Have your say on future of East Sussex countryside

East Sussex County Council is asking residents to comment on its draft Countryside Access Strategy, which lays out how its 2,000 miles of footpaths, bridleways and byways and 10 countryside sites are managed in the future.

The plan was put together following an extensive study which included an examination of how people use public rights of way and countryside sites and how well the county council looks after them.

The proposals would see the county council continue to manage and maintain public rights of way and two of its countryside sites – the Cuckoo Trail and Forest Way Country Park.

However, the authority would look to transfer management of the remaining eight countryside sites – including Seven Sisters Country Park, Ditchling Common Country Park and Camber Sand Dunes – to other organisations.

Any transfer of sites would be subject to strict conditions over their use, and would only be to organisations with a track record of conservation and working with visitors and the public, who would be able to take on sites, keep them open to the public and manage them better.