Pleased with new Worthing College building

SOME time ago Worthing College entered into an ill thought out, unreasonable planning application to combine their site with a new College building and an ASDA superstore.

I, together with many of the residents, was always against this.

I am pleased to say, this was refused after a huge amount of work had been put in by Worthing Borough Council officers and FPARA, then finally rejected by the government inspector.

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Now, I am really pleased to report that outline planning permission has been granted today for a new college building.

Click here to see the Herald's story and larger versions of the artist's impression.

The sale of some of the college land for housing will in effect help pay towards this new build.

There is room for outdoor sports facilities included in the plan.

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There can be no doubt that Worthing College is certainly in need of re-development.

I believe that the already high standards set, could fall without a new build.

Potential students could and would be lured to other colleges offering better and greater facilities, and this could do irreparable harm to Worthing College and education in our town.

This time the college has gone to great lengths to involve local Councillors and nearby residents, and I feel that every effort has been made to involve all concerned.

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I personally have supported this for the following reasons.

'¢ Speaking to local residents I have found that the majority is in favour of this proposed development.

'¢ The Field Place Residents Association is also in favour.

'¢ The college appears to be well designed having minimal impact on existing housing in Bolsover Road due to the 'stepped design'.

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'¢ There is room for further expansion of the college with likely minimum impact on the nearby housing.

'¢ The college needs a total rebuild to continue to attract local and high achieving students.

'¢ New sports facilities are promised to be made available to local residents and groups when not being used by the college.

'¢ Some playing fields are retained.

'¢ I understand that there will be affordable housing in the homes planned.

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'¢ The existing shops should benefit from the likely increase in trade.

Lastly, I would add that I am extremely pleased that WSCC has at long last dropped the ridiculous idea of putting traffic lights in place of the roundabout at the junction.

This, I believe, would have reduced much needed parking for the shops and created extra pollution by queuing vehicles.

Robin Rogers

Cllr Castle Ward

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