Council to discuss future of Camber Sands Dunes

East Sussex County Council will meet on Tuesday (April 26) to discuss a proposal to consult on a draft Countryside Access Strategy for public rights of way and countryside sites.

The plan was drawn up following a survey of the public and other groups, which looked at how the county’s 2,000 miles of rights of way and 10 countryside sites are used, and other research into how they are used and how effectively they are managed.

The proposals would see the county’s footpaths, byways and bridleways continue to be managed by the county council.

But the county council is considering transferring the management of eight of the countryside sites - including the Camber Sands Dunes - to other organisations.

All sites would remain open and accessible to the public and any transfer of sites would be subject to strict conditions over their use and only to organisations with a background in conservation and working with members of the public.

The council says the changes would lead to increased community involvement in managing the sites.

The strategy, if approved, will be subject to public consultation.

The proposals can be viewed in full in cabinet papers online at https://democracy.eastsussex.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=133&MId=2601&Ver=4 while more information about the project is available at https://new.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/countryside/futurecountrysideaccess/

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