Protest walk round site for 2,000 homes near Barnham

Campaigners from Barnham, Eastergate and Westergate, demonstrating outside Arun Civic Centre against large-scale housing developments

The Villages Action Group (VAG) is staging the demonstration to highlight its opposition to Arun District Council’s local plan, which is now going through its final, six-week consultation stage.

The walk sets off from Manor Farm, Church Lane, Eastergate, at 11am on Sunday (November 23), and the area’s MP, Nick Herbert, will be joining protesters.

VAG member Pip Pegler, one of the walk organisers, said: “We are hoping for a good turn-out from local people, who we know are very concerned that this plan will have a devastating impact on the villages.

“People are very frustrated by the fact that Arun’s planners don’t seem to be listening. The idea of concreting over this farm to build over 2,000 houses in an area which has a history of flooding defies common sense.

“This will be a family walk and dogs (on leads, please) are welcome. There will be live music at the Wilkes Head, Eastergate, afterwards.”