JANUARY 2019 | News CPRH want people who value democracy and Henfield’s Neighbourhood Planning process to pick up pens or email (reference DC /18/2463 land north of Sandy Lane, Henfield) Horsham District Council at planning@horsham.gov.uk urgently and explain why the development should not be approved. Reference should be made to landscape setting, amenity value, over-development, traffic issues, site access and road safety. See CPRH’s website for more information on valid objection points: www.henfieldhub/CPRH. Philip Johnson, CPRH Fairfax Properties were asked for a response to this article but on this occasion declined to comment. Editor
SANDY LANE APPLICATION FOR 42 HOUSES The Campaign to Protect Rural Henfield (CPRH) wish to highlight Fairfax’s recent planning application for 42 new properties on a former market garden and ancient orchard site on the southwest edge of Nep Town. Fairfax dismiss the extensive consultations around Henfield’s Neighbourhood Planning process by arguing the greenfield is a ‘windfall site’ as it’s become ‘unexpectedly available’. Given the fields planning history (of rejections), CPRH strongly disputes this. The site north of Sandy Lane is rural and abundant with character. Historically it has provided important visual buffers between the edge of Henfield and the rural landscape falling away beyond. It’s a quiet local neighbourhood that will be overwhelmed by a development of this scale. The fields gradient falls away to the Downs Link with Sandy Lane being a haven for walkers, mountainbikers and horse-riders. Despite its visual heritage, the narrow roads and the importance of wildlife, there’s a risk that if approval is granted, it just becomes another overloaded traffic ‘corridor’ to awkwardly positioned housing. The field offers a community amenity that will be lost forever if dense new modern homes, roadways and garages are built. Views from the road and surrounding paths are timeless, rewarding the onlooker with a unique vantage point from which to look Southwest across Downs Link tree tops and the green belt of the South Downs National Park to Chanctonbury Hill. The field is lined with native Oaks, Maple, Hawthorn, Holly and Hazel hedgerows and accommodates many wild species of bats, grass snakes, slow worms and badgers whilst migrating bird species often settle here for a breather. Recently Henfield has seen a rapid increase in daily traffic chaos at a number of important street junctions. Historic NepTown and Dropping Holms were never built with modern traffic capacity in mind. CPRH wholeheartedly support development that is considered, aesthetic, modest and affordable and involves a genuine two-way consultation process.
01273 494002
FAREWELL HAZEL I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Hazel Grant, who is retiring from her role as Parish Secretary at the end of this year after 9 years working for Henfield Parish Council. Hazel has seen the work of the Parish Office expand considerably over recent years and has been instrumental in keeping everything on track. She has also organised Summer Fairs, Village Evenings and the annual Remembrance events in the village. She will be sorely missed! I would like to say a particular thank you to Hazel for all the help that she has given me in the 4 years since I started working for the Council. We all wish Hazel a long and happy retirement! As we say goodbye to Hazel, we welcome Claire Fullman into the role of Deputy Clerk. Claire has 6 years’ experience working at Angmering Parish Council and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the role. We also welcome Rebecca Grantham to the part-time role of Parish Administrator and Belinda Samrah to the part-time role of Neighbourhood Plan Administrator. Finally, we welcome Robin Wadey to the team of part-time Works Officers, joining Brian Stone and Dick Nye in keeping Henfield looking neat and tidy! Kevin Wright
THERE BUT NOT THERE Those of you who attended the Remembrance Service at St. Peter’s Church will have seen the small Silhouettes of soldiers displayed around the Church. There was one Silhouette with the name printed on it for each of the soldiers named on the War Memorial in the High Street who died in WW1. These figures were donated by Wayne Robbins of Griffin Military & Diplomatic of Henfield and he would like me to pass onto any relative of those men their Silhouette. If you feel you qualify and would like one of these please contact me on 01273 492134 or at mikepmorgan@btinternet.com. Mike Morgan
www.henfieldbn5.co.uk | 1 7