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Originally posted by TilerTim

Yes but the housing that replaces it may bring it's own problems

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I have now been able to look at the application in more detail. There are 87 documents on the Arun DC website (ref: A/130/12) but the story is really told in three of them. It begins in July,with agents for Chandlers approaching the planning officers at Arun for advice on their proposal for building a new dealership centre on 6.5 acres at Roundstone Farm, off Littlehampton Road. The planning staff wrote a letter in August telling the agents that the Council’s policy, as set out in the Local Plan 2003, was to protect the Strategic Gaps from development, and that the only exception that could be made was for local firms who needed to move and could demonstrate that there was no suitable alternative site outside the Gaps. Even then, the development would only be allowed if it did not compromise the integrity and purpose of the Gaps. The letter pointed them to the site further along the Littlehampton Road, opposite the Golf Centre, pointing out that this site had already been given planning permission for car showrooms. The flavour of the letter was very much ‘ it is very unlikely that you would get planning permission for the move to Roundstone Farm.

The applicants have set out their comparative evaluation of 18 possible sites, of which Roundstone Farm was one. In their marking scheme it got 28 points. The site opposite the Golf Centre (Site 3) got 26 points. All the others were a long way behind. Their only adverse comment about Site 3 was that ‘taking into account the infrastructure costs to secure vehicular access [it]is not available at a market price for motor vehicle dealerships’. In other words they did not want to pay the asking price. They noted that ‘that there is likely to be a planning submission in the near future for a retail orientated scheme, which if planning permission is granted is anticipated to lead to significantly enhanced site values’ .. {What, another superstore?]. For the second test, the applicants say the showrooms. workshops, offices, car storage areas etc will only occupy 2 per cent of the Gap and that ‘The building will be of high quality and will make a positive contribution to the visual amenity and architectural quality of the local area’. How ridiculous.

I suggest that our objections concentrate on these two tests - no alternative location and no adverse effect on the Strategic Gap – plus the effect on traffic movements. The main points seem to me to be:

1. There clearly is a suitable alternative location – at Site 3. The fact that Chandlers do not want to pay the market price for it is not a valid reason for rejecting it.

2. Even if there were no alternative sites, the effect on the Gap would be serious. It would replace a substantial part of the Gap as seen from Littlehampton Road with the frontage of car showrooms, signage and illumination, and it would destroy 6.5 acres of Grade 1 Agricultural land.

3. The effect on traffic would be serious. The applicant says the frontage would display cars in a way to attract pedestrians and passing vehicles – that alone is a good reason against the location – on the approach to a roundabout where drivers need all their concentration. The volume of traffic using the Dealership would add to the already intolerable congestion on the A259, and especially at the roundabout itself where customers vehicles are to enter and exit. The entrance from the Littlehampton Road itself, for service vehicles, would create more congestion, and conflict with buses using the stop.

I am confident we can defeat this application. I hope we see a large number of objection letters, for, residents in Angmering, East Preston, Kingston and Angmering, as well as Ferring. The Gap is important to us all. – Ed Miller

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SAVE OUR GAP Arun District Council has received aplanning application covering some 6.5 acres of prime agricultural land at Roundstone Farm, just south of the A259 road and within the Kingston/ East Preston Strategic Gap, as follows:

New Chandlers BMW/ Mini Dealership facility including workshop/ MOT facility, car valeting and car storage with new access from A259.

This application must be resisted at all costs to protect our local environment as:
1. There is a clearly more acceptable local alternative site further along the A259 opposite the Rustington Golf Centre, which already has Planning Permission for this purpose
2. It would seriously damage the Ferring/East Preston Strategic Gap with a frontage of car showrooms, signage and illumination, and destroy 6.5 acres of farmland
3. It would seriously add to the current intolerable congestion on the A259 and provide a road safety hazard by diverting the attention of drivers on the approach to the roundabout

If you agree, please make your voice heard by recording your objection online at www.arun.gov.uk (quoting reference A/130/12), or by writing to the Planning Dept at Arun District Council, Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton BN17 5LF by 21 February.


Published by Ferring Conservation Group, East Preston & Kingston Preservation Society, East Preston Parish Council, Ferring Parish Council and Kingston Parish Council.

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SAVE OUR GAP

A short demonstration will take place this Saturday 16th February at 11am at the site of the proposed Chandlers development at the entrance to Roundstone Farm, just off the A259 road

Nearly 150 letters of objection have already been sent to Arun District Council, BUT this is the last chance before the deadline date of 21 February to show your opposition and that we do not want our Gap wrecked

Please join us there and show how much you care!

Bring your own posters. Local media including radio and TV have been informed.

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