A longstanding campaign has been against the opportunistic attempt to build on the Goring Gap; supporting sensible developments of vital, new, good-quality homes through active engagement and cooperation with local residents and conservations groups and not concreting over every green gap and community space in our already tightly bounded local area.
Residents in Ferring, Kingston, Goring and surrounding communities have confidence that they are represented vocally and actively by me in the long-standing fight to protect our green spaces.
At the License Sub-Committee in Worthing on March 27th, I spoke for everyone except the promoter when opposing the application for an alcohol licence for land on the Southern Goring Gap.
The application was firmly rejected. The application for a Certificate of Lawful Development on the same location was refused earlier in March as was the application to put a 40ft shipping container on the site.
These are three victories for local residents and for common sense. Surrounding communities will share in relief at this further step in rejecting the flagrant attempt to shoehorn in houses on Goring Gap.
The promoter has not hidden his desire to see the entirety of Goring Gap being developed - this could have been a first step in making that possible.
It is environmentally right to ask for the Southern Goring Gap to remain an unlit natural dark skies and quiet days gap between our villages and communities.
No sensible person would want to bring the commercial provision of alcohol there, so near to a natural greensward, or the incremental development of our green gap between Worthing and Arun communities.
On the Northern Gap at Chatsmore Farm, Persimmon Homes continues to charge on with their plans to build 475 properties on the green gap between Worthing and Ferring despite losing a series of court challenges. The company has refused to consider withdrawing its appeal.
Their latest appeal was set to be considered at a public inquiry in February 2024. However, the hearing has been pushed back to the autumn due to the inspectorโs health.
We wish the Inspector a speedy recovery and look forward to the opportunity to put an end to Persimmonโs wanton attempts to concrete over our Goring Gap when the appeal is finally able to be heard.
Over three hundred local residents, community leaders and campaign supporters joined together with me on Chatsmore Farm at the beginning of February. This summer we will gather in greater numbers with the same clear message to Persimmon: NO.
I urge all residents opposed to building on our green spaces to consider carefully who they would like their local councillor to be. Be aware of what the Labour Leader and his followers say about bulldozing legitimate local interests.
Let us continue to work together to keep the fields, maintain our natural gaps, and support developments where appropriate and where wanted.
Below are updates and news items relating to this ongoing campaign:
