Brighton Council are undertaking a consultation until the end of September on the future management of Whitehawk Hill. Here’s the link to it and to their brochure explaining some excellent and well-overdue management plans for this neglected but valuable Downland site, which was excluded from the National Park. http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1251676
There are some suggestions of great concern and below is the initial response from Dave Bangs, author of A Freedom to Roam Guide to the Brighton Downs and ex chair of Friends of Whitehawk Down.
Dave Bangs writes:
This area was correctly scheduled under the original LNR Management Plan for reversion to a mosaic of grassland and scrub.
It is a critically important wild play area for adjacent communities, and should be managed to enhance that informal function, which provides a universal benefit for all visitors, not just fenced-off allotmentees.
It is a critically important viewpoint over Brighton and the Bay of Sussex. Indeed, it is the best viewpoint on the whole racecourse landscape. It should be managed for all Brighton folk, not just for allotmentees.
It is a critically important buffer for the neolithic camp, and a key component in preserving what is left of the camp’s damaged landscape context.
One of the most important issues is the the proposal for expanding the allotments onto the west side of Whitehawk Hill, which involves the destruction of our statutory right of open and free access across the whole of that slope (bar the existing fenced allotment) under the CROW Act 2000.
Dave continues "Consultation brochures have gone out widely to locals, with no mention that the proposed allotments would be on Access land. I am prepared to take direct action against any attempt to till this land – fenced or unfenced – and I will do all in my power to halt these proposals."
Read more about the issues here
http://stravaigerjohn.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/whitehawk-hill-access-land-loss/
Recently Brighton and Hove City Council was offered government funding to conserve the ancient chalk grassland on Whitehawk Hill and to improve the hill as a public space.
They would like to know your views about the plans for conserving Whitehawk Hill. You can read the management plan ideas and let them know what you think through their online questionnaire.
Whitehawk Hill management plan (PDF 724KB)
http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/downloads/bhcc/cityparks/management_plans/Whitehawk_Hill_booklet_final.pdf
Whitehawk Hill survey
http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/whitehawkhillsurvey
With thanks to Coldrum for the links.
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road