North of Horsham: 2,500 homes plan criticised

A plan to build thousands of homes between Horsham and Crawley came under fire at a meeting on Monday evening.
North of Horsham - 'Green living' vision for 2,500-home development
You will find a more detailed key for the illustrative masterplan on the project website www.landnorthofhorsham.co.uk SUS-150429-172945001North of Horsham - 'Green living' vision for 2,500-home development
You will find a more detailed key for the illustrative masterplan on the project website www.landnorthofhorsham.co.uk SUS-150429-172945001
North of Horsham - 'Green living' vision for 2,500-home development You will find a more detailed key for the illustrative masterplan on the project website www.landnorthofhorsham.co.uk SUS-150429-172945001

The controversial scheme would see 2,500 homes - together with schools, retail and leisure facilities - built beside the A264.

Although Horsham District Council will decide on the planning application, the North Horsham County Local Committee (CLC) was invited to give its views on the highway works and traffic management aspects.

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Peter Catchpole (Holbrook) told fellow committee members that they need to speak out while they can still affect the plan.

“A lot of people have obviously been concerned about this proposal, and it’s important that I can say to my community in Holbrook that I’ve had my say at the right time,” he said.

He did welcome the idea of turning Langhurstwood Road into a cul-de-sac.

Liz Kitchen (Warnham and Rusper), a district councillor as well as a CLC member, said: “One of the reasons I’m opposed to it is the road. It’s more than full to capacity.”

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She said developers’ plans to upgrade the road were just ‘tweaking’.

“Tweaking just wont help, with another 2,500 houses, plus thousands who are going to shop in the shopping centre.

“I was horrified when I discovered that the committee members, of which I am one, hadn’t seen the plans until this evening.”

Nigel Dennis (Horsham Hurst) said he would like to see better provision for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

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Amanda Jupp (Billingshurst) said: “We’re living in Cloud Cuckoo Land if we don’t think the weight of traffic is going to increase.”

She said the traffic situation has to be considered in the context of the wider road network.

Ray Turner, a North Horsham parish councillor attending the meeting as a member of the public, said: “We remain deeply hostile to the development.

“We feel that the road network around the town is already inadequate.”

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He said he was mentioned Wimblehurst Road, Crawley Road, and Rusper Road as routes that are already badly congested at peak times.

“I’m deeply fed up with this proposal and I think it’s beholden to us all to continue to oppose this rubbish.”

CLC chairman Brad Watson said: “There’s a bureaucratic phrase: ‘If you want to influence something, do it before it’s written down.’

“I see an awful lot written down.”

He said the CLC will arrange to meet with the cabinet member responsible and raise their concerns.

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