READER’S PICTURE
Horsham Town Community Partnership (HTCP) is a notfor-profit organisation and consists of representatives from Denne, Forest and Trafalgar Neighbourhood Councils, North Horsham Parish Council, Horsham Society, Horsham in Bloom, Horsham Older People’s Forum and local residents.
The Partnership was set up in 2010 and works closely with HDC on projects and issues which are of concern and that will contribute to securing the character and heritage of the built-up area of Horsham town. HTCP Articles of Association sets out its objectives.
A current project which HTCP are managing is the improvement and development of the 13-mile Riverside Walk for which we have received grants of around £80,000.
Mobility scooter skills and safety sessions are held in Horsham Park Barn and an integrated bus map and timetable is also being developed.
A future project which is in the design stage is a traffic island in Warnham Road between the Riverside Walk and the Warnham Nature Reserve to give a safer crossing for pedestrians.
HTCP and HDC have worked together on these and many other projects and after much discussion and deliberation the directors decided to write to all the district councillors and other civic groups to raise the partnership’s objection to the inclusion of Rookwood, one of the towns most treasured amenities, in the proposed Local Plan as a strategic development site.
The partnership directors discussed the various proposals put forward by HDC and the question of whether there would be more public benefit from the Rookwood area after the development than the amenity as it currently exists within the town limits.
After lengthy debate the conclusion reached was that the inclusion in the proposed HDC Local Plan to develop Rookwood, albeit only part of this area, for homes was not in accordance with the objectives for which the partnership was constituted.
HTCP cannot and does not support the proposed loss of any part of Rookwood as it is a valued amenity and local green space.
The more detailed conclusions arrived at by the directors of HTCP and as sent to the councillors can be viewed on the Horsham Town Community Partnership website.
The directors of the HTCP hope that good sense will prevail, that the concerns expressed by very many residents of Horsham and district, will cause HDC councillors to remove Rookwood as a strategic development site from the proposed Local Plan. DAVID SEARLE Chairman HTCP