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News 2007 (Archive)
Heritage Open Days 2007
'Things can only get better' the slogan goes,
and so they did for us during Heritage Open Days. In 2007, 1,090
visitors attended one or more of our 18 events. Standen was the star
attraction with 579 visitors, followed by Queen Victoria Hospital with
205, Sackville College with 118 and St Swithun's Parish Church with 65.
Fine weather made the four days memorable for everyone.
Successful photographic competition
There were nine entries from Stoke Brunswick
School for the annual schools' competition, this year (2007) photographic,
organised by the East Grinstead Society. Entries were judged by three
members of the Society's executive committee and an independent
referee.
The standard of entry was very high. Three prizes for the best entries
were awarded at presentations during morning assembly. Parents of the
successful pupils were there to see book tokens to the value of 1st
prize £25; 2nd £15 and the 3rd £10 presented. As a result of the
interest shown by pupils, a Camera Club has been started by a member
of staff.
In 2008 this event will be a poetry competition. Local schools have
been invited to take part.
1st prize:
2nd
prize:
3rd
prize:
Proposed
development of 2,500 homes at East Grinstead
Background
The West Sussex County Council Structure Plan was adopted at the end of 2004 following an Examination in Public (EiP) in December 2002, at which this
society opposed the Plan. An area to the west and southwest of the town was identified as a Strategic Location for 2,500 homes. Associated with the new homes several "relief road" route options were proposed by Mid-Sussex District Council (MSDC) in successive Area Action Plans (AAPs). Most options would pass through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). A traffic report has indicated that not one option would reduce traffic congestion in the town, indeed that all options would add to it. This is important because a requirement of the Structure Plan is that without significant traffic relief to 2004 levels the development should not proceed and alternative proposals should be prepared.
Current situation
MSDC has issued, for 8 weeks'
public consultation starting 24th
January 2008, a Core Strategy pre-submission document covering mid
Sussex district; Chapter 7 is about East Grinstead. At its heart,
regrettably, remains the draft Area Action Plan (AAP) for 2,500 homes
and associated relief road objected to in May 2006 by almost 7000
individuals and organisations. Analysis by planning specialists shows
that the plan for so many houses at East Grinstead is fundamentally
flawed and that other better-placed sites do exist in north mid
Sussex.
Should the relief road described in the AAP not be suitable or
deliverable then the Core Strategy is required by government to
include contingency options. But the only options proposed by MSDC are
two similar ones based on 1,500 homes roughly in the same area - one
with and one without a partial relief road. These twin options are
just as unsuitable as the 2,500 homes plan because they perpetuate its
main weaknesses, notably distance from major employment opportunities
at Crawley/Gatwick, increased traffic congestion and damage to East
Grinstead's character.
MSDC has chosen (should the 2,500 homes plan at East Grinstead be
shown to be undeliverable) not to include in the Core Strategy a much
more suitable option, namely a location to the east of the M23 at
Crabbet Park which could be a site for over 2,000 homes. This site
would provide good access to Crawley and could be integrated easily
with the existing Fastway bus service. It is described in another
section of the Core Strategy document at Chapter 11 but only as a
contingency if present plans fail, not as an option for serious
consideration in the current plan.
Campaign
The East Grinstead
Post Referendum Campaign (PRC), supported by this Society and other
local organisations, opposes the Plan for 2500 homes and the so-called
relief road. For details of the PRC campaign and background see www.eghouses.org.uk
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