We object to the lack of comprehensive guidance for the east-west corridor. This should be provided by a new Local Plan Policy & subsequent Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG).

The development strategy seeks "to focus the majority of planned sustainable growth at Chichester and within the east-west corridor"(S3).

The description "corridor" implies that it is little more than ribbon development along a transport route and a better term could be found. In reality, the Bourne villages are vibrant communities with quite different individual characters.

We have calculated that some 40% of the new housing proposals (S4 : total 5595 dwellings) are being allocated to this area (2250 dwellings). While Neighbourhood Plans will probably be reviewed to allocate particular housing sites there will be attendant problems that will be difficult for Neighbourhood Plans to deal with individually. These include:-

1 Traffic on the A259. It appears that despite the quantity of new development being put forward, there has been no analysis of the impact locally. There are no proposals to manage the additional traffic on the A259. For example, there is scope for a co-ordinated approach to keep speeds down, provide village gateways and more pedestrian crossings. Cycle lanes are sporadic;

2 Waste Water Treatment There has been concern for a number of years about whether there is adequate capacity both at the Thornham Works and in the pipe network. There have been occasions when sewers have surcharged. Storm water discharges of sewage, which has only had primary treatment, into Chichester Harbour have been increasing. This issue needs to be addressed for the Bournes area as a whole;

3 Coalescence No doubt Neighbourhood Plans (NPs) will address this but it would have been helpful to have had the results of the District Council's "Countryside Gaps" study and Local Plan Policy to help maintain appropriate Gaps. It is hoped that the NP reviews will be able to inform this Study. Gaps will be under considerable pressure from developers, therefore in the meantime we suggest that Neighbourhood Plans should contain policies relating to land outside Settlement Boundaries (ie Countryside Gaps as defined locally) to ensure their proper protection. Local Plan Policy need not await the next review but could be embodied in SPG which could be issued earlier;

4 Green Space The provision of wildlife corridors should be consistent throughout the east -west area and SPG would underpin this. Furthermore, a substantial amount of green space in Southbourne is envisaged in the current Southbourne Parish Neighbourhood plan (SPNP). through the proposed Green Ring. Currently it includes a proposed road and pedestrian route over the railway on the west side of the village and a proposed pedestrian footbridge over the railway on the east side. Parts of it may be secured via new development and it should also attract independent funding. The Green Ring is intended to alleviate the problems of disturbance to birds in the Harbour caused by visitors, especially some of those with dogs, and provide a local alternative multi-purpose recreational route. The development of 1250 dwellings is likely to generate significant additional pressure on the Harbour and an increase in the need for public green space generally, which is already underprovided in the Parish. The Green Ring could fall within the definition of a SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace) and provide an opportunity for some funds already collected from local developers for the Solent Mitigation Strategy to be spent in Southbourne to alleviate the problems arising directly from new development here. A comprehensive green space policy for the Bournes area could reinforce the importance of this proposal and help secure funding.