My research shows that the current trend is to build flats in Littlehampton. We all know we need housing (not flats), but what has happened to houses? Where are they? What has happened to the good old family home?

Since the beginning of 2008, 20 planning applications have been submitted for a total of 188 flats in the town, some involving the conversion of good family homes, with no houses being built within the town. The only place that houses have been built is the Elysian Fields development.

Another application has appeared to build 37 one-bedroom flats and 25 two-bedroom flats on the old indoor market site.

This is just ludicrous. As far as I can see, there are no parking facilities.

Where are people going to park and, again, why build more flats when the housing market is struggling to sell existing properties?

While I am on about selling, can someone define what is "affordable housing" and who can afford it? Why not good quality, family townhouses?

The problem is that with all these types of applications, the government's planning guidelines need to be reviewed, so that all local infrastructure, including parking facilities, should be included in the applications.

We cannot allow these types of developments to continue, as our roads are at bursting point with free-for-all car parking, etc.

And what about jobs for the people who are going to live here? Where is this all going to come from? Or is it going to make Littlehampton a commuter town, where you just live and don't really care about the town?
I do believe that we do need to address this sooner, rather than later.

Ian Buckland, Littlehampton Town and Arun District
councillor for River ward, Lizard Head, Littlehampton

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