Sussex Ramblers take on Nicholas Hoogstraten once more (From The Argus)
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Sussex Ramblers take on Nicholas Hoogstraten once more
10:00am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News By Ben Parsons
Nicholas Hoogstraten
Ramblers have commemorated their clash with Nicholas Hoogstraten by producing a special route across his land.
Sussex Ramblers fought a 13-year battle with the notorious tycoon to use a footpath which crosses his palatial estate at Framfield.
In 2003, they finally won and walkers can now use the route - if they don't mind talk of "armed guards" on patrol.
The nine-mile walk takes in the “beautiful and changing countryside around Uckfield”. It rises 200 metres and includes “quite a few stiles”.
Sussex Ramblers have published the route of “Mr Van Hoogstraten’s Path” to give publicity to their fight for the right to roam.
The route includes a stretch which crosses the estate of Hamilton Palace, Nicholas Hoogstraten’s stately home-cum-folly-cum-mausoleum.
It took 13 years to force the notorious Hove tycoon to open the route. While that battle is long since won, until now no specific walk had been devised to include the fought-over stretch.
Ramblers spokesman Chris Smith, who came up with the walk, said: “Most landowners are not like Mr Hoogstraten.
“They keep their paths open. But this walk reminds us how important the work of the Ramblers is in maintaining our footpath network.”
Mr Hoogstraten said he did not wish to give the Ramblers publicity, describing them as “the dirty mac brigade”.
He said: “We have got armed guards up there. Nobody has been across that land for a few years.”
Mr Smith’s guide reads: “Was it worth the battle? The path itself is not particularly special, although there are lovely distant views of the South Downs and a tranquil woodland walk to follow.
“But the impact has been tremendous. By taking on such a powerful adversary the Ramblers made it clear to others that they were prepared to defend the nation’s footpaths for everyone against anyone.
“Since the time of the case the state of footpaths in East Sussex has improved considerably. This is partly because of this case.”
Mr Hoogstraten said completing Hamilton Palace was not his top priority, with building work at 20 The Drive, at The Courtlands Hotel, also in The Drive, and Hovedene, in Cromwell Road, coming first.
He said: “We’re up to our neck at the moment in building works in Hove at The Drive. Then Courtlands has got to be finished, then Hovedene, then we’ll finish the palace.
“That is the sequence.”
In an interview with The Argus in 2008 he predicted the financial crisis would lead to the worst recession in history.
Speaking last week, he said he is benefiting from the current trading conditions. He said: “Because we are in a serious recession now, obviously it has worked in our favour.
“Construction labour costs have fallen dramatically. Simply because of the economic conditions everywhere, it puts us up front.
“We are secure, whereas most people are not. We have never needed to borrow money.”
Mr Hoogstraten said that while his priorities are in Zimbabwe, his business interests are very much alive in Sussex.
He said: “We are in a strong position. We are taking advantage of that.
"It is business as usual.”
Comments(52)
MuammarQaddafi
says...
10:13am Tue 9 Oct 12
hubby
says...
10:48am Tue 9 Oct 12
brightonian57
says...
11:22am Tue 9 Oct 12
hubby wrote:That’s probably the nicest description he’s ever had
What a wierd bloke.
Tailgaters Anonymous
says...
11:40am Tue 9 Oct 12
BornInBrighton1968
says...
11:41am Tue 9 Oct 12
Nathan_Adler
says...
11:44am Tue 9 Oct 12
Mr P Brown
says...
12:47pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Nathan_Adler wrote:I think Mr Van H would be a good place to start your search
Does anybody know where I can get a hand grenade from?
Dirk Von Roden
says...
12:50pm Tue 9 Oct 12
rolivan
says...
1:25pm Tue 9 Oct 12
StyleCop
says...
2:24pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Who said: `Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear --
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.'
voiceofthescoombe
says...
3:27pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Started the fight and had no idea or history of who the ramblers are.
Armed guards hes either lieing through his teeth or wants to go to jail again.
lorrie1
says...
3:32pm Tue 9 Oct 12
He is a criminal and always will be, Does he have a home office licence to have ARMED gaurds on his property? probably not, Total scum always will be!
Flippin Burghers
says...
5:24pm Tue 9 Oct 12
F in L
says...
5:42pm Tue 9 Oct 12
gnarlychaos
says...
6:03pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Contrary to the views spleened on here
i found him to be a likeable chap and good company too.
He is clearly providing much needed
employment to the building trade thus
financial input to the local economy,he
can not be held responsible for the terrible state his tenants allowed their
dwellings to turn into.
Consider the tory conference today was
told,people who break into houses can
expect to be met with reasonable violence from the owners,the same right should therefore be assumed of landowners.
Mr Hoogstraten would,considering the comments above, feel intimidated and threatened and in my opinion be entitled to the use of Grenades and/or whatever use of weaponry he thought needed at the time to put down these
vermin.
in the case of ramblers a bar of soap would be normally sufficient. If not then yes just shoot them.
I bk
lame the greens for all this ****
westside
says...
6:38pm Tue 9 Oct 12
multiple personality moron with no life
says...
6:38pm Tue 9 Oct 12
gnarlychaos wrote:...of course you did. fantasist.
I had many a conversation with Nick as we rambled around the exercise yards of Belmarsh.
Contrary to the views spleened on here
i found him to be a likeable chap and good company too.
He is clearly providing much needed
employment to the building trade thus
financial input to the local economy,he
can not be held responsible for the terrible state his tenants allowed their
dwellings to turn into.
Consider the tory conference today was
told,people who break into houses can
expect to be met with reasonable violence from the owners,the same right should therefore be assumed of landowners.
Mr Hoogstraten would,considering the comments above, feel intimidated and threatened and in my opinion be entitled to the use of Grenades and/or whatever use of weaponry he thought needed at the time to put down these
vermin.
in the case of ramblers a bar of soap would be normally sufficient. If not then yes just shoot them.
I bk
lame the greens for all this ****
gnarlychaos
says...
6:39pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Flippin Burghers wrote:Share your insight, thats if you have any
Nasty old crook.
gnarlychaos
says...
6:55pm Tue 9 Oct 12
westside wrote:Snuff movie
it would be intresting to see a mass group all walk along the designated path and see what really happens if anything. make sure you take video evidence as this man was once charged with being involved with a murder. i would luv to get up his nose just like he has done to many.
John Steed
says...
8:01pm Tue 9 Oct 12
F in L
says...
9:17pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Eric Northman
says...
10:16pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Dr.Draconian
says...
10:42pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Typical school yard bully when he has his gang with him & hasn't the bottle to get his own hands dirty.
Eric Northman
says...
10:47pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Dr.Draconian wrote:You clearly don't know the man very well then.
I don't why people are scared of him, on his own he's a ****.
Typical school yard bully when he has his gang with him & hasn't the bottle to get his own hands dirty.
boblat
says...
5:18am Wed 10 Oct 12
Just give up and walk the countryside. You have NO chance trying to win this one!!..Or just go home and suck in all the lying propaganda from your giant TVs??....Get a life Plebs, and leave others alone!!
timm
says...
6:40am Wed 10 Oct 12
lordenglandofsussex
says...
7:37am Wed 10 Oct 12
F in L wrote:Put it this way, after Hoogstraten is long gone, the footpaths will still be there.
I would strongly advise any Ramblers to go in VERY large groups. the 'Security' is robust to say the least and dogs are shot if off the lead due to the 2 sheep kept there. trespassers are liable to be blamed for vandalism, theft from the site and criminal damage... You are dealing with someone with far more resources, a stronger will and a lot less scruples. I personally would walk somewhere prettier....and safer. Mr Hoogstraten is not to be crossed.
lordenglandofsussex
says...
7:44am Wed 10 Oct 12
boblat wrote:Most Ramblers are upper and middle class professionals rather than working class. They include Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, MP's, Police Chiefs, Judges and even members of the House of Lords.
Personal insults seem to be the only answer the brainless, unwashed sheeple can come up with??
Just give up and walk the countryside. You have NO chance trying to win this one!!..Or just go home and suck in all the lying propaganda from your giant TVs??....Get a life Plebs, and leave others alone!!
If you don't believe me then check out your local Rambler's Association or walking group. The South Down's Association is mainly made up of these kinds of people.
Mr Hoogstraten should be careful who he threatens in his old age because he might just tread on the wrong toe of someone far more powerful than he.
qm
says...
9:10am Wed 10 Oct 12
Tailgaters Anonymous
says...
10:30am Wed 10 Oct 12
AmboGuy
says...
11:49am Wed 10 Oct 12
boblat wrote:Lying propaganda? Do you mean his previous convictions are lies or maybe his good chum Robert Mugabe isn't as bad as the lying TVs have made out?
Personal insults seem to be the only answer the brainless, unwashed sheeple can come up with??
Just give up and walk the countryside. You have NO chance trying to win this one!!..Or just go home and suck in all the lying propaganda from your giant TVs??....Get a life Plebs, and leave others alone!!
Could you clarify please as right now you just look like a sad old forum troll who knows this vile man no more than the average guy in the street.
BornInBrighton1968
says...
11:59am Wed 10 Oct 12
My boss came up against Hoogstraaten a couple of times back then, and said that Hoogstraaten isn't so tough when he doesn't have his lads around him...
anonymous coward
says...
12:13pm Wed 10 Oct 12
Hello, Mr.Hoogstraten!
Flippin Burghers
says...
12:14pm Wed 10 Oct 12
BornInBrighton1968
says...
1:07pm Wed 10 Oct 12
StyleCop
says...
4:31pm Wed 10 Oct 12
lordenglandofsussex wrote:as I said...
F in L wrote: I would strongly advise any Ramblers to go in VERY large groups. the 'Security' is robust to say the least and dogs are shot if off the lead due to the 2 sheep kept there. trespassers are liable to be blamed for vandalism, theft from the site and criminal damage... You are dealing with someone with far more resources, a stronger will and a lot less scruples. I personally would walk somewhere prettier....and safer. Mr Hoogstraten is not to be crossed.Put it this way, after Hoogstraten is long gone, the footpaths will still be there.
""My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.'”
Just to bring a bit of culture to this otherwise acrimonius diatribe.
The Real Phil
says...
7:32pm Wed 10 Oct 12
Up the Ramblers!
emma barnes
says...
8:10pm Wed 10 Oct 12
mictrix
says...
10:18am Thu 11 Oct 12
clarkebrighton
says...
12:02pm Thu 11 Oct 12
when he Departs from this World.
Even the Kray Twins had a few friends !!
NeuroMuscle
says...
12:55pm Thu 11 Oct 12
clarkebrighton wrote:So you think "Nasty Nick" has upset more people than the Kray Twins?
I don't think NASTY NICK will be Missed
when he Departs from this World.
Even the Kray Twins had a few friends !!
The Ramblers
says...
6:07pm Thu 11 Oct 12
o.uk in the walks section.
rolivan
says...
10:35pm Thu 11 Oct 12
The Ramblers wrote:I notice that another has died whilst walking her dog.Please could you emphasise the danger.
I'm afraid that the Argus has got the wrong end of the stick. The battle was won years ago and there have been no problems experienced by people using the path for many years. We simply thought people might enjoy a walk through the Uckfield countryside which shows you what all the fuss was about. You can find the walk at www.travelloglewes.c
o.uk in the walks section.
bruce_
says...
11:09am Sun 14 Oct 12
SuzieB
says...
2:20pm Sun 14 Oct 12
SuzieB
says...
2:21pm Sun 14 Oct 12
plantwoman
says...
5:16pm Sun 14 Oct 12
rolivan wrote:'I notice that another has died whilst walking her dog.Please could you emphasise the danger.'
The Ramblers wrote: I'm afraid that the Argus has got the wrong end of the stick. The battle was won years ago and there have been no problems experienced by people using the path for many years. We simply thought people might enjoy a walk through the Uckfield countryside which shows you what all the fuss was about. You can find the walk at www.travelloglewes.c o.uk in the walks section.I notice that another has died whilst walking her dog.Please could you emphasise the danger.
Rolivan, explain please!
Juleyanne
says...
8:49am Tue 16 Oct 12
TES of Brighton
says...
1:30pm Wed 17 Oct 12
The Ex-Lands
says...
11:39pm Thu 18 Oct 12
TES of Brighton
says...
2:26pm Thu 25 Oct 12
The Ex-Lands wrote:What has Mary Whitehouse got to do with things? 'Decent'? You *are* joking! My comment was (to use your percentage quote) 100% fact. Have you lost out to this crook? I thought not...
Goodness knows what the late Mary Whitehouse would have made of many of these remarks. Mr van Hoogstraten is 100% decent and apart from anything else provides employment to many people in and around our city. Anyone would think we were living in 1930s Chicago with some of these comments which are nonsense at best. What is wrong with these people?!
LB says...
10:11am Tue 9 Oct 12
Or does he just mean they have guards with something between their shoulders and hands?