Loughton joins Beeches Avenue demonstration
Brandishing a 'Save our Green Fields' poster portraying a cartoon of John Prescott at the wheel of a bulldozer East Worthing & Shoreham MP Tim Loughton joined a large turnout of local residents and Conservative councillors who marched in protest at plans by developer Hargreaves to turn green fields at the top of Beeches Avenue close to Lyons Farm in Worthing, into 90 new houses. The planning application has twice been thrown out unanimously by Worthing Council in the wake of universal opposition from residents, councillors and Tim. The protesters met at Hill Barn before leading a noisy and good spirited demonstration along the A27 ending at Beeches Avenue.
One of the other marchers even composed a Ballad that was chanted as the demonstration walked along:
'It was the Battle of the Beeches, the Battle of the Pines,
To save this priceless heritage for now and future times
From those who'd put the diggers in and turn the land to dross;
Carve up the grass, concrete earth; they had to give a toss.'
Tim commented:
"The demonstration on Saturday was the best supported yet whilst the grounds for the Hargreaves development have grown weaker over the last 2 years. I am surprised therefore that Hargreaves are continuing with their appeal for this ill-conceived and misplaced proposal.
This latest threat to the green fields around Worthing is as a direct result of John Prescott's determination to impose a further 46,000 homes on West Sussex regardless of their sustainability. Yet Worthing is up to target with its own housing quotas so this development is not needed. Furthermore it is planned in one of the most congested parts of Worthing which would set a very dangerous precedent for a whole string of ribbon developments along the foot of the Downs behind Worthing and Adur. Pushing the urban development further into the Downs themselves can only have a detrimental impact on the quality of life of local residents and must be resisted at all costs.
I am full of praise for the determination and energy with which Karl Heryet and members of the Beeches Action Group have resisted this development over a long period of time, and it is essential that they redouble their efforts to see it through to the appeal in November if Hargreaves is foolish enough to push it all the way. I will continue to give them my full support."
ENDS
©, Tim Loughton MP , 2005
