The Green is the heart of the Bramley Green estate and that's why the centre was designed to go there over 13 years ago.

The site for the centre was probably specifically planned. Current thinking is that community services such as children's play areas, community centres, etc., should be "overlooked" so they are protected from vandalism. Looking around the community facilities in Bramley Green and comparing the "overlooked" and "not overlooked" shows this simple planning strategy does work.

Placing the centre next to the skatepark would leave it very vulnerable to vandalism and without the protection of being "overlooked". Access by foot and bike, especially during dark winter nights, would not be safe, either.

In terms of traffic, the roads would have been designed to cope with the additional traffic from the community centre.

I believe that parking is one of the main reasons some residents have reacted so strongly against the centre, as some have long been using the proposed public parking spaces on the Green.

The community centre will need a larger car park for its use only, and it must be carefully landscaped.

However, the parish council must instigate a campaign to encourage people to cycle and walk to the centre, with improved lighting on some of the footpaths leading to the estate.

The centre should not be landscaped with tall trees, as it would immediately make it vulnerable to vandalism.

I am not opposed to the centre being used during the day for "out-of-community" activities, because the estate is generally quiet then, and it will need income to make it viable.

However, local community activities must be a priority in the late afternoons and evenings, to keep traffic levels to a minimum.

I hope all local parish councils have learned from the Bramley Green community centre fiasco. In future, when developers give a parish council money to build such a centre, don't wait six years to do it.

Parish councils must insist that developers help in making sure that all planned community facilities are provided at the same time as the development is being built.

I really hope all the energy spent opposing the centre will now be channelled into making sure it is a success for the whole community.

Patrick Bastow,
Oakwood Drive,
Bramley Green,
Angmering

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