Private Road and Track

The private road from Military Road to the Cliff Top Café and the track below the café belong to TCCOA and its shareholders.

Use of the private road to the Cliff Top Café is for access to the café and chalets above the gate who have vehicular access rights. It is also used for deliveries and emptying of the rubbish compound. Chalet owners who rent car parking spaces use it to access these spaces.

Right of access to the track below the gate is held by the freehold owner of the Eddystone Café, the RNLI and the Emergency Services. Temporary rights of access may be given to any chalet owner who needs to access their chalet for repairs or rebuilding, subject to permission from the board and payment of the requisite fee and deposit (see below.)

Any chalet owners who experience or witness attempts by anyone to deny access to authorised persons should report the matter to the secretary or a director without delay.

Temporary track access

When chalets are undergoing rebuilding or major renovation, owners should contact the company secretary for an application form for a temporary vehicle access permit in order to deliver materials or for their builders to gain access, whether just down the private road or also down the track below the Cliff Top Café gate. This type of permit lasts for a maximum of three months, but can be extended at the secretary's discretion if works are delayed, e.g. by bad weather.

Similarly, access may be given on a one-day permit where a single delivery is expected or a septic tank needs to be emptied. Both permits require the payment of a refundable deposit plus a fee.

The secretary must receive a signed copy of the application form, which includes the following conditions:

Any vehicle used on the track must be a suitably sized four-wheel drive, taxed and insured in accordance with the Road Traffic Act and with a current MoT certificate. The towing of trailers or any other equipment is prohibited on both the track and the private road. (The sole exception to this rule is for septic tank emptying, where the contractor's vehicle must not be more than 7.5 tons.)
The driver should be competent, over 25 years of age and hold a full driving licence.
A copy of the contractor’s public liability insurance must be provided if a contractor is going to be using the track.
The track must only be used between the hours of 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays and school holidays. Access at other times may exceptionally be granted at the discretion of the Board.
Speed must not exceed walking pace (3 mph) and priority must be given to pedestrians at all times.
Whilst reversing, in addition to the driver there must be a second person, positioned at the rear of the vehicle.
Use of the vehicle is granted for loading and unloading only, i.e. it must be stationary for the shortest practicable time so as to avoid obstruction, and must not be left parked on the track.
The lower gate by the café must be kept locked. The upper gate should be left as it is found.
By signing the agreement, you are acknowledging you are aware that the track is steeply inclined (to about 1 in 5), with drainage humps at various points along its length.
By signing the agreement, you are also acknowledging you are aware that the track is in use by members of the public at all times, including use by dog walkers and small children.
For a full three-month permit, there is a charge of £400 towards Road and Track Maintenance, plus a deposit of £600. The payment required in advance is therefore £1000, of which £600 will be returned if TCCOA is satisfied that the permit's terms and conditions have been met and no damage has occurred. For a one-day permit, the charge is £35, plus a deposit of £600.
Once the secretary has received the signed agreement and payment, a key to the lower gate will be made available for collection from the Cliff Top Café. A signature will be required for release of the key, and if it is not returned when the works are completed, the cost of replacing the lock and providing a full set of keys will be deducted from the deposit.
Permission for use of the private road or track will be granted for a period appropriate to the work in hand, normally not exceeding 3 months. If works overrun and a longer period of access is required, the owner must contact the company secretary to ask for an extension, which will be granted at the secretary’s discretion.
In the event of any damage being caused to the private road or track or any other part of TCCOA property as a result of the use of a vehicle, the chalet owner will be responsible for the cost of making good. TCCOA Ltd. shall not be responsible for any damage caused by the vehicle while on TCCOA property.
The privilege of using the private road or track for this kind of vehicular access is granted at the discretion of the committee and will be withdrawn if abused.
Please be aware that if you require access down the track you must give us at least three weeks notice and preferably longer. Bear in mind that the track is small and we can therefore only permit a limited number of people to use it at one time. You should therefore give us as much notice of your plans as possible. Permits are issued strictly on a first come first served basis.