Get a closer look at North Bersted housing plans

PR consultants Green Issues posted 14,500 invitations in the past week to residents who could be affected by the village-sized development.

The exhibitions will take place in the evening of April 3 at the Jubilee Community Centre, off Chalcraft Lane, and all day on April 4 at the Regis Centre in Bognor Regis.

Further public exhibitions about the intended housing north west of Chalcraft Lane will also take place in early May and June.

James Garland, of Green Issues, said the events proved wrong any critics who claimed the scheme was being put together without the knowledge of nearby residents.

"We didn't invite people sooner because if we did it too early then a lot of people might forget about it.

"Two weeks' notice is about the best.

"We are not trying to keep people out of the consultation process," he explained.

"We are trying to be exemplary in our consultation methods because that's what we will be judged on when a planning application is made.

"We are not pulling the wool over anyone's eyes with this scheme.

"Significant amounts of money are being spent on this consultation.

"It is not a case of forcing the development on people without their knowledge because Arun District Council would not allow that when it comes to decide the application."

But Mr Garland said a stakeholders' forum being held at the community centre last night would have a restricted attendance.

It is the second of the events to take place in the past four months. Fifteen people attended the first.

It was expected attendance last night would be about the same.

"We like in the region of 12 to 20 people at these forums. They are people such as parish councillors and district councillors for the ward who have put themselves up to represent the residents.

"We can rely on them to speak on behalf of the area and I know that some of those at the forum disagree with the proposals. It's not a case of inviting people we know will agree with the plans," explained Mr Garland.

Green Issues has been hired by the Church Commissioners to present the public case for the proposals.

They are known as the Bognor Regis Eco-Quarter and are designed to be for 'green' housing and providing jobs, schooling and community activities within walking distance of the proposed properties.

But a 'No CLUE' (Chalcraft Lane Urban Extension) campaign group has been formed to fight the scheme.

It is part of Arun District Council's preferred option to accommodate the 11,500 new homes it has to allow by 2026. The council's consultation about which of the three options it should choose ends on April 2.

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