Fresh hopes for harbour
The Lib Dem takeover of Chichester District Council provides a ‘major opportunity’ for environmental recovery, Chichester Harbour Trust said this week.
Chichester Harbour Trust said in its statement: "The remarkable shift in the local election results to a Lib Dem-led Chichester District Council providesamajoropportunityforthe DistrictandChichesterHarbour tobeputonapathtoenvironmental recovery - reversing what was becomingapotentialcatastrophe for the district and the Harbour. It is clear the community want changenow.Theywantcommon sensepolicieswithstrongleadership,somethingthathasbeenabsentinrecentChichesterhistory.
“We, at the Chichester Harbour Trust, are calling for: Major changes in the local plan to avoid the massive environmental impact on Chichester Harbour in terms of over development, publichealth,landscape,biodiversity, water quality and recreation.
“Specifically,wearecallingfor a moratorium on all significant new development while changes to the local plan are developed and until plans for the essential infrastructure are put in place.
“A strong proactive energetic relationship to be developed by the CDC with the Environment Agency, Natural England, OFWAT, Southern Water, the agriculturalcommunity,theChichester Harbour Conservancy and ourselves to develop specific plans radically to improve the water quality in the Harbour and its surroundings rapidly.
“Difficultasitmaybe,develop aconstructivedialoguewithcurrent Westminster government ministers (something that has beensadlylacking)inordertoensuretheirhousingpolicydoesnot ignoretheuniquecircumstances of Chichester, the Harbour, the AONB and its juxtaposition with the South Downs National Park. To ensure that CDC has the right professional expertise and support to execute these changes.
“We look forward to working with the new CDC leadership team.”
The Chichester Harbour Trustisaregisteredcharityestablishedin2002toprotectthenaturalbeautyandwildlifehabitatsof ChichesterHarbour,throughthe acquisitionoflandwithintheAreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty. The Trust works in partnership with the Chichester Harbour Conservancy, landowners, and local authorities.