I am a resident, together with my husband, of Hunston. In October this year we will have lived there, in the same house for some 40 years! Of course we realise that in that long period of time we would have expected some changes and they have occurred: Foxbridge Farm Development, Jestico's Close and the new development last year backing onto the canal to name but a few.
My Husband and myself recognise the need for more housing, particularly for the young of the village.We would like them to stay in the community, but the plans to build 200 houses here is ludicrous!
The worst aspect is the access from the developments on to the B1245 and to and from our village.The A27 is currently often gridlocked and and access is often more and more difficult. Any plan to build the proposed number of houses in Selsey, Mundham, PAGHAM! and Hunston will make access nigh impossible. To prevent us crossing the Whyke roundabout and forcing all traffic from the B2145 and B2166 to turn left into the traffic is not sensible!! The aim to keep through traffic moving will not be obtained, particularly at rush hours!! (Chichester Free School already causes multiple problems!!)
The population of the Manhood Peninsula doubles in summer, the current road structure cannot cope now, so building more houses will result in more traffic jams and increased pollution. As we live directly on the main road through Hunston and regularly accommodate our children and grandchildren MORE pollution is not on!
In addition parts of Hunston are already in a flood risk area. We narrowly missed our house being flooded before! There is no indication that the sewage, drainage and water utilities will be able to cope with the Hunston development.
Furthermore, our local schools and medical services are already overloaded and there are waiting lists and waiting times galore. I see no new plans to provide another school or doctors surgery etc in the documents!!!!???
Finally, we love the fact that we have lived in a semi-rural village for nigh on 40 years. If the Church Commissioners proposals go ahead we would lose our direct views across open farm land to the Hunston Copse and to the church we love itself! (Local plan on P.130 states that this should be considered... "protecting existing views...Hunston Copse') How can they not care about the welfare of their parishioners!!!?? We enjoy the wild life in and around the village-water voles, adders, grass snakes, foxes, deer and hares, not to mention the sheep who graze on the very land itself!
Myself and my husband are not against change or local housing persay-but theses proposals are too big for our community to cope with and suggest you reconsider your plan!
Mrs C. Cobden