Council deputy leader resigns
Horsham District Council’s deputy leader Jonathan Chowen has resigned. He told colleagues he had stepped down on a ‘matter of principle’.
Horsham District Council’s deputy leader has resigned.
Conservative Jonathan Chowen, who was also cabinet member for leisure and culture, told fellow councillors in an email he had stepped down on a ‘matter of principle’.
Leader Ray Dawe explained the resignation was ‘over disagreement about emerging views on the local plan’.
Having worked closely with him for a decade, he described how Mr Chowen ‘has been an excellent colleague and become a good friend’.
He added: “He has tremendous enthusiasm and determination and has guided the council through a number of difficult and important actions.”
In particular Mr Dawe mentioned the new Bridge Leisure Centre at Broadbridge Heath and the highly successful Year of Culture in 2019.
Mr Dawe added: “I spoke to him after I received his resignation and while I am disappointed, I believe we concluded that his interpretation of views others had expressed were such that he was unable to stay in his position.”
Mr Chowen declined to comment any further when approached this week.
He has been at the forefront of promoting the council’s plans for redeveloping Rookwood Golf Course.
His resignation comes at a time when the council is under huge pressure to withdraw its proposals.
Martin Boffey, Lib Dem candidate for Trafalgar, said he would continue to push for both the withdrawal of the Rookwood development proposal and the retention of the Drill Hall.
Labour’s Joanne Kavanagh, also standing in Trafalgar, said her party had consistently opposed the Rookwood plans and while arguing for more social housing felt ‘this is not the right place for it’.