Villagers’ anger over plans for 130 home development

Residents have expressed their anger at a public exhibition revealing plans for 130 homes to be built on village farmland.
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Melton Drive homeowners in Storrington were invited to the exhibition at the Trinity Centre on March 7 to see the new residential development which could be located on the adjacent geenfield site.

Information and sketches of the proposed site, which would be funded by Wates Developments, were on display at the exhibition organised by Vuepoint Consulting.

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Vivien Fryer has lived just off Fryen Road, near the site, for more than 60 years and believes that with so much development taking place in the village, it won’t be long before it merges with West Chiltington.

“I’m disgusted,” she said. “It won’t be a pretty village to live in for much longer, we haven’t got the facilities.

“With the issues we’ve been having with air quality, it is bound to get worse with the increase in traffic.”

Melton Drive couple Judy and Philip Toner expressed concern about the site’s high density and how it will ruin the view from their home.

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Neighbour John Butler concurred: “Storrington can’t handle the increase in population.”

Planning managers Steve Meller and Francesca Domioni explained that their role is to go out into the community and receive feedback, which will then be taken into consideration before any application for planning permission is made.

Mr Meller said: “We want to show people the quality of the scheme, so if they still have concerns about the principle, their comments can make it better in the long run.”

Mrs Domioni added: “We’re just demonstrating what could potentially be accommodated on the site.”

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But, the plans that show a mix of housing size, types and tenures including 40 per cent affordable housing has not been well received by many of the residents whose homes back onto the site.

Another Melton Drive resident Gerry Orbell said: “No one can blame Wates for proposing to build houses on green fields, they’re cheaper to build on, but no one knows just how many new houses and flats West Sussex will need now and in the future.”

For more details visit: http://www.landnorthofmeltondrive.co.uk and fill out the online feedback form or call 0800 112 3540.

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