NEWS RELEASES
A chance now to influence the shape of our district
18th June 2004
TWO of the big issues raised in our latest consultations with the public involve the possibility of a new home for Horsham Football Club and the development of a university campus in Horsham.
What are the realistic chances of these major projects happening?
Well, we certainly hope that the protracted saga of relocating Horsham FC can be resolved in the not too distant future. The club’s prospects have been a subject of debate for many years and there have been many twists and turns.
In order to stabilize its financial situation and provide modern facilities for the future, the club took the decision to release its Queen Street ground for housing development some years ago and time is running out for that to happen. The Council made a commitment to assist the club in its search for suitable land on which to relocate, however that quest has not been an easy one.
You will recall that no agreement could be found for a move to Broadbridge Heath leisure centre. A more recent planning application for a ground at Hop Oast has proved controversial too as the land is in a sensitive area, however that issue is still in the planning process and we are currently evaluating an environmental assessment study.
Another suggested solution to the dilemma is the club’s relocation to land close to Hilliers garden centre off the A264 at Brighton Road where a new ground could potentially be accommodated with minimum disruption in a development package that might include a new park and ride scheme and housing at nearby Hornbrook farm.
With regard to the university campus plan, this is a very exciting possibility but not a certainty by any means. It is a fact that the Government has allocated extra money for higher education in North Sussex and that Sussex University, supported by the West Sussex Economic Partnership and the South East England Development Agency, are all enthusiastic for the scheme.
However, Horsham finds itself in competition with Crawley for this enterprise and no doubt our near neighbours will also be very excited about the prospect. A university would bring with it new jobs and skills as well as status and we have accommodated the idea in our draft consultation paper so that we can find out what the public at large think.
One of the options is to place the campus on land to the south of Tanbridge School close to the A24 where it would emerge alongside new housing developments and a new railway station to the south, which could be called West Horsham. Alternatively, it might be sited to the south of Broadbridge Heath with close proximity to the leisure centre and athletics track.
You can find out more about these projects and others in our Issues and Options consultation document which can be viewed at www.horsham.gov.uk/strategic_planning or purchased from council offices at £5. A CD version is also available.
Your comments will be vital in helping to shape our final blueprint for district development up to the year 2016 and I hope that many of you will participate before the deadline of July 26. For more details please telephone (01403) 215398.
Ends
Councillor Sheila Van Den Bergh, The Chairman, Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RH.
E-mail: contactchairman@horsham.gov.uk
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
(01403) 215549