Calls for an investigation over handing of Ford eco-town plans

Two promoters of a new town for Ford have complained to a national watchdog about the way their scheme was considered by councillors.

Tony Dixon and Harold Hall have asked the Local Government Ombudsman to investigate how Arun District Council approached its plans for the Ford Enterprise Hub.

They want to matter to be independently determined.

Mr Dixon, of Westergate, said: "The matters in our complaint demonstrate a clear pattern of events in which the council sought to avoid full and equal consideration of a new settlement on the disused airfield at Ford.

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"We have progressed through three stages of Arun's complaints procedures and remain dissatisfied with the council's response.

"We feel the council has avoided addressing some of the key issues raised in our complaint."

An Arun spokeswoman said: "We have received a copy of the complaint lodged with the ombudsman and we will deal with that complaint in the usual way.

"We will respond to the ombudsman when he contacts us, as is normal practice.

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"The council has got a very good record of being able to satisfy the ombudsman.

"In the past three years, there has not been a single finding of maladministration against us."

The Ford Enterprise Hub consisted of 5,000 homes being built on 350 acres of the former Ford Airfield.

The housing was intended to meet all needs from starter homes to retirement housing. Also envisaged was space for knowledge-based industries such as science and research and development to provide some 4,000 jobs.

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New shops would be built along with a secondary school, a health centre, secondary school and community and sports facilities.

A relocated Ford railway station with bus links would provide public transport links. The hub scheme was launched about four years ago before the separate proposals for an eco-town

on the site with which it was merged.

The land was outside the areas which Arun had earmarked for development under its local plan land use document.

Its new local development framework, which carries out the same function, is still being compiled but the council has continued with a policy of adding new housing to existing urban areas rather than creating new settlements.

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Arun held a unique series of special select committee hearings two years ago into the Ford proposals in which arguments for and against the schemes were aired.

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