Protect Our Green Spaces
CHARMIAN KENNER
Standing Up For Nature (SU4N) Hastings & Rother is holding an event for everyone concerned about losing our precious green spaces to building development. Protect Our Green Spaces will take place on Saturday 5 October at the White Rock Hotel from 10am to 3pm. The event is free, with refreshments and light lunch provided, thanks to a grant from Hastings Voluntary Action’s Making It Happen scheme.
Green space under threat at Sandrock Bends
Yee Chuan Mayhew from SU4N said: ‘The Leader of Hastings Council, Julia Hilton, and the Housing portfolio holder, Glenn Haffenden, have both stated their concern about government pressure on councils to build housing, since Hastings has very little land left apart from our few green spaces. Councillor Hilton has emphasised the need to refurbish empty homes instead.
“Protect Our Green Spaces will examine this different approach to housing, as well as how to survey biodiversity on a site and
successfully oppose a planning application.”
The day will consist of talks and discussion, with speakers sharing their knowledge to upskill participants in each area. Local housing campaigner Grace Lally will cover alternatives to new-build. Ben Benatt, consultant ecologist, will explain how the public can engage with biodiversity surveys. Alice Brown, architect, will spell out the
key factors that determine whether or not a planning application is passed.
Mary Dawson from SU4N said: “We recently attended an event called Wild Wanderings, about protecting the Sandrock Bends area of ancient bluebell woodland from a potential development of 140 houses. We all need to support those working so hard to save these essential green spaces.”
Sarah Ward from the campaign to prevent housing being built on Horntye Sports Fields said: “We know Horntye will be under threat again in the future, so we welcome this opportunity for local people to get together and learn how to stand firm against the developers.”
Spaces at the event are limited. They can be booked on Eventbrite or by email to [email protected].
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