Rocklands appeal hearing postponed

In March last year Rocklands Private Caravan Park, in Rocklands Lane, was ordered to demolish the building, dubbed ‘the bunker’ by campaigners, after being served with an enforcement notice by Hastings Borough Council.

The council ruled the two-storey site overlooking Ecclesbourne Glen contravened planning regulations.

The park appealed the decision and an enforcement appeal hearing was due to take place at The Stade Hall next Wednesday (January 20).

However, this has been postponed until further notice after the planning inspector appointed to undertake the hearing fell ill earlier this week.

Members of the Save Ecclesbourne Glen group have been very vocal in their objection to the structure, saying the development has destroyed the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Prior to today’s postponement announcement the group was encouraging its supporters to attend the hearing.

Chris Hurrell, from the Save Ecclesbourne Glen group, said: “It would be good if as many of our supporters as possible turn up for the appeal to show the level of public opposition to the bunker.

“SEG will be asking to speak at the appeal as we have new evidence obtained since the appeal documents were submitted.”

Historic England has also previously expressed its opposition to the development when the park applied for planning permission for solar panels – after it had already installed them.

Historic England said an offence appeared to have been committed under the Ancient Monuments And Archeological Areas Act when some of the panels were installed.

The site is next to and partly overlaps, the Iron Age cliff castle on the East Hill.

In September, an appeal statement from the Architectural Designers & Historic Buildings Consultants was produced on behalf of Hastings Borough Council.

It said the Rocklands development was ‘harmful’ to the setting of the Scheduled Ancient Monument, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Old Town Conservation Area.

The appeal documents can be viewed online at www.hastings.gov.uk.

A council spokesman said a new date for the enforcement appeal hearing will be announced in due course.

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