Agenda item

Questioner’s Name

Name of Councillor Responding

Mr Symonds, Ifield Society –

With the recent discovery of a possible 3,500-year-old Bell Barrow ancient burial ground to the West of Ifield, will this Council now consider a Platinum Jubilee National Nature Reserve and Heritage Park - combining Willoughby Fields Local Nature Reserve, Ifield Brook Meadows Local Green Space and Ifield Millpond and Bewbush Water Gardens SNCI? 

Supplementary –

Regarding the updated Transport Study, specifically the local map, Local Plan and the roads infrastructure section. What will happen to Willoughby Fields Local Nature Reserve if the [to quote] “Indicative Search Corridor for a Western Relief Road Policy ST4” is given the go-ahead by the powers-that-be?  The proposed link road is running straight through the Nature Reserve"

Councillor Nawaz (Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development) –

Thank you for your question. I believe the area referred to is already designated as open space in the Local Plan and local wildlife site.  Please kindly submit the map and archaeological evidence so we can look into it more closely.  We can also provide you with a detailed answer to that through email.

Councillor Nawaz –

We are currently investigating this in more detail and will respond to you in due course.  A written response will be provided to both questions.

Iain Dickson, Gossops Green –

I would like to ask Crawley Borough Council to consider approaching Horsham District Council to work on the joint action plan to create a Jubilee Nature Reserve on Crawley’s side of the West of Ifield and see if you can work together to create such a nature park?

Supplementary –

There is a big question about water neutrality for the West of Ifield Homes England development.  There is a third consultation later in the year, if both councils put forward an idea for a nature park in that area that may be a way of solving the issue of water neutrality as this may stop Homes England building so many houses.  The nature park might be an alternative to the development. Do you think that is a viable possibility?

Councillor Jones (Leader of the Council) –

I think we can consider looking into that matter further.

Councillor Jones –

I think with water neutrality we are in unchartered territory in general and it is an extremely technical area. 

Peter Temple-Smithson -

I’ve been involved with Crawley Museum Society and also the renovation of Ifield Watermill.  The water that comes from Ifield Watermill used to come from Bewbush Watermill. There used to be a big lake at Bewbush and that lake is now land being built upon with Kilnwood Vale. A few years ago there was very little flow from Horsham into Crawley from that area but now there seems to be a very large flow of water coming in this way. It would seem sensible as Horsham are doing a development on their side and affecting the people in Ifield that the Council should have some sort of liaison with Horsham. I am often flooded in Ifield and if the development were to go ahead, I’m sure that area would be flooded again because of the flow of water from Horsham into Crawley.

Councillor Nawaz -

I think this kind of question deserves liaison with Horsham further.

Councillor Jones –

Thank you for your question.  I think the water neutrality issue is very extensive indeed and a wider area of consideration.

David Lightfoot, Furnace Green –

Having taken a public consultation not once but twice, what political or legal methodology is it that will be set aside and the decision to take and to introduce a policy that runs in opposition to a clearly expressed majority decision by the public having been asked by the Council as no doubt the tax payers have paid for any cost for gathering that information. I’d like to know under what procedural regulations it could be that the Council can overturn this clear indication of public will and carry on with this unpopular and poorly argued and evidenced proposal.  The fact that people like myself will potentially be criminalised for walking my dog without any issues or problems to anyone.

Supplementary –

Is it not true that the will of the people has been expressed through the survey that this Council arranged which clearly showed they were opposed to this policy and anything said cannot overturn that simple fact. Any of you that you believe in democracy should oppose this and if this is to protect the golf course.

Councillor C Mullins (Cabinet Member for Wellbeing) –

I can understand how you feel. When we carried out the consultation it is to gauge public opinion and we have to consider a number of factors.  We took into account that we received a petition, the safety elements for both public and dogs, together with other elements.  We have a duty to all of the residents of Crawley, not just dog owners, as well as other members of the public to ensure they can enjoy the park on the main lawn and around the lake without dogs chasing the wildlife. We have evidence of dogs unfortunately recently attacking wildlife around the lake.

Councillor C Mullins –

We have reduced the area of the PSPO in the proposed area and to consider that the majority of residents in Crawley do not own dogs and we have to consider everyone in the town. 

Peter Crosskey, Furnace Green –

On what basis does the golf club conclude that the golf course is part of the PSPO?

Supplementary –

The top end of Furnace Green by the railway is woodland and is in a poor state, the paths are overgrown. 

Councillor C Mullins –

We were in communication with the golf course and we had received some comments back from some golfers as well who had been disturbed by dogs loose on the course.  It’s also true that if dogs are not on a lead, they can defecate wherever they wish but there is also the safety issue for dogs if they were to be hit by a golf ball. We are setting up facilities in Tilgate for dogs, there will be an adjustment and change. Most dog owners are responsible.

Councillor C Mullins –

If there is damage to paths, I am more than happy to ask my officers to look at them to make sure they are in walkable condition.