Hope that more development does not arise

Barnham and Angmering have batted away the housing developments proposed in their villages, leaving Littlehampton with 1,000 homes on the West Bank of the River Arun. It is to be hoped, as has already been said, that speculative and uncontrolled development does not arise as a result.

We have had serious experience in this town, in the past, of planning appeals which the district council cannot afford to fight, resulting in decisions being made in London against the interests of the local populus, and minimal planning gain for this community.

Care must surely be taken on upgrading the Promenade – perhaps have a music performance area, but do we really need to change the beautiful greensward in Littlehampton? How many seaside resorts are there where families can picnic on the grass, the children have a safe, well-equipped playground and are able to go into the sea with a clean, Blue Flag beach and a lifeguard hut.

Please, also take care when building where there is good car parking near to facilities, which, on the whole, Littlehampton currently enjoys. Among the biggest deterrents for visitors to a town are difficult parking facilities and exorbitant charges.

I believe that three of the most desirable sites on the south coast – The Windmill, the swimming pool and the hospital – are under threat from developers. Sadly, as with the hospital, most of the people making these decisions do not live in Littlehampton.

I’m not against change, but it must be for the better, disregarding vested interests.

Margaret Boulton

St Mary’s Close

Littlehampton