MANY Old Town residents have opposed proposed plans to build homes on Priory Heights.
Under the Housing Development Plan, where central Government is telling councils to build tens of thousands of new houses, Eastbourne Borough Council has been told 4,800 new homes are needed across the town by 2026. The council released its Local Dev
elopment Framework Core Strategy, which outlined possible sites for new homes, and has been consulting on it.
One of the options is for 'greenfield urban extensions', and includes around 80 homes on Eastbourne council's land at Priory Heights. Residents are against any building on the site, and Nick Neter, who rents the land from the council, is hoping to start a campaign group after Christmas.
The town's MP, Nigel Waterson, is backing residents' concerns and said, "My constituents in the Old Town area are appalled that the council is even considering building houses on our unspoiled Downs. This is a valuable local amenity where horses graze, and which will even be included in the National Park. I am supporting local people in their fight against these plans. This simply must not be allowed to happen."
And Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner Stephen Lloyd added, "Residents have told me the local infrastructure is already struggling and additional houses would put it under intolerable strain.
"Furthermore, if the Government did force this through the buildings would go right up to the boundary of the new South Downs National Park, which would be a shocking intrusion onto an area of outstanding natural beauty."
Early next year, the council will look at all comments, and there will then be another chance to comment on the Core Strategy Proposed Submission Version later in 2010.
