A CAMPAIGN group has accused a council of “secrecy” over plans to sell off 49 housing sites, including a homeless hostel.

Lewes Stop The Cuts is putting pressure on Lewes District Council to divulge the details of the sites it plans to sell off.

Meanwhile Lewes Green Party said it was “an affront to democracy” that the sale of public property was being made being closed doors.

The council has told The Argus that it is “very close” to completing a procurement deal concerning the sites up for regeneration.

A homeless hostel called Saxonbury in Juggs Lane in the town is understood to be part of the sell-off, according to the group.

It is currently used as temporary accommodation for homeless local people and is the only such facility in the town.

The group claims land in neighbouring Jubilee Gardens is also on the list of sites for sale, as is the old Turkish Baths, the council offices in Fisher Street and St Marys Social centre as well as the tourist centre and Western Road toilets, as reported in The Argus in March.

In the case of the Turkish baths, a councillor is trying to get them listed by English Heritage to safeguard them.

Lewes Stop the Cuts housing spokesman Chris Smith said: “The secrecy around these sales seems to be designed to suppress opposition.

“I believe the council is withholding information from local people.

“Residents should ask election candidates what their stance is.”

Alfie Stirling, Green parliamentary candidate for Lewes, said: “With a minority Tory administration making decisions on behalf of Lewes District Council from behind closed doors, we are clearly not all in this together.”

A council spokeswoman said: “As soon as the formal contracts are signed we will make public the full details. The people of Lewes District will be fully consulted on all development plans at every stage.”

On the Saxonbury situation, she said: “The six one-bed flats and six studio flats in Saxonbury House are not ideally suited to the needs of residents – the layout and design means it is difficult and expensive for tenants to keep warm and heat and noise insulation is poor.

“The flats don’t even have self-contained bathrooms. This is not an arrangement we wish to see continue in this century.”

She said the plan is to replace this with “affordable, energy efficient self-contained properties within the district”.