I understand that Chichester District Council has proposed the allocation of a further 125 houses to Loxwood for the period 2019 to 2035. This is in addition to the 60 already allocated in the current Local Plan.
The 185 houses will no doubt be 'topped up' by some additions here and there over this period, meaning an expected total of more than 200 extra houses in this small village.

As a resident of Loxwood for nearly 33 years, I believe this level of proposed development to be unsustainable.

Loxwood is and remains a small village not simply because people want to retain its character as such, but for other fundamental reasons which should ordinarily underpin the expansion of a local community.

It is for these reasons, rather than sentiment, that I make my objections as follows:

1. Sewerage Infrastructure:

Southern Water, the local provider, has made it clear that its system serving Loxwood has no more capacity and it does not have any plans for expanding/updating its network here in its 2020-2035 investment plans.

I have personally been witness to this recently because the developer of the 'Loxwood Green' Nursery site on Guildford Road, Antler Homes, asked my permission to install a sensor in a foul manhole on my property.
The purpose of this sensor is to determine the status of the flow in the foul drain running through my property, sending the signal back to the discharge valve on the sewage holding tanks which have been installed at the Loxwood Green/Nursery site.

When capacity in 'my' foul drain allows, the Loxwood Green tanks open and discharge into it. When capacity is not available, the valve at Loxwood Green closes and sewage is retained in the holding tanks to avoid surcharging the system.

This was the only way of managing the extra demand given Southern Water's planning policy for this village.

Clearly, if this is the way of dealing with the sewerage discharge from 43 new homes at Loxwood Green, there will be little or no extra capacity for dealing with 185-200 new homes in the period 2019 to 2035 unless Southern Water makes a substantial capital investment in capacity to deal with it.

2. Public Transport:

There is almost no public transport in this village.
While it is fine for people like me, with a car for each member of the family, it makes no provision for those of lower means, the elderly and the vulnerable. Effectively they become imprisoned in the village.

3. Employment:

There is virtually no employment in the village - it is a dormitory/commuter village. If you don't work elsewhere, then you pretty well don't work at all. Allied to my point 2 above, how will an increased number of young people in the village in coming years gain access to employment? Or will you just perpetuate the current situation but on a larger scale, with the offspring of those of limited means having to move in order to find work?
The same is true for those who are disabled, elderly or retired, but, who of necessity still have to work but do not have their own transport. There are almost no local employment opportunities and, combined with the lack of public transport, there will be no solution for this group of people.

4. Education:

My wife is a teaching assistant at Loxwood School. Plans have come and gone for the expansion of the school, including a proposal some years ago to locate it on the Nursery site where the Loxwood Green development has now been constructed, but have amounted to nothing.
The additional housing proposed under this plan, as well as the surrounding area which the it serves, will mean that Loxwood School will need its capacity significantly increased during this period as well.
The current location creates traffic problems and hazards on local roads such as Nicholsfield and Station Road in the mornings and afternoons as parents drop-off and collect their children. Expansion of the school on the current site will exacerbate that so a new site for Loxwood School should be re-considered if it is to cater for the increased level of housing envisaged under this Neighbourhood Plan.

I trust you will consider my objections to the Loxwood Neighbourhood Plan, along with those of other residents and Loxwood Parish Council and I look forward to hearing of the outcome in due course.