Fears for cliff land's future

The Countryside Agency's proposed boundary for the park does not include the Tye.

But the council says that 'the open sweep of the land to the cliff top offers a splendid vista of unspoilt Downland to the sea' and 'the unique quality of the landscape was accepted by both the inspector and the Minister at the Portobello Public Inquiry'. An inquiry into Southern Water's planning application for a sewage works was refused when it was referred to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

But Telscombe Town Council fears inclusion of the Tye, which members back fully, will also put Portobello back in Southern Water's sights for a new sewage works application.

Telscombe town clerk Kathleen Verrall said: 'The whole of Telscombe Tye, down to the cliffs, is currently in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). But the National Park will extend only to the north of the South Coast Road, and the area south of the road will then lose its AONB status.'

The cliffs, and the beach below, would no longer be protected, said Mrs Verrall, opening up the possibility of a new application for Portobello.

Seaford put up a strong case on Wednesday for inclusion of the Ouse estuary and the Tidemills area in the South Downs National Park.

The Countryside Agency has excluded it, even though the area is currently undergoing a huge reclamation scheme known as the Ouse Estuary Project. The open land, which has links to the Downs running alongside it, will have extensive recreational potential when the work is completed.

It is also expected to become a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Cllr Laurie Holland, leader of Seaford Town Council, told the Express that the council should push for inclusion of Tidemills within the park.

The reasons, he said, were:

The recently enhanced landscape with scope for further significant enhancement

The nature conservation value

Extensive public access

The link from the Downs to the seashore, including rare vegetative shingle habitats

The cultural heritage of the site

Its industrial archaeology.

And Newhaven Town Council, too, supports a boundary change to encompass the estuary and Tidemills.

Lewes District Council asked the Agency to ensure that exclusion of the area is justified.

The Countryside Agency is also being informed by the district council that land north of Cradle Hill and north of Belvedere Gardens in Seaford, currently included in the park boundary, has now been allocated for housing.