In a meeting at Brighton and Hove City Council the Hove Conservative Councillor Ayas Fallon-Khan gave permission to market test an 8 acre stretch of land known as Hangleton Bottom for use as a potential site for commercial waste.
 
Hangleton Bottom is owned by the Council and is currently an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will border the South Downs National Park, is close to residential areas and classified as a green-field site.
 
The Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Les Hamilton from South Portslade, has called for this decision to be reviewed to ensure the public are able to have their say over the use of this valuable plot of land and not hidden behind Council bureaucracy.
 
Cllr Hamilton said:
“This green-field site has the chance to be a real asset to local people, which everyone can benefit from, such as community or open spaces. People should have the chance to put their views before the Tories well in advance of them taking a decision of this magnitude.”
 
“I believe the decision taken by the Conservative Councillor to potentially sell off a piece of land for commercial waste should be challenged. Local people should be given the chance to have their say before this Council starts marketing Hangleton Bottom. “
 
In a letter sent to the Chief Executive of the Council, Cllr Hamilton requested that the decision be scrutinised by the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee / Commission of the Council for the following reasons:
 
* That the decision taken on the January 18 was not marked or published on the council’s Forward Plan as being taken that day. It was in fact marked “deferred from November 20 2008” and had been marked in that way on subsequent Forward Plans since October 2008. The decision is also marked as ‘deferred’ on the Forward Plan that runs from February 2010 to May 2010.

* The Forward Plan is a prime component of the council’s new constitution and is used to inform the public and interested parties in advance as to which key decisions are being taken by Executive Councillors. It is an important form of communication and information from a council that professes to want the public to be kept informed and involved.

For more information about Labour view:
www.brightonhovelabour.com