VOTE: Are Barnham residents right to oppose plans for a new housing estate?

About 90 villagers attended a public meeting at which 90 per cent of them opposed plans for a new housing estate.

The meeting on Monday, June 27, was called to discuss the plans for 75 homes on farmland to the east of Goodacres.

Resident John Rowe said: “We do not need extra development of this size in Barnham.

“We do not have the infrastructure to cope with it.

“Our roads are not big enough, we do not have proper medical facilities within the village and our schools are full.

“Barnham is supposed to be a village, a quite peaceful place.

“A housing development of this magnitude would destroy this.”

Richard Hammond, a member of the Barnham Village Drainage Group, spoke about sewage and drainage issues.

Former Southern Water and Environment Agency worker Mr Hammond, who has lived in the village since 1974, said developer Seaward Properties had worked on dealing with the housing’s sewage and drainage but potential difficulties still existed.

“The biggest problem for me in terms of the mechanisms put in place to deal with the sewage and drainage issues is maintenance,” he said.

Seaward has submitted an outline planning application for 75 dwellings between the railway line and Halliford Drive to Arun District Council.

The application for the 2.88 hectare site would contain a mix of flats, bungalows and houses of which 23 would be affordable homes.

The public meeting was hosted by Barnham Parish Council at the village hall.

It followed the council’s unanimous decision on June 6 to object to the plans.

Do you agree with the villagers’ opposition?

Cast your vote by clicking on the poll at the top right of this story.

Alternatively, email your views to [email protected]