Brush With Planners

At a stroke, they agreed officers were wrong to say Mr Ottey s students should not be allowed to park on land next to the converted barn at New House Farm, Ford Lane.

Littlehampton councillor Mark Butler said it was nonsense to prevent eight or nine cars being parked on the site when, nearby, other "monstrosities" had been given planning permission, including the new sewage treatment works and the Tarmac Topblock factory.

Mr Ottey told Arun s development control committee it would be impossible for the art lessons to continue if students were unable to park outside the Mill Studio.

"It s been used as parking for the barns I have converted for the past 30 years at least," said Mr Ottey.

He had run art classes for 20 years, for all ages and abilities, and before moving to Ford recently, he had had premises in West Ashling for six years.

"This is very much a community business. What I have been trying to do all my life is something for the community.

"At my last studio, the village was very proud of the studio and classes. I see no reason why it shouldn t be the same here."

Ford Parish Council objected to the proposal, claiming it would set a precedent for further development outside the built-up area.

But councillor Bill Matthews, whose Arun ward includes the site, and who is also a parish councillor, said opinion had been quite evenly divided at the parish meeting.

For more on this story, see the Gazette, February 7.