Published: 16 November 2022

From: Environment

Letters expressing Ā鶹“«Ć½ Borough Councilā€™s deep concern at Center Parcsā€™ proposed holiday village on the edge of the town have been sent to the company and Mid Sussex District Council, who will be making any planning decisions.

The cross-party letters to the Chief Executive Officer of Center Parcs and Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, follow councillors unanimously agreeing to ā€˜protect Worth Forestā€™ at the Full Council meeting on 19 October.

Center Parcs wants to build the holiday village across 553 acres at Oldhouse Warren, off Balcombe Road, just over the Ā鶹“«Ć½ border in Mid Sussex.

The letters state: 

ā€œWe believe that such proposals would bring about substantial environmental harm by destroying large swathes of designated ancient woodland.  This runs completely contrary to the governmentā€™s Climate Change Emergency imperative of protecting our mature ā€œgreen infrastructureā€ as part of our shared priority to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. 

ā€œWe also believe that the high levels of intensive activity generated by the location of such a proposal would bring about unacceptable adverse impacts on the surrounding Ā鶹“«Ć½ road and rail transport network and that it will be Ā鶹“«Ć½ which will bear the brunt of such impacts in terms of congestion, air quality and intolerable pressures on local services.ā€

Center Parcsā€™ proposed holiday village at Oldhouse Warren is totally unsustainable and unjustifiable, particularly in these challenging times of climate change. A new resort would cause grave and irreparable harm to ecosystems and biodiversity, both above and below ground, for which Oldhouse Warren is protected. Plans for the destruction of such a large section of Worth Forest are an affront to our community and the planning system ā€“ and should be halted immediately.
 

Councillor Michael Jones

Leader

Ā鶹“«Ć½ Borough Council

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