Worthing Borough Council is leading the local fight to save Goring Gap by taking the case to the High Court for judicial review. We support them.
The Council has instructed a barrister to develop a legal challenge to the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to allow hundreds of homes to be built at Chatsmore Farm.
I first warned the Prime Minister of the threat in October 2019, when new planning rules were under review.
I have since raised the issue at successive PMQs, Business Questions and Housing Debates.
I share in thanks to the over 200 people who came together today, united against the concreting over of the Goring Gap.
Chloe, from St Oscar Romero Catholic School, asked whether we really want to live in a world where we prioritise making money over the future of the next generation? Elliot, also from Romero, made clear that we can’t let people place bricks on our green spaces.
Cllr Robert Smytherman called on Persimmon Homes to enter into negotiations again to accommodate Worthing Rugby Club and bring the club back into the Borough of Worthing.
Cllr Beccy Cooper echoed the need to preserve these green spaces for the health and well-being, for our present now
and for the fantastic future of these children.
Cllr Kevin Jenkins, Leader of the Council, reiterated that Worthing only has 3.9 sq metres of green space for every adult in the tow: the lowest number in urban areas in the whole of the UK.
The battle will continue. This gathering shows the strength of feeling of all age groups, from all parts of our district and borough.
I continue to urge the Government to revoke the decision. The Council is taking this to the High Court. This matters to the whole of England and, ultimately, the decision must be considerate of the implications.
If this decision goes through, we will lose Highdown Vineyard, we will lose Lansdowne Nursery, we will lose all the land between Ferring and Kingston, Kingston and Angmering. The same thing applies to the Sompting side of Worthing as well.
Green gaps and belts around the country will be put at risk.
We're trying to do things for the next generation, not just for ourselves.
#SaveGoringGap
