Lack of vision for our town

I was a member of Chichester District Council in 2018 when Tony Dignum was the leader of council.

I remember that in a reply to a question about estate sales he commented ‘council does not need to assess demand or research potential uses for The Grange site’ prior to selling. I am therefore interested to know what it is that has subsequently changed so much that in his media release of last week he was able to describe the possible sale for development of yet another care home in Midhurst as fulfilling a ‘genuine community need in the town’.

During my term as a district councillor for Midhurst (2015-2019) I repeatedly drew the leader’s attention to the strong opposition for a care home anywhere in our town.

Other suggestions were offered that could be of benefit but the majority of Midhurst residents remained sceptical about the care home suggestion. Around that time I also asked our MP, Gillian Keegan, about her feelings on the matter and we discussed other forms of development that may be better suited eg: a business start-up/enterprise zone that would offer employment opportunities and be of benefit to the town’s economy.

Unfortunately, Midhurst residents are yet again left disillusioned by the district council’s lack of vision for our town. It appears to be another example of ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

That is that the South Downs truly are a curtain to the vision of councillors from the south of the district. I appreciate that council will eventually have to sell the site but suggest a joint venture with a developer would be more appropriate; at least then we might hold some sway over the site’s future use.

I therefore fully support all those Midhurst institutions and residents that reject the suggestion that a care home is ‘a genuine community

STEPHEN MORLEY Carron Lane Midhurst need’ in our town and call on Mrdignum to justify his statement last week.