Tories pledge to preserve Hangleton Bottom

The Conservatives have pledged to carefully preserve an area of green belt land and have pointed the finger at the previous Labour council administration for failing to consult local residents on the land’s use.

It was revealed last month that the Conservatives are to market test the land in North Portslade known as Hangleton Bottom with the possibility that it could be used to house a waste recycling site.

Hangleton Bottom is found near to the Hangleton Interchange and just below Foredown Tower. It had been classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but having been outside the boundary for the South Downs National Park it is to lose that status in April.

Following the council meeting news in January that the area could be used for waste management the local Labour politicians and councillors stressed that the Conservatives must consult local residents before making any decisions with regard to this land.

South Portslade councillor Les Hamilton said: “This green-field site has the chance to be a real asset to local people, which everyone can benefit from, such as community or open spaces. People should have the chance to put their views before the Tories well in advance of them taking a decision of this magnitude.”

“I believe the decision taken by the Conservative Councillor to potentially sell off a piece of land for commercial waste should be challenged. Local people should be given the chance to have their say before this Council starts marketing Hangleton Bottom.”

While Labour MP for Hove, Celia Barlow, said: “Public land should be kept for public enjoyment and Hangleton Bottom is a green jewel in Portslade’s crown. It will be an unwelcome blot on the landscape soon to be surrounded by our new South Downs National Park.”

Well the Conservatives have listened and are asking residents for their opinion on what should become of the land, while pledging that is must be ‘carefully preserved’ and ‘used for a suitable purpose which is in keeping with its location’.

However, they’ve also shifted the blame onto the Labour administration of Brighton and Hove City Council of 2005, which included Councillor Hamilton, for adopting Hangleton Bottom into the ‘Local Plan’, which then identified it to be a possible site for waste recycling and industrial development.

A leaflet dispatched on behalf of Conservative candidate for Hove and South Portslade, Mike Weatherley, said: “Once again we see a Labour Administration pushing something through before they lose control without proper consultation.”

If you would like to comment on this situation you can contact Mike Weatherley at mike@mikeweatherley.org.uk or at www.mikeweatherley.org.uk.

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Posted by Joseph Lewis on February 17, 2010. Filed under Council News,Mike Weatherley,Portslade. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry