I am spearheading an expert group of major environmental organisations, local community groups and local councillors from across the political spectrum to comprehensively reject the proposed New Monks Farm development.
The documents and evidence gathered by this expert group have delivered a damning indictment of the traffic forecasts provided by the developers, as well as proof of deteriorating air quality levels, loss of prime business space and misuse of public funds.
The joint letter of objection has been sent with accompanying documents and evidence to all of the councillors and two secretaries of state: the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling and the Housing and Local Government Secretary, James Brokenshire.
This is probably the most extensive development proposed for Adur in decades. It is also one of the most controversial having attracted objections from a wide range of residents, elected representatives and local organisations many of whom are signatories to this joint letter of objection.
Serious questions have been raised that councillors on the development control panel must answer before they can even consider agreeing to pass this application. There are considerable problems with this application not least the financial viability of the whole project, which if not addressed could result in bad outcomes for all involved, particularly local residents.
More than just about any other retailer IKEA attracts shoppers by car because of the nature of its large sized goods. It is to be approached by a single entrance road from the A27 via a new roundabout. This will generate considerable additional traffic on an already heavily congested road seven days a week. And given that there have so far been no viable plans to upgrade this stretch of the A27 from the investigations being undertaken by Highways England the current road structure will have to cope with the heavily increased capacity, which of course it will not be able to do, even with the inclusion of the ‘magic roundabout.’