Fears as housing swamps Chichester

A once green and pleasant land is being swallowed up by the continuing onslaught of development in the north west of the city – including the Summersdale area.

Ray Carter has lived in this part of Chichester for 30 years and said that while he had no problem with new homes, the result of various housing schemes was having a detrimental impact on the quality of living for people.

He said a further 1,000 new homes from the Roussillon Barracks and Graylingwell sites would further destroy the aspects of the area which made a successful living environment.

Mr Carter said several of the area’s roads were now too dangerous to negotiate and over the years no provision had been made for extra traffic which was now at intolerable levels.

“College Lane once provided a no-hassle easy access to the centre and eastern side of the city. It has been turned into a hazardous single carriageway,” he said. “This is as a result of vehicles parking along the Lane from Winterbourne Road to Wellington Road.

“This has been caused by the developments at Chichester University, a residential development on the ambulance site, and employees of the Cherries and the protected housing development adjacent to Fordwater School, parking in the lane – all developments which were allowed without adequate parking provision.”

Because of the expansion in the residential population of the area, the number of people signing up at Lavant Road Surgery has increased.

But patients were often forced to park in the Broadway, Highland Road or the parking bay close to the One Stop Shop

“The occupants of the bungalows in Highland Road must feel they are in a short-stay car park,” said Mr Carter.

“Residential development in the area has seen an expansion in the business of the only shop in the neighbourhood.

“Although the shop has been allowed to expand on its limited site, no provision has been made for the increased volume of traffic using the outlet.

“In consequence patients, shoppers, delivery lorries and residents park, often with no regard to parking restrictions or safety.

“A very dangerous road traffic situation has been allowed to develop which is putting the lives of residents and visitors in danger.”

Chairman of the Chichester Society Tony Dignum said: “Our view is we would like to limit the amount of new housing as much as possible.

“More importantly, the essence of the city and its historic aspect are really quite fragile.

“It’s a small city and has the capacity to deal with only a certain size of population.

“If the population is allowed to grow then the city will lose its character and people will not have the quiet enjoyment of the facilities of the city.”

Mr Dignum said it had broadly supported plans for developments at Graylingwell and Roussillon Barracks because under the previous government, housing figures had been forced on the district.

In this case, it was preferable to have housing built on brownfield sites rather than on greenfield sites.

“Both will have an impact on the city and in particular on traffic and we are looking to the county council to find measures to alleviate this.” said Mr Dignum.