Hassocks Short Film

Please take a moment to watch this short film made by some local children and then make sure you have objected to Gleeson's plan.

Parish Council Planning Committee

Last night Hassocks Parish Council Planning Committee unanimously voted to recommend the refusal of the Gleeson application.

Ian Credland, Ian Tovey, Valerie Alford and Jason O'Neil all talked separately about different key areas of concern, being:

Strategic gap/coalescence
Air Quality Management Air/Air Quality Action Plan
Infrastructure
Flora and Fauna

supplemental comments were also provided by Philip Weir.

This was a small victory for us but important nevertheless.  We will now need to turn our attention to the District Planning Committee and the District Councillors - more on this soon.

Additional Ideas to Incorporate in an Objection

On an unaccredited basis I have received the following thoughts on the proposal which people may like to incorporate in their objections.

1. The development would have an adverse impact on local views and landscape character in the following ways:
1.1 The proposal would encroach on the open gap between Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint which is important to prevent the physical and visual coalescence of the built up areas.
1.2 The development would be visible from the golf course, the ridge to the south and the public footpaths which cross the area.
1.3 The report makes a point that the existing houses on London Road are not well screened from the adjacent fields and that the development would provide an opportunity to soften this edge with new green infrastructure in the form of open space. The proposed new houses would be more prominent in the landscape as they would be at a higher elevation and the proposed landscape treatment would not adequately mitigate this impact. A belt of tree planting a minimum of 20m wide would be required to mitigate the proposals from local viewpoints. The intrinsic character of this landscape is of a patchwork of fields and well treed hedges, which would be strengthened by the proposal, but would not provide sufficient mitigation for the visual impact of the development.

2. The application is premature in relation to the emerging Neighbourhood Plan. This will identify the optimum locations for new development and also the location for new recreational facilities including informal open space and formal facilities such as playing fields. The area subject to the planning application would have potential to provide Green Infrastructure as part of an accessible green network around the village which links with the golf course, playing field and the stream and public footpaths around the north of the village.

Sample objection

One of our supporters posted the following objection and asked for it to be shared as an example of the approach you might adopt.

"The area of land proposed is not considered acceptable for any development, there are many real issues which should be considered.

The land has a historic background with  archaeological evidence of a Roman road running through the north field. I personally have found artefacts in an around my garden including a remnants of a roman road. therefore a full archaeological survey should be carried out.

There are also historic hedgerows and trees some which have protection orders. The proposal shows that the road through the site will run through the hedgerow to join the 2 fields. it should be noted that on the historic maps the hedgerow is shown to run the full length of the fields. this used to be the case until the present owner and the developers whilst surveying the land cut down and destroyed it so as to enable the route of the road for the development. This must be considered as being a criminal act and action taken against the developer and owner.

The environmental impact of the build must be considered as there is proven evidence of various protected species including Great Crested Newts, Barn Owls, Badgers, bats, door mice and field mice. The area also has flora and fauna which is protected and is ancient in origin.

The land is quite clearly visible from the peaks of the South Downs and will in fact reduce the wonderful views of the SDNP.

Having lived adjacent to the land for the last 14 years I and my family and others who visit are subject to the the most wonderful views and some brilliant sunsets. These are the views that we paid extra for when we made the decision to move in, and in what way are we to receive compensation for the loss of this? Also the proposal shows no access to the land as some of our neighbours have prescriptive access to the land.

The other environmental issue involves the Air Pollution. Stonepound Junction which is only yards from the proposed development is subject to an Air Quality Action Plan. This AQAP has been presented to DEFRA and as yet to be accepted as fit enough to deal with the air quality in the area. The proposals presented to DEFRA are inadequate and will in no way prove to lower the levels of Nitrogen dioxide. It must also be noted that the World Health Organisation have recently presented scientific evidence that the real pollutant is PM 2.5 which was initially monitored in 2003/4 and found to be above WHO acceptable levels.

Therefore the rise in traffic due to the proposed development would in no way help to reduce any type of pollutants at this already highly polluted area.

It must be noted that PM 2.5 has been proven to have been the cause of up to 29,000 deaths in this country and also  230000 in Europe. I personally suffer from a respiratory disease and have a real understanding of its effects.

The proposal will also add over 200 to 300 more vehicles to the already high traffic numbers. The area is already mis-managed by the WSDC Traffic department due to the lack of consideration of other recently agreed developments. A professional execution of traffic modelling should be carried out immediately and then after the agreed new build at College Lane.

Residents of this new site will be heading along Hurst Road and through Stonepound Junction to park at the already congested Hassocks Station causing higher levels of traffic and also pollution. Pollution from vehicles are higher when shorter journeys are carried of which these vehicles will.

The proposed development also will significantly lower the strategic Gap between the villages of Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint.  This gap has been already acknowledged as being important in the proposed District Plan. The concept of a village will be reduced if any further erosion of the gap and the area will become an extension of Burgess Hill.

The Village of Hassocks has long been acknowledged as the "Gateway to the South Downs". There will be no countryside left for the "weekenders" from London to escape to, and Hassocks is the only place they will route through to get into the south downs.

Gleeson's the developers mention the economic benefits of more housing.  The area falls into the "Gatwick Diamond" And there seems to be a belief that more housing is required due to the supposed growth of Gatwick Airport. The reality is that Gatwick airport is in fact in decline and passenger levels are lower than ever.

There are no new flights and therefore no new jobs with a some of the airlines reducing employee numbers.

 

The developers plan for the house design is not really compatible with a traditional Sussex Design. I am aware that the recently Completed Clayton Mills Development failed to honour the original design brief and the builders used the most cost effective materials and design rather than fitting in with the local design. It is accepted that any outline plan put forward by the developers will always be more compatible in it's initial design and that the reality of the build is little like the original.

Also although there is proposal is for 93 houses  in this plan the developers have purchased controlling rights on a larger piece of adjacent land west of the proposed development. There would only be one intention in this purchase and that would to petition for a further build which would at least double the size of the this proposal. This would mean at least 200 properties over all and a further erosion of the Strategic Gap.

The Villages of Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint have been subjected to significant housing development and with the associated population rise has come the issue of the local infrastructures failure to cope. My family has personally been affected by this failure. My daughter who requires extra assistance in her development at school was hoping to follow her brother into the village school. When we approached the head she was concerned that due to the significant rise in pupil numbers they may not be able to help her as required. Therefore we were forced to approach another school in an other village who also despite being subject to their own rise in pupil numbers were more confident of their assistance. All we can hope is that she will not be failed.

Also due to my daughters health issues which were caused by a respiratory illness and i think due to the Traffic and air pollution in the area. The local health centre failed to be treat her. Every time we visited the health centre to get treatment (when we could get an appointment) she was seen by a different GP as we would have to go what ever GP was available and at what ever location.

This caused her illness to be mis-diagnosed and therefore the illness caused further health issues.

I would hope that although some of my concerns are personal in nature that my objections are made with complete knowledge of the reality of the governments "localism Act"

Despite this act giving the developers presumption in favour rights. The heart of the localism act is about handing power back to the communities. If this is true and the inspectorate truly understand the nature of the act then this proposed development should be considered in opposition to this act."

Object to the Planning Application

You must object before 13 December 2013 otherwise your objection will not be considered.

You can send your objection by e-mail to:

planninginfo@midsussex.gov.uk 

make sure you include the application reference number 13/03818/OUT.

You can find the application by following this link:

Mid Sussex Planning Register

The application reference number is 13/03818/OUT, but the link should take you straight there.  If you go to the comments tab you can leave your comments there.

You can also send your comments by letter to

Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
RH16 1SS

again you must quote the application reference number 13/03818/OUT.

It is absolutely essential that we achieve as many unique objections as possible, we may repeat what each other say but we must say it in our own words.  Everybody can object, you, your partner, your parents, your children, your Linkedin contacts, your Faceboook Friends - please make sure everybody you know objects.

The Council make some recommendations as to the sort of thing you should consider in your objection:

-The effect of the proposed development on the appearance of the area;
-The quality of the design;
-Significant overbearing impact and loss of outlook;
-The economic benefits of the proposal;
-Highway safety issues;
-Loss of important trees;
-Intrusion into the countryside;
-Significantly increased noise and disturbance;

They also caution that these should not include:

-Loss of view;
-Loss of property value;
-Loss of trade to a competitor;
-Boundary and other disputes with a neighbour;
-Moral, religious issues.

You may want to consider or use the following points in your objection:

Design

The design is particularly light on detail and specifically absent of a clear explanation on site access and the impact that this will have on the congestion experienced in London Road.  In the mornings and evenings delays of over 20 minutes are not uncommon.  Stonepound Crossroads is already recognised as one of the most polluted junctions in Sussex.  The only conceivable point of access is dangerously close to Stonepound Crossroads and is directly next to the intersection with Stanford Avenue and the entrance/exit to the petrol station.

No consideration is given to the existing residents of London Road and the design places new dwellings on the boundaries of existing properties which is overbearing and impinges on their right to light.

The design takes no consideration of the prescriptive easements which have been awarded to several residents.

The design seems to disregard the Tree Preservation Order in respect of 20 individual trees.

The design does not explain that the parcel of land encompasses another field to the west of the planned area of approximately the same area, which presumably will become the subject of a further or modified later application.

Strategic Gap

In every derivation of plan issued by Parish and District Councils the site has been defined as the Strategic Gap between Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint.  This gap was already narrow at 0.9km between the rear gardens of College Lane, Hurstpierpoint and the rear gardens of London Road, Hassocks before approval for a 100 dwelling development at College Lane was granted which will reduce that gap, combined with this proposal there will no longer be a Strategic Gap.

The site is outside the built up area of Hassocks and within a local and strategic gap and is outside the Neighbourhood Plan Area for Hassocks, the site is also within the Countryside Area of Development Restraint (CADR) as defined in the Mid Sussex Local Plan (MSLP).  As such the proposal is contrary to the Mid Sussex Development Plan (MSDP).  In the Housing Supply Plan (published in March 2013) the site was assessed (site reference 286(HA/19) and deemed to be unsuitable on the following grounds:

• Open to landscape issues
• Long range views
• Absence of defensible boundaries
• Will set a precedence for further development and contribute further to the coalescence Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint, proposal conflicts with C3 of the MSLP.

Air Quality

The site is immediately adjacent to the Air Quality Management Area of Stonepound Crossroads which already has Nitrogen Dioxide levels in excess of World Health Organisation permitted levels and dangerously high levels of particulate matter.  Regardless of any statements made by the developer building more dwellings will lead to more cars, more congestion and more pollution.

Traffic Volumes

If you build more dwellings there will be more cars and more congestion as there is no capacity to increase the size of the road.  Other north/south routes are no less problematic, Ditchling, College Lane (already subject of a South Mid Sussex CLC notice) and Cuckfield Road.

Road Traffic and Pedestrian Safety

More traffic increases the potential for fatal accidents involving motorists and pedestrians alike.  There is no safe route from this site to the schools or village.  There are no plans for additional pedestrian crossings.

Historic Importance

• The site is well documented as being part of the Manor of Wickham, the central hedgerow comprising oak trees are several hundred years old and is detailed in a survey dating to 1732 and also the Domesday Book (1086) (http://www.jrnorris.co.uk/Wickhammanor.html).
• The site is adjacent to a Saxon settlement and a desktop archaeological survey is woefully inadequate when so much more could be uncovered
• Many residents have made their own Roman and Saxon finds. 

Inadequacy of Existing and Planned Infrastructure

This is a small community which is already bursting at the seams.  We wait weeks for doctors appointments, we might as well pull our own teeth out, the police presence is practically none existent, the fire station is miles and miles away, the schools are only just building classrooms for the children who live here now, siblings cannot go to the same school and some children cannot even go to the school in the village where they live and must get the train to another town.  How will we accommodate the new house for which planning permission is already granted never mind this application.

Other points to consider

the application will:

• seriously and permanently harm the character of the countryside and adversely affect local tourism which this character attracts;
• be contrary to and prejudicial to the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan;
• have an adverse impact on the setting of the National Park and change the settlement pattern of the area;
• be a further loss of landscape for local residents to enjoy whilst using the public footpath which intersects the land affording views of quintessential English downland countryside;
• increase drainage problems as the water table is already at surface level during much of the year
• overshadow residents and cause a loss of sunlight;
• be detrimental to the other natural residents of the agricultural area barn owls, bats, foxes, badgers, bees, kestrels, all of which are regularly seen;
• be detrimental to the great crested newts on site
• be detrimental to the public at large who have a long history of using the area as common land dating back more than 250 years;
• be a further loss of agricultural land;

Meeting Monday 18 November

We have a meeting scheduled for Monday night 19:30 at the British Legion in Woodsland Road.

Please make every effort to come along, the purpose of the meeting is to ensure people know that Gleeson have made an outline planning application and how you should go about objecting.

We will also need to decided about retaining a professional planning consultant and discussion donations to this fighting fund.

E-mail me directly or via the contact form if you need more information now, otherwise see you Monday.

Yesterday at Ham Fields

In the interests of keeping people "in the loop" - 

Some of our neighbours noticed that there was some activty in the fields yesterday that was more than  a little curious.

Early in the day a tanker, a small van and flatbed Wickes lorry, load with aggregate, and a JCB arrived. The worse was feared, one of neighbours asked what they were doing...

They dug test soakaways which were filled with aggregate and water to see how long it took a known quantity of water to drain away.  It would seem the developer is aware of potential drainage issues on the site.

To my mind it would be more sensible to conduct such an experiment when the ground is already holding a degree of water rather than at the end of the summer when the ground is dry!

Beacon Centre Open Day

Open Day Saturday 12 October 2013 from 11.00am to 3.00pm at the Beacon Centre in Ockley Lane, Hassocks. Join us for coffee and biscuits. Hassocks Parish Council want your views. The Parish Council has been working with Asprey Homes (future site owners) and WSCC to identify how the centre might be used in future. One option is the possibility of returning the centre to community use providing there is sufficient community interest in running the centre. Your feedback is important as it will help us to see if this is a viable option. The Consultation includes – 
• An Open Day so you can visit the centre and have a chance to see its potential 
• A Questionnaire so you can identify potential users of the centre and give feedback on its future use. 
The questionnaire and information sheet are available from the Parish Office and on the website - www.hassockspc.net 

Village Lottery

I think is very worthwhile and for a stake of only £12, please can we all try and support the Hassocks Amenity Association.  Pop along to Orion News at the weekend and buy your numbers.

HAA is joining with Light up Hassocks and 1st Hassocks Scouts to launch a Village Lottery. Money raised will go to support youth work, community events and, through HAA, any amenity initiatives of local village groups. Membership costs £12 a year which entitles the purchaser to one unique number which is entered in a monthly draw. The first draw will be on 20th December 2013, and thereafter on the fourth Friday of each month. Any one member can purchase up to four numbers. Full details are in the application form, which you can download here. Forms can be returned to the Parish Centre and Orion News, or by post to 7 Beaconhurst, Hassocks, BN6 8RE. More application forms can be found in local shops and pubs.
Join us now! If successful, Hassocks would have a steady stream of income to support local causes. It could turn community dreams into community realities.
Click on the application form link to apply. HASSOCKS VILLAGE LOTTERY application form.pdf

Agenda for 24 September 2013 is issued by Hassocks Parish Council

The agenda for the above publicised meeting has been issued today

Agenda

"

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

An Extra-Ordinary meeting of the Parish Council will be held on
Tuesday, 24 September 2013, at 7.30 pm in the Council Chamber, in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

AGENDA


1) To Accept Apologies for Absence

2) To receive Declarations of Interest regarding any matters on the agenda

3) To consider and agree a Protocol for dealing with discussions with developers

4) To consider what if any village facilities or infrastructure the council would wish to see provided as part of any future developments in the village, over and above S106 or similar statutory requirements.

Clerk

Parish Clerk: "

Amazing News from Ham Fields

Yesterday looked like it was going to be a pretty ordinary work day but when I got home there was some amazing news waiting!

During the day one of the girls who keeps horses on the fields had been moving some horse rugs and underneath the rugs she found some newts.  I would not know one newt from another to be honest but some photographs were taken and e-mailed to the Sussex Reptile and Amphibian Group for identification.  Then late last night we received confirmation that these were indeed northern crested newts (the infamous Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus)).

Of course such a discovery is a very important find as great crested newts are a protected species under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.  It is also a European Protected Species and as such it has additional protection in the UK under Regulation 39 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 (the Habitats Regulations), as amended by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007. It is an offence to:

• Intentionally kill, injure or take a northern crested newt

• Possess or control any live or dead specimen or anything derived from a northern crested newt

• Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection by a northern crested newt (in practice this means both its breeding sites, and its terrestrial habitat)

• Intentionally or recklessly disturb a northern crested newt while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for that purpose

If you hurt or damage them or their habitat it is a criminal act.

In itself this does not win our case for us but it is another really strong point for us.

May be it will help Chris Marlow realise what a wonderful piece of countryside he is the custodian of for future generations and that together we can restore it to greatness.

24 September 2013

I advised by e-mail that there was an Extraordinary Meeting of the Parish Council scheduled for 23 September 2013 and that it was probably in our interests to attend.

I have noticed from the Parish Council website that this meeting is now listed for 24 September 2013 under the title "Policy, Resources & Communication".  The Clerk has confirmed to me today that this is the meeting that resulted from the vote at the meeting of 10 September 2013.  The minutes of that meeting can be found at minutes, which includes:

"13/104 Village Facilities. RESOLVED that the matters to be discussed 
regarding the possible provision of additional village facilities in conjunction 
with new development should be discussed at an Extra-Ordinary Meeting of 
the Parish Council, which would be open to the public. The Clerk would 
arrange a suitable date when the Chairman of the Parish Council was 
available."

I will attend and hope to see as many of you as possible there.

The Shadow of the Downs

Heard about this magazine and website last night, go have a read and a jolly good laugh

Shadow of the Downs

Parish Council Meetings

Please can I encourage everybody to attend as many Parish Council meetings as possible.  You can find out when they are by following this link:

Hassocks Parish Council - Forthcoming Meetings

There are meetings on 18 & 19 September.  On 19 September the meeting is for the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group.  This is the agenda for that meeting.

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL
To: Steven Ecroyd, Bill Hatton, Judith Foot, Peter Gibbons, Paul King, Penny 
Wadsworth, Ian Weir
Cc David Cumberland, Geoff Copley, 
A meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group will be held on Thursday 
19 September 2013 at 7.30 pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks. 
AGENDA
1. To accept Apologies for Absence.
2. To accept Declarations of Interest
3. To approve the minutes of the Meeting held on 20 June 2013 (previously 
circulated)
4. To agree that items 5 and 6 should be treated as confidential and any 
members of the public present should be invited to withdraw
5. To consider revised background papers and draft policy statements on the 
following :
a) Policies for Residential Development (Bill Hatton: attached)
b) Leisure & Recreation Policy (Bill Hatton)
c) Environment/Nature Policy (Judith Foot/Ian Weir)
d) Traffic & Parking Policy (Ian Weir)
e) Public Transport Policy (Peter Gibbons)
f) Community Facilities Policy (Judith Foot)
g) Hassocks Village Centre (Judith Foot/Penny Wadsworth)
h) Business Development & Tourism Policy (Paul King)
i) Highways Policy (Geoff Copley)
6. To consider a letter dated 25 June 2013 regarding a possible development 
site (attached)
7. To consider next steps and the consultation process.
8. Date of Next Meeting : 17 October 2013 at 7.30 pm.

Clerk

AQMA Action Plan Update

Ian Tovey drafted the following report after the publication of the AQMA Action Plan and sent it to MSDC to be discussed at the Cabinet meeting which was held yesterday afternoon.




I think it fair to say that Cabinet members are well aware of our concerns and whilst the measurements might not have been as robust as we would have liked they still indicate a significant air quality issue which must be addressed and the impact on air quality must be consider in any future planning applications.

The Air we Breathe

The well known lobbying site 38 Degrees are currently running a campaign regarding air quality and the potential "hiding of results".  See all the details here

38 Degrees - Air Quality

Do not forget to tell all your friends and family.

Let your Councillors know what you think.

Your District Councillors, Peter Martin and Gordon Marples are holding a surgery this Saturday at the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Keymer Road from 10:00am to 11:00am.  Why not drop in while you are doing your shopping and let them know what you think about the development of Ham Fields and the terrible pollution at Stonepound.

Air Quality Management Area Action Plan

There seems a bitter irony in that on the day Mid Sussex District Council published their action plan to deal with the air pollution at Stonepound Crossroads the traffic was the worst it has been for sometime.  The following pictures were taken at 17:05 and got worse later.  Southbound traffic was queuing back for over 1km, as far as the Friars Oak and the golf course. 

It is not practical to reproduce the report here but you can read it by following this link

AQMA Report

and then clicking the pdf called "Report".  A summary appears at pages 29-33 and the full report follows on pages 34-71.

Amazingly the main direct action points are limited to:

1. Re-assess traffic light sequencing;
2. Minimising HGV movements;
3. ‘Cut Engine, Cut Pollution’ signs.

and indirect action points:
1. Travelwise schemes to promote sustainable transport, such as school travel plans, provision and promotion of cycle routes;
2. Education and raising awareness in order to incentivise people to change their travel behaviour;
3. Enforcement and other transport related schemes, such as consideration of vehicle emission testing;
4. Planning policy - policies in the new District Plan for mitigating the impact of new developments on traffic congestion and air quality; and
5. Further air quality monitoring.

There does not appear to be any recognition of the increased traffic due to the Sainsburys Local which is to be constructed or the development in College Lane.  And yet astonishingly the plan predicts these actions will bring the Nitrogen dioxide within WHO recommendations by 2018.  It is heartening that they recognise the need for planning policy to be focused in this issue.

E-mail from MJ Gleeson

Please see the following which was received this morning.

Mark Jackson	08:48 (4 hours ago)
to me

Dear Mr Credland,

Thank you for your email and indeed your earlier correspondence, all of which we have noted.

We were intending to respond, but wished to await the end of the consultation period as it makes sense to respond to all comments once we have understood the views expressed.

In terms of the consultation we have undertaken, whilst we note your comments, we disagree with them and believe that personal notification of neighbouring residential properties, liaison with the Parish Council and District Council has allowed us to understand the views of local residents and indeed the Parish Council and take these on board as part of the emerging proposal.

We acknowledge your organisations aspiration to preserve Ham fields and would be willing to enter into dialogue with you with regard to the form of development that your organisation would like to see on the site or any local issues that we should be aware of.  So far feedback from interested parties has been very useful in allowing us to develop the proposal further.

It is anticipated that the application will be submitted by the end of September where all interested parties will be able to make representations to the Council who will be determining the proposal.

If you have any further queries do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Mark Jackson

From: Ian Credland [mailto:creders@gmail.com]
Sent: 03 September 2013 16:20
To: Matthew Richardson; Mark Jackson
Cc: kirstenk@midsussex.gov.uk; Alan Berry; Bill Hatton; Chris Bere; David Cumberland; Frank Rylance; Ian Weir; Jane Baker; Judith Foot; Leslie Campbell; Ms Penny Wadsworth; Paul King; Peter Gibbons; Steven Ecroyd; Sue Hatton; Sue Hatton; Bob Sampson; James Smith; John Lowman; John Wilkinson; Judith Marsh; Julia Shorrocks; Matthew Stokes; Neil Milton; Rodney Jackson; Rosemary Burns; Stephen Hand; Sue Bourn; Susanna Kemp; Andrew MacNaughton; Cherry Catharine; Chris Hersey; Colin Trumble; Edward Matthews; Graham Knight; Jim Knight; Mike Livesey; Mr Stephen Barnett; Ms Ginny Heard; Peter Martin; Robert Salisbury; Andy Petch

Dear Matt

I am absolutely certain that this must be an oversight on your part but I do not seem to have received a response from you in relation to the appended e-mail.

Yesterday I received disclosure from Mid Sussex District Council in relation to your pre-app meeting.  I have read your arguments with interest and to be honest find some of your statements beyond belief.

You seem to wish to convey to the Council that you entered into a period of public consultation, in my opinion such a statement is disingenuous at best, if not something worse.

You will see that I have copied into this e-mail all the relevant elected decision makers as well members of the Planning Department as I want to be sure they fully understand how little effort you are making to consult with the residents of the area.

Yours sincerely Ian Credland, Chair, Protect Ham Fields Group

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ian Credland <creders@gmail.com>
Date: 24 August 2013 17:31:31 BST
To: "mrichardson@mjgleeson.com" <mrichardson@mjgleeson.com>
Subject: Land to the west of London Road Hassocks

Dear Matt

I am writing to you on behalf of the large number of Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint residents who have formed a group that wish to preserve Ham Fields and other green spaces on the edge of the South Downs National Park with regard to the leaflet which was delivered to some (but not all) residents last week.  If you would take a moment to follow this link I think you will find it is a fair summary of how the residents feel:

http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/98-homes-proposed-near-polluted-hassocks-crossroads-1-5406851

I must say that the first letter that you sent to some residents; some of which were addressed to the wrong residents and some of which were addressed incorrectly, and this leaflet are of an amazingly low quality and quite frankly I am astonished that a multi-million pound company would choose to proceed in such an unprofessional manner.

Clearly if you would like to continue to the planning application stage for a development of this magnitude you would be expected to enter into a widely publicised period of public consultation and I am absolutely certain that your attempts so far fall way below the standards expected.

Please be under absolutely no misapprehension that a full record of your actions are being kept and at the appropriate time will be brought to the attention of the relevant authorities and decision makers.

I trust that any future communications will be of a high, professional standard and that we can look forward to being able to examine your vision at a full public meeting where you will be able to put forward your substantive proposal and demonstrate them with a scale model which will enable the residents to fully appreciate the proposal.  Perhaps you should consider hiring Adastra Hall in Hassocks for such an event and ensuring that you advertise it widely in the local press for several weeks in advance.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to do so.

--

Yours sincerely

 Ian

Credland, Chair Protect Ham Fields Group

Malthouse Lane Campaign

If you have not already signed this petition please can I encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

Malthouse Lane Speed Limit

Please support your neighboured campaigns.

Are you following our poster campaign?

Just for fun and I'm afraid there are no prizes, how many posters have you been able to spot?

Friars Oak: The historical context; Roman and Anglo Saxon remains

The following documents are reproduced with the kind permission of Chris Butler the author of Saxon Settlement and Earlier Remains at Friars Oak, Hassocks, West Sussex.

Do you really want to see a sign post like this?

We all need to work together to avoid a sign post like

MJ Gleeson's Vision for the land west of London Road, Hassocks

This leaflet was delivered to some, but not all, the immediate residents.

Do not be mistaken though, Gleeson have an option on a much bigger piece of land (border by the bold black line), so in due course it could be more like 200 houses!

We're in the Midi

We are featured on page 3 of the Midi this week, take a read of the article here:

http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/98-homes-proposed-near-polluted-hassocks-crossroads-1-5406851

we need the support of everybody you know, family, friends, work colleagues make sure everyone you know is aware of what is coming and invite them to come see Ham Fields.

Letter to the Mid Sussex Times

One of the residents wrote to the Midi this week explaining how wretched and betrayed they feel:

I bought my then-derelict Victorian house 30 years 5 months ago, solely because of the wonderful location, with far reaching views across the fields at the back, and the sun setting on the horizon of distant woods to the far west .  The A283 is, of course,  a busy road with its awful fumes, litter and noise, but it was worth living along it (we are just ribbon development) because of what we had at the back.   For thirty years all attempts to build on it (by Wates) failed as the planners at MidSussex declared this countryside is protected by designation, local gap, and they did not want the villages of Hurst and Hassocks to coalesce. 

Now we are threatened with 98 dwellings, shown shoved up against our existing housing, with only 3 metres between our properties and blocks of high density rented flats and social housing.  The land is higher behind us,  so these flat's windows would peer down into our homes. 

The light will be blocked out, our views gone.  We'll be trapped by blocks of flats behind us and a smelly road in front.

I feel utterly betrayed by the loophole in the planning system that might let this development take place. I'm sixty one, have paid a mortgage for 25 years and hoped to die in my house.   I live alone and feel too old to face this awful threat to my home, and sick that I may be powerless to stop it.  Will all the countryside in Sussex that is not High Weald or National Park now become overrun by development? It is utterly outrageous and completely undemocratic that countryside preserved for so long by local planners will be ruined by the whim of Central Government who have never even been to Sussex.

This sentiment is felt by many of us, even those of us who are relative new comers at only 15 years...

Letter to Nick Herbert MP

Today we wrote to Nick Herbert about the air quality situation in this area.

Dear Mr Herbert

I would like to inform you of an issue which I do not think is being addressed with any seriousness by local or national government.
I live on London Road, Hassocks, approximately 300 metres north from Stonepound Crossroads. The area is subject to a AQMA (Air Quality Management Area) which means that  air pollution has exceeded the World Health Organisations levels of what is considered acceptable to health.
I have studied the WHO's report on Air pollution for Rural areas and understand that the consequences of failing to address the levels of pollution do not sit well with the WHO and the European Commission, and charges will be brought against the Council for failing to act.
Mid Sussex Council's Environmental Planning Department have presented the facts and findings to the public via a presentation in the village of which I attended. My conclusions were that of the 27 items considered as an option to reduce the Pollution levels only 3 were considered feasible. The 3 options are - 1.   put signs up telling drivers to turn off their engines at the junction, 2. change the sequencing of the lights and 3. force the HGV's to take another route.
Any layman can see that these options are fruitless and I suggested that Traffic reduction is the only option. They informed me that the idea is considered acceptable but due to the constant housing development in and around the area Traffic reduction is not a reality that can be considered. I  see the option of more people using their Cycles., but the children cannot ride to the schools in the village because the traffic at the junction is so bad it would be unsafe to even mount a bike there.
I asked them if the Planning department would consider the Air pollution at the area when deciding on giving permission to developers? The disturbing impression I got was that each department has it's own targets to meet and therefore the holistic view of all departments is not really considered. I did contact the planning department at Mid Sussex and also the Highways Department at West Sussex and discussed the issue of Air pollution with each of them.
it seems due to the  governments "Localism" act department specific targets are to be met. The individuals I spoke with all agreed with me that development has to slow down as the infrastructure cannot cope.
It seems chaos has arrived at the local government levels due to your government's ideology on the  future plan of the rural communities
Getting back to the Air pollution both myself and my daughter suffer from respiratory issues, in fact my daughter was hospitalised for it and it has created issues with her development.
The other consideration therefore is the cost to the tax payer for the NHS to address the ever increasing issues of health due to air pollution.
Many thousands has been spent just on my daughter alone.
The health and safety of our children is paramount, and more concentrated effort is needed at a national level to realistically first of accept there is an issue and secondly deal with it.

I would appreciate your feedback as soon as you are able, as I intend taking the issue of air pollution  and the denial by national government that there is an issue to Europe and the WHO. Watching my daughter deteriorate to the extent that she had and then now understanding why, I feel it is my duty to raise the awareness of others.
 

Inaugural Meeting

We will be having our inaugural meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday 6 August 19:30 at the British Legion in Woodsland Road.  All are welcome so please do come along.

There is special thanks today to the Toveys who have spent the day leafleting Dad, Ian and his two children Megan and Robert.  Extra special thanks to Robert who did most of the posting and has earned a reward.  Good job Robert, young and older alike can help to make a difference.

The Woodland Flora and Fauna Group

The Woodland, Flora & Fauna Group, a volunteer group dedicated to protecting local countryside and wildlife, invite you to an illustrated talk by Michael Blencowe, the butterfly and moth expert. He is the conservation officer for Sussex Butterfly Conservation who share close links with the Sussex Moth Group. He manages their two nature reserves and is involved with advising landowners across the county how to conserve and protect butterflies and moths. He collects and compiles records of butterflies in Sussex. Michael also works for Sussex Wildlife Trust as their community wildlife officer.
His illustrated talk entitled ‘The Butterflies and Moths of Sussex’ will take place on Tuesday, 20th August at 7.30 pm in the Main Hall at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9UY.
He provides a fascinating insight into the Lepidoptera of Sussex with some amazing photographs of these beautiful species and facts about their lives and development. You will hear about their habitats, amazing life-styles, fascinating progression through caterpillar and chrysalis stages and the locations they can be found in Sussex. Adults require nectar rich plants in flower and caterpillars require succulent vegetative matter. Learn more details of their preferences.
Sussex is a fantastic county for butterflies and moths. Come along to learn about them and be inspired to protect and save them too. With five of our native species now extinct and many others in serious decline they need our help.  Entry is free and all are welcome. There is a car park opposite the building.

Are Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint Merging?

I have peacefully and tranquilly lived in Hassocks for nearly 15 years with few concerns and truly enjoyed the rural aspect of our village community. Recently I have become concerned about the way our identity is developing and how we are in danger of merging with Hurstpierpoint, Burgess Hill and Ditchling.  Not that we are not fond of our neighbours but our communities are most definitely individual and it would seem a shame to lose this quintessential Englishness and become yet another oppressive urban sprawl.

We are boarded by the National Park to the south and east, to the north and west there are strategic gaps to protect our individual identities.   The strategic gap between Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint lies between the rear of the houses in London Road, Hassocks and those of College Lane, Hurstpierpoint.  It is a beautiful green space intersected with numerous public footpaths and bridleways. There are long ranging downland views, ancient woodlands with rare and varied flora and fauna.  This gap used to be approximately 0.9km however on 11 July 2013 the Mid Sussex District Council 
Planning Committee approved a scheme of development (which had been recommended for refusal) to the north of 31 College Lane Hurstpierpoint for 81 dwellings.  Effectively this fills the green space between College Lane and Belmont Lane, leaving a gap of about a mere 600meters.

It will not be long before this remaining gap and the gap to the north with Burgess Hill are put under pressure.  It is such a shame that we are losing our green spaces at such a rapid rate, why aren’t we developing brown field sites ahead of Greenfield sites?  

According to the Neighbourhood Plan this is what should happen.If we want to protect our village community we need to make sure we use our green spaces and call a check on continual development.  Our MPs Nick Herbert and Nicholas Soames have spoken out on this issue and we need to make sure our elected 
representatives at Mid Sussex District Council know how we feel.  Please lobby your Councillor to put end to further development of our greens spaces and keep our village identity, their details can be found at  
http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/Councillors.cfm

Remains of an Ancient Woodland

Running between Oakdene and No. 7 London Road and intersecting the north and south fields directly behind London Road is a very old hedgerow.  It is indicated by the arrow on the map below.  The hedgerow comprises many ancient plants including Butchers Brush and several substantial oak trees.

The red line indicates the historic boundary of Wickham Manor (mentioned in the Domesday Book 1086) as detailed in a 1732 survey by Thomas Pointin, full details of which can be found in the Danny Archives held at East Sussex Records Office, catalogue item 2099.

On 1 August I wrote to Steve Ashdown and Don Newling at MSDC about Tree Preservation Orders for the oak trees, unfortunately you cannot protect a hedgerow.  I received a reply the same day saying the site would be inspected within 10 working days and if there was going to be a delay I would be improved.

Fingers crossed for a positive result.

Stonepound protest over pollution action plan

Read all about our protest about the air quality at Stonepound Crossroads.

http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/local/protest-at-stonepound-crossroads-over-pollution-1-5336863

The piece in the paper was a double page spread.  Thanks so much to all those who took part.

Welcome to Protect Ham Fields

This blog is all about the residents of Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint trying to Protect Ham Fields.  Ham Fields is the ancient name of the green space which remains between Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint, the so called Strategic Gap.

Please feel free to e-mail us protecthamfields@gmail.com or use the Contact us form.