A group of villagers staged a protest against plans for a big housing development on farmland. There was much outrage after a 190-home and community development planning application was submitted by Gleeson Land on August 15 for farmland near Bewley Road in Angmering. On Tuesday, around 150 people gathered on the proposed site armed with placards to voice their frustrations.
To date, 39 public responses have been submitted, a mixture of comments of support and objection. Angela Colliss is a member of the Protect Farmland West of Bewley Road group, which was formed to stand against any planning applications submitted for the site. She said: “The new development site map shows an almost doubling of Gleeson’s original proposal to an outrageous 39 acres, all grade one farmland.
Protesters gathering on the farmland (Image: Protect Farmland West of Bewley Road) “If you stand on the footpath at the end of Bewley Road and look both left and right at the vast expanse of prime land, you’re looking at 39 acres of what they want to concrete over.” READ MORE: Plans for 42 flats on Hove seafront rejected by Brighton council Group members say they are already “overwhelmed” by developments in Angmering and infrastructure such as roads and GP surgeries are beginning to feel the impact. Worthing West MP Beccy Cooper joined the demonstration and said the proposal is “inappropriate” and does not “bring enough benefits to outweigh the harm on the landscape and character of Ang.