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.