FORD ECO-TOWN: MP confident of winning battle against eco-town

MP Nick Herbert told those who crowded into the village hall he was convinced Ford would be left off the final list of sites to be developed.

"In an objective assessment, because of all the issues raised tonight '“ the lack of infrastructure, the A27 problem, the fanciful ideas about a waste treatment plant that have already been dismissed by the county council, and expecting half the people who live in an eco-town to have no cars, Ford is the wrong place.

"I believe the strength of these arguments will win the day, provided we maintain pressure," he said.

Mr Herbert, the MP for Arundel and South Downs, said he was appalled residents of nearby villages had promoted the eco-town as a means of stopping development in their communities.

He congratulated the Communities Against Ford Eco-town pressure group for keeping out of politics and for its hard work.

CAFE organised last Friday's meeting, which was attended by about 250 residents from Ford, Yapton, Climping, Walberton, Barnham, Arundel and other neighbouring towns.

Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb told them Arun District Council had discounted Ford as a suitable site for housing to help overcome the shortage of affordable housing.

That decision should be respected as local democracy in action instead of being swept aside by the government's housing minister, Caroline Flint.

"That's simply not acceptable in our democratic process," he stated.

After the meeting, CAFE co-chairman Terry Knott said the turnout pleased him.

He said: "We all believe in building eco-friendly housing now and there is a need for affordable housing too, but not here.

"The government needs to stop bullying the local community and hand back decision-making to our locally-elected representatives, who know where it is feasible and practical to build."

CAFE vice-chairman and Yapton resident Vicky Newman added the response to the meeting showed the feeling against the Ford eco-town was as strong as ever.

"If the government and developers hope this community will lose interest by a drawn-out process, allowing an eco-town to slip through unnoticed, they have an unwelcome surprise in store.

"It is apparent the local community will fight on until Ford is taken off the eco-town list."

The site is one of 12 under consideration by the government for an eco-town of 5,000 homes.

It was recently given a B grading to signify the scheme was possible, but only if significant matters, such as road capacity, were overcome.

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