During the next few months construction work will begin on Policy Site 6 with the planning applications for both elements now live and available for public comment. A decision will be made by the Development Control committee on the 23rd Jan and fortunately I am a member of the committee. I am also part of the Site 6 Advisory Group which is able to make pre application comments and will aslo make sure that the development is done to the highest standards. As I said when re-elected last year my main role now is to see that developers deliver on their infrastructure proposals and make sure the relief road is built as early as possible.

 I still remained concerned about possible flooding to the exsisting houses in Chichester Road and North Bersted Street and have made sure the Advisory Group has met with Southern Water to ensure that they upgrade the current sewage system to modern day standards. They came to see us in December and are due to come back to us in January with an update on proposals and to answer the many technical questions that I and others raised.

Bersted Parish Council has now submitted an outline management plan for the community centre on the site 6 estate. This is still at the very early stages but none the less is a very vital clogg for community integration over the next few years. I am still of the opinion that by setting up a trust and delivering the services from the centre on behalf of Bersted Parish Council is the best way ahead. That way we are in a position of influence on what is happening within the community and ideally placed to pick up and deal with any underlying problems.

Looking to the long term future Arun District Council will be moving forwards on the Local Development Framework. This work was put on hold last year due to the inspectors report on the South East Plan where it is proposed that an extra 2,000 houses in Arun have to be accomodated within the plan. However in Bersted we need to be very vigilant as one of the areas of seach puts Chalcraft Lane firmly in the picture for development including over possible fields in Bersted. I am on the LDF sub Committee and hopefully ideally placed to speak up on behalf of local residents. Last Year the figure being muted was 1500 houses this figure could well increase if the Secretary of State accepts the extra 2,000 houses or indeed increases it further. My main concern for this site along with many others is the historic ground water problems in this area. there is a major study being carried out on this at the moment and a strategic flood assesment report is due to the committee in the near future. I will in due course keep residents up to date on these findings once they are availiable to the public.