This is fight we can't afford to lose, MP tells Chalcraft group

They were told by Nick Gibb, the MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, the battle had to be won.

He told an open-air event on Jubilee Playing Fields close to the proposed development site for 2,500 homes: "This is a battle which we can't lose.

"We absolutely can't have 2,500 homes built on these beautiful fields to the west of Chalcraft Lane.

"It must not happen and we can't give up on this campaign. We absolutely have to win.

"We have to be united in fighting this campaign. Nobody in this town wants this development '“ not Conservative, not Liberal Democrat, not Labour.

"The scheme being proposed is almost equal to a new town. There will be 2,500 houses, 5,000-6,000 people and 4,000-5,000 cars. It has to be stopped."

He urged those present to write to the Archbishop of Canterbury to protest against the proposals. The archbishop is the chairman of the Church Commissioners, which owns two-thirds of the farmland being earmarked to be built upon.

About 300 people were present on the playing fields when Mr Gibb spoke. His appearance coincided with a car boot sale and face- painting for children.

The aim of Saturday's (June 6) event by the Clued Up (Chalcraft Lane Urban Development group) was to raise the profile of its campaign and funds to carry on its fight.

Clued Up supporter Ann Smee said: "We want to get a higher profile for what we are trying to achieve. We want to get the message out to people before it is too late."

The wide-ranging support for the fight was shown by the presence on the day of parish, district and county councillors for Bersted.

The Church Commissioners and the other landowners intend to submit an outline application for the development in the next few weeks.

This will be for 2,000 of the intended homes as well as employment space and improvements to the nearby road network.

The submission will be well in advance of a decision by Arun District Council about the sites to be chosen for development by 2026.

That decision will not be made until December 9. The council will put the commissioners' application on hold until after that.

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