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3 Counties Group Leader Baldwin Raises “United Front” Hopes Against EG Houses Proposal Wednesday’s (1 October) Open Meeting of the Association of Imberhorne Residents (AIR) held at Imberhorne Senior School, proved interesting, informative and reassuring. Though less well-attended than earlier AIR gatherings — and with a notable absence of Local TC, MSDC and WSCC Councillors and the customary Officials — nevertheless 3CG was pleased to have invited representatives in attendance. And it wasn’t so much what was said by the invited guest speakers prepared to venture into this ‘Lion’s Den’ — Town Council Leader James Baldwin; and two developers, Barton Willmore veteran, Paul McReery, and Peter Court of Persimmon, one of the housebuilding consortium — that generated interest. Rather it was what AIR’s Garry Turvey set forward at the start. Having traced briefly the history of this long and dreary housing initiative which of course goes back into the 1980s, and then having nailed down all the current hurdles which any housing/road proposal, if it is to have any hope of success, must be able to surmount, he turned to the Greater EG Community and the degree to which united resistance to the proposal has grown. A solid phalanx of support from representative local groups now exists, from Crawley Down in the West to Forest Row in the East. Mr. Turvey pointed to initiatives already taken by this campaign, as well as by individual constituent groups to get the message across to WSCC and to the various other concerned Authorities and their Members. And this message was that while the principle of “natural, incremental growth” of our community is something which all groups accept and are keen to explore, the rejection of the 2500+ houses, in keeping with the 96.3% of voters who said NO! at the June Referendum, is absolute. Cllr. Baldwin, leader of the highly successful 1990 Referendum against the then-threatened 2400-house Imberhorne development, spoke forcefully of the need for a united front with the TC in defeating the current attack. “The Town Council,” said he, “is committed to working with you.” He commended the united resistance of local groups, and the role of the AIR. “We need to shout! And shout loud!” he declared. Cllr Baldwin was pressed on many aspects of the houses issue by a number of sceptical and persistent questioners. He was also reminded that while his personal assurances were welcome, it was important that steps be taken to ensure the TC as a whole came round to a publicly stated acceptance of this position. Credibility amongst local residents was surely vital and must be restored. And if a “united front” with the TC was to be achieved in the fight against the developers, these changes were vital. Neither Mr McReery nor Mr Court had much to add. Simply mechanical repetition by the latter of the position the development proposal has now reached; and a few wary and somewhat dis-spirited comments and observations by the former. However, some light relief — and severe discomfort for these developers — did result when one of the audience identified Mr Court as the same Peter Court who had publicly threatened opponents of the housing scheme. This occurred following publication of the EIP Inspector’s Report earlier this year. On that occasion, Mr. Court had declared: “If anyone tries to rubbish this Report, they will be in trouble — they will be sidelined!” (See Courier, 3 April, 2003, p.7) When queried on this statement, Mr. Court appeared bemused and failed to respond. The questioner pointed out that many had noted his statement, and indeed had, in vain, awaited the “3am knock on the door by his heavies”. Failing still to elicit comment from a now clearly flustered Mr Court, the questioner went on to express his distaste for these “ugly tactics”. It was, he declared, “a most sorry comment on the sinister and disgraceful methods which modern developers were apparently prepared to use; of the levels to which they were prepared to stoop”. It was further noted that the stage has now been reached where these developers’ representatives can only do what they can behind the scenes, keep their contacts sweet, keep a close watch on the Planning process and those Councillors and Officers involved, perhaps launch one or two cosmetic exercises to try to appease us angry and distressed locals, and hope that their diligent efforts in working up their proposals with MSDC and Planning Chief Richard Walker over the past six years — Mr McReery, contradicting his own/Barton Willmore published figures now says only three years! — may bring them the £1 billion, all-in bonanza, that’s up for grabs. “The stakes for all of us,” said Mr. Turvey, “are high.” Press Liaison: Peter Haskell 01342 322622 | Close | |
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