Dear Editor,
I welcome the statement by Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, that the selection of so-called eco-town sites is not a "done deal." (Your paper this week: "I did visit site").

CAFE (Communities Against Ford Eco-town) has worked hard over the past 4 months, to try to persuade the Minister and her staff, that Ford is the wrong place for a development of this nature. We have 10,000 signatures and welcome fighting funds from local people supporting us. The developer's roadshow got 500 people who "went along to find out and to argue, mostly against it".

It is not that we oppose eco-friendly building, far from it, but it must be in the right place, it must be sustainable and it must have a chance of being successful, or we will spend 100 years picking up the pieces.

Our worry about the Minister's visit, was that she might (without local guidance) not have seen the general composition of the site, which is 87% green crops and only 13% old runway and in-use sheds, with a few small businesses - hardly a promising focus for a new town; let alone all the other disadvantages already published elsewhere.

Let us hope the Department for Communities & Local Government understands our concerns and that, in Jan 09, a mere 5 months away, the Minister makes the right decision - "No eco-town at Ford".
Terry Knott
Chairman
CAFE
"www.nofordecotown.com"

Thank you Caroline Flint for putting the BIAS paper correct, sadly this paper offer manipulated and distorted information with Great BIAS in favour of the majority Conservative strong hold.

Terry Knott MC FRSM, has mounted his campaign also based upon BIAS oppinions of the selected few and most certainly with little thought for those suffering the need for suitable housing.

Of course such campaigns are based upon spoiling some viws and has very little to so with the countryside etc.

Terry Knott MC FRSM, open yours eyes and STOP being so selfish and greedy, consider those that you may have exploited in your time... Maybe it's time you should consider giving something back...

Don't be so greedy and selfish, think of others and ask Arun District Council why they allow children to suffer in horrendous conditions, that they would not accept themselves:

http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/news/Council-housing-in-crisis.1257411.jp

For goodness sake people, Cafe have said this so many times it is unbelievable that it still hasn't sunk home:
They are not against housing needs in Arun, they are questioning whether forcing this for-profit private housing development through at Ford is the right development in the right place.

Cafe are questioning whether the 'eco' claims of those proposing the development are credible, or whether they are trying to force through a large profit-led development under a spurious 'eco' banner.

All these comments about 'if you don't allow the development people will suffer' are just garbage. Take a look at Labour's record on Housing over the last 10 years before you come out with this sort of tripe.

"They are not against housing needs in Arun, they are questioning whether forcing this for-profit private housing development through at Ford is the right development in the right place. "

What nonsence, the so-called CAFE is in partnership with Arun District Council and fully supported by Conservative MPs and Policies. In which case they are most certainly against any proposals to build not only Eco homes, but all social homes. They are 100% behind building nice private pads for the comfortable rich.

Now that's a fact and not fiction...

Central Labour Government should force any such proposals, more so force Conservative to build social housing, using the millions that have stock piled from the sale of social housing....

Not to mention Arun District Council has and is neglecting those most vulnerable and has/is blighting thousands of children's life, due to narrow-mindedness, single visions.