New Recruits to the South Downs Society
Local amenity group the South Downs Society has today (4 May 2007) welcomed the arrival of two key new recruits – both former stalwarts of East Sussex County Council.
The Society has been campaigning to protect the South Downs for over 80 years and its efforts may be rewarded shortly by their confirmation as a National Park, providing extra protection. To help them they have now recruited two senior employees from County Hall in Lewes.
Richard Partridge, previously Assistant Director of Law with the County Council, has been looking after the legal aspects of the council’s work on planning and rights of way for 29 years! But he is now taking up the reins as one of the Society’s volunteer team of District Officers who scrutinise all planning applications that might affect the Downs and pass on their comments to the Council planners to make sure that the special characteristics of the Downs landscape are looked after.
Steve Ankers has headed up the County Council’s environmental work for 15 years but from 1 May has taken over as Planning Officer for the Society, working alongside the volunteers. He has been responsible for all the council’s environmental improvement schemes during that time and looked after its country parks, nature reserves and footpaths.
Steve says, “ Richard and I are regular walkers on the Downs around Lewes. We have both been involved in the County Council’s work in the Downs for at least 15 years since helping to establish the Sussex Downs Conservation Board and are looking forward to the setting up of the new National Park. That will bring a new level of protection to the Downs and new funds to help to look after it.”
Said Jacquetta Fewster, the Society’s Director, “ It’s great news for the Society that both Richard and Steve have joined us. They know the Downs well and the issues facing us and will bring a huge amount of experience to the Society’s work as we move into the next phase of our work of protecting this treasured landscape.”