Former council leader’s plans for Kingsfold Nursery approved

Robert Nye, leader of Horsham District Council until his shock resignation in December 2011, was given permission by HDC’s development control north committee for the erection of a warehouse building, parking facilities and a turning area off Dorking Road, Kingsfold.

According to the application the new warehouse will store materials from the adjacent builders merchant business D.W. Nye.

Stuart Ritchie (Con, Itchingfield, Slinfold and Warnham) said that there were a number of ecological issues that needed to be resolved, but he and the other local member were happy with plans because of the current untidiness of the site.

He explained: “Blatantly something needs to be done.”

The Kingsfold Nursery site abuts Blackberrymead Copse to the south, and currently houses disused polytunnels and glasshouse buildings.

The officer’s report describes it as a “neglected, dilapidated state, with remnants of the former business, including large plastic coverings, clay and plastic pots, broken slates, etc, dominating the view.”

Both sites, on either side of Wattlehurst Drive, would use the same access point on to the A24.

Leonard Crosbie (LDem, Trafalgar), chairman of the council, said: “That corner is an extremely difficult corner. I’m assuming because it will be a bigger service area some of the lorries will be bigger.

“Turning left to Dorking with traffic coming down from Dorking is very challenging.

“All I would ask is West Sussex County Council Highways review the curtilage of that area.”

David Sheldon (LDem, Denne) asked if restrictions controlling lorry movements could be suitably robust.

Proposed lorry use would be two movements per day, six to ten for visitors and five for staff, with no retail use associated with the proposal.