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TV5198
In TV5198, the River Cuckmere is in its plain stage and is near to completing its journey to the sea. The slow movement of water in the meanders of the former water course allowed alluvium to be deposited on the flood plain. Particularly in the winter months, the river regularly flooded and thereby made this part of the flood plain unsuitable for farming. Partly to speed up the river flow and reduce flooding, an artificial cut was made from Exceat9 to the river mouth at Cuckmere Haven.
In TV5198, the River Cuckmere exists as both the former, natural river with a number of meanders and the active river in the form of a straight edged cut dating back to 1847.
The land of the Seven Sisters Country Park has been owned by East Sussex County Council but on 20/01/2020 East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and the environment, Claire Dowling, approved the final terms of the plan to transfer ownership of the Country Park to the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). According to council papers, the transfer deal will result in an initial investment of £1.4 million with a view to investing a further £13 million in the longer term. The report indicates that this money would be dependent on successful bids to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. All terms relating to the deal are subject to them being approved by the Secretary of State.
While the SDNPA’s plan has attractive features such an improved visitor centre, improved habitat for aquatic birds, access paths and jobs, it will also result in a major land use change through the expansion of wetland at the expense of grazing land for livestock. The land use debate has revolved around two opposing visions of how the land is best used and for whom. While the view that the lower estuary, as in TV5198, be allowed to return to wetland has clearly found official favour, the question can still be asked as to whether that is the best decision. What do you think?
Andrew Diack BA (Hons)
TV5198 : "Cut off point" for the River Cuckmere's meanders adjacent to the straightened courseTV5198 : Eastward view from the bank of the straightened River CuckmereTV5198 : River Cuckmere "cut off point" on the old river courseTV5198 : Walkers on the floodplain of the River CuckmereTV5198 : Swans feeding by a meander bank on the former course of the River Cuckmere