A CONTROVERSIAL plan for the potential selling off of one of the county’s most iconic sites has been unveiled.

The Argus can reveal that East Sussex County Council is looking at the future of eight countryside sites, including the Seven Sisters.

The other locations include Ditchling country parks, Camber Sand Dunes and Shinewater Park, Eastbourne.

The council is looking to find other interested organisations or charities to run them – or they could be sold off.

Councillors say it would save money and makes sense to invite organisations to take over the sites.

Conservative deputy council leader David Elkin confirmed to The Argus that the local authority “could transfer ownership”.

Stephen Lloyd, the former Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne, who is aiming to win the seat back at the next general election, has accused the Conservatives of gross hypocrisy.

He said: “We have just gone through a relatively painful process in Eastbourne when the borough council was trying to raise revenue through selling off the four farms.

“Opposition Tories cried foul and demanded a referendum and then we find out what they are planning at the county council.

“It is gross hypocrisy.

“To sell off the Seven Sisters Country Park would be absolutely outrageous.

“I hope they will now be calling for a referendum here.”

Cllr Elkin insists that it would not be a money making venture.

He said: “We are not looking to make a capital receipt from this.

“What is much more important is the management of these sites and we are looking at the best way of doing this.

“This is a draft strategy and we are excited by the possibilities.

“In Rye, the nature reserve was taken over by Sussex Wildlife Trust and it has proved a great success.

“We want to do what is best for these sites and if there is genuinely someone else who can do it better then so be it.”

He stressed that various options are still being considered.

A county council spokesman said the planned savings over two years would be around £100,000.

He said: “We would only consider transferring sites to organisations with a background in managing countryside sites, conservation and working with visitors and local communities.

“The aim is to improve the public’s experience of our sites, so they would, at the very least, be run as they currently are.

“Any transfer of sites would be subject to strict conditions relating to their future use.

“By seeking to pass the sites to other organisations experienced in community involvement, conservation and visitor engagement, it is anticipated that there will be improvements in what the sites have to offer.”

Each site would be considered separately or as part of a package.

Two of the sites, the Cuckoo Trail and Forest Way Country Park, would continue to be managed directly by the county council since they are more akin to rights of way in their appearance and use.

Other sites which could be managed by alternative organisations include Camber Sand Dunes, Shinewater Park, and Weir Wood Local Nature Reserve.