LETTER: Short term cash fix is wrong

The council now proposes to sell the downland farms, comprising about one-third of the entire borough, without public consultation and so discreetly that there is no mention in the Eastbourne Review, the 16-page publication just circulated by the council to every residence in the town. The council are guardians for this treasured downland and it should not be sold for a short term solution to the council’s current financial needs. The entire proceeds from the sale of our heritage might just cover the costs of upgrading the Sovereign Centre.

Whoever may be the first purchaser of our downland, the near certain risk is that we find the eventual owners to be international speculators with wealth, sufficient to blast ways through any agencies for environmental protection.

Take for example the results of Donald Trump’s purchase of the estates in Aberdeenshire. Despite opposition from all Scotland’s environment agencies Trump has been allowed to bulldoze through a third of the Foveran dunes complex, a legally protected Site of Special Scientific Interest. The longer term risks of selling the unique feature of our town must be assessed and shown to be fully supported by Eastbourne residents before any sale takes place.

John Boyle

Pashley Road

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.eastbourneherald.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/eastbourne.herald

3 Follow us on Twitter @Eastbournenews

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Eastbourne Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.