Holton pits fishing lake: Community group need donations

Holton Pits, near Halesworth, was put up for sale in August by property consultant Fisher German on behalf of the property’s owner, building materials company Cemex.

The Holton Pits Preservation Group – led by Halesworth Councilwoman Rachel Kellett – was formed to save the site.

The group made a bid to buy Holton Pits before the September deadline but now need to raise enough money to take it on.

The conservation group, which has more than 100 members, fears the site could be sold and developed in a way that would threaten its fragile biodiversity and limit access for locals who have used it for recreation and well-being for decades.

The site has been designated an “Asset of Community Value,” but that status expires in May, after which Cemex could sell the site to anyone. Sixteen more bids were made to buy the land.

Jamie Leverett, a member of the group, said: “The support we have received is wonderful.

“While we have the assets of community value we need to raise the funds, it could be sold to anyone from May.

“We’re confident the project will find support, but it’s a fight against time to get the money by May.”

The Holton Pits Preservation Group meets over the summer to discuss their bid (Image: Newsquest)

The group is finalizing its registration as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and, once cleared, will be able to accept payments from donors.

Group member Marion Gaze said: “We have sent off all the documents for our CIC, which is the formality, so it is out of our hands and we are awaiting its completion.

“If people would like to donate, please visit our website and contact us and we can correspond and let people know when the CIC is ready.”

Bird’s eye view of the Holton Pits (Image: Newsquest)

Cemex’s asking price is in the region of £150,000 and Suffolk Coastal MP Thérèse Coffey backs an offer from the group to the Government for 50 per cent of the cost.

Ms Kellett said: “The possibility of losing the country really inspired everyone to take action and made us appreciate the freedom we have here.

“The government’s recent announcement says everyone must be within 15 minutes’ walk of a green space, so hopefully that strengthens our bid.”

The Holton Pits Preservation Group website is at kaliwood.wordpress.com/pit-stop

According to the 2016 Waveney Wildlife Audit, the grasslands at Holton Pits are rich in lichen and are of great benefit to many species (Image: Newsquest)

Holton exhibits activists. Left to right: Jamie Leverett, Gaina Dunsire, Marion Gaze and Rachel Kellett (Image: Bruno Brown)