Rethink on Rose Green garages urged

A total of 227 households out of 300 on the Willowhale Farm Estate have joined the residents' association to battle against proposals by Places for People.

The registered social landlord wants to knock down all the garages on the estate and replace them and their parking spaces with 26 new properties on eight sites.

Parking would be provided by ripping up much of the large grassed areas.

It also wants to build 12 bungalows on the current allotments.

But the initial plans from last summer are set to be changed because of the intense opposition of residents.

Some own their properties and others rent them from PfP. About 50 of them turned out last Saturday for a rally with MP Nick Gibb outside some of the threatened garages.

Mr Gibb, the MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, told them a meeting between the association and Places for People the previous day had shown progress was being made.

"We made the case building homes on the allotments was an absolute no," said Mr Gibb.

"You have to keep together. You have to keep united. Then, I think, you have got a good chance of coming through this without too much damage to this estate," he urged residents.

He assured them Places for People had been told any housing that was built had to avoid overlooking current homes and damaging the green spaces which gave the estate such a pleasant appearance.

But some compromise was likely. It would be difficult to stop all new housing in the area, he warned.

Sisters Lucienne Howard and Margaret Howard, of Willowhale Green, joined the association just before the rally. They have lived on the estate, based around Pryors Lane, for seven years and their family connections there go back some 20 years.

Lucienne Howard, 48, said: "We are concerned about the number of houses and flats in the development plans.

"It would involve the sacrifice of the green space that is a trademark of this beautiful part of Bognor. It's what makes it such a desirable place to live."

Margaret, 50, commented: "People like this area so much that they don't move unless they have to.

"Our relatives come from London and they love it here. They've got nothing like it up there."

Elbridge Crescent resident John Bass, who helped to found the association, said: "The most important thing for us is not to allow any housing on the allotments. They are sacrosanct.

"We need a different plan from Places for People that everyone agrees on. We want consultation instead of confrontation.

"We have got so many people on our side that Places for People have to do something about their proposals."

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