A detailed report into the dangers of coastal erosion at Rye Harbour and Winchelsea Beach has been ignored by the Environment Minister and her department.
Icklesham Parish Council has yet to receive a reply to a letter and twelve page report into the management of the beach sent to Emma Hardy, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 December 2025. Emails following up the letter have also been ignored.
"It isn't just that they didn't reply," said Councillor Jacqui Stanford who chairs the parish council. "What makes me furious is a lot of work went into the report and they didn't even bother to acknowledge it when it came from a parish council."
The letter, which has been seen by Rye News, says, "Unfortunately, over the last 10 years, the beach has been allowed to disintegrate at the direction of the government quango Natural England who have instructed the Environment Agency not to intervene to repair failing groynes. This wanton destruction is due to the madness of a '50-year coastal management plan for Rye Harbour involving a multi-faceted strategy focused on managing erosion and flood risk, protecting biodiversity, and balancing economic and community needs'”.
"The groynes must be repaired," said Jacqui Stanford. "The shingle should be brought back and the beach rebuilt. This should be a natural beach. It has changed dramatically and we simply asked the minister to let the Environment Agency get on with its job because they can see what's happening here but are not allowed to fix the problem. People are blaming them."
"It breaks my heart to see this," she said. "The plant life is disappearing and a lot of local people, especially older residents who have known the area for years, are devastated by how much it has changed and the loss of the beach at Rye Harbour."
She fears the consequences could be severe if the erosion continues. "We haven't wanted to frighten people, but we're concerned we're going to lose more land. If the sea continues to encroach we feel it could eventually flow around the back of the sea wall at Winchelsea Beach. Another important consideration we have made Natural England aware of would be the loss of the important emergency road from Rye Harbour if Harbour Road is closed. Natural England do not seem to care."
Earlier this year volunteers placed rocks on the beach because the failed groynes were no longer effective in protecting the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House. The Grade II listed building on the beach at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is preserved as a reminder of the 17 lifeboat crew who died storms in 1928.
Last month Jacqui Stanford explained her fears during a visit to the beach with Councillor Dan Bradley, who represents Rye and Eastern Rother on East Sussex County Council. He said he was struggling to understand why the different government agencies were failing to work together.
"It seems everyone can see how to fix this but nobody is willing to do it," he said. "People come here to walk the marshes, visit Rye Harbour and enjoy this beautiful landscape. If that disappears, we will lose something that makes Rye and Winchelsea so special. Our job should be to preserve it for future generations."
Dan Bradley was equally critical of the lack of response to the report from the minister. "If somebody raises a concern, even if you can't give an answer immediately, at least reply and say you've received it and you'll look into it. To receive no response at all feels like two fingers up to the people who've taken the time to raise genuine concerns. That really annoys me."
He agreed to work with Icklesham Parish Council on getting a response.
Rye News has approached the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for comment.