VOTE: Findon protests ignored by West Sussex County Council

That was the angry response from one of the objectors to the county council's go-ahead for a children and family centre in the grounds of the Vale School in Findon Valley.

West Sussex County Council planning committee approved the scheme on Tuesday, June 30.

Maggie Winter, planning spokesperson for Findon Valley Residents' Association, told the Herald the committee had not had all the relevant information.

Too remote

"More matters are now being dealt with at county level, and decisions are being made by people more remote from local issues," she said.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton said: "This whole application has been a shambles.

"The county council have acted with breathtaking incompetence and, having been rumbled, have now voted themselves permission for this ill-judged project."

Protest meeting

A packed public meeting at Findon Valley Free Church on Friday, June 26 overwhelmingly rejected the plans as ill thought-out and in the wrong place.

Mr Loughton said no traffic studies had been conducted and lots of questions were left unanswered about who would use the new centre, how many and how often.

Vale School head Tony Lovatt promised to go back and review the application with his staff and governors.

Have your say

Do you think that County Hall planners are too remote to decide on controversial local issues?

The vote result was 85 per cent yes and 15 per cent no.

What do you think?

What problems would you foresee once the centre is built?

How do you think the planning process can be made easier?

Share your views, comment below, email the Herald or write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

A full name and address is required if letters are to be considered for publication.

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