Grand ideas have little substance

What was noticeable was that these developers often promised much but delivered far less. Using consultants, they would paint a pretty picture which would be so convincing; “their” developments would be different; they would involve that great catch-all, “the local community”.

Often we would be entranced by their slippery words and siren songs and then reality hit home. Just more houses built and little or no infrastructure to support them.

Over 12 years later we see the same thing in our town time and time again. Many promises but little delivery.

Perhaps the Littlehampton Hospital is one example, where the local NHS were categorical that a new hospital would arise from the dust of the old. Of course, we’re still waiting for the rebuild several years after the demolition gang who knocked down the old hospital have long gone.

Now we have two large developments proposed for north Littlehampton, one for 600 homes, the other for nearly 2,000.

Through your paper I lay the gauntlet down to our locally elected representatives via two points:

Firstly, speak the truth about development and in a united front extract real gains for our town. Specifically, say clearly to the Irish company which wishes to build 2,000 houses in Toddington – not a single home without the proper infrastructure, and make sure they deliver with legally binding guarantees.

Specifically, the Lyminster bypass must must go ahead as planned now, to relieve the ever-increasing road traffic congestion locally.

Secondly, local representatives must consider not only the quantitative aspects to new homes, but the wider, qualitative overall built environment for our town.

Squeezing ever more people together can be a recipe for disaster and over-development is a form of social hooliganism.

Dave Sax

Arundel Road

Littlehampton