Conservative Councillors Mary Mears and Dee Simson have today vowed to fight to save the Whitehawk Hill; Ingleside Stables; and South Downs Riding School & Reservoir greenfield sites from the development proposed in City Plan Part 2.

The City Plan Part 2, which is due to be debated by Council soon, proposes developing the three sites to make way for 75 dwelling units.

The Conservative Group has put forward 30 amendments to the far-reaching plan; while Labour has offered none.

The Conservative Group will move to delete section H2 - which lists in total 16 greenfield sites on Brighton & Hove’s urban fringe for development – in its entirety to protect Brighton and Hove’s greenfield land.

To strengthen this position further the Conservative Group has put forwarded a targeted amendment that specifically removes these three sites (Whitehawk Hill; Ingleside Stables; and South Downs Riding School & Reservoir greenfield sites) from the plan.

Conservative Deputy Leader Mary Mears, who has fought before to protect Whitehawk Hill from development, said that the City Plan Part 2 would damage an iconic part of Brighton, create a flood risk to nearby communities and result in precious recreational green space being lost for ever.

“Previous proposals for Whitehawk Hill have been rejected and for good reason – the sites are unsuited to development” Councillor Mears said.

“Whitehawk Hill is situated at the back of Whitehawk with a very steep slope and when it rains water pours down the hill causing flooding by the flats below.

“Any development on this site will cause untold misery to residents below, not only by flooding but also by removing a special place of peace and tranquillity for residents of the vast development already in Whitehawk, the majority of which have no gardens.

“As we are often told, access to green space and being able to enjoy the natural environment is good for peoples physical and mental wellbeing.

“The benefit of protecting this greenspace for the City was understood historically - going back the then Duke of Norfolk ensured that no building would be above the view line from the start to finish of the racecourse.  It is an iconic part of Brighton and the views from the top for locals and tourists are amazing.  We must continue to heed this advice and protect the area for the community.

“Whitehawk Hill is considered by many a special nature reserve the community have worked together generating recognition of wildlife, historical, and rich cultural heritage and is much loved by locals and visitors alike and all 3 sites must be retained as an asset for the community” she said.

Conservative Councillor Dee Simson said that in addition to Whitehawk Hill, other greenfield sites listed for development were threatened by City Plan Part 2 and that she would also fight the proposed greenfield development at the South Downs Riding School & Reservoir and Ingleside Stables sites.

“The stables are particularly sensitive especially Ingleside which sits adjacent to my ward” Cllr Simson said.

“Any development would have a devastating  impact on the South Downs National Park which completely surrounds it and on strategic views from the Racecourse right across the South Downs.

“Development on any of these sites would be detrimental to the open green spaces residents use for their health and recreational activities” she said.

Conservative Group Spokesman on Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Robert Nemeth, who is coordinating the Conservative amendments to City Plan Part 2, said that Councillors Mary Mears and Dee Simson had fought hard to protect green spaces in the city.

“Mary and Dee should be commended for working to protect green spaces in our City and all Conservative Councillors stand together with them” he said

“As we know the Labour administration has been unable to deliver on its housing targets across the City over 5 years and now is turning its attention to greenfield land.  Labour broke their manifesto promise to build 500 council houses delivering only 88.” Councillor Nemeth said.

“This proposal also continues Labour’s assault on the family home in Brighton, prioritising flats and mixed developments, with 50% or less of the proposed greenfield development sites devoted to traditional family homes.

“All this comes at the expense of our environment which should be protected.

“As the report states, the urban fringe allocations include greenfield land adjoining open countryside and the South Downs National Park, with several sites overlapping with, or are close to, Local Wildlife Sites and underground chalk aquifers.

“We cannot support sacrificing our valuable green space to make up for Labour’s failure on housing policy.

“These sites all have significant environmental value and the Conservatives will always stand to protect them for future generations” Cllr Nemeth said.

Friends of Whitehawk Hill coordinator David Bangs said that the group supports the Conservative amendment to City Plan Part 2.

“Friends of Whitehawk Hill supports the conservative amendment to the City Plan Part 2 which seeks to delete the three housing sites from Whitehawk Hill's Local Nature Reserve and landscape.

“Local people have always known how special this Hill is, and we need the council to recognise this too. Local experts have found more wild plants in this Racecourse Landscape than in any other equivalent sized area in Sussex - some 220 more than the next richest area (on Amberley Wild Brooks). 

“Whitehawk Hill is the centre of the single richest sub-landscape for higher plants in the whole of Sussex!

“We stand on this Hill, where folk have buried their dead for over 5000 years (and we still do) and the skylarks and meadow pipits that sing above us, sang above the ancient peoples too.

“The gorse that blooms on our Hill this springtime fuelled the fires of the people of flint way back before the pyramids were built.

“Tiny creatures and plants that live on this Hill today have lived there since way back in the Age of Stone. We have inherited a 'living archaeology' of wild things, just as we have inherited the monument of the ancient peoples who brought their dead here.

“No-one in Brighton would knock a dome of the Royal Pavilion to build more housing, vital though such housing is. Yet this Land of the Racecourse is as important to Brighton as the Royal Pavilion. 

“Whitehawk Hill has been sacred for 5000 years. Don't sacrifice it now!!” Mr Bangs said.

ENDS.