THE LONG running legal battle over public access to West Beach in Newhaven will soon reach the Supreme Court.

The highest court in the country will hear an appeal against a previous ruling which gave the privately-owned beach village green status.

West Beach has been closed off to the public since 2008 for “safety reasons”, according to the French owners Newhaven Port and Properties (NPP).

Fed up residents have staged a series of protests against the restrictions.

Over the last two summers hundreds of demonstrators have scaled the fences and held protest picnics on the beach.

To return the beach to public use Newhaven Town Council and East Sussex County Council won a legal bid at the Court of Appeal to give the beach village green status, which reserves it for use by residents. But the port owners are appealing against the judgement at the Supreme Court.

Earlier this year, the port owners said there were still “serious health and safety issues” and access was “very dangerous”.

The case will be heard on Monday and Tuesday, November 3 and 4 with a judgement expected three months later.

Mayor of Newhaven Judith Ost said: “At last this issue, which is so close to the hearts of the residents of Newhaven, will be considered at the very highest level and a final decision made. We know that the people of Newhaven will be keeping their fingers firmly crossed that we can get the beach re-opened.”

NPP’s legal team will be making their case for an appeal on Monday, and on Tuesday it will be the turn of the county and town councils to argue the appeal should not be allowed.

The Supreme Court is situated in Parliament Square, London, with members of the public welcome. It is due to start at 11am on Monday and the building opens from 9.30am. The hearing will be streamed live by Sky News and online at www.supremecourt.uk