FORD ECO-TOWN: Unique inquiry underway

Those for and against the major development were present as a unique inquiry got under way this week.

The hearing by a specially chosen select committee of eight Arun District Council members, helped by independent planning advisor Jim Redwood, will examine all aspects of the planned development.

The inquiry will last until Wednesday, June 4, when its venue will be moved from the Arun Civic Centre at Littlehampton to Yapton Village Hall to allow residents to have their support.

The first day was attended by more than 40 registered individuals on both sides of the argument.

They included senior civil servant Henry Cleary from the government's Department of Communities and Local Government.

Its officials and housing minister Caroline Flint put Ford on a 15-strong list as a possible site for one of ten eco-towns to be built around the country.

Also present were representatives of Communities Against Ford Eco-Town (CAFE), Walberton Parish Council, scheme proposers the Ford Airfield Vision Group and Ford Enterprise Hub.

MPs Nick Gibb and Nick Herbert, both strongly opposed to the plan, were also present for the morning session of the first day on Tuesday, May 27. District and county council representatives were there as well.

Committee chairman Cllr Graham Tyler summed up the first day by saying it had been a useful scene-setter.

"However, there have been more questions than answers. Deliverability is a key issue and the Arundel bypass is also a critical factor.

No one denied there will be at least eight years' traffic chaos if these plans went ahead," he said.

"A further key issue is the impact on Littlehampton and Bognor Regis, most notably the effect on housing and employment.

"We queried why Ford had been put forward as a location for an eco-town and established that the main factors are the strategic emphasis on development west of the River Arun as well as the existing infrastructure in terms of waste, water, the railway and the river itself.

"Arun does have major problems '“ housing, employment, transport and accessibility. And we want to probe further over the next days of the hearing whether the eco-town proposals can satisfactorily address these problems."

Planning expert Ian Tant, speaking for the Ford Airfield Vision Group, said after the first day: "The hearing has given us the opportunity to outline our proposals at some length which was beneficial for everybody to hear.

"The day has identified a number of issues, all of them we were aware of all them, and this has set the scene for several days more detailed debate."

Regional planning director Keith Annis, of Redrow, one of the two building companies linked with the proposal, said: "Our development is future proof for a world where oil is $300 dollars a barrel. Other developments aren't.

"This hearing allows us to set out our strategy to deliver benefits not only just to the eco-town but beyond. For example, we will be able to recycle waste water on site."

One of the Ford Enterprise Hub's three proposers, Harold Hall, said: "The first day has been worthwhile but the nature of the questioning has undoubtably demonstrated that the committee members are not approaching this with an open mind.

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