VIDEO: Stop Storrington Sprawl meeting

South Downs MP Nick Herbert urged villagers to band together and create their own Neighbourhood Plans to tackle unwanted development at a packed public meeting tonight (Friday June 28).

By The Newsroom

Published 29th Jun 2013, 00:10 BST

Stop Storrington Sprawl public meeting at Rydon Community College, Storrington on Friday, June 28

He told 350 people who crowded into the hall at Rydon Community College, that the Government’s Localism policy would enable communities to decide what levels and types of new housing they needed and stop sprawl.

He also condemned landbanking and speculative applications by developers.

Mr Herbert joined a panel of speakers at the meeting alongside leader of Horsham District Council Ray Dawe, chairman of Storrington and Sullington Parish Council Anna Worthington-Leese and Dr Roger Smith of the CPRE. County Times editor in chief Gary Shipton also joined the panel, which was chaired by Rupert Toovey, and heard angry and concerned residents share their frustrations about greenfield proposals and housing developments being allowed by planning inspectors against local wishes. On-going fears about air pollution were also raised.