Brighton and Hove City Council is preparing to consult city residents over a proposal to take over parts of Lewes district – namely Kingston, East Saltdean, Peacehaven, Telscombe, and Newhaven. 

The move is its response to the government’s Local Government Reorganisation. Residents in the affected areas are also excluded from taking part in the consultation.

There are carefully thought-out and well-developed proposals already for Lewes District Council to join the other District and Borough Councils in East Sussex, along with the County Council in an East Sussex Unitary Authority. 

Lewes District Council has for several months been working towards proposals for a Unitary Authority for East Sussex. These are carefully considered and well-developed proposals. This work has included extensive consultation with all impacted residents and has been carried out in close partnership with the other District and Borough Councils in East Sussex, along with the County Council. 

Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Leader of Lewes District Council, said:

“Today I was told by Bella Sankey that she plans a takeover of parts of Lewes District.  This follows zero consultation with Lewes District Council and no consultation with our residents to see if they want to become part of a Brighton dumping ground.

“The fact is, Brighton has a housing crisis and they plan to solve it by building tens of thousands of houses in Lewes district.  I will stand up for our residents and fight this every step of the way.

Lewes District Council has launched this petition for residents to sign if they want to remain residents of Lewes district. 

Councillor Christine Robinson, Deputy Leader of Lewes District Council, said:

"It is totally wrong and deeply concerning that the people living in Kingston, East Saltdean, Peacehaven, Telscombe, and Newhaven are being deliberately excluded from this consultation. Do they want to become a suburb of Brighton? Do they want Brighton & Hove City Council to dictate their future and concrete over their neighbourhoods without their consent?

“We will vigorously resist any attempts to annex our communities against the will of residents. We are here to serve the people of Lewes district, and we will not allow our green spaces to become a backdoor solution to Brighton's housing crisis.

“We believe in local democracy and ensuring our residents have a genuine say in what happens to their homes and communities."

Sign this petition to show you want Kingston, East Saltdean, Peacehaven, Telscombe, and Newhaven to stay in Lewes district!