WEST BEACH

Maybe now we have left the EU, as part of our newly gained independence we can claim our beach back.
I spent many hours playing on this beach in the 60's and 70's.

It is a British Beach.

But independence is not a done deal right? And as a non-UK resident, I'm wondering how leaving the EU will affect the beach. Won't it still be French owned regardless of EU membership?

Irrespective of whoever owns the land, the part of the beach between high water line and the beach edge is the property of the Crown. As the water at Newhaven beach reaches part way up the steps when the tide comes in the entire beach is Crown property. This beach would have started to be used shortly after the breakwater was built in the 1880's so has been a British Beach for nearly 140 years. The French can't own this beach as part of Crown property we "have the Queens permission" to use this beach, the French owners may own the access to our beach but I suggest we remove the barriers (without damaging them if possible) and put them on the land adjacent to the car park. I am sure there would be lots of volunteers including professional people who would help repair the steps or contribute to the cost.
If the French owners of the access complain I am not sure that making something better can be classed as an offence - who gites a jot anyway let them take us to the European Court. 

John Andrews is correct regarding the ownership of the west beach.

It is a legal presumption that the Crown owns all the U.K. foreshore unless it can be shown that it has been the subject of a Crown grant or has been adversely possessed over a period of 60 years or more. ( Burden of prove resting with the claimant).   Halsbury Laws Vol.12 (1) 1998.  Reissue, para 242 which states that "The Crown is the prima facie owner of foreshore, or land between mean high water and mean low water, by virtue of prerogative rights"  The same applies to the sea bed.

A John Hallett