Petition highlights row over ‘localism’

Hurstpierpoint residents have formed an action group and are supporting a ‘Give Localism a Chance’ petition in their fight against a housing plan off College Lane.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st May 2013, 12:59 BST
land next to 31 College Lane, Hurstland next to 31 College Lane, Hurst
land next to 31 College Lane, Hurst

The site is contrary to the draft Neighbourhood Plan, is outside the village’s built-up area and any housing there would erode the strategic gap between Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks but The Wickham Action Group, which opposes the scheme, fears a planning inspector will ignore all this.

Initially, Thakeham Homes, applied for 93 homes on this sensitive, rural site but was turned down by the district council on March 11. The developer has come back with an application for 81 homes and is also appealing the March 11 decision.

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An action group spokesman said: “Our parish council has been a front-runner in the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan but as it has not yet been approved, there is a risk that the planners and inspector will afford it little weight. The developer knows this.

“Communities are feeling disillusioned with the government’s localism agenda as inspectors are repeatedly overturning the decisions of local planning authorities on the grounds that their Neighbourhood Plans are either out of date or in draft form.”

John Wilkinson and Stephen Hand, the chairman and vice-chairman of Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council, say in a joint letter to the Middy: “There is considerable evidence that local planning authorities and planning inspectorate are refusing to give any weight to emerging Neighbourhood Plans and are reaching planning decisions that are contrary to Neighbourhood Plan draft proposals.

“This is despite the fact that many councils have made significant efforts and progress to assemble evidence and engage in public consultation on their draft proposals.”

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Both councillors praise Mid Sussex District Council leader, Gary Wall, for voicing similar concerns in an opinion piece published in the Middy on May 16.

Cllr Wall is so concerned that local views are being ignored that he has written to planning minister, Nick Boles MP.

Cllrs Wilkinson and Hand say the ‘localism’ planning agenda is in danger of being “fatally undermined”.

The Give Localism a Chance petition is at:

petition

Related topics:PetitionNeighbourhood Plans