Village surgery work is halted

The neighbour contacted Arun District Council to report that trees intended to screen the site from homes in The Thatchway were being removed by the contractors.

And on Friday a stop notice was served by the council on Farnrise Construction, the surgery's building contractors, preventing any further work at the rear of the site, where the tree screening stood.

Although building elsewhere is unaffected, the notice also affects a drainage scheme for the surgery, which Farnrise had to revise after Southern Water belatedly pointed out that water-holding tanks would have been too close to a mains sewer, in their original position.

It was the decision to relocate these tanks to the tree screening area which led to the problem.

Juan Baeza, Arun's enforcement team leader, said the changes had led to a breach of two conditions imposed when the council granted planning permission earlier this year.

"This is a fundamental change to the planning permission. If they want alternative drainage arrangements, they need to submit a new planning application. This is a flood risk area, so drainage is a key component of the scheme," said Mr Baeza.

Steve Davies, contracts manager for Farnrise, said the company's drainage engineer, with the Environment Agency's agreement, had chosen the area of tree screening to re-locate the tanks.

"Everything would have been put back, including trees for screening. Work in that area has now stopped, and the architect and myself are formulating our response to the council.

"It is really just a case of satisfying those two conditions. It could delay the work, however, if we have to submit new plans."

Mike Hill-Smith, chairman of Angmering Parish Council's planning committee, described the setback as a "slight hiccup", adding: "We hope Arun passes any ammended plans that might be necessary.

"It shouldn't cause any delays. We fought hard and long for this surgery and just want to see it built now."