Mike Turner is Chairman of the Villages Action Group, and lives in Aldingbourne. He is contactable by email – mrt.verity@virgin.net.
The Villages Action Group (VAG) was originally formed in 2003 to fight proposals for large-scale development of greenfield sites around the villages of Aldingbourne and Westergate that were being promoted as part of the West Sussex Structure Plan. VAG fought a long and hard campaign which resulted in the Structure Plan “Area of Search” being widened to “Arun District – West of the River Arun”. This was a major achievement for the local community.
Despite this previous victory, the threat of large-scale greenfield development may be back.
Option 3 in the previous Local Development Framework suggested possible major development in the Six Villages area. No specific sites were ever finalised, but many possible sites were under consideration within the SHLAA. Option 1 suggested urban extensions to both Bognor and Littlehampton, with minor numbers within the 6 Villages area. Option 2 was the Eco Town. The Eco Town was ruled out by central government.
The Hallam Land proposal for Aldingbourne/Westergate (although the word Aldingbourne was never mentioned much to the fury of the locals) was rendered impossible in 2010. Some of the major landowners Hallam thought were onboard were subsequently found to be anything but, and the possibilities of crossing Hook Lane with a major road were thus reduced to zero.
The VAG think it highly unlikely that Hallam currently has any money to finance developing a project of this size with so many expensive elements included in the way of provision of education, shops and social housing. The other huge unanswered questions by ADC are: 1. where are the jobs going to come from that will pay the people they hope might purchase these houses? 2. how are the acute traffic problems already in evidence at the A29 Woodgate Level Crossing and access to an already grid locked A27 going to be solved? and 3. How is the lack of increased sewerage provision in the whole area going to be fixed? An unpleasant question, but nevertheless an important one, especially bearing in mind the amount of rather foul and smelly flooding in Barnham, including the school, in recent times.
An article was printed in the Bognor Observer on 17th February 2011 with the headline:
Village Housing Development feared by locals. This is the very long link to find it.
There has also been recent mention of a proposal for a Woodgate flyover.
If you wish to be kept informed of what the VAG are doing, please let Mike Turner know so he can add you to the database of people being kept up to date with local meetings and news on this important subject.
