Resident living near the popular site claim that coaches haven’t stopped bringing visitors, they just park further away from the coastline, creating “wholesale traffic chaos”.
Phil Myerson, 75, a resident, told MailOnline: “The coach ban hasn’t come a moment too soon but it has completely backfired. Tourists are wrecking this place. If anything they are causing more damage now than they were before.
“Coach operators are completely flouting safety guidelines, pulling up on the roadside, disembarking passengers into the road and then parking and causing an obstruction for all other vehicles. As a result tourists are trampling over the wild flowers, grasslands and verges and in the heat the place is turning into a dustbowl.”
Jon Ledham, a walker, told the outlet: “The coach drivers are flouting safety laws by dropping their passengers directly into the road or grass verges.
“That needs to be stopped and steps need to be taken to ensure it stops. It is a huge danger on this road and it needs policing.”
A National Trust spokesman said: “We urge people to be responsible when parking at Birling Gap and to think of local residents and safe access for emergency vehicles. We encourage coach operators to use the dedicated coach parking facilities in the nearby area.
“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.”
Dot Skeaping, 80, a former National Trust worker who lives in one of four cottages closest to the cliff edge, said in April: “The National Trust wants to welcome people to Birling Gap but it wants them to see it at its best. Banning all coaches is a good idea as they are often huge, arrive in large numbers and are an eyesore.
“This ban will also prevent an excess of visitors in what is a relatively small attractive entrance area to the site.”
