I would like to add my objection to the many others who are opposed to the building of houses on Bethwines Farm. Previously the residents of Fishbourne have itemised at least 25 reasons why this land is unsuitable such as lack of infrastructure, flooding, destruction of wildlife habitats, sewage, the number of houses already built etc. I would add to that and say that very recently 2 houses were erected at the end of Blackboy Lane and the chaos caused was massive; on some days, due to the large vehicles blocking the road completely , all one could do was reverse, turn around and try a different road. The cars of the workmen obstructed the road and ruined the verges. Goodness knows what 250 houses would do!

Fishbourne is dependent on cars as it has no local shops and very few buses. Recently the free bus to Tesco has also been stopped. A new estate will bring more traffic - 500 cars or more to travel up and down roads which are already little more than rutted, potholed cart tracks.

With Brexit approaching, we have been warned that the price of foodstuffs is liable to increase sharply, surely it is ridiculous and very short sighted, to then build on land which is good quality, productive, arable land, when the crops produced could be used for locally produced foodstuffs with no air miles , something we have been encouraged to do. Once gone this land can never be recovered.

Inevitably, for small villages, there comes a time when the available land runs out - for Fishbourne, this time is now.