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The National Trust has banned coaches from one of Sussex’s most popular attractions. The decision to stop coaches from visiting Birling Gap, part of the Seven Sisters cliffs in East Sussex, is an attempt to reduce the number of people visiting the site. Around 600,000 people visit Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters cliffs every year.
The National Trust said coaches could no longer drop off tourists at the site, which is vulnerable to coastal erosion. The trust's website for Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters cliffs said: "Please note, we no longer allow coach parking or coach drop-off within our car park at this location." Visitors are directed to "alternative coach parking in the Eastbourne area".
READ NEXT: People close to edge of Birling Gap cliffs near Eastbourne A spokesperson for the trust said: "At Birling Gap, we welcome over 600,000 visitors every year to this small rural clifftop location that is vulnerable to coastal erosion. "We've seen a significant increase in coach visits in recent years, which the site is unable to cope with. "We continue to welcome visitors by car, motorbike, minibus and bus service.
" Birling Gap draws tourists from far and wide (Image: Oast House Archive/ Geograph) The decision to ban coaches was made specifically for Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters and is not a trust-wide policy. The area offers one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline on the south coast, with unspoilt views of the sea. It also boasts ancient woodland and nearby sites of archaeological interest, like the Belle Tout neolithic enclosure.
READ NEXT: Plans for extra caravan pitches at traveller site rejected after objections However, the National Trust warns that the coastline is constantly changing due to rising sea levels, erosion, and weathering. These changes present unique challenges for the safety of visitors. Their website states: "Cliff falls and landslides are therefore part of this landscape and can happen at any time and without warning.
"Our white cliffs are beautiful but also very fragile. "They may appear safe to stand on, but chalk is a soft rock that can become unstable through heavy rain, frost, sun or undercut by wind and wave action.".
