Confidence axed

SOME weeks ago, you reported that, during construction of the Morrisons supermarket at Wick, contractors had, contrary to statutory tree preservation orders, cleared several well-established and sound, mature specimens.

This action was to make way for utility services and, even though the contractors were warned of their illegal action by residents, the workforce proceeded to finalise the damage. Subsequently, the developers claimed a sorry mistake and promised adequate remedial measures.

The trees had been secured during the planning process as a protective visual screen and amenity asset for those living in Courtwick Lane who are most affected by the intrusive aspects of a high activity neighbour on their doorstep.

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So far, protest has achieved no more than a few weak-looking replacement saplings and a chain link security fence carrying some suspicious creepers. Current local opinion is that it is hardly a proper mitigating replacement, but it appears to be the most the enforcement officer has been able to achieve.

Protest at the planning stages over additional access to the site onto Courtwick Lane was overcome by the developers’ assurances that extraneous movement would be confined to the business hub associated with its office hours. Since completion, not only has the lack of screening caused visual intrusion, but also uncontrolled traffic levels, incorporating unsocial, large goods vehicle movements at all hours, are reported.

The outcome, with a sea of parked cars, backed by an uninspiring flank wall of the main building and traffic intrusion is, in the residents’ eyes, a most unpleasant situation.

Furthermore, a series of variation orders to the protective planning conditions have been permitted, and adequate pedestrian crossing facilities earmarked in the planning approval at the Wick roundabout have yet to emerge. We are told the councils have received £243,000 for highway improvements, yet some months after the store opened, the public is not provided with these most basic of safety assets.

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It is not surprising, in the light of these experiences and also reports of opinion expressed at recent public events about larger strategic enterprises, there is little confidence that adequate and properly associated infrastructure and environmental protection are being incorporated.

Much of the confusion appears to stem from the lack of unitary authority within our three-tier structure of local government.

Derek Hulmes,

Littlehampton town councillor

Kingfisher Drive

Wick

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