National park chairman speaks out about travellers site

The chairman of the South Downs National Park Authority has said that its land should not be used by travellers.

Her comments were welcomed by two members of Brighton and Hove City Council who have been urging the authority to evict an illegal camp in their ward.

Councillor Ann Norman and her husband Councillor Ken Norman wrote to national park authority chairman Margaret Paren after an illegal camp was established at 19 Acres.

The site, off Devil’s Dyke Road, next to a roundabout beside the A27 Brighton Bypass, is in the national park and in the Withdean ward served by the two Conservative councillors.

Mrs Paren said in a letter to the two councillors: “The purpose of the South Downs National Park Authority is to conserve and enhance the wildlife, natural beauty and cultural heritage of the national park, and to promote the enjoyment and understanding of the national park’s special qualities.

“The occupation of 19 Acres by travellers is clearly in contradiction to these purposes.”

The Normans welcomed the statement. Councillor Ann Norman said: “I am pleased with Margaret Paren’s response to our letter.

“The inference of what she says is quite clear – that areas like 19 Acres, which sit within the national park, should not be used by the council as sites for travellers.”

The Normans said that 19 Acres was being treated as a “tolerated” site for travellers by the council’s Green administration.

They said that the decision had resulted in serious damage being caused to this important downland location.

At the height of the encampment, they said, more than 50 lived-in vehicles were on the site as well as associated cars and vans.

They added that possession proceedings had now finally been initiated by the council to force the remaining travellers to leave the site.

Mrs Paren confirmed that the national park authority would be monitoring the situation to “ensure that the matter is concluded as quickly as possible”.

Councillor Ken Norman said: “I am frankly appalled by the damage to nature and wildlife that has been caused by the Greens’ decision to use 19 Acres as a traveller site.

“It was done without any consultation with us as ward councillors or, more importantly, with local residents and other users of the site.

“I call on them now to heed Margaret Paren’s words and ensure that our precious downland is no longer used as a campsite, temporary or otherwise.”