Mobile units will give public chance to air views on plans

The consultation trailer on wheels will be sited about 600m from the proposed location for 2,500 homes and a business centre.

The scheme north of Chalcraft Lane is being promoted by the landowners as an eco-quarter.

It is one of Arun District Council's favoured options for the new housing it has to accommodate by 2026.

Bersted Parish Council has already expressed its initial alarm about the plans.

Its residents will be the first in the district to state their views in the mobile unit. It will be sited in the Jubilee Community Centre off Chalcraft Lane between 7.30am and 3pm on February 16.

Arun leader Cllr Gill Brown said she wanted as many people as possible to go along.

"We have some tough decisions to make in Arun over the next few months and the input of local residents is absolutely integral to this process.

"It is vital that as many people as possible let us know where they think major development should take place in Arun over the next 20 years.

"We know these decisions will affect many people across the district. So, make sure you let us know which option or combination of options you would prefer to see implemented," she stated.

Arun has put forward three preferred options for the housing. The one involving the Chalcraft Lane location sees urban extensions on both sides of the River Arun favoured.

Another concentrates much of the housing on Ford and the third sees the Barnham and Eastergate area as a prime location for development. The district council's formal period for consultation about its land use allocations begins next Thursday.

It will last for six weeks. After that, councillors will use the views expressed to make their final decision about the sites to be used. There are several ways for people to make their comments to the council.

As well as the mobile unit, its website can also be used or a questionnaire filled in at Bognor Regis Town Hall or the Arun Civic Centre in Littlehampton.

Locations

This is the full list of locations west of the River Arun at which Arun District Council's mobile consultation unit will visit between 7.30am and 3pm:

February 16: Jubilee Community Centre car park, off Chalcraft Lane;

March 2: Yapton and Ford Village Hall car park, Yapton;

March 18: Eastergate Village Hall car park, Eastergate;

March 23: Barnham railway station car park.

A permanent display about the three options will also be situated at Bognor Regis Town Hall during the six weeks.

Times and dates when planning officers will attend to answer questions will be publicised. They will include some evening sessions.

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