West Beach Car Park – A Balancing Act

West Beach

West Beach Car Park has a long and complex history, first opened in the 1950s to provide parking for visitors to the popular beach. Over the years, the car park has been expanded (at one time approx. 700 spaces) and improved to accommodate the increasing number of visitors to the island. West Beach timeline interesting history: https://coastalpartners.org.uk/project/brief-overview-of-west-beach/

In November 2022, a major storm caused significant damage to the sea defences at West Beach. The storm also washed away a large section of the car park. Havant Borough Council (HBC), the local authority responsible for the car park, made the decision to close the car park for safety reasons.

Tourists have always been welcome on Hayling and HBC recognises their significant contribution to the local economy, not only has this suffered through the loss of the car park, in addition HBC has had a major loss of revenue.  

West Beach does not attract government funding (Environment Agency) for improved sea defences as it does not protect housing and people. However, the council has been working on a solution for the car park. This has been made more difficult by a number of factors that had to be considered, including the environmental impact of any new development, the needs of local residents and businesses, and the cost of any new development.

On August 1, 2023, after a final go-ahead from Natural England the West Beach Car Park on Hayling Island was partially reopened to the public.  Located behind a height restriction barrier accommodating up to 47 vehicles. This additional parking was seasonal basis (May to September) to ease some of the parking pressures on the island, particularly during the summer months.

This area of Hayling Island beach is designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and HBC negotiated long and hard with Natural England to allow us to use this piece of land for car parking for 47 vehicles. The land could not be prepared as is the case with other designated car parks it had to remain natural except for some demarcation posts.

Following heavy rainfall and or storms when the ground became waterlogged, the car park had to be closed periodically to stop cars getting stuck. You will remember that August was particularly wet.

As winter approaches there has already been some stormy wet weather. If there is similar weather as has been experienced in the last few years with increased storms, it is highly likely that this car park will cease to exist for next season.

The situation is really frustrating to all parties, local residents, tourists, Hayling Councillors and HBC but due to the constraints placed on the council by Natural England and the decision made by HBC to allow West Beach to evolve naturally following the removal of failing sea defences, there is nothing else that can be done at this time.

HBC together with Coastal Partners must use their resources to protect property and business in the more heavily populated area of Eaststoke and South Hayling.  The 38km of Hayling Island coastline is constantly evolving and as such is under constant review by coastal engineers. The Hayling Island Coastal Strategy can be viewed on HBC website it is an extremely interesting and easy-to-follow document if you have some spare time. It certainly gives perspective to the challenges that Hayling faces in terms of rising sea levels and climate change. (Links below)

West Beach Maintenance — Coastal Partners   west-beach-update-march-2021.pdf (coastalpartners.org.uk)

https://coastalpartners.org.uk/project/history-of-west-beach-faqs/