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Decision day looms for village housing plans
A HIGHLY controversial planning application for 103 dwellings on a green field site in a strategic gap between Codmore Hill and Pulborough will come before the Planning Control (South) Committee today, February 21. It follows 11 months of research, campaigning and demonstrations by The Campaign to Protect Rural Pulborough Village and other residents of Pulborough.
The large number of objection letters that have been submitted to this application from all across the Pulborough Parish, and not just from those living next to the application site, has demonstrated widespread opposition to the scheme from Pulborough community.
Residents througout the village have repeatedly emphasised that they do not want this latest proposal to be permitted. They have consistently objected to issues of pollution, traffic, sewerage, over development, loss of wildlife, pressure on schools, trains and buses at a time of large cutbacks and the loss of a green field site.
A spokesman for the campaign group said: “This surely highlights that the objections are for genuine reasons of concern for the village and the existing residents and are not just the disgruntled ramblings of a few so-called Nimbys wanting their voices heard.
“With all the development in Pulborough over the past ten years impacting upon the overburdened infrastructure, and with this current application now encroaching into green field land, we – The Campaign to Protect Rural Pulborough Village – appeal to the planning committee to make the right decision and refuse planning consent.
“We all know that if permitted, this application is just the beginning of further expansion into the countryside west of the railway line. Is Pulborough destined to become a single large housing estate? Or is now the time to stand up and say ‘No’ before this becomes a reality? Once farmlands have been built over, there is no turning back. We cannot live on bricks, concrete and mortar once all the land has gone.
“Horsham District Council has come under a lot of flack in recent months over some of their decisions, such as cancelling the fun fair in Horsham town, issues with Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre and the hike in car park charges. Now comes the chance for them to show that they do in fact listen to the people who have elected them.
“They should make a decision in favour of the people of the Horsham District rather than the interests of the few who benefit from urbanisation and destruction of the countryside.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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