January 2010 - The Crowborough Common Igloo built by Gavin Bailey and friends 

Public Inquiry - Inspector's Decision Published

April 2009

Save Our Common welcomes the inspector’s decision to reject an application by Crowborough Beacon Golf Club Limited to remove the right of public access to the treasured summit of Crowborough Common, Beacon Wood. 

There was an unprecedented volume of written objections to the application by the club.  Over 450 people attended the opening of the Public Inquiry on 4 March 2009, and it lasted for three full days.  This was the biggest inquiry the town has ever seen - the people of Crowborough were determined to defend their ancient common from development and it is good news that they have succeeded. 

This whole episode has put Crowborough Common very firmly back on the map.

Below is a link to the inspector's decision.

http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/common_land/decisions/2009/crowborough_common_east_sussex9_4_09.pdf

Statement by The Open Spaces Society

The Open Spaces Society www.oss.org.uk is celebrating the decision by Peter Millman of the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the environment secretary, to refuse consent for the deregistration and exchange of common land at Crowborough Common, East Sussex.

The public has the right to enjoy the common for air and exercise and it is widely used by local people.  An application was made by Crowborough Golf Club to deregister part of the common and replace it with other land.  The golf club was proposing to develop the deregistered land as a care home.

The society, and many local people, including the town council and the East Sussex Local Access Forum, objected to the application.  Peter Millman presided over a three-day inquiry in March 2009.  Objections were made about the loss or spoiling of views, the distance of the replacement land from Crowborough and its relative inaccessibility and the fragmentation of the remainder of the common.

The inspector concluded: ‘In terms of amenity and views, the replacement land would not be as valuable to the neighbourhood as the release land’.  The inspector also said that granting the application would not benefit nature conservation nor conserve biodiversity.

Says the society’s case officer Nicola Hodgson: ‘We are very pleased that the inspector has upheld our objections and refused to allow deregistration of part of the common.’

Welcome to Crowborough Common.  Crowborough Common is a beautiful area of undulating, mature heathland set close to one of the highest points in Sussex, with spectacular views to the South Downs.

Covering 222 acres, the common forms part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is the largest public recreation space within the town boundary.

The public may access all areas of the common on foot, including the golfing areas.  This right of access is not restricted to public footpaths.

Crowborough Common can be traced back to 1564 and ‘rights to air and exercise’ for the public were formalised in 1906 by the 8th Earl De La Warr.  Crowborough Beacon Golf Club Limited was established in 1895.

Most of the common is heathland and woodland, with less than half of the total area occupied by the golf course.

Avoid walking on the tees and greens.  Please observe the requirements of the 1936 Order.