Concern this is Short-term gain

At a meeting on January 21, councillor Chowen sold us the latest version of the plan for Rookwood.

We appreciate that they have done much to try to address key concerns of residents: the need to protect Warnham Nature Reserve; keeping the green space between Red River and Boldings Brook for flood mitigation and recreation.

The public park in the north is a lovely idea and so is the ambition to build a high-quality communitygarden development, giving 750 houses with 250 of them affordable.

However, we are concerned that much will change between this vision and what can be delivered. We are also concerned that this is a shortterm gain.

In 20 years, present intentions will be forgotten and the park and recreational space on Fairway 15 will be considered too costly to maintain and eyed-up as sites for more houses. History will repeat itself.

There were two telling moments in our discussion which show why this plan for Rookwood is still the wrong plan.

First, councillor Chowen told us he cannot think beyond 2035, the life of the next plan. This short-term approach is a key failing in the way our Local Plan has been developed.

Local Planning is relentless in its pressures and of course all our councillors are concerned about being reelected.

This results in a far too short-term focus on where houses are going to be put. We need a vision for 2070 – 50 years on at a minimum. Maximising the build in the north because it is more sustainable does not constitute a vision. It will not serve the town or the district well.

The second comment was that councillor Chowen perceives the golf course as an ‘under-performing asset’. His calculation compares income from the golf club with the capital return from selling the land plus ongoing revenue to HDC from sources such as council tax. This calculation is easy, but it is incomplete. HDC is assessing Rookwood only from a Finance perspective and makes no allowance for its nature as irreplaceable natural capital that benefits residents and their wellbeing – a far more complex calculation, but one which would favour leaving Rookwood alone.

The golf course provides a better green buffer for the reserve than a public park would – at no cost to the council; it is a critical green corridor for wildlife and biodiversity – at no cost to the council; this year, even with lockdown, it provided 120,000 hours of wellbeing to golfers – at no cost to the council; and every year it provides hundreds of thousands of other wellbeing hours to those who enjoy the footpaths and Riverside walk. In addition, the golf course makes a net contribution to the visitor economy.

Horsham District needs an over-arching planning strategy for 2070 and beyond which accurately values community assets.

The approach needs to

include strategic planning and protection for our green and recreational spaces. These will be needed to support the wellbeing of a growing and aging population as well as wildlife in our midst. A vision, not just for this generation but for generations to come.

SALLY SANDERSON Chair, Friends of Horsham Park