Some Sunset Cliffs neighbors say a fence erected earlier this year by the Navy is blocking access to some public pocket beaches and foot-beaten trails along the bluffs traversed by locals for decades. A perpendicular portion of a reinforced, wrought-iron fence along parts of a trail effectively cuts off a trail that had previously led from Point Loma Nazarene University and Naval Base Point Loma properties to the cliffs, beaches and surf breaks. While it’s not the only trail used to access beaches, the new obstacle has some neighbors concerned about the limited public access to coastal trails. “Point Loma people [have] been walking the trail for more than 50 years,” said Rory Wicks, a Coast Law Group attorney. “It’d be a shame to lose it.” Wicks said determined hikers skirt around the estimated 4-foot perpendicular segment of fence — but added that they are just a misstep away from the canyons along the cliffs. California “prescriptive rights” allow the general public to use private property to access coastal areas if the public has historically used the area, according to California Coastal Commission literature. Wicks said, however, that the “prescriptive rights” benefit may not apply to federal property as might be the case here.  Wicks wrote an e-mailed statement about the fence to the California Coastal Commission on behalf of the San Diego Surfrider Foundation, Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation and the Sunset Cliffs Surfing Association. Wicks said he wants to know where Navy property ends along the trail, he said. Navy officials said the Naval Base Point Loma property line ends “beyond the fence line” and that the crews installed the fence earlier this year to keep unauthorized people out, posting “No Trespassing” signage. The reinforced fence replaces an older chain-link fence, and extends the fence line about a foot outward along parts of the trail. “Since the [Sept. 11] attacks in 2001, the U.S. Navy has taken more precautions to ensure the integrity of installation perimeters, which help protect personnel and property,” said Public Affairs Officer Lt. Lenaya Rotklein of Navy Command, Southwest Region.   The fence installation took many locals by surprise. The Navy holds periodic public meetings to inform and update neighbors of projects and addressed the fence issues in April 2001, according to Rotklein. But Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Recreation Council President Ann Swanson said she didn’t know about the meeting. The Navy also did not specifically approach the natural park council about the project, Swanson said. “We have had several people mention the fence during the community input [portion] of the [Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Recreation Council] meetings,” Swanson said. “We have just really started to investigate this and we haven’t taken any recent action. We have several [people] who are concerned.” The Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Recreation Council acts as an advisory board to the city over Sunset Cliffs park development. The council meets the first Monday of the month at the Cabrillo Recreation Center, 3051 Cañon St. at 6:45 p.m. For more information, call (619) 531-1534.