Local views are ignored

Arun District Council finds the proposed development of the indoor market site in Surrey Street, Littlehampton, "hideous" (Gazette, April 8). The government inspector doesn't. The proposed development would, he says, "add architectural vibrancy to the local street scene" and "interest to this part of the town".

So, the out-of-town voice, which, amusingly, thinks there's plenty of on-street parking available thereabouts, wins against local awareness; central planning effaces local objections.

So much for handing back powers and responsibilities to local communities (we do mean it, but not now, later).

What's perhaps really hideous about it all is the distortion of the political process, so the local voice doesn't count.

There's another example of local versus elsewhere in the same Gazette.

West Sussex County Council has decided to support villages who want 30 miles per hour speed limits, not 40 miles per hour.

The police, who don't live there, say the plan will "backfire. . . there won't be the resources".

Presumably 30 would be more expensive to implement than 40 miles per hour.

This time, the local voice may win out, but the police don't want it to, and work to denigrate the plan's possible success.

Finally, my own up-to-the-minute example of how to ignore the locals.

Climping has a lovely beach, and the whole area, minimal old village included, is attractive. And like most seaside places, contemporary Climping is threatened with predictably unpleasant things – an impressive amount of litter and fly-tipping, and dog muck by the kilo on the foreshore and elsewhere.

But Climping now possesses a particular new mini-development that will catch every visitor's eye – namely the "Baird's By The Sea" car park entrance with its token-taking hospital car park-style automatic barriers. Ok for town centres, lousily out of keeping here, 20 yards from a beautiful beach and 10 yards from a fine stretch of ancient flint wall.

So, who let this grisly little monument to unawareness happen? Who objected?

And for that matter, which is ultimately the most hideous – litter and tipping, dog muck, or these steel barriers? The litter is clearable, the dog muck will disappear, but the barriers will survive. Unless. . .

One thing's for sure, there's plenty of hideous about.

Robert Hull

Elm Grove South, Barnham