Hands off the Barn

OPPOSITION is growing to any moves that could lead to car parking charges at the South Hill Barn beauty spot in Seaford.

Both councillors and residents this week voiced concerns that the entire character of the area could change for the worse if fees were introduced.

Warning bells sounded when Lewes District Council said it was planning to ask people who use the area if they would be prepared to pay to park there.

Seaford Town Council members viewed the idea with horror, saying it could lead to the area changing from an unspoilt piece of land to a regular car park.

But a district council spokesperson said this week: 'There are no plans to charge for the car park. We are planning to carry out a survey of the people who use it and find out if they would mind paying for the car park, with the money going back to help that area.'

However, town councillor Rosemary Collict said: 'We all agreed that we didn't want to see it become an urbanised car park. There are practical difficulties in bringing in charges and they could cause problems. People may try to avoid paying by parking on the approach road. It's a narrow road and this could be dangerous.

'I don't want to see changes. The area is an asset to the town and lots of people use it. It's a great area for walkers and in addition to that visitors from elsewhere use the land to park on when they go to see the Cuckmere estuary.'

Seaford town councillor Les Whittle is also opposed to any charges. He said: 'I do not want, and most of my friends do not want, a proper car park installed nor the charges which go with it.

'We want the area left as a natural place. I would definitely oppose any charges suggested.'

Gail Elhinn, chairman of the Seaford Residents' Association, said: 'The residents and myself are wholly opposed to the idea of introducing parking charges. It is an amenity used by lots of local people. The great British public are well known for doing their best to avoid paying to park. They will just park further down the hill and walk up.'

She added: 'This is just Lewes District Council's way of trying to find more revenue from us. It's not a good idea.'

South Hill Barn, once known as Beggars Barn, is a favourite place for families and dog walkers. It has been free to park on since it was given to the town in the 1920s by wealthy local landowner H Stamford-Northcote. He presented it to the old Seaford Urban District Council with the proviso that the land was to be used for enjoyment only no caravans, campers or traders were allowed.

Lewes District Council acquired it on the reorganisation of local government in the mid 1970s.

Les Edwards, of Hythe Crescent, has lived in the town for many years and doesn't want the history of the site to be forgotten. He remembers Mr Northcote as a wealthy man who owned Chyngton House and farm which included South Hill Barn.

He said: 'The council have got the land and they want to make money from it. They want to start charging for the car park and then they will put a burger bar up there. Because of that there will be vandalism and then the council will say they need to build a house up there so someone can keep an eye on it.

'Next thing you know the whole place would have been built on.'

'They have already started to ruin it by cutting off the part of land known as South Hill Barn by putting a ditch around the site. This has meant the farm has been taken out of use and the old barn has been left empty for many years.'

He added: 'The land should be returned to Seaford Town Council and back to the residents. It should become agricultural land again and enjoyed in peace.'

l See Letters: P6