Bognor MP Nick Gibb hears residents' concerns over hundreds of new homes

People packed a meeting to question why hundreds of homes are proposed for the parish of Pagham.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Nov 2016, 12:31 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 18:06 BST

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Three large developments have recently been put forward by separate builders in the parish, totalling more than 1,000 homes.

Around 350 residents turned out to Friday’s meeting at The Complex in Church Farm, Bourne Leisure, organised by the Pagham and Aldwick Greenfields Action Movement (PAGAM).

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Nick Gibb, MP for Bognor and Littlehampton, was there and spoke briefly during the questions session in answer to comments from the audience.

MP Nick Gibb adressing the meetingMP Nick Gibb adressing the meeting
MP Nick Gibb adressing the meeting

The meeting was opened by PAGAM member Gill Homer, who covered the formalities and the aims of the meeting and then handed over to the acting vice-chairman, Sue Brunton, who introduced the speakers.

These were, in order of appearance, Karl Roberts, director of planning and economic regeneration at Arun District Council, Mike Warden, Aldwick parish councillor, Ray Radmall, chairman of Pagham Parish Council, Gill Yeates from Bersted Parish Council and Phil Higson from Pagham Parish Council.

“During the second part of the meeting a number of members of the public voiced questions that generally focused on why do we need a proposed 3,000 extra homes in this area, the sustainability of projects like this, and the combined impact of traffic and flooding issues,” PAGAM said in a statement after the meeting.

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“All but one of these questions were directed at Karl Roberts, who basically replied that Government targets had to be addressed based on demographics, profiles, death rates, migration and immigration, and that the targets envisaged were approximately 1,000 homes a year over 20 years in the Arun District.” Arun District Council’s local plan is currently being updated to meet the new demand.

David Huntly, chairman of planning at Pagham Parish Council, Tony Sutcliffe, an Aldwick parish councillor and Mike Callow, a fellow of the Royal Geological Society, also made short addresses during this session.

All of the speakers, with the exception of Mr Roberts, were against the proposed developments, which includes new houses off Sefter Road and Hook Lane, the group said.

Anyone who wants to know more about these issues and about PAGAM is asked to contact the group via email on [email protected]

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