Protest walk

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Join the protest walk at Breaky Bottom, near Rodmell, East Sussex on Saturday 12 June. Meet at Southease station (on the rail line from Lewes to Newhaven and Seaford) at 10.35 am.

Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, with many walkers, will be demonstrating against the exclusion of the public from a piece of freedom-to-roam downland at Breaky Bottom slope (grid reference TQ 404 053), on the Rodmell Downs.

The land has been mapped as access land, under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, but the landowner won a restriction order there, because of a tiny, disused, chalk quarry at one end of it.  The restriction has been reviewed after five years, and Natural England has agreed to renew the restriction in a modified form, which still prevents access to much of the site.

Says Kate: ‘Lewes District Council should require the landowner to fence the quarry so that the public can enjoy the rest of the site.  Instead he has fenced the site itself and divided it into four paddocks.  That is contrary to the spirit of the new freedom to roam, and we are dismayed by the outcome.’

The demonstration is to put pressure on Lewes District Council, Natural England and the landowner to restore to the people their right to enjoy this lovely downland.

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