A PLAN to use ponies to graze downland has fallen at the first hurdle over concerns the site was not secure enough to stop rustlers stealing the animals.

The Sussex Pony Grazing Conservation Trust has withdrawn its offer to loan its animals to graze on the 19 Acres site following a recent unauthorised encampment on the land off Devil’s Dyke Road in Brighton.

Trust members have told Brighton and Hove City Council that they were unhappy with security arrangements at the site and fearful that their ponies might be stolen.

Council officers said the authority was looking to make the site more secure and hoped to overcome problems flagged up by the trust.

Concerns were also raised about whether an adequate water supply could be provided for the ponies.

The entrance to the site has been left badly cut up by a recent unauthorised encampment which had made it impossible to bring a large water container on site to meet the animals’ need for up to 20 litres of liquid a day.

Pony grazing had been touted as a cost-free way of maintaining several green spaces around the city and a better alternative to the current rotating flock of council-managed sheep.

The presence of ponies had also been envisaged as a way of deterring traveller groups from setting up camp on city sites.

Ann Norman, Conservative councillor for Withdean ward, described the withdrawal of the offer as “so sad” to many residents looking forward to seeing the ponies on 19 Acres.

She said: “Local residents and especially children were looking forward to seeing ponies grazing on 19 Acres and to subsequently observe the positive environmental benefits that they would inevitably bring to this popular entrance to the South Downs National Park."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “It would be very beneficial to have pony grazing on council land as it helps to conserve our chalk downland.

“We are looking at ways of making 19 Acres more secure and will meet with the Sussex Pony Grazing Conservation Trust to discuss how we can improve the usability of the site and overcome the difficulties of getting water there.

“We are also looking to see if there are other sites in the city that the trust could help manage by grazing their ponies.”