‘Youngsters should speak out about plans to destroy Rookwood’

The article in your paper (September 24) gave details of a small shift by HDC in their plans for housing development at Rookwood.

They have clearly listened to the outrage among local residents and are now trying to convince them that it can go ahead on a smaller scale: not 1,100 houses but 750-870.

The idea that this will allow ‘more accessible open space and enhanced wildlife habitats’ is nonsense.

You cannot expect wildlife to thrive amongst new housing which will bring hundreds of cars on to the site, as well as home-owners’ cats that will be free to roam and impact on existing wildlife.

To plan for any housing to be ‘focused on areas of current low biodiversity along the managed fairways of the golf course’ might sound sensible but that will only further separate existing corridors for wildlife between the areas in question and the adjoining nature reserve.

Not only do those who play golf love using the fairways but so too do Canada Geese who wander freely from the beautiful lakes on to the course, as does the occasional deer.

I taught humanities in secondary education for 30 years and feel in a position to comment from the point of view of passionate students who would know how important maintaining Rookwood would be for future generations.

An environmental student would argue strongly to maintain the existing bond between Rookwood and the nature reserve.

A sociology student would argue just as strongly for the need to keep Rookwood open as a golf course to continue to offer the benefits to health and well-being for the people of Horsham and surrounding areas.

I would urge young people to get actively involved in getting their voices heard and protect all that is valuable to them for their future. As the town expands its housing to meet targets this is not the time for a council to take decisions that will reduce the outdoor leisure amenities available to the people.

Even my economics students would have made the same decision having weighed up the benefits of short term cash from selling off council-owned land against the loss forever of such a valued and beautiful green asset for the local community.

HDC must listen to the people, including the rational judgements that students would be expected to make, and ditch any plans to destroy Rookwood

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