Country park plans unveiled

The exhibition is part of a round of public consultation which will last until December.

The consultation includes workshops with community, residential and business groups together with land-owners affected by the scheme.

The public will be invited to fill in a questionnaire stating their priorities for the country park.

The exercise is being undertaken on behalf of the partners in the park project, the county council, Rother and Hastings councils.

The intensive programme started this week and is designed to enable local people to help shape the creation of Pebsham Countryside Park.

Consultation specialist TK Associates is holding three public exhibitions for people to find out about the project and give their views:

'¢Saturday, October 29 in Hastings' Priory Meadow shopping Centre, 9am- 6pm;

'¢Wednesday, November 9 in the newly-re-opened De La Warr Pavilion, 10am-6pm;

'¢Saturday, November 12 in Crowhurst Village Hall from 10am-4pm.

TK Associates is also hosting a series of workshops to hear local ideas. The first '“ for land owners, residents, business people and councillors took place last evening.

Other workshops follow for young people, arts groups, sports clubs, disability forums, ethnic groups, the police and many more.

Full notes from each will be published on the project web site at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/pebsham within three working days of each session.

In addition, a questionnaire where anyone can submit their thoughts will be on the web site from Wednesday and at most local libraries and information points from November 7.

East Sussex County, Hastings Borough and Rother District councils are working together to develop the Park in the 600 hectare green space between Hastings, Bexhill and Crowhurst.

The aim is to create a high-quality recreational space for local people '“ accessible to all who wish to use it - and to attract visitors, helping to regenerate the area.

The space is capable of being divided into zones to accommodate a diverse range of activities '“ from walking, cycling and a range of sports to public art, wildlife watching and events '“ as well as incorporating areas of nature conservation.