TAKING THE CISSBURY

The campaign against a land sell-off around Worthing’s Cissbury Ring hill fort got off to a blustery start last Saturday (14th) when over 300 people staged a rally at the site. Organised by campaign group Stop the Cissbury Sell-Off (SCSO), demonstrators brandished banners and placards and set off distress flares before braving gale force winds and lashing rain during a four mile guided walk around Cissbury Ring.

Campaigners have already got the council wobbling with local  planners promising to “review” the proposals. SCSO are are not relaxing yet though. After the demo, Spokesman Trevor Hodgson said, “There was a very strong feeling amongst everyone there that we cannot assume the council will do the right thing, despite the massive turnout today.

“They clearly hoped to sneak through the sale of the land without anyone noticing and we are suspicious that this so-called review may turn out to be just a delaying tactic.”

The land in question surrounds Cissbury Ring, which according to one campaigner is  “a first rate wildlife habitat, but really only a pimple in an agribusiness desert. We want the council, instead of flogging the land off for £3-4 million, to use some of the grants available to re-integrate the land with the downs in a landmark land restoration.”

Campaigners stressed that Saturday’s action was just the start. Trevor said, “There are now a huge number of people actively involved in this campaign and the council can be assured that we are not going away.

“We will fight on until we are completely satisfied that this crucial piece of Worthing’s environmental and historical heritage is fully protected and secure for generations to come.”

* See www.eco-action.org/porkbolter