaven’s West Beach.

First of all, would he be kind enough to inform everyone what improvements are intended for Newhaven’s port?

As far as I’m aware, no plans have been submitted and Newhaven Port and Properties has done nothing to improve the area in the six years the West Beach has been closed.

In fact it would be fair to say that NPP has managed to turn large areas on both sides of the river into scenes of desolation.

That aside, there are a number of inaccuracies in Mr Hudson’s letter.

The beach is composed of a very pleasant sand, not sludge as he has stated.

The sandy beach is available for four hours either side of low tide, not just at low tide.

The waves from the ferry wash amount to no more than six inches and are highly unlikely to cause injury to anyone, let alone children.

The sea water at the sandy beach is no more or any less polluted than the beaches either side of the harbour.

There are no shingle or sand beaches in the vicinity. There are only pebble beaches and a small area of hard-to-access sand on the east side of the harbour, only available at very low tides.

As it is, the beach has been accessible by the public since 1882, when the harbour arm was built, and obviously before that.

It has provided generations with a fun and safe place to visit.

Steve Duncan, Dane Close, Seaford