Billingshurst is in need of more facilities - not just houses

I appreciate the need for additional housing in Horsham and surrounding areas however whenever the council decides on transforming areas to provide such housing they never seem to take into account the necessity for increased facilities.

At least 19,300 homes must be built in Horsham over the next 20 years - according to the Government

I live in Billingshurst and in the space of the four years I and my husband have lived here, the building of new houses has taken place at either end of the village. As a result what was a village is fast growing into a town.

Sadly no additional facilities, other than a new petrol station and industrial park have been deemed necessary and been approved.

What we need is building of a new school and for the council to consider a reduction in business rates so that new shops consider opening up here. Sainsbury’s Local is the only grocery shop in Billingshurst. There needs to be some alternative place to shop.

There are no longer any banks here. There is an ATM outside Sainsbury. Due to the fact that it is the only one it is frequently running out of money.

The alternative is the Post Office who only give cash advances to people with accounts at the four major banks. I bank with Marks and Spencer which isn’t considered large enough. Admittedly Lloyds and NatWest provide a mobile banking service once a week. Sadly it’s not good enough.

There are empty units opposite Sainsbury, which have remained empty for more than two years now.....why is this when residents say there is a need for another chemist, newsagent/stationers.

There are four ladies’ hairdressers, two barbers, two coffee shops, two florists, a Post Office, bakers, butchers and a fishmonger visits on a Thursday.

Why doesn’t the council consider a property which would provide floor space to give room to the banks which deserted us when we were told originally the village would not be left without a bank!

And so it goes on....in order for a community to survive it has to have all the right facilities. Therefore if you intend to build 500 houses or more take into account the need for additional doctors, dentists a school, and leisure facilities and of course shops, supermarkets and provisions for young and old alike.

As the young of today will become the elderly of tomorrow. So starter homes are just as necessary as retirement homes, but we don’t need to destroy areas of the countryside in order to provide such housing.

Councils such as Horsham need to be more selective as to where building will take place and more realistic as to the design and affordability of such homes.