Mid Sussex MP warns of Pandora’s Box

Nicholas Soames has warned of a “Pandora’s box” if more houses are built on nine fields between Lindfield and Haywards Heath.

The Mid Sussex MP flagged up his concerns after receiving an 800-signature petition from residents who urged him to join their battle to kill off a bid for several hundred more homes off Gravelye Lane.

Mr Soames said that to grant planning permission would be “to open a Pandora’s box with serious local consequences”.

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The Middy has highlighted residents’ concerns which include overcrowded schools and doctors’ practices, where people already struggle to get places, pollution to water courses including the trout spawning Northlands Brook, and danger from over-capacity roads.

Campaign leader John Ely has described the proposal for 230 new homes off Gravelye Lane in the strategic gap between Haywards Heath, Lindfield, Walstead and Scaynes Hill as “monstrous” and a threat to the area’s rural identity.

Wates Developments is adamant that it is fulfilling local housing need and taking into consideration the character of the area in its designs and road planning.

See full story on Page 3 of today’s Mid Sussex Times (Thursday, February 28) and further house building fears for Mid Sussex’s rural character on Page 18.