Aldingbourne included in consultations over homes plans

An extra date at the Aldingbourne Community Sports Centre has been added to the consultation schedule being run by Arun District Council.

The council's mobile roadshow is due to be open at the Oliver's Meadow building between 7.30am and 3pm on March 17, it was announced at a public meeting last week.

The visit has been lined up after Aldingbourne was left off the original list of the roadshow's seven destinations during the council's seven-week period to seek residents' views.

District councillor Melissa Briggs, of Hook Lane in Aldingbourne, persuaded councill officers a visit to the village should be arranged.

She said: "It's very important the roadshow comes to Westergate and Aldingbourne because a lot of people who live around here don't have access to public transport to get to the roadshow elsewhere.

"There was a distinct feeling that, if the roadshow didn't come to the Aldingbourne area, we were going to be excluded from the consultation.

"To have 2,500 new homes in the Six Villages will increase our population by potentially 30 per cent.

"That is a huge amount in a short time and it's important people can express their views about that."

Arun has highlighted that Westergate, which is within Aldingbourne parish, along with Eastergate and Barnham, could be expected to accommodate 2,500 new homes by 2026.

The location forms part of one of the three options for development upon which Arun is consulting until April 2.

Cllr Derek Whittington, the area's county council member, said he was disappointed the mobile roadshow was due to be open only on weekdays.

"On Saturday, I am sure there would be more people available to visit the roadshow. I think that could be the answer to getting people's views.

"Saturday is the busiest day of the week in Barnham village centre and will get more people along to the roadshow," he commented.

Ian Sumnall, Arun's chief executive, said the council was committed to involving residents around Six Villages in the consultation.

He said: "We realise that people want to find out more about the proposals where they live. That is why we want to get out to villages like Aldingbourne and Bersted.

"If there is a special demand from one or two locations for extra dates for the roadshow, then we will look at it, as we have done for Aldingbourne. But I am not going to promise here to achieve that.

"What we are never going to do is to satisfy absolutely everyone who might want us to be everywhere at the same time. We have to use our resources sensibly."

As well as the roadshow, details about the housing plans were available through the local media and the council's website, he added.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP