Letter to the editor: A parishioners' revolt at Ifield Parish Golf Club
Homes England 'insanity gone mad' decision to bulldoze Ifield Parish Golf Club in 2027—its centenary year—has been met with what can only be described as a parishioners’ revolt.
As the Observer's Christmas coverage made clear last week (“Anger over developer’s Christmas ‘present’” / “Institutional lunacy?”, December 24), this is not a routine planning dispute. It is a moment when an ancient parish is being asked to accept the destruction of a valued community asset by a masterplan that many residents and parishioners regard as imposed, premature and insane.
A public protest will take place outside Ifield Golf Club on Monday 5 January at 10.45am.
A similar protest took place outside the Golf Club 18 years ago ["Wreaths laid for threatened golf course", Crawley Observer, August 17 2007]
Will the bulldozers be stopped?
That will depend on whether planning sanity, community action and respect for local heritage prevail.
Richard W. Symonds MCIPD
The Ifield Society
Ifield Street, Ifield Village
Crawley, West Sussex