A decision by the National Trust to ban tourist coaches from parking at Britain’s most popular beauty spots has badly backfired and caused chaos at the site, it is claimed.

Last month the Trust banned all coaches from the car park at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters.

The ban was introduced in a bid to stem the 600,000 tourists who visit each year causing damage to the iconic white cliffs.

But the ban has backfired, residents claim, as coach operators are still descending in their droves, clogging up the narrow lane and dangerously dumping their passengers into the road.

Coach drivers are then parking their 70-seat vehicles on the verges, making it almost impossible for cars to pass and blocking residents from their own homes.

Angry residents say the move has brought ‘wholesale traffic chaos’ to the beauty spot and say lives are being put at risk.

Phil Myerson, 75, a resident, said: ‘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.

Last month the National Trust banned all coaches from the car park at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters

The ban was introduced in a bid to stem the 600,000 tourists who visit each year causing damage to the iconic white cliffs

But the ban has backfired, residents claim, as coach operators are still descending in their droves, clogging up the narrow lane and dangerously dumping their passengers into the road 

‘As a result tourists are trampling over the wild flowers, grasslands and verges and in the heat the place is turning into a dustbowl.’

He said: ‘It’s good move by the National Trust but the plan hasn’t been thought through properly.

‘We need coach operators to act responsibly and drop off in designated areas to ensure the safety of everyone.’

It is understood to be the first time the National Trust has imposed a ban on coaches at one of their attractions.

The charity said it took the unusual step after seeing the damage caused by the increase in the number of tourists at Birling Gap and Seven Sisters.

Resident Phil Myerson said coach operators are ‘completely flouting safety guidelines’

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In 2018 around 350,000 tourists visited each year but that has ballooned to 600,000 people last year.

And many have been snapped standing dangerously close to the cliff’s edges over the years – sparking fears of a potential disaster as the warmer weather arrives.

The location has become increasingly popular due to its appearances on TV, film and music videos.

It appeared in Atonement with Keira Knightly and James McAvoy, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

It is also a ‘must visit’ location for South East Asian tourists after it featured as a location for an Asian reality TV show hosted by South Korean actress, Seo Hyo-rim and also appeared in a music video by Taiwanese singer Jay Chou’s music video.

But now residents in Birling Gap have called on the National Trust to take tougher action to enforce the ban.

In 2018 around 350,000 tourists visited each year but that has ballooned to 600,000 people last year – and they have been standing dangerously close to the cliff’s edge 

The location has become more popular due to its appearances on TV, film and music videos 

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Jon Ledham, a walker, said: ‘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.’

‘We have seen a big uptick on people coming of South East Asia,’ said Lloyd Monk, 65, who lives locally. ‘They just wan to take a selfie, eat an ice-cream and then move onto the next photogenic location.’

Dot Skeaping, 80, a former National Trust worker who lives in one of four cottages closest to the cliff edge, said: ‘The National Trust wants to welcome people to Birling Gap but it wants them to see it at its best 

‘Banning all coaches is good as they are often huge, arrive in large numbers and are an eyesore.’

Residents in Birling Gap have called on the National Trust to take tougher action to enforce the ban (Pictured: a man holding one small child while another veers close to the edge)

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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.’

They added the move was not a Trust-wide policy and was made in response to a specific problem in Birling Gap and Seven Sisters.

While the National Trust has banned coach trips to the beauty spot, unable to cope with increased numbers of them in recent years, visitors arriving by other means are still welcome.

Dot Skeaping, 80, a former National Trust worker who lives in one of four cottages closest to the cliff edge, said last month: ‘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.’