Film crews churn up seafront lawns with trucks

A green space near the seafront has been ruined by film crews who churned up the grass.

The lawn near the King Alfred, in Hove, is a quagmire after lorries and other vehicles involved in filming across the city set up a base on the site.

The site has been left a quagmire (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Parkgoers said they were furious at the council for allowing it to go ahead - even when weather forecasts predicted heavy rain.

One Bath Court resident was fuming that his favourite spot was left in such a state.

"I like to sit up there and read the paper, but when I arrived I was quite amazed", the 74-year-old said.

"Lots of people use that lawn and now they can't use it. It's been a nice day and we have a nice weekend coming up.

"The whole lot has been destroyed."

The compound is locked behind a fence, but vehicles have to cross the grass to access it (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Brighton and Hove City Council said it has a contract with the film crew to ensure any repairs to the lawn are paid for.

Council environment boss Tim Rowkins said: "The torrential weather we experienced on Monday was well above what we would expect for this time of year and has led to additional churn, so I do appreciate residents' concern.

"But I can confirm once the filming is complete and the crew has left the site, the area will be assessed and plans made to quickly have this area of the seafront back to looking its best.”

A surface was put on the ground to stop vehicles getting stuck (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

But the resident said he had concerns over when and how the lawns would be repaired.

He said: "The grass in Wish Park was left unkempt throughout the summer in 2023 after a circus set up on the site in June, causing muddy patches and no grass.

"This is not going to regrow, not with the damage caused. It needs the council to plant more grass.

"With all the works going on at Kingsway to the Sea there is nowhere else to go. You have to walk all the way to Hove Lawns."