THERE was good news earlier this month as Eastbourne Council halted the sale of its downland farms.

This was the result of a hard-fought campaign by residents.

It was only towards the end of last year that local people realised what was at stake. They quickly organised a rally on the Downs, attracting nearly 200 people. They then worked tirelessly to raise awareness and to lobby councillors, with the petition opposing the sales topping 10,000 signatures. Then on a cold and blustery day around 500 people turned out to hear representatives from Friends of the Earth and the Campaign to Protect Rural England describe why this battle was so important. Not only is this a victory for common sense: the long-term future of the farmland would have been at risk if sold off. This is also a victory for local democracy, where the council has listened to the concerns of local residents, albeit it has taken some time to get here.

Now a true test for the council is whether it is prepared to work with local people to restore the downland to a state closer to what it was in when it was first purchased. This need not require sudden or dramatic changes, but the council does need to revisit its vision for the Eastbourne downland to see whether it is up to date and reflects modern aspirations.

From its position of potential pariah, the council now has the opportunity to build bridges with the local community and to become a beacon for good public land ownership and management. It won’t be easy, but the best things never are.

Chris Todd is from Friends of the Earth