FEARS of over-stretching existing road networks, community facilities and drainage systems were raised by villagers studying plans for 300 new homes on land at Angmering village.
Among those raising concerns was campaign group Save Angmering Village (SAV), which canvassed support outside the village hall, where developers David Wilson Homes and Barratt claimed their proposals for a site north of Worthing Rugby Club would help to meet ongoing housing needs.
Sue Ware, one of the co-ordinators of SAV, believed the majority of residents felt “incensed” by the level of housing being put forward.
She claimed the proposals ignored the neighbourhood plan being created by the village, which is one of the first examples of resident-influenced planning in the country.
Speaking at the exhibition, Sue said the plans were not sustainable, an opinion shared by more than 100 people who have so far used an SAV voting form to register their opposition to the proposals.
Talk of a further 150 homes being built on the rugby club site itself made the larger scheme even less acceptable, and would place considerable further strain on present single-lane roads in the area, aded Sue.
“People are against this development because of the impact on schools, traffic and things like the doctors’ surgery and the A259 in particular, which is a real problem,” said the campaigner, who revealed it was far from a case of “not in my back yard”, but rather that the area was ill-equipped for such a major scheme.
Bramley Green resident John Stevens said: “At peak traffic times I just can’t get out or in there.
“It will be a nightmare if there is more development in the village and with plans for the new Asda and plans for Morrisons in Littlehampton the traffic will be a nightmare.”
Neil Rogers-Davis, editor of the Angmering Village Life website, said: “I don’t see the need for this development.
“With all the other developments that are happening there’s going to be between 2,000 and 3,000 new homes around this area.
“Who is going to come and live in these properties? I don’t think people in Angmering want them as there’s just not the infrastructure.”
Another villager, Joseph Fallon, said he already faced a major battle with taking his grandchildren to school.
He believed traffic conditions could only worsen significantly with further development.
It is believed initial plans for the David Wilson Homes and Barratt scheme could be submitted to Arun District Council as soon as next month.
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