Angry scenes as council gives housing plan the green light
The police have been informed about an incident at a planning committee hearing, after councillors gave approval for a housing plan to go ahead.
Henry Adams LLP, acting on behalf of Seaward Properties LTD, submitted plans to build 47 dwellings – 30 per cent (14) of which would be provided as affordable homes – on land north-east of Kingston Lane, East Preston.
The controversial application – which received more than 450 letters of objection – was considered at a meeting of the Arun District Council planning committee last Wednesday (March 20).
The decision was made – by a narrow margin of six votes to five – to approve the proposal conditionally, subject to a Section 106 agreement.
Some members of the public gallery are said to have reacted angrily to the decision and security had to be called.
After the meeting a spokesperson for Arun District Council said: “Following the incident that happened at the planning committee meeting on March 20, 2024, where a member of the public approached one of our councillors, we would like to make it clear that threatening behaviour or language of any kind towards a councillor, officer or member of the public, is taken very seriously.
"We will not tolerate our councillors, officers or any member of the public visiting our premises, being made to feel unsafe and in fear.
"This matter has been reported to the police and we will not be commenting further at this time.”
This comes after Kingston Parish Council said its members were ‘shocked and horrified' after the housing plan for the area was recommended for approval by district council officials.
The parishes of Kingston, East Preston, Angmering, Ferring and Rustington all made strong objections during the consultation period.
Geraldine Walker, the chairman of Kingston Parish Council, said: “Members of [the] council are shocked and horrified that there is an officer recommendation to approve this application on land that is important for its Grade 1 agricultural use, its protected countryside location in the strategic gap and its importance to the local community.”
Kingston Parish Council thanked those who attended the planning meeting last week to ‘speak or observe’.