Capacity crowd expected at meeting to discuss 2,500 North of Horsham homes tonight

The North Horsham Parish Council meeting will start at 7.30pm at North Heath Hall in St Mark’s Lane, and aims to give people a chance to have their say on the controversial scheme.

The County Times exclusively revealed Liberty Property Trust’s plans for land north of the A264 in January 2012, which now includes a new business park, but without a new A&E hospital.

It originally lobbied for 4,500 homes, but this has now been cut to 2,500, and includes a new parkway railway station and secondary school.

Horsham District Council is currently consulting on its draft housing strategy, and this paper has received a barrage of letters from readers in the last month calling for proposals to be scrapped.

Last week Claire Vickers (Con, Southwater), cabinet member for living and working communities, said during a live Facebook chat she did not want one more house built than they absolutely needed to.

In the same week the chairman of Warnham Conservatives expressed his concern at a lack of consultation, the suitability of the site, and strain on current infrastructure.

Meanwhile Jim Rae (Con, Holbrook East) penned a letter at the weekend calling for calm, while asking residents to turn up and engage in constructive debate.

The capacity of North Heath Hall is 240, and any above that will be turned away, although the parish are hoping

For a full report of the meeting and reaction see this Thursday’s West Sussex County Times, and check our website for pictures, reports, and video.