LETTER: Key questions for new Horsham MP

Francis Maude used half a page in your paper every fortnight to give his views about all sorts of issues which were not (as evidenced by the letters you received) of top priority to his electorate.

Nick Herbert MP by comparison took up the housing, planning and development issues with Government on behalf of his constituents and was not afraid to cross any party whip. The two Mid Sussex MPs were so opposed to government plans that they won a debate in Westminster and even appeared to speak at the Inspector’s visit to Horsham in November last year against a new town.

Francis Maude was nowhere to be seen and consistently failed to use your pages to support the electorate against all this developer-led wrecking of our District.

He would talk about everything else – national government issues, the airport, the failed hospital plan which I understand he initiated with others... but not housing.

Now we have another Tory MP who appears reluctant to have a forceful opinion about the housing issue which has divided the District into two halves, has been scandalously handled by the council and will adversely affect all residents in the District even though some in southern wards think they have escaped the consequences.

Mr Quin takes a view on Gatwick ‘ ...its expansion would produce a massive local impact and serious environmental consequences’.

Does he not think the current imposition by inspectors of 15,000-plus houses on Horsham District will have a ‘massive local impact?’

He meekly adds: “There is already huge concern regarding the pace and extent of local building.” Presumably, Mr Quin means ‘housebuilding’ and if so you bet there is.

So please Mr Quin why don’t you tell us what are you going to do about the ‘doorstep’ concern over infrastructure and the impact developer-led housing schemes will have on the already totally stressed local infrastructure.

And what are you going to do about an autocratic inspection regime – with no accountability to the electors and a complaint system that is peer group designed (see letters to and from Inspectorate at www.savingnorthhorsham.co.uk)

JAMES HOUGHTON

Owlscastle Close, Horsham

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.