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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, also referred to as land to the west of London Road, Hassocks.


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

Sunday, 4 August 2013

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
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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous3 December 2013 at 19:05

    I understand that people need to have a place to live. The Sussex countryside is truly beautiful. I object to Builders being able to.apply for planning permission wherever their fancy takes them. Local residents should nominate available spaces and only those places can have planning permission applied for. Local people have local knowledge and their opinions should be respected not bulldozed aside. Listen to the locals. Stonepound is NOT the place. Ham fields is needed as an open space. London Road is busy enough and now we have the new ESTATE in Hassocks we need to make a stand. Every house means 2 new cars on local roads. 90 houses 180 more cars. LEAVE US ALONE!!!!!

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