Progress in East Sussex: more than half made safe

The progress of the scheme for the preservation of the South Downs was detailed in a report presented by the Town Planning Committee at the meeting of the East Sussex County Council at Lewes yesterday.

The report, which was approved, was presented by Mr. J. Godwin King, in the absence of Lord Gage, chairman of the committee.

It stated that 7,741 acres of downland in the Chailey Rural District alone had been covered by agreements with landowners during the last five months, and a further 2,052 acres formed the subject of agreements in principle.

The whole range of Downs from Lewes westward to the boundaries of Brighton and the Cuckfield Rural District was permanently preserved by agreement, with the exception of two areas in the ownership of the Brighton Corporation and a small corner of land belonging to the Burgess Hill Water Company, the bulk of the property lies in the Cuckfield Rural District.

The Times, 21 July 1937

Illustration: View East along South Downs Way, Cocking Down from geograph.org.uk and a Wikimedia public domain image.

Contributed by Malcolm Davison.