Development update

More destruction and loss of bio-diversity

Coxlow House/Coxlow Farm

On the last bank holiday this Summer, residents of Grange Close had to endure the noise of heavy plant machinery ripping out trees, hedging, flora & fauna from a strip of land alongside Coxlow House. This land faces onto the Horam Bowls Club on the A267 and leads to Coxlow Farm land. Coxlow Farm has been offered up in the Wealden District Council document know as SHELAA as a possible site for 250 houses. It has been on the SHELAA for a few years, but no planning application has yet been submitted.

Sadly, this clearance work is an indicator that a planning application will soon be forthcoming. Residents have complained to Horam Parish Council and local councillor Sue Stedman about the destruction of this site, with no notice and on a bank holiday. The developer Woolridge Group have sent an apology to the clerk at HPC, but no further details have been shared.

We sent some questions to Woolridge to respond to or issue a statement, but despite chasing for a response, we didn't hear back in time for our deadline.

Woolridge have said to HPC that they are happy to hear from residents, if you do get in touch - please let us know if you receive a response.

The questions posed were:

• Who owns the land? • Where are the ecological & biodiversity reports for this site, undertaken before clearance commenced? • Has a bat survey been conducted on the Nissan hut on the land? • Do you have the authority to commence this work? • Are you acting on behalf of the land owner with an option to gaining planning approval? • When will you be submitting an application? • Will access be from A267?

It will be interesting to see if Woolridge plan to do a pre-application consultation. If you would like to express your views - please use the details below.

David Holmes, Head of Planning, Woolridge Group, Hall Grove Farm, Bagshott, Surrey, GU19 5HP, T: 01276 470300 M: 07824999602 planning@woolridgegroup.co.uk

Land at Coxlow House.

Some good news!

Health path approved

The application for the health path & pump track at Horam recreation ground has been approved and we await confirmation on when work will commence. How wonderful will it be to be able to use the rec through the winter months?! We all know how much walking benefits us from our experiences in lockdown.

Success for Horebeech Lane

This good news follows on from the recommendation for refusal from WDC for Cauldavon WD/2021/0672/MAO - OUTLINE APPLICATION FOR THE ERECTION OF UP TO 60 RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS , AT CAULDAVON, LAND EAST OF ROSEMEAD, HOREBEECH LANE, HORAM, TN21 9EA.

Reduction in housing numbers

Following pressure from groups like Save Wealden From Over Development, WASP - Wealden Alliance for Sustainable Planning, charity CPRE - Campaign for Rural England, the head of Wealden Bob Standley has asked the housing minister to look at reducing our housing numbers and enforcing permissions to be built out sooner. So it is clear to see that even though it can feel like we are shouting into the wind, if we keep objecting to the concreting over of Wealden, we may have some impact!

Lucy Atabey, Editor.