Housing ‘sham’

It seems the attitude of members of the local plan sub-committee is “as long as it’s not on my patch, I won’t say anything”.

Many of the residents who attended the meeting said afterwards that they had lost confidence in democracy in the hands of Arun District Council as a result.

Councillors need to start listening to local communities before their full council meeting on January 8.

If not, they will reap the consequences at the next elections.

Cllr Jean Goad had summarised the situation very accurately, saying: “David Cameron said recently that communities don’t have to have houses they don’t want.

We have gone to consultation about the local plan and had thousands of responses, but the district council has not listened.”

Cllr Bicknell proposed a sensible amendment for a small housing allocation at Ford, which Ford Parish Council has advocated.

The planning officers objected because work has not been done on infrastructure needs to support development there.

But earlier the same officers said this work was not needed for their recommended West Bank development of 1,000 houses, because it was only a “broad allocation”, which is what Cllr Bicknell was suggesting.

The party line was set by Ricky Bower and it was only a few brave councillors who challenged him.

Only Cllr Mrs Brown spoke of the need for sustainable development.

I have asked for a meeting with the council leader, Mrs. Brown, to explain the implications of ADC consultants’ housing figures, and wanted clear answers to questions, and am waiting for a response.

We would like to know whether the motivation for the new town is purely to achieve the funding for a bypass to the Woodgate level crossing?

If so, we question whether that is a valid reason for opting for a high housing target which creates additional flooding risks in Barnham and downstream of the villages in Felpham, Bersted and Bognor?

Is this area truly a sustainable location, when buses are hourly, station parking totally inadequate and much of the new town would lie a long way from key services?

Mike Turner

chairman

Villages Action Group