Localism

In effect, he posed the question we would rather not see spelled out, because it gets a bit too close to home, if you will pardon the pun.

In planning to make the best use of land, where does a right balance lie between narrow interests, usually self-centred, and meeting collective needs?

Our MPs set a broad strategy to meet the needs of the nation and challenge councils with implementation at local level, empowering them to do so through ‘localism’, and heaven help them on the day of reckoning, often referred to as polling day, if they haven’t found the perfect solution.

Is it any wonder we see such shenanigans as beset Arun District Council in its nine-years-long attempt to set a local plan and such nifty footwork by MPs stepping through a minefield of different councils and neighbourhood campaigners with differing priorities?

The result in Arun, and possibly throughout West Sussex, is institutionalized NIMBYism to resist change and avoid the downside for today’s residents which could result from an open-minded, objective approach to meeting basic needs of younger people for jobs, homes and careers.

Those needs exist right here, right now and they call for radical change in Arun from a plan to stay in the rut to one which shows full responsibility and leadership in facing up to economic and social change.

Harold Hall

Snowdrop Cottage

Warningcamp

• Want to share your views? Send your letters by email: [email protected] or post to Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.