Views on housing wanted

Arun District Council this week launched a draft development brief for the new housing, 30 per cent of which will be social housing on land between Toddington Lane and the Body Shop headquarters.

But not everyone is happy about the possible development of the land. Among those against the bulldozers moving in is the Civic Society.

The society was formed in the early 1970s and has grown since then. Its main objective is to encourage more facilities for Littlehampton without upsetting its character.

One of its members, Wilf Daggett, explained: "We did quite a lot of campaigning when this issue came up about six years ago and it finished up in the local plan. After that, we decided there was nothing more we could do about it."

One of the society's concerns was that more housing would put an even bigger strain on the town's resources and it was anxious that if the houses were going to be built, there should be facilities in place to service the influx of more people coming to the town to live.

The district council's local plan also mentions land set aside for a new railway station. But Arun's major sites manager, Lawrence Simmons, said: "It's not up to us as to whether or not another station is built, it is entirely the decision of the railway companies. We have merely opened up the possibility."

Also contained in the brief will be proposals to make improvements to the A259, community facilities and a small number of commercial units.

A five-week consultation process will be held in which residents will be canvassed for their opinions and it is hoped a display showing the outline plans will be on show at the Arun Civic Centre in due course.

Mr Simmons added: "We are finalising arrangements for the public consultation and we are hoping it will begin on Tuesday. Nothing is set in stone yet, as the draft development brief is still being drawn up."