The National Trust's decision to ban tourist coaches from parking at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters has sparked controversy among local residents.
The ban was introduced last month in an attempt to reduce damage to the iconic white cliffs caused by the 600,000 tourists who visit annually.
The number of visitors has nearly doubled since 2018, when approximately 350,000 people visited the beauty spot.
However, residents claim the well-intentioned ban has backfired dramatically, creating new problems that may be worse than those it aimed to solve.
The National Trust's decision to ban tourist coaches from parking at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters has sparked controversy among local residents
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Despite the ban, coach operators continue to arrive at the beauty spot in large numbers, according to local residents.
Instead of deterring coaches, drivers are now parking their 70-seat vehicles on verges along the narrow lane.
This is making it nearly impossible for cars to pass and blocking residents from accessing their own homes.
Angry locals claim the situation has created "wholesale traffic chaos" and is putting lives at risk.
Phil Myerson, a 75-year-old resident, expressed his frustration with the situation.
"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," he told The Daily Mail.
He added that coach operators are "completely flouting safety guidelines" by dropping passengers into the road and causing obstructions.
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"As a result tourists are trampling over the wild flowers, grasslands and verges and in the heat the place is turning into a dustbowl," Myerson explained.
The popularity of Birling Gap and Seven Sisters has soared due to its appearances in numerous films and television programmes.
The location has featured in "Atonement" with Keira Knightly, "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" with Kevin Costner, and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".
It has become particularly popular with South East Asian tourists after appearing in a reality TV show hosted by South Korean actress Seo Hyo-rim.
Jon Ledham, a walker, highlighted the dangers: "The coach drivers are flouting safety laws by dropping their passengers directly into the road or grass verges."
The number of visitors has nearly doubled since 2018, when approximately 350,000 people visited the beauty spot
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Lloyd Monk, 65, a local resident, noted: "We have seen a big uptick on people coming of South East Asia. They just want to take a selfie, eat an ice-cream and then move onto the next photogenic location."
A National Trust spokesman responded to the concerns, urging people to "be responsible when parking at Birling Gap and to think of local residents and safe access for emergency vehicles."
The Trust encouraged coach operators to use dedicated parking facilities in nearby areas instead.
"We've seen a significant increase in coach visits in recent years, which the site is unable to cope with," the spokesman said.
