Together we will make a difference!

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY

Time to Act!

HDC is close to finalising the Regulation 19 Local Plan Draft and deciding whether or not to include Rookwood. The HDC Cabinet will vote shortly on the draft document and the full Council is expected to vote shortly after.

This is our last opportunity to persuade HDC to omit Rookwood from the draft local plan and we need to continue to show HDC the strength of our concern by writing to them.

To help we have listed key points below that you may wish to make. Please send your feedback to as many people as possible, here are email addresses for cabinet members and strategic planning ready to copy and paste:

roger.noel@horsham.gov.uk; tony.hogben@horsham.gov.uk; richard.landeryou@horsham.gov.uk; chris.brown@horsham.gov.uk; claire.vickers@horsham.gov.uk; philip.circus@horsham.gov.uk; paul.clarke@horsham.gov.uk; lynn.lambert@horsham.gov.uk; tricia.youtan@horsham.gov.uk; barbara.childs@horsham.gov.uk; strategic.planning@horsham.gov.uk

Since there are many district councillors please look up your representatives as shown below and add them to your email.

Cabinet Members

Cabinet members are key to the decision outcome please email then directly with your concerns

Roger Noel - Accountable for Leisure and Culture (this portfolio includes HDC’s green spaces)

Lynn Lambert - Accountable for Planning and Development

Tony Hogben - Deputy Leader and Accountable for Horsham Town interests, Parking and Communications

Paul Clarke - Council Leader, accountable for Horsham District Council as a whole

Philip Circus - Accountable for Environment, Waste, Recycling and Cleansing

Chris Brown - Accountable for the Local Economy

Tricia Youtan - Accountable for Housing and Public Protection

Claire Vickers - Accountable for Community and Wellbeing

Richard Landeryou - Accountable for Finance and Assets

Strategic Planning

The Strategic Planning team are key assessors of the Rookwood proposal and can be contacted through Barbara Childs, HDC’s Director of Place and through the Strategic Planning team.

District Councillors

Your local district councillors are good people to speak with because they are your representatives on Horsham District Council and will vote on whether or not to accept the revised local plan. You can discover and email your local Councillors through Write To Them, which is a free, non governmental, charity established in 2004 to help UK residents contact their local and national elected representatives.

You can also find councillors contact details through the Horsham District Council web site.

Neighbourhood and Parish Councils

Your neighbourhood / parish councillors are fully informed because of their local knowledge and closeness to local issues.  If you would like to blind copy (bcc) them on your correspondence here are their addresses:

North Horsham Parish Council - Clerk

Denne Neighbourhood Council Chair - Clerk

Trafalgar Neighbourhood Council Chair - Clerk

Forest Neighbourhood Council Chair - Clerk

What Could I Say

Protecting our future

  • It is the duty of this generation to protect green space for future generations

  • We want Horsham District Council to play its part fully in protecting our environment and ecology

  • We need to safeguard our green lungs

Losing our amenities

  • Why urbanise a well used golf course and green space?

  • Rookwood is a “pay and play” course that doesn’t require an expensive membership fee

  • HDC’s Leisure Access Card can be used at Rookwood Golf Course

  • Green space is essential for good physical and mental health

  • Opportunities for golfing, dog-walking and jogging will be taken away

  • Horsham’s population is increasing but Horsham District Council is reducing our green space

  • Views from the Riverside Walk are urbanised

Endangering local wildlife

  • Building so close to the Red River and Boldings Brook endangers a wildlife haven that also supports Warnham Nature Reserve

  • Light and noise pollution will inevitably disrupt wildlife and Reserve visitors

  • Cat predation will decimate birds and smaller mammals in the Boldings Brook / Red River corridor

Tips for effective feedback

  • Talk about your personal experience and aspirations. Do you enjoy using the land today? What legacy do you want for future generations? Why do you oppose the proposal? Use your own words.

  • Keep your responses focused on the Rookwood proposal, without mentioning other issues that may concern you. Speak with your Councilors separately about these.

  • Of course, be clear, balanced and polite in expressing your views!