Rose Green residents unite to fight homes plans

Some 110 property owners and tenants of the Willowhale Farm estate have signed up to join the new group.

They are opposed to the proposals to replace all the garages on the estate with bungalows and flats.

The 12 allotments will also be built over for bungalows.

Many of the residents turned out to two meetings last Fridayto show their support for the new group, Residents and Associates of Willowhale Farm.

Philip Conroy (55), of Elbridge Crescent, was the first person at the evening meeting to volunteer to join the new group's committee.

He said he was motivated to join because of his concern about parking if the new housing was built.

"There are 12 garages in our block and 12 parking spaces," he commented. "You are talking about 24 spaces disappearing if they all go.

"The only place left to park will be the access road between Elbridge Crescent and Willowhale Green.

"It will be absolute chaos because that is full now."

Mr Conroy has lived on the estate for 29 years. "I like the landscaped areas and it's quiet and quite a friendly area as well," he stated.

He was among eight people at the meetings who volunteered to become committee members of the new association. They will meet at a resident's home on September 5 to elect their senior officers.

About 50 people were at the evening gathering at Aldwick Parish Council's offices on the estate after well over 30 attended the afternoon session.

The meetings were called by Elbridge Crescent resident and Aldwick parish councillor John Bass.

He reacted after a public exhibition last month by Places for People attended by 240 people. The social housing provider wants to build 26 new properties '“ 19 of them two storeys high '“ on eight sites around the estate which is centred around Elbridge Crescent.

The estate has more than 300 properties '“ bungalows, chalet bungalows and two-storey blocks of flats. These are a mixture of privately owned and rented from PfP.

Those opposed to the proposals fear they will change the appearance and character of the estate for the worse.

Mr Bass said it was essential everyone against the intended scheme joined together.

"Collectively, we have a bigger voice," he stated.

"We need to tell Aldwick Parish Council how we feel, we need to tell Arun District Council how we feel and we need to tell West Sussex County Council how we feel. But, most important of all, we must inform Places for People that we have a residents' association up and running."

He spoke about the fear the existing green spaces on the estate could well be earmarked for development after they are used for parking to compensate for the loss of the garages.

Aldwick Parish Council chairman Cllr Carol Wiseman brought her experience of forming and running a residents' association in West Meads for 13 years to the meeting.

"If you all stand together, you may be able to do something.

"You can't guarantee that but we all know that people power talks. It's very difficult to bypass 300-400 people but it's quite easy to brush off one resident.

"But you will need 100 per cent commitment. These things don't happen on their own," she cautioned.

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