Over 150 people walked the Eastbourne Downs on Saturday 3rd December to protest against Eastbourne Borough Council’s decision to sell their Downland farms.—Keep Our Downs Public Campaign, update 7 December 2016
The Council claims that these farms will be protected by covenants. Most of Eastbourne is covered by similar covenants supposedly restricting everything from hanging out washing to preventing all commercial activities on Eastbourne seafront.
They were drawn up in a different world and have little relevance in the modern planning system.
Councillor Tutt also claims that, because the land is within the South Downs National Park, it is protected from change in use.
While National Parks do carry more weight than most planning authorities, they do not exist to prevent development but to limit and influence it and they have no jurisdiction over many changes to land use. The South Downs National Park’s CEO, Trevor Beattie has expressed concern at the proposed sale (see link to statement below).
On Saturday Tony Whitbread, CEO of Sussex Wildlife Trust outlined his fears for the ecology of the area, as well as explaining how the chalk grassland contributes to the provision of clean water to Eastbourne.
He also highlighted the ongoing erosion of the Coastal strip (which EBC is not selling) and how the farmland is essential to maintain the biodiversity in light of the ever-declining coast. He feels that the current relationship between the Council, the tenant farmers, Natural England and the NGOs is critical to preservation of this unique habitat.
Eastbourne resident Jenny Shorter expressed her dismay at the secrecy and lack of public consultation regarding the Council’s decision.
Many agreed that they felt “betrayed” by those elected to represent them.
David Bangs told the story of the mysterious and rare Moon Carrot, one of the species for which parts of the area have been designated as SSSI.
A statement of support was also read out from the Open Spaces Society who worked with Eastbourne Corporation to achieve its initial purchase of the land to hold “In perpetuity” for the people of Eastbourne in 1929.
Another Eastbourne resident Catherine Tonge said “Today’s demonstration shows the deep concern and betrayal that Eastbourne people feel over this back-room decision. To get a crowd like this out on a Saturday just before Christmas, at such short notice is remarkable. We hope the Council will listen to those they represent and halt this sale”.
This sell-off is not unique to Eastbourne.
Campaigners in Brighton are also fighting the sell off of publicly-owned downland farms. A demonstration will be held at a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee at Hove Town Hall on December 8th.
Many groups have voiced their concerns.
Chief Executive for the South Downs National Park Authority: Statement on sales of countryside sites: Trevor Beattie
Local Authorities can dispose of their assets as they see fit and we understand the financial pressures many now face. But these countryside sites were secured for the people in the 1930s by farsighted councils and campaigners who wanted to protect our landscapes and water supply in perpetuity. They are not just local assets, they are national legacies, now in a National Park.“In every case we have made our concerns clear and called for a rethink about these countryside sales. The landscapes of the South Downs are precious assets which are central to the distinctive identities of our local authorities, providing the context for the rest of their budgets and helping to attract investment. We urge councils to consider their responsibilities and, if they believe that there really is no alternative, put in place covenants or conditions to protect the land from damaging uses which might not be caught by the planning system.
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Public downland sell-off threat: Phil Belden, Sussex Wildlife Trust
Brighton and Eastbourne are in the news, after secret council plans to sell off parts of the public estate leaked out. Public pressure has led Brighton & Hove and Eastbourne councils to re-consider, but not YET to stop the sales. A further, bigger push is needed.Local authorities hold land in trust for their people. The large public estates at the eastern end of the National Park have achieved significant gains in landscape, wildlife, cultural heritage and public access over the years. Thanks to our democratic system, public influence has encouraged our elected councillors to direct officers to manage land in ways we desire:
Worthing – reverted arable to pastoral landscape with open access, town to Cissbury Ring, one of the country’s greatest hill-forts;
Brighton – you can now walk, unencumbered, from city and Stanmer Park, west to the Chattri downland or up to Ditchling Beacon and South Downs Way;
Eastbourne – Beachy Head chalk grassland restored and joined up, good for wildlife, protecting fine ancient field-systems under permanent pasture and quality public access.However, this positive conservation management of our downland is now under threat. Public sector cuts are putting huge pressures on council budgets and services. However, selling the family silver for a one-off capital fund injection is not the answer and means the loss of annual revenue and opportunity forever.
The sales risks are too great, as past experience has shown. Mary Farm, east of Stanmer, was a haven for wildlife, with rolling hills of “permanent” chalk grassland and small copses. Sold by Brighton council, it ended up in bankers’ hands, then rented to an intensive arable farmer who ploughed up the pastures and a commercial shoot where woodland centres were grubbed out for game-rearing.
We need to protect our precious public estate, get our councils to honour their responsibilities of managing this land in trust for us and future generations.
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Eastbourne’s downland: Selling off the family silver: Open letter to Councillor Tutt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council
Sussex Countryside TrustDear Councillor Tutt
Despite the outcry that the Borough Council has faced since it announced its plan to sell off the majority of its landholding in the South Downs, we understand that this scheme is still being pursued.
The two biggest countryside action groups active in the national park, the South Downs Society and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, strongly urge you to take a step back and take time to reconsider.
The land in question was acquired following a major public subscription and came into the ownership of the borough in 1926 for the benefit of the people of Eastbourne. It needed a new Act of Parliament to make the purchase possible. In that very same decade both of our organisations came into being at a time when the future of the open downland was under great threat from the possibility of being turned into giant housing estates. Since that time we – the South Downs Society, CPRE and Eastbourne BC – have all worked hard to protect the downs from development and to conserve and improve the landscape, wildlife habitats and opportunities for public access and enjoyment. The creation of the South Downs National Park has been one of our greatest achievements – but it doesn’t mean that the job is done.
You have said that the land to be sold off will be protected by the planning powers of the new National Park Authority and the legislation covering public rights of way. But this won’t go far enough. We don’t want to see the Park Authority having to fight off planning applications for housing and other developments.
There is no substitute for ownership. Once outside the council’s control, the aims of enhancing the landscape and wildlife, of adding to the land currently available for open access, interpreting the archaeology and providing for visitor understanding and enjoyment – all these are part and parcel of being in a national park and all can be more easily achieved when you own the land. Continuing coastal erosion, for example, will mean an increasing “squeeze” on the important strip of chalk grassland and, without ownership of the adjoining farmland, what are the prospects for re-establishing additional areas of this precious habitat?
While fully recognising Eastbourne’s need to generate funds, this can only be a short term “fix”. If the land is sold, there will be no continuing stream of income from the farms to the Council’s coffers. Other Councils nearby, equally hard-pressed, have stepped back from similar action: we hope that Eastbourne will reconsider.
Robert Cheesman, Chair, South Downs Society
David Johnson, Chair, CPRE Sussex
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Open Spaces Society: We deplore proposed sale of Eastbourne’s downland, ‘the Crown Jewels’
Eastbourne Borough Council plans to sell more than 3,000 acres of its downland. This land is so treasured by the public that we have termed it ‘the Crown Jewels’.
The society has sent a message of support to Keep Our Downs Public which is organising a public walk and rally* on Saturday (3 December) to protest at the threat to the downs and to call on the council to halt its plans.
Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘The Open Spaces Society, which is Britain’s oldest national conservation body, deplores Eastbourne Council’s plans to flog off its magnificent downland.
‘The society was active in 1929 when the downs were acquired for the people, to be protected and treasured in perpetuity. We have always welcomed public ownership of the downs as the best way to secure their long-term protection.
‘These downs are the nation’s Crown Jewels, much loved not only by the people of Eastbourne but by visitors from far and wide. They are now included in the South Downs National Park, indicating how special they are. Here a tired nation can be sure to find freedom and fresh air, health and happiness. We would not sell the Crown Jewels, so we must not sell Eastbourne’s downlands.
‘The Open Spaces Society supports Keep Our Downs Public in its brilliant campaign to save the downs for the people.’
The land was acquired by Eastbourne Council to ‘secure free and open use of the Downs in perpetuity.’
The farms which are for sale are Chalk Farm, Willingdon; Black Robin Farm; Bullock Down Farm behind Beach Head, and Cornish Farm near Birling Gap. They total 3,183 acres which is 76 per cent of the total public estate of 4,200 acres.
