FORD ECO-TOWN: Damage warning over eco-town plan

The South Downs Society said the intended 5,000 home development at the former airfield site would have a major damaging impact.

It would cause the loss of high quality farmland, lead to an increased flood risk, damage existing villages and negatively affect efforts to regenerate Bognor and Littlehampton.

Steve Ankers, the society's planning officer, said: "The society has objected to the Ford proposal.

The environmental principles behind eco-towns are fine and should be incorporated into all new developments. But creating large blocks of new housing in the middle of the countryside without going through normal planning processes can't be right.

"In the case of Ford, there would be a visual impact on the Downs, light pollution at night, additional traffic and recreation pressures and excessive demands for water extraction."

His comments came as the society, founded in 1923 to preserve and enhance the South Downs, lodged its formal objection to the Ford scheme with the government.

The latest round of consultation about the possible eco-town lasts until April 30. The South Downs were designated a national park in 2002.

A public inquiry into the decision has been held and the government is expected to announce by the end of this June if the national park will come into effect.

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