Brighton & Hove Friends of the Earth

Adam Trimingham recently published his views on the lack of coordinated access to the South Downs National Park. You can see his article here

Adam Trimingham is indeed right that the South Downs are wonderful asset (Argus, 5 October 2011) and we are lucky enough, as a city, to own vast swathes of them.   Yet the tragedy is that they are difficult to access for many residents. 

Improvements need to be made for walkers and cyclists so people don’t feel they always need to drive out to the Downs.  Two routes which require urgent attention are along Dyke Road and Ditchling Road.  However, the responsibility for these routes lies with the City Council not the National Park Authority.   So Adam’s frustration with the National Park Authority is somewhat misplaced.

What is also of great concern, as Adam highlights, is the lack of joined up thinking around Stanmer Park.  Why is the Council even thinking of flogging off more assets before it has consulted on the future of its downland?  And why is it doing this before exploring all the options for Stanmer Park, including a National Park visitors’ centre amongst many other ideas?

Whoever is in charge needs to sort the current mess out before it’s too late.  Stanmer Park should be one of our main gateways into the National Park.  Yet the way things are going, it risks falling into further decline.   This is not good for residents, nor is it good for the local economy.  Indeed, it’s nothing short of a tragedy.

This letter from Chris Todd was published in the Argus on 12th October 2011