Sustainability Appraisal Comments on Soundness

More action is needed to preserve and improve the quality of life of residents. Recently there has been increased flooding and release of sewage in the Chidham, Hambrook and Bosham areas. Wildlife is also suffering and pollution increasing through high levels of traffic.

Further work needs to make clear to the government the difficulties found by the Council in coping with large new housing developments. Current infrastructure is inadequate in many areas.

A representative of Southern Water recently stated at CDC Overview and Scrutiny committee that it would be able to start on improvements in 2025, a date that they would be available was not given. Southern Water is being put in an impossible position when they are unable to manage the current amount of wastewater but have a statutory duty to treat wastewater from a new development. Tankers should only be used for short periods in emergencies, they increase the carbon footprint, pollution and damage local roads. Water is being extracted from the River Ems to cope with increasing demand.

Roads are in poor condition and becoming overcrowded, with many more cars parking along narrow roads, so that the roads become one way. Closer inspection and management of roads is needed. Priors Leaze Lane in Hambrook and Southbourne is narrow and winds along the Ham Brook. The section running between Inlands Road and the Grain Store should be converted to a footpath and cycle track so that residents from Hambrook and Southbourne can safely travel on foot/cycle.

Any new development should provide 50% of affordable housing. Other districts have managed to make 100% of some developments affordable. The current affordable price should be agreed and statistics published to show that local people, young and old are buying/renting.

The importance of rare chalk streams has recently been mentioned by the WWF, the South Downs National Committee on Chalk Streams and in the West Sussex Wildlife Trust magazine. Care should be taken to protect the Ham Brook and Hairspring Watercress Farm (mentioned in the Doomsday Book).