Artists campaign for ‘beautiful’ countryside at risk of development

Artists painted the countryside which may be affected by the development of Mayfields Market Towns

Mayfield Market Towns’ proposals to build 10,000 houses has come under criticism from residents’ group Locals Against Mayfield Building Sprawl (LAMBS).

The paintings by a group of professional and amateur watercolourists are now on sale to raise money for the LAMBS Fighting Fund which was formed to finance a defence against the developers at Horsham District Council hearings next month.

The art collection includes work by two members of the Sussex Watercolour Society, Penny Hopkins and Alison Sibley and Hurstpierpoint artist, Mary Faux Jackson.

Penny said: “We want to stop this horror, the idea is to paint pieces in the area before it’s put under concrete or maybe put a stop to it, it’s all so beautiful.

“The countryside means everything. If you don’t have the countryside you don’t have anything.”

Penny grew up in Hurstpierpoint and now lives near Wineham. She has been a member of the Sussex Watercolour Society for more than 30 years

She continued: “When you paint it you build an affinity with the nature in the area. I love it, we all love it.

“The barn owls, where do they go? People don’t realise but there isn’t much space as it is.”

The project was supported by Penny’s students, who are ‘very enthusiastic’ about the campaign.

Penny added: “I know people have to have houses, but 10,000 is far too many.”

The collection raised £500 after being available for just three days online.

Lee Newlyn, a Director at Mayfield Market Towns, said: “There is a real need for homes and the question is where and how they are best delivered. Mayfields have put forward these proposals because we believe a New Market Town with its own infrastructure, shops and facilities provides a much better way to meet this local housing need than continued add-on development. The alternative of endlessly building on the greenfields around existing towns and villages is often ruining the very environments that are most important.”

Mayfields wants its scheme to be added to the District Plans which would take Horsham’s housing numbers from 13,000 to between 20,000 and 23,000 over the next 20 years on 2,000 acres of countryside, river meadows, mashlands, woodlands and hedgerows.

But Mr Newlysaid Mayfields aims to retain valuable trees woodlands and hedgerows, reducing the visual impact of the scheme.

“Our solution of a new community is designed to be far more sustainable and far better option environmentally,” he added.

The paintings are available for sale and can be viewed at Penny Hopkins studio by appointment at [email protected]. Any remaining pictures will be offered for sale at the Yellow Ribbon Ball at Hickstead Showground on Saturday.

The paintings can be viewed at www.lambs.org.uk