Beeches battle: victory for residents

THE battle for Beeches Avenue has been won by residents...for the time being at least.

Planning councillors voted unanimously to dismiss an application by developers to build up to 90 houses on land north of the road.

More than 500 residents had written to the council objecting to the development. So did the Highways Agency, which said the A27 was "at capacity" and could not cope with the extra traffic.

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Outline plans for the houses have already been rejected once by the council on the grounds the development would have an adverse impact on residents and the environment.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was turned down again.

Roger Hinxman, a resident who has helped organise protests, said: "We are absolutely delighted. We are not going to be counting our chickens because I would not be at all surprised if the developers decided to appeal this. If it does go to appeal we will fight on.

"What was so significant about this application was the Highways Agency saying that the A27 was at capacity.

"I live near the A27 and I see the traffic all the time. It is horrific. I have never heard it put like that before and I am pleased. We do not need more traffic."

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Lib Dem Kevin Skepper had said at the meeting: "I think most of the people in Worthing agree that the A27 is over capacity and just could not handle this level of development."

Lib Dem James Doyle added: "We would be losing another piece of our increasingly threatened downland if this was allowed to happen."

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