RESPONDING to the article about Prof Morton's idea of returning Littlehampton Golf Course to saltmarsh (Gazette, April 17), he has not thought the idea through.
He states that a saltmarsh would have 500 visitors a day.
How would they get there? Some of the access road is below sea level, the golf course, yacht club and council car parks would be out of use.
The yacht club and the food kiosk would clo
se.
The nearest parking is in Tesco and St Martin's car parks. There is no public transport.
The only way is cycle or walk and that is some distance.
Instead of letting the sea in, we should be keeping it out.
A recent planning application in River Road was refused because the Environment Agency feared flooding.
This decision means many houses could be blighted if no action is taken.
I want to see the town regenerated and the way forward is to tame the Arun by placing a lock at its mouth.
The advantages:
1/ this would maintain a constant level to the river, avoiding flooding for most of its length, and allow development;
2/ the marinas could develop and bring in more leisure craft and more ancillary work (jobs);
3/ a non-tidal Arun would mean fresh water upstream, saving the cost of a reservoir for the new houses required locally;
4/ a bridge could link the banks at the river's mouth;
5/ there could be further development on both sides of the river.
The disadvantages are:
1/ the larger aggregate-carrying ships would not be able to use the river;
2/ the lifeboat station may have to be moved.
All this would be paid for through development and as Littlehampton is likely to be regenerated, it is quite feasible that cost can be covered.
David Biss, May Close, Climping-----------------------------
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