108 concerned residents, members of the Ripe Local Action Group, REAL and Parish Councillors walked the proposed landraise waste disposal site at Broomham Farm between Ripe and Golden Cross on 7 March.

The walk, organised by East Hoathly and District Preservation Society, was one of a series visiting all of the short listed sites to demonstrate that there is no preferred option when it comes to landraise on greenfield sites in the Sussex Weald.

At Deanland Park Home Estate, outside their “Inn at the Park”, a small display showed some of the vibrant businesses of the area, its biodiversity and its Roman and wartime history.

Deanland Park, now home to nearly 600 retired gentlefolk, was the first to scramble its Spitfire squadron on D-Day. A painting depicting a Spitfire turning a Doodlebug is perhaps symbolic of the fight against the current waste plan threat to the countryside.

Over 2000 objections to the landraise sites have been received by ESCC. A planning inquiry inspector has described a similar proposal as “An isolated protuberant landform completely out of character with the rest of the area”.

Councillor Matthew Lock of ESCC has said, in view of the many responses to the consultation draft preferred strategy “it is expected that further dialogue with communities regarding land disposal will be needed”.

Preservation Society members said “Greenfield sites, once spoilt are spoilt forever”. 

The next walk will be of the Piltdown site area starting at 2 pm from the Piltdown Man on a revised date: Sunday 11th April.Further details from Chris Pellett 01825 872 830