As the Downlands campaign makes national news in the Daily Telegraph, Eastbourne Council prepares to bet the farm against the voice of the people—Bay Life, 27 February 2017
Organisers said that a rally held on Saturday 25th February was extremely well attended. Despite the cold and wind, around 500 people gathered in the town centre and made their way to Eastbourne bandstand, chanting loudly ‘Stop the Sales of our Downs!’ Accompanied by drums and placards the procession was tooted by passing drivers on the seafront.
Sally Boys of Eastbourne Friends of the Earth and KODP addressed the rally and urged people to fill in the Eastbourne Review voting slip even though everyone felt it was an unfair way of asking for the public’s views. The deadline is Friday 3rd March.
Paul de Zylva, Senior Nature campaigner at Friends of the Earth explained how important the South Downs are for health and wellbeing as well as for wildlife. David Johnson, Chairman of Sussex CPRE reminded people of how the land had originally been bought to protect the downs from over development back in the1920s
Lyn Core, Old Town resident and Keep Our Downs Public (KODP) spokesperson said: “Hundreds of people come to make their voices heard to stop the sale of the downland farms. It’s clear that many residents care passionately about this issue, and want the council to look at another way forward.
“We hope the council do see sense and listen to the people’s real concerns”
IMAGE CREDIT: Eastbourne Friends of the Earth
