Agenda item

Richard Symonds, The Ifield Society

My question relates to that asked of this Cabinet on July 6 two weeks ago, and another question asked at County Hall last Friday, concerning a possible 3,500-year-old Bell Barrow burial ground to the West of Ifield.

My question also specifically relates to 'Specialist Archaeological Advice' by Place Services - advice given by letter two years ago in November 2020, another letter from Historic England on the same date two years ago, and a more recent Heritage Assessment by West Sussex County Council - all concerning SA101 Land West of Ifield.

The 'Specialist Archaeological Advice' includes this statement: "There is high potential for significant palaeo-environmental deposits associated with both water courses [Ifield Brook and the River Mole], and their former routes". This has been confirmed by County Hall's recent Heritage Assessment which identified an Oxbow Lake and five Palaeo-channels. The Historic England also states - disturbingly: "We think it essential that an integrated landscape approach to assessment of heritage assets (both designated and undesignated) is undertaken...The assessment should also consider the likelihood of alterations to drainage and ground water patterns that might lead to in situ decomposition or destruction of below ground archaeological remains and deposits and can also lead to subsidence of buildings and monuments".

"Subsidence of buildings and monuments" I take to include St Margaret's 13th century Parish Church. So, my question is:

as strongly advised by Historic England, has an integrated landscape approach to assessment of heritage assets been undertaken by this council?

Supplementary question –

If this Council is genuinely committed to protecting the community's heritage assets and wildlife, why are you proposing to build a link road straight through Willoughby Fields Local Nature Reserve?

Councillor Nawaz

(Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development)

Thank you for your question Mr Symonds. To be clear Crawley Borough Council is not looking to allocate the land west of Ifield for development and I would like to reiterate for the record that the Council opposed the development west of Ifield. This council has undertaken an heritage assessment however the land west of Ifield site falls outside Crawley Borough Council boundaries, in Horsham. Our understanding and expectations are that Horsham District Council is ensuring that the heritage assessment is indeed undertaken with regards to west of Ifield and this will take full account of the burial ground. The seriousness as to whether (or not) to allocate the site for residential use will be undertaken by Horsham District Council, should Homes England continue with the proposal. If there is any further technical information that you would like to share with us, please email the Council’s Strategic Planning team who will respond to you in more detail via email.

The Council is not proposing to build a link road through Willoughby Fields, instead a draft search corridor for a potential Crawley western link road has been proposed in the draft Crawley Borough Council local plan which was subject to public consultation between January and June 2021. However, this does not establish a specification for a road. This Council expressed its position on the west of Ifield development, but it is not the decision-making authority, but should the west of Ifield development come forward we must make plans to address the development and impact that would have on Crawley’s existing transport and infrastructure.  In addressing the transport infrastructure, it may be a new link road is required as a multi-model corridor including sustainable transport and serious consideration and assessments models will take place including environmental impacts of any proposed route.

Anthony Eden, Ifield

I moved to Crawley as a young apprentice to APV in 1956. I have lived in Crawley for more than 50 years. My daughter got married in St Margaret’s church nearly 28 years ago. I also got married in St Margaret’s Church 7 years ago. And I have since been a regular attendee.  I am on the church’s PCC, my wife and I regularly read at church are also welcomers at the Sunday morning services.  I have only just been made aware of a letter sent by Historic England on 27 October 2020, ref PL00718972 to Horsham District Council that the proposed development on land west of Ifield “has the potential to impact on the Grade 1 listed St Margaret’s Church”. “The likelihood of alterations to drainage”, “could lead to subsidence of buildings”.  May I ask what action has/are you taking to prevent such catastrophic results of St Margaret’s Church, a heritage/historic, Crawley’s Churches foundation crumbling?

Councillor Nawaz

(Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development)

That development is out of our hands I’m afraid as Horsham District Council has responsibility for decisions on the development.  Detailed studies will take place on how it’s going to impact on Crawley but we can look at this topic in more detail.

Dawn Corrie, Bewbush

In relation to the shocking heatwave we’ve recently experienced – the changes are going much faster than scientists predicted and the world is getting warmer.  In view of the fact that things have gone so much quicker, what is the council going to do to be more ambitious with its targets?

In addition, I see lots of you have bottles of water and not many of you have brought your own so perhaps at all council events and meetings you should bring your own bottles and not use plastic.

Councillor Jhans

(Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability)

Thank you for your question, I did bring my own bottle with me today which I reuse. I’m pleased to say the council on both sides takes this very seriously and as you know we actually enhanced our targets to meet net zero in 2040 rather than 2050, and to reduce emissions by at least 50% by 2030 or as close to net zero as possible. There are actions on the agenda to try and meet those targets such as retrofitting buildings, improving transport infrastructure and installing the district heat network.  There is also the climate change action plan which we are currently developing the funding plan for to ensure there are the resources available to deliver this important work. The key message is that as a borough council we cannot do all the work alone and we need national government assistance. We all need to work together to make right and serious choices on a daily basis as to how we live our lives.  

Michelle Mineau, Furnace Green

I found the Tilgate Park rules online and they state that barbecues are not allowed, dogs must be kept on a lead around the lake, dogs are not permitted in the nature centre, walled garden or play area, and cycling is allowed on the bridle paths. These are the current rules only available online however dogs walk off lead around the lake, barbecues are found around the park, and cycling around the park causes issues for people especially the elderly. There is no sign about these rules around the park or the lake. Are dog walkers being discriminated against?  They are not the only ones creating problems.

Does the council think the problem is being under-reported and they don’t know the extent of the situation?  Would it not be sensible to know exactly what is happening prior to setting rules around a bigger area and a punishment that may not cover all the issues?  It would be cost effective to ensure the actual rules are known before they are extended to a bigger area by installing signage.

Councillor C Mullins

(Cabinet Member for Wellbeing)

We haven’t arrived at the position we are in tonight simply because we are ‘anti dog’. There will be 241 acres left in Tilgate where people can exercise dogs where they have done historically.  We are making provision for dogs such as the hound ground, obstacle park and dog shower.  We are trying to find a balanced approach.

Peter Crosskey, Furnace Green

Upon what data and upon what grounds was the extension of the PSPO to cover the golf course based?

Councillor C Mullins

(Cabinet Member for Wellbeing)

We are trying to work with everybody. Dogs are not banned from the golf course – we are requesting they are placed on a lead when crossing it.  We see the golf course as a dedicated area of sporting activity, we’ve taken on board where activities are concerned and we need to consider all users of the park.

Christine Cowell, Tilgate, speaking on behalf of Jackie Bradley (from Furnace Green)

Do CBC councillors and officers think that the PSPO public consultation was carried out fairly with enough advertising across the whole area with clear information and time allowed for all interested stakeholders to participate?  The wording seemed biased and there was nothing on the golf course entrances for people on the golf course to see.  Where are the 238 acres that dogs can roam freely?

Councillor C Mullins

(Cabinet Member for Wellbeing)

I think the consultation was done fairly and openly.  It can be judged by the responses – around 2,800 people participated.  We have to consider all users of the park along with different activities. We could have gone for a complete ban on dogs like some of the royal parks. We have taken a reasonable approachable and want to work with dog owners, allowing certain areas where dogs can roam freely. 

David Lightfoot, Furnace Green

Given that Councillor Mullins has just said how satisfied he is with the consultation that took place that we all paid for, and I understand there were 2 consultations, the result of those consultations was that the majority of people were against these proposals. Therefore, if any of you believe in democracy is it not the case that you should actually be putting into place the will of the people that were consulted on the existence of this policy who have clearly told you they don’t want it and that is what should be respected.  Councillor Mullins has said he respects the process and therefore he should respect the outcome.

Councillor C Mullins

(Cabinet Member for Wellbeing)

I support the consultation process, which was to obtain opinions, but we also need to look at how those results break down, the reasons behind those results and the comments behind them.  86.9% were Crawley residents, 58.4% said no, 38.7% said yes, but one needs to further investigate the observations and remarks made. 

Karen Sudan, Ifield

We are currently experiencing a cost of living crisis.  Before Coronavirus, Crawley was already about the fourth most expensive place to live in the UK, when housing costs are related to average wages.  I’d like to ask whether the Cabinet Member for Housing is aware that the Council’s policy for charging an affordable rent to new council tenancies (tenancies, not new tenants) is resulting in Crawley’s council house rent being the highest in the country and the highest in the South East?

Councillor Jones

(Leader of the Council)

We are all very conscious in this Council of the pressures people are under with regards to the cost of living crisis as well as rental costs in general.  I would dispute that the rents in Crawley, certainly council rents, are the highest in the country. Councillor Buck and myself are working hard to ensure that we get council housing and protect council housing in this borough and we are trying to do everything we can but we are doing it under the circumstances we find ourselves in.