Rally: Saturday 13 July
Come to the Combe Haven valley to raise the alarm about Government plans for a massive programme of new roads. Join campaigners from across the UK for a rally and walk along the route of the most destructive and fiercely opposed new road being built in England - the £100 million Bexhill-Hastings Link Road.
Organised by the Roads to Nowhere campaign at Campaign for Better Transport, the Hastings Alliance and the Combe Haven Defenders.
Supported by Greenpeace, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), CPRE Sussex, the Wildlife Trusts, Crowhurst Road to Nowhere Action Group, Friends of the Earth and RSPB.
Come to this unique event and:
► Enjoy music and poetry, food and drink and activities for all ages
► Go on guided walks through the historic Combe Haven valley – a last chance before the destruction caused by the road changes it forever
► Learn more about the campaign to save the valley, and about plans for more than 200 new roads around the country
► Meet campaigners and speakers from national and local groups
► Get information about how you can take action to help stop a new roads programme becoming a national disaster
2pm to 5pm,
Location: Crowhurst Recreation Ground, East Sussex (speakers from 3pm)
Chapel Hill, Crowhurst, East Sussex (15 mins walk from Crowhurst railway station, near the Plough Inn)
See map
There will be speakers, music and poetry, food and drink and activities for all ages.
In addition, there will be walks across the valley from various localities, conducted by knowledgeable local campaigners.
Route walk A:
Meet at 11.45am, Bexhill railway station (trains arrive from London at 11.39, Brighton at 11.24 and Ashford/Hastings at 11.23). A five-mile guided walk closely following the route of the new road.
Route walk B:
Meet at 12pm, West St Leonards railway station (trains arrive from London at 11.51 and from Hastings at 11.56). A guided six-mile walk through the eastern parts of the Combe Haven valley.
Route walk C:
Meet at 12pm Crowhurst recreation ground. A guided five mile circular walk with good views of the valley.
Short walks from the rally site:
Shorter walks from the recreation ground along the 1066 Bexhill Walk route into the valley will also be conducted during the afternoon.
Free buses
In the morning, there will be a free Big Lemon bus from Brighton via Lewes to the start points for walks A and C.
For people walking from Bexhill, the bus will be doing free half-hourly shuttle buses from the rally site back to Bexhill railway station starting from 3.30 pm.
Timetable for the free bus from Brighton:
Brighton Old Steine 10.30am
Brighton The Level, opp Southover Street 10.35
Lewes Road Bus Garage 1040
Falmer A27 adj Sussex University, 1045
Lewes Station 1100
Polegate Station 1120
Bexhill Station arr 1140
Bexhill Station dep 1145
Crowhurst 1155
The return trip to Brighton will depart at approximately 5.15 from Crowhurst Recreation Ground.
Concerned about a second runway at Gatwick?
This seminar provides an opportunity for interested individuals, groups, organisations, local authorities, Parish Councils and politicians to discuss emerging arguments against a new runway at Gatwick.
Date: Friday, 25 October 2013 from 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Venue: Stanhill Court Hotel, Stan Hill, Charlwood, Surrey RH6 0EP
19 June 2013
New Mid Sussex District Plan
The public consultation period has now ended on the proposed submission draft of Mid Sussex District Council’s new District Plan. This plan, if and when adopted, will direct strategic planning across the District from now until 2031. The plan will now go forward for a public examination by the Planning Inspectorate, probably around the turn of the year.
Nearly 50 CPRE members enjoyed a very informative visit to the High Weald Dairy at Horsted Keynes this month. It was good to be able to witness their successes over the past 10 years - you couldn't help noticing their many certificates and awards adorning the walls. To be able to taste locally hand - crated food was very satisfying and for those members who were unable to attend this event you could try their cheeses by visiting the many farm shops, delis and farmers' markets throughout Sussex. They also sell through Waitrose and the Taste the Difference range in Sainsbury's.
Due to popular demand I arranged four visits to this facility in May. There were many other members who were disappointed because all tours were fully booked. Therefore I will be organising some more visits next year so watch this space!
I am asked to concentrate on a summary of my 5 page objections to the housing numbers in our draft Local Plan. This is really about two words: “ Strategic Planning”, which sounds boring , which it is, until a disaster caused by it becomes too obvious to ignore. I refer to the appallingly excessive housing demands of the Chichester District Council (CDC) for building 3550 houses by 2029, including 1000 West of the city, 1000 at Tangmere, 500 at Westhampnet etc. The interesting part is my assessment of how this has wrongly happened, so I will mention that first, and give a few reasons. For my full assessment, any CPRE member who wishes, can supply me with an e-mail address to cause 5 pages to be sent back in return.
The principle focus within the District remains on the evolving Local Plan, which is now running six months behind the original schedule. The second phase of public consultation into Arun’s draft Local Plan will now take place in the late spring of 2013 due to the number of responses received during the first phase. Critical features of the Plan include Economy, Housing and Transport. Local MP Nick Herbert has been actively involved in the debate in highlighting the deficiencies of the current process, in particular the fact that the Plan making process has been put ahead of an effective assessment of infrastructure capacity and sustainability. There is an urgent need to look at capacity, sustainability and infrastructure across a larger geographical area to take account of the overall scale and impact of potential development and reflect that in responses to the Plan.
Important - Mid Sussex District Plan on Hold
Mid Sussex DC has decided not to submit its own district plan for public examination until the coalition government has rescinded the South East Plan.
This is important because the Plan imposed a very high housing allocation that would have resulted in overwhelming building levels. We have received mixed signals on the timing of the repeal, but it may be before the end of the year. In the meantime, neighbourhood groups are campaigning against the planned urban extension to Burgess Hill, development sites in Haywards Heath and proposals to build to the south west of East Grinstead.
Lewes District does not currently have an adopted Core Strategy, so will be vulnerable to development applications after the end of this month. One such greenfield application (in Wivelsfield parish, on the edge of Haywards Heath) was listed this week; another (Ringmer parish) appears to be imminent.
