In this image the Ford Eco Town boundary has been rotated 90 degrees counter clockwise and overlaid in a map of Littlehampton and Rustington- Click here to see it!
Sunday, 27 April 2008
It's going to be BIG!!!
Quite a few people I speak to, think the eco-town at Ford is going to be built on the runway, where the market and boot sale is held. What shocks them is the actual size - 5,000 houses would devour the top grade farmland from Ford station down to the A259 at Climping.
LETTER: Other Eco-Town protests ahead of us...
THE proposed Eco-Town at Ford would be an absolute disaster for our community. Of course we need more affordable housing, and we must all act to stop climate change, but this does not have to be achieved by building an Eco-Town on a greenfield site.
If the project goes ahead, the good agricultural land which is currently in use and makes up the vast majority of the site, would be lost. Click to read more...
Cathy Taylor, Park Cottages, North End Road, Yaptonn
If the project goes ahead, the good agricultural land which is currently in use and makes up the vast majority of the site, would be lost. Click to read more...
COMMENT: Friends of the Earth
Commenting on the shortlist for a number of Eco Towns that the Government is planning to build across England, Paul de Zylva of Friends of the Earth said:
“With proper involvement of local communities and stringent standards, the Government's new eco-towns could provide an inspiring blueprint for low-carbon living - but they will be a drop in the ocean of the Government's wider house building programme. All new homes must be built to the highest green standards.”
“And the question remains over how Ministers will reduce emissions from existing homes - which currently account for over a quarter of all the UK's carbon impact. The Government must prioritise this area and make it cheaper and easier for people to green their homes, and invest in energy saving and clean renewable technologies such as solar panels.”
“With proper involvement of local communities and stringent standards, the Government's new eco-towns could provide an inspiring blueprint for low-carbon living - but they will be a drop in the ocean of the Government's wider house building programme. All new homes must be built to the highest green standards.”
“And the question remains over how Ministers will reduce emissions from existing homes - which currently account for over a quarter of all the UK's carbon impact. The Government must prioritise this area and make it cheaper and easier for people to green their homes, and invest in energy saving and clean renewable technologies such as solar panels.”
Thursday, 24 April 2008
RESPONSE: Green party...
Subject: RE: Eco Town
From: carolinelucas@
Date: 21 April 2008 14:30:47 BDT
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your email. Caroline shares your overall analysis of the proposed ‘eco towns’ and argues that they must deliver on all aspects of sustainability – not just resource use. She thinks it is important to assess each one on a case by case basis and has concerns about several aspects of the Ford proposal, including the fact that it does not have any recognisable support locally. She has not been contacted here or via the Green Party’s main offices about the proposals for an eco town at Ford and has had no communication with local MPs about the developments.
She would happily lend her support to a campaign run by local people opposing the plans and please let me know how she can assist if appropriate.
Kind regards,
- - - -
The Green Party
YAY!
From: carolinelucas@
Date: 21 April 2008 14:30:47 BDT
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your email. Caroline shares your overall analysis of the proposed ‘eco towns’ and argues that they must deliver on all aspects of sustainability – not just resource use. She thinks it is important to assess each one on a case by case basis and has concerns about several aspects of the Ford proposal, including the fact that it does not have any recognisable support locally. She has not been contacted here or via the Green Party’s main offices about the proposals for an eco town at Ford and has had no communication with local MPs about the developments.
She would happily lend her support to a campaign run by local people opposing the plans and please let me know how she can assist if appropriate.
Kind regards,
- - - -
The Green Party
YAY!
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
LETTER: FORD ECO-TOWN OR FRAUD ECO-TOWN – A DIFFERENT SORT OF BYPASS!
I doubt if many of your readers have had a chance yet, to find out about the government’s outrageous attempt to bypass local democracy and planning proposals, to build a so-called Eco-Town in the Ford/ Climping Gap ‘See (Bognor) Observer last week’. This is because the proposal, currently one of 15 across the country, is being forced upon us without any formal input from West Sussex County Council, or Arun District Council. What is more, the Eco Town Proposal is being bulldozed through by the end of June, which makes a mockery of the Housing Minister Caroline Flint’s assurance (Feb 08) of “public consultation with communities and stakeholders, and the rigorous planning processes involved”!
In brief, the proposal is not eco friendly, or strictly a town, covering as it will an area three times the size of Arundel! Nor does the proposal make any allowance for the failed Arundel bypass or the horrendous traffic problems already experienced by the residents of Chichester on the A27. The project mentions 5,000 houses, but economics & financial return dictate this is more likely to be 15,000 to 25,000.
In summarizing the factors for and against the Ford Eco-Town proposal, it is very hard to find a single argument in favour of the project. It is true Ford Airfield is flat, but some 30% is medium to high-risk floodplain - indeed even the developers’ proposal mentions the need for a raised road, through the site, to enable residents to escape in the event of a flood - and 70% of the land is Greenfield, prime, arable land. What price Gordon Brown – strutting the world stage and mouthing platitudes about food shortage & the rocketing costs of wheat and other food crops.
In short, the project is a classic example of half-baked government thinking; it is an old idea, dressed up in Prescott’s clothes and rolled out under the disguise of affordable housing. Incidentally, the maths indicates houses will come in at some £250,000+ to enable the scheme to pay. How many can afford this right now?
Come off it Caroline Flint - thanks, but no thanks!
Terry Knott MC FRSM
Church Lane, Yapton
In brief, the proposal is not eco friendly, or strictly a town, covering as it will an area three times the size of Arundel! Nor does the proposal make any allowance for the failed Arundel bypass or the horrendous traffic problems already experienced by the residents of Chichester on the A27. The project mentions 5,000 houses, but economics & financial return dictate this is more likely to be 15,000 to 25,000.
In summarizing the factors for and against the Ford Eco-Town proposal, it is very hard to find a single argument in favour of the project. It is true Ford Airfield is flat, but some 30% is medium to high-risk floodplain - indeed even the developers’ proposal mentions the need for a raised road, through the site, to enable residents to escape in the event of a flood - and 70% of the land is Greenfield, prime, arable land. What price Gordon Brown – strutting the world stage and mouthing platitudes about food shortage & the rocketing costs of wheat and other food crops.
In short, the project is a classic example of half-baked government thinking; it is an old idea, dressed up in Prescott’s clothes and rolled out under the disguise of affordable housing. Incidentally, the maths indicates houses will come in at some £250,000+ to enable the scheme to pay. How many can afford this right now?
Come off it Caroline Flint - thanks, but no thanks!
Terry Knott MC FRSM
Church Lane, Yapton
Saturday, 19 April 2008
ACTION! - Operation Worzel
We need to kick-start this campaign with a message that says - get off our GREEN FIELD LAND!!! A suggestion would be that we make scarecrows and place them all around the villages and beyond. This would be an eye catching and news campaign idea that would ignite what is so far an uninspiring campaign... I'm going to research how to make a scarecrow and photo blog it to you... Watch the fields!
Friday, 18 April 2008
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
ALERT! - Public enquiry into Ford eco-town
Arun District Council is to conduct a widespread public investigation into the proposed siting of an eco-town at Ford.
Members resolved to establish a special Select Committee at last night’s packed special cabinet meeting that will examine exactly how suitable the proposed location at Ford is to site a new town.
If the resolution is approved at the next Full Council meeting on 30 April, the special committee, made up of around eight district Councillors and advised by a senior independent planner, will immediately begin a public enquiry into the sustainability of plans to build at least 5,000 new houses at Ford. Click to read more...
Members resolved to establish a special Select Committee at last night’s packed special cabinet meeting that will examine exactly how suitable the proposed location at Ford is to site a new town.
If the resolution is approved at the next Full Council meeting on 30 April, the special committee, made up of around eight district Councillors and advised by a senior independent planner, will immediately begin a public enquiry into the sustainability of plans to build at least 5,000 new houses at Ford. Click to read more...
Monday, 14 April 2008
NEWS: 25,000 homes in unwanted eco-town
An eco-town at Ford could lead to an extra 20,000 houses being sneaked onto a site behind the backs of planners, councillors fear.
Arun District Council is concerned the Government-backed plans for 5,000 homes on the site could balloon into 25,000 homes against the will of locals.
Speaking at a special meeting of the council's cabinet tonight, Dr James Walsh, the mayor of Littlehampton, branded the Government-proposed eco-towns a "fig leaf to cover up a red-brick building proposal". Click to read more...
Arun District Council is concerned the Government-backed plans for 5,000 homes on the site could balloon into 25,000 homes against the will of locals.
Speaking at a special meeting of the council's cabinet tonight, Dr James Walsh, the mayor of Littlehampton, branded the Government-proposed eco-towns a "fig leaf to cover up a red-brick building proposal". Click to read more...
COMMENT: Dr Anthony Whitbread
Controversial plans to create a 5,000- home eco-town at Ford, near Arundel, have been met with anger from residents and councillors. Dr Anthony Whitbread, chief executive of the Sussex Wildlife Trust, argues why the green development would be disastrous for the area. Click to read more...
Monday, 7 April 2008
ARTICLE: Eco credentials
Not unexpectedly the Government has now shortlisted the old airfield at Ford as a site for a new eco town.
I am concerned this decision may have been reached on the basis of a falsehood. The scheme has for some time been masquerading as a community-inspired development.
Nothing could be further from the truth. It has every appearance of being a highly sophisticated, ruthlessly commercial operation. Click to read more...
I am concerned this decision may have been reached on the basis of a falsehood. The scheme has for some time been masquerading as a community-inspired development.
Nothing could be further from the truth. It has every appearance of being a highly sophisticated, ruthlessly commercial operation. Click to read more...
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Eco-towns: right idea wrong place
CPRE will be assessing schemes closely over the coming weeks to see how they measure up to our ten tests. See our news release for further information. Click to read more...
'Eco-town' plans: Site-by-site
Here is the shortlist of 15 locations in England to be "eco-towns", along with the government's outline of plans for each site: Click to read more...
NEWS: Ford Reaction
THE Government's decision to include Ford Airfield in a shortlist of 15 potential EcoTowns has received vastly contrasting reactions.
The Ford Airfield Vision Group has welcomed housing and planning minister Caroline Flint's announcement, hailing it as "a fantastic opportunity for Arun".
However, MPs Nick Gibb and Nick Herbert, and Arun District Council, greeted the news with dismay. The two MPs vowed to continue their fight against proposals for 5,000 homes, business developments, transport improvements and community facilities, while Arun leader Gill Brown said she was appalled that no account had been taken of the council's consistent and overwhelming objections. Click to read more...
The Ford Airfield Vision Group has welcomed housing and planning minister Caroline Flint's announcement, hailing it as "a fantastic opportunity for Arun".
However, MPs Nick Gibb and Nick Herbert, and Arun District Council, greeted the news with dismay. The two MPs vowed to continue their fight against proposals for 5,000 homes, business developments, transport improvements and community facilities, while Arun leader Gill Brown said she was appalled that no account had been taken of the council's consistent and overwhelming objections. Click to read more...
BREAKING! - 'Eco-towns' shortlist is revealed
The 15 locations shortlisted for the first new towns in England in 40 years have been revealed by the government. Bordon, Coltishall, Curborough, Elsenham plus Ford in West Sussex have made the list, as well as Hanley Grange, Imerys, Leeds and Manby.
Marston Vale and New Marston in Bedfordshire, Middle Quinton, Pennbury, Rossington, Rushcliffe and Weston Otmoor make up the 15. Click to read more...
Marston Vale and New Marston in Bedfordshire, Middle Quinton, Pennbury, Rossington, Rushcliffe and Weston Otmoor make up the 15. Click to read more...
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