The Cissbury Ring. Photo: R H ![[CC-2.0]](/lib/img/layout/cc-attr.gif)
The leader of a national conservation body will speak next week at a protest rally against the selling off of downland in England’s newest national park.
Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, will address the gathering organized by the Stop Cissbury Sell Off group. Worthing Council plans to sell off 2½km (1½miles) of land along the Tenant Hill ridge.
Ms Ashbrook will join protestors on Saturday 14 November. She said: “The Open Spaces Society has campaigned to save our open spaces for more than 140 years and is pleased to add its weight to this crucial campaign for the Cissbury downland.
“This is of exceptional value for its landscape, chalkland habitat and public enjoyment. It forms a vital part of the setting of the celebrated Cissbury Ring, and is within the new South Downs national park.
Kate Ashbrook
“We have written to the leader of Worthing Borough Council, Paul Yallop, calling on him to withdraw the sale of the land. Worthing acquired the land to protect it for the benefit of Worthing people. It must not only keep it, but also maintain it for its exceptional qualities and for public appreciation and enjoyment.
“On the edge of the south coast conurbations, it is especially important to those communities, who look up out of the towns to the fine, ancient landscape of Cissbury Ring. It is their pleasure ground, and it is right that Worthing should own it for those people and for the nation.”
The rally will take place at 11am, starting at Coombe Rise car park in the Findon Valley. There will then be a 7km (4½-mile) walk along the threatened route.
Ms Ashbrook said: “Worthing must restore and enhance this landscape. It would be a great and, literally, high-profile project for it to engage in.”
John Clark
06 November 2009Not only are Worthing Borough Council selling off Downland but they are making sure future generations are unable to enjoy the wonderful Titnore Lane area that also boarders the South Downs Nation Park. See www.protectourwoodland.co.uk
Paul Smith
07 November 2009Once again, Worthing council have shown no regard for the feelings of local people. They didn't bother telling the public what they were doing, let alone consult them. Land like this, owned by the council, is meant to belong to all of us. But the council seems to regard itself as some kind of private organisation that has been granted dominion over everthing within its boundaries. The people it is supposed to represent are seen as nothing but a nuisance in path of its self-interested machinations. I will certainly be there on November 14 and I urge others to do likewise. They cannot be allowed to get away with this!
The campaign against the sell-off now has a website at www.scso.co.uk
The Piglit
07 November 2009Selling off bits of national park I can handle, but not another picture of Kate Ashbrook. Bob please stop this.
JohnG
07 November 2009This sale just about sums up the mean spirited, money-grabbing approach of modern councils, always looking for a quick return.
What a contrast with the public spirited and far sighted councillors who originally acquired these acres for the citizens of Worthing and who never imagined that they would be sold off in a few generations.....
John Greves (Disabled Rambler)
08 November 2009Glad folks are finally waking up down there.
Grew up in Findon Village .... lived in Surrey and Dorset.
Very sad that Sussex is much behind the times as far as Conservation and Public Amenity are concerned.
Good luck to you all.
Need any help?
zippy
10 November 2009The Council are reviewing their position. See:
http://www.worthing.gov.uk/news/title,66863,en.html
If you put the words "mount carvey" into google there is a council report on this matter.
As a matter of fact the land has been under tenancy to a farmer for years. In recent times it has been used for grazing. It is not public open space as this piece suggests.
Dave Bennett
11 November 2009Fifty years ago this December I was one of the workers who ploughed the land at the top of Tenants Hill where it abuts Cissbury Ring. Working with my mentr Charles, the farmer referred to in scso.co.uk The weather was hard as could be - only surpassed by the Winter of '62. It was a time when there was still rationing after the Second World War and we worked impossible hours to feed a nation. The fences you see and the crops that grow are a testament to my generation. I can reel off the names but am deprived of the joy of living out my days with friends from that time as Hillaire Belloc would have us do.
"And the men that were boys when I was a boy
Shall sit and drink with me."
datmanbu.co.uk