Beeches battle continues

Hargreaves Homes' outline planning application comes at a time when the council and campaigners are trying desperately to stop development of this lower downland site.

Protesters are now being urged to fight the battle on two fronts. The first is trying to get DEFRA to change its mind about excluding the site from the proposed South Downs National Park.

And the second is asking borough council planners not to approve the Hargreaves planning application, which includes units ranging from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom homes. Thirty per cent of the development would have to be affordable housing.

Karl Heryet, chairman of the Beeches Action Group, told the Herald: "We have asked our members to write in to DEFRA to try to get the land included within the National Park area. No matter what type of homes are proposed, we don't want any building on what is part of Worthing's downland skyline."

Mr Heryet said the campaign was getting full support from residents of both Beeches Avenue and Pines Avenue, "and the group is definitely not happy about the homes planning application".

Chris Sargent, the council's executive member for planning, said that Friday, March 1, was the deadline for making representations to DEFRA.

He said the matter was discussed at the executive's meeting on Monday this week, when it was decided to appeal against the DEFRA decision.

"We are assuming that this will lead to a public inquiry and this could well hold up a decision on the Hargreaves planning application.

"As far as this application is concerned, the more people who write in to the borough council objecting to it, the better," said Mr Sargent.