Fairlight man receives acommunity service award

The Fairlight Preservation Trust is a registered charity concerned primarily with the preservation of the cliffs at Fairlight and other matters for the benefit of the community.

Fairlight Parish Council Chairman Andrew Mier said: “The Award recognises Paul’s many years as a trustee and other community work.”

The Trust also received £100 as part of the award.

Cllr Mier said: “The award is given annually by Fairlight Parish Council in memory of John Lutman, for 30 years a Parish Councillor and a former Chairman of Rother District Council.”

Fairlight Preservation Trust is currently involved in fighting for further defences to prevent cliff erosion following more land being lost to the sea.

Fairlight has seen two coast protection schemes in the past decades to slow down cliff erosion. They include two rocky barriers in the sea at the foot of the cliffs.

But now, in the gap between the two berms, the shingle has disappeared and each high tide removes more sand - creating space for more land to fall.

Robin Patten, who also sits on Fairlight parish council, said the work could cost anything between £3m and £10m.

He said: “Money is limited. This funding can only come from central government.”