The land in question is on the slopes running up to Cissbury Ring, an
Iron Age hill fort and much loved beauty spot.

A protest meeting is to be held at 11am on Saturday November 14,
gathering at the Coombe Rise car park in Findon Valley, Worthing.

One of the speakers there will be Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of
the Open Spaces Society, which is backing the Stop the Cissbury Sell-Off campaign.

Also addressing the rally will be Marion Shoard, a famous countryside campaigner and author of 'The Theft of the Countryside', 'This Land is Our Land', and 'A Right to Roam'.

The event will be followed by an optional country walk which will cross a council-owned field
that has a statutory right of public access but has been closed to the public, contrary to the law,
for the last four years.


Said a spokesman for SCSO: "Sadly, Worthing councillors have forgotten
the public purposes for which this downland was acquired. It is our job to remind them -
this land was acquired by
the council many years ago to protect it, for the benefit of Worthing
people.

"The council played a central role in helping the National Trust buy
Cissbury Ring itself – the Iron
Age Hill Fort and its Stone Age flint mines and ancient wildlife. The
council also donated part of
Highdown Hill to the National Trust. Now they just see their own
downland as a ‘piggy bank’ to
raise a bit of money.

"They are asking a mere £200,000 for the Mount Carvey land, the real
value of which is priceless.
This land is to Worthing what council-owned Beachy Head is to
Eastbourne, or Stanmer Park is
to Brighton. It is our green lung."

The council-owned land at Cissbury is in two bits. One bit comprises a
mile and a half along the ridge of Tenant Hill between Charmandean and Cissbury Ring. The other
bit comprises three
quarters of a mile of downland on Mount Carvey, between Findon Valley
and Cissbury Ring.

The campaigners point out that there is lots of money available to
Worthing to help them enhance
this land.

Said the spokesman: "A special scheme to help farmers care for the
environment is now available to local councils. It is called Higher
Level Stewardship (HLF). The new National Park will help Worthing with
their expertise. The National Trust will be interested in working in
partnership for this enhancement, which will also benefit their property
at Cissbury Ring. There are budgets available for enhancing public
recreation and conserving special wildlife."

Added Ms Ashbrook: "The Open Spaces Society has campaigned to save our
open spaces for more than 140 years and is pleased to add its weight to
this crucial campaign for the Cissbury downland. This is of exceptional
value for its landscape, chalkland habitat and public enjoyment.

"It forms a vital part of the setting of the celebrated Cissbury Ring,
and is within the new South Downs National Park.

"We have written to the leader of Worthing Borough Council, Paul Yallop,
calling on him to
withdraw the sale of the land. Worthing acquired the land to protect it
for the benefit of Worthing
people. It must not only keep it, but also maintain it for its
exceptional qualities and for public
appreciation and enjoyment.

"On the edge of the south coast conurbations, it is especially important
to those communities,
who look up out of the towns to the fine, ancient landscape of Cissbury
Ring. It is their pleasure
ground, and it is right that Worthing should own it for those people and
for the nation.

"Worthing must restore and enhance this landscape — it would be a great
and, literally, high-profile
project for it to engage in."

SCSO is urging people to write letter to councillor Paul Yallop, the
Worthing council leader, asking him to withdraw all the downland from
sale, and accept the help which is available to enhance the downland for
the benefit of all. These should go to to Cllr Paul Yallop, Town Hall,
Chapel Road Worthing or e-mail:  paul.yallop@worthing.gov.uk. Supporters
are also asked to write to the local papers, and, if they live in Worthing, to their ward councillor.

Stop Cissbury Sell-Off website: www.scso.co.uk