The council plan was to sell nearly 200 acres of agricultural land at Tenants Hill and Mount Carvey following the death of the tenant farmer last year.

But news of the downland sale led to mass protest, with 400 people gathering at the site on Saturday, November 14, to make their opinions known.

There was even a Stop Cissbury Sell-Off group formed to fight the plan.
Today (Thursday, November 26), Worthing Council admitted it was considering withdrawing the agricultural land for sale following the "strong and consistent views of residents".

Cabinet member for resources, Steve Waight, said: "We have been listening to the views of local residents and organisations.

"Alongside that, the cabinet had been considering for some time the way in which it manages its buildings and land.

"The strong and consistent views of residents have convinced us to move forward with the changes that we had been considering and will now use long term leases instead of selling the freeholds of our buildings and land.

"If this policy is agreed by cabinet, one of the effects of that change would be to remove the Cissbury Downland from sale and seek a leasehold option."

The decision to take the land off the market will be discussed at a council meeting on Thursday, December 3.

A meeting has also been set up with the National Trust and the South Downs Joint Committee to discuss any possible options for the land.

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