Pleas for building halt in North Bersted

The long list of reasons why a 2,500 home development should be stopped from going ahead north of Chalcraft Lane was handed out at the campaign get-together.

They included the risk of flooding, loss of high grade farmland and adding more traffic to roads which are already too busy.

About 100 people attended the session on Tuesday, March 3, at the Jubilee Hall close to the intended housing estate.

They were urged to spread the word to get hundreds more objecting to the proposed use of the farmland by 2026 before the April 2 deadline for consultation.

There are fears that allowing the land to be developed will mean the Bognor and Chichester built up areas merging.

Parish councillor Martin Lury said: "The more we get together and write and put pressure on, the better. That is the only way we will get anywhere.

"If all of us go out and get five other people to join us, our numbers will soon grow and then we will have a strength in numbers, which is what we need."

The meeting was held under the banner No CLUE '“ Chalcraft Lane Urban Extension.

MP Nick Gibb said the slogan was aimed at the government who were forcing councils such as Arun District Council to find land for thousands more homes.

The Chalcraft Lane location is one of the council's preferred options along with Littlehampton. Other choices for large scale development are at Ford and the Westergate, Barnham and Eastergate area.

Mr Gibb, the MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, warned those at the meeting: "There will be a lot of people objecting to each of the other two options. So, unless we object to our option, this will go through.

"The assumption will be that people in Bersted don't mind a few more houses.

"Unless we fight this, we will lose an incredible piece of pristine countryside which we all enjoy seeing.

"Once we have lost it, it will not come back. It's no good doing nothing and then, in five years' time, when the bulldozers go in and the fencing goes up writing to me because it will be too late by then."

Parish, district and county councillor Simon McDougall said: "The amount of development going to be put on this site and site six (650 homes) you might as well call it Bersted New Town because you are effectively putting the population of a town into an existing urban area.

"Bersted will lose its identity. The very fabric of our community is under threat.

"I believe in people power. I believe in the power of our community and I believe we have to shout loud and clear against this."

Audience member Tony Lancaster added: "Site six was small potatoes compared to this one. Apathy is the real worry. We have got to stand up and be counted."

A Bersted district councillor, Ann Smee stated: "If these houses are built Rose Green, Pagham, Aldwick and Bersted will join together."

She disputed the one in 100 year flooding risk for much of the area.

Cllr Sylvia Olliver, a district councillor of Bersted, said: "There is nothing nicer or prettier than going along Chalcraft Lane and admiring the view. It's an absolute sin to destroy it."

North Bersted resident Tom Frears said only enough space for 250-500 jobs were intended to be provided among the proposed housing. That would do nothing to ease the large number of commuters clogging up the roads each day.

Roger Hackett, of Stroud Green Drive, said no one would be able to afford the houses if they were built.

Another resident, Iain Palot, pointed out the intended scheme would add about 20 per cent to the current Bognor population.

Official consultation forms about the housing options are available from Bognor Regis Town Hall, the Arun Civic Centre in Littlehampton and on the www.arun.gov.uk website.

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