The Great Ashington Development Saga

A Field of Dreams or a Planning Nightmare?

Ah, Ashington, our little slice of Sussex heaven, where everyone knows your name, your dog’s name, and probably what you had for breakfast. But hold onto your teacups, folks. There’s news that might just curdle your milk.

The Rise of Ashington 2.0: This Time It’s… Residential?

We’ve already heard about the prospect of our humble village becoming the next property hotspot with 180 new homes. But we need to ask: is there room at the inn—or rather, the local school? Are we willing to convert our green fields into sprawling estates at the expense of our quiet countryside charm?

The Bellway Homes Jigsaw—How Many Pieces Are Missing?

Just when you thought you understood Bellway Homes’ vision for our community, hold on to your hats, because the puzzle keeps getting bigger. Started at 150 houses, now we’re here… at 180. And counting. Check out their ever-changing plans and maybe, just maybe, you can guess what their next move is.

And Then, There’s Buck Barns!

And let’s not forget about our neighbours, shall we? Buck Barns is planning a mammoth 3500 homes! Goodness me, are they planning to host the next Olympic Games?

The Green Elephant in the Room

You can’t spell “environment” without “mental,” and some of these plans are driving me a bit that way. It’s one thing to have new homes, but another to bulldoze through woodland and fields to do it. What about the hedgehogs? Have we got a hedgehog resettlement programme in place? No? Didn’t think so.

The Wet Issue of Water Neutrality

We’re not on the brink of becoming the Gobi Desert, but water neutrality isn’t just a drop in the ocean. With these impending housing developments, we may scrounge up enough H2O for our beloved cuppas, but what about the quintessential bubble bath? In times when hosepipe bans could become as routine as the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, we’ve got to ask if this issue is all wet—literally.

Infrastructure? What Infrastructure?

Has anyone considered the load on our existing infrastructure? Are we getting a hypermarket, or will we continue to rely on Betty’s Corner Shop for emergency loo roll? And let’s not forget the strain on healthcare services. “Please hold, your call is important to us”—I can hear it already.

Road Safety and the Great School Run

Ah, the hallowed grounds of Church Lane! Once a sleepy passageway for the school run, soon to be the M25’s younger, angrier sibling. Imagine dodging SUVs, prams, and scooters in a real-life game of Frogger, but with higher stakes—your child’s safety. And let’s not even start on the new roads encroaching upon the sacred air of our Parish Church. Soon, Sunday mornings could be less ‘Amen’ and more ‘Aargh, move it, mate!’ as the hymns of devotion compete with horns of desperation. It’s like turning our quaint, serene village into an audition for the next “Fast and Furious” film—except no one asked for it.

Take Action or Lose Your Hedgehogs!

Right, everyone, enough is enough. If the thought of additional traffic on Church Lane during the school run or potentially losing your favourite dog-walking patch doesn’t ruffle your feathers, then I don’t know what will. Add your voice to the cacophony of concern by leaving a comment here. And for the love of biscuits, have a gander at the latest Parish Council comments.

Now, if you’re truly narked about all this, it’s time to reach out to the higher-ups. And don’t just copy-paste the same message to everyone—these folks can sniff out a generic email faster than you can say ‘not another roundabout.’

District Councillor(s) and Key Contacts:

• Lynn Lambert: Lynn.Lambert@horsham.gov.uk
• Joanne Knowles: Joanne.Knowles@horsham.gov.uk
• John Milne, Head of Planning (Lib Dem): john.milne@horsham.gov.uk

Council Officers of Note:

• Catherine Howe, Head of Strategic Planning: catherine.howe@horsham.gov.uk
• Barbara Childs, Director of Place: barbara.childs@horsham.gov.uk
• Helen Peacock, Environmental Coordination Manager: Helen.peacock@horsham.go.uk
• Linsey King, Ecology Officer (Planning): Linsey.king@horsham.gov.uk
• Emma Parkes, Head of Development and Building Control: Emma.parkes@horsham.gov.uk
• Clark Gordon, Water Neutrality Project Manager: Clark.gordon@horsham.gov.uk
• Rebecca Fry, Senior Planning Officer: Rebecca.fry@horsham.gov.uk
• Jake Everitt, Countryside and Ecology Manager: Jake.everitt@horsham.gov.uk

Topics for your missive:

• The impending doom on our wildlife corridors
• The ludicrous notion of not accounting for multiple journey times in such a large development
• The frankly bizarre absence of any plans for public transport, setting us up for Carmageddon
• The questionable track record of Southern Water when it comes to water neutrality
• The loss of our green and pleasant land, which will soon be neither
• The irreversible environmental and visual assault on our countryside
• The road network’s imminent breakdown due to the traffic apocalypse
• The tragic end of our important woodlands and ancient hedgerows

Share your personal reasons, your intimate feelings about hedgehogs, or even your poetic lament for the loss of another chunk of ‘England’s green and pleasant land.’ But whatever you do, make it personal. Personal letters carry more weight, and goodness knows, we need all the gravitas we can get. Cheers!

In Summary: The Bigger Picture

So, we’re looking at not just Ashington but the greater Buck Barn area becoming a mecca of congestion, noise, and a possible ecological disaster. Are we ready to sacrifice our idyllic village and join the hustle and bustle of modern sprawl? I, for one, vote for the hedgehogs and our little haven just the way it is.

Until next time, let’s continue debating whether Ashington’s resident peacock should become the mayor. He’s already got the charisma, after all.

Cheers!