Far from the end in 'Swampies' battle

WEST Durrington's "Swampies" are being nothing but pragmatic in deciding not to quit their Titnore tree-tops for the time being. Elated though they are over the decision of Worthing Borough Council's planning committee to reject the 875-homes plan north-west of the new Tesco Extra store, Monday's decision is not likely to be the end of the matter.

The West Durrington Consortium is probably, even now, preparing to renew the battle with either an appeal against the planning committee's rejection, or by coming up with an amended scheme.

It's hard to envisage the plan's proponents throwing in the towel at this stage.

Worthing Council has not always been successful in getting its way over plans it has rejected, including the McCarthy & Stone assisted-living complex on the north side of Union Place.

A government appeal inspector decided in favour of the retirement-home builders on this vital site, resulting in the present development which is definitely not the vibrant town centre addition which the council had in mind.

Another, recent, local example is that of an appeal inspector overturning Horsham District Council's refusal to grant permission for an 87-home development on the edge of Pulborough.

The inspector said the need for more houses outweighed the policy of preventing development outside existing settlement boundaries.

Is this a grim harbinger of what lies in store for West Durrington?

There could, however, yet be a new wind to blow away "accepted" factors relating to building on greenfield sites. John Prescott's targets for concreting over much of the south east's prime open land must be open to question if the Conservatives manage to win a working majority at the imminent general election.

A new administration is likely to be sympathetic to growing calls for a cut-back in this mass building programme.

And if there is one thing that West Durrington's new Tesco Extra store has done, it is to bring home the stark effect of massive development in a beautiful part of the countryside on the edge of our new South Downs National Park.

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