Judgement day is looming for the proposed Cuck-stye development – merging Ansty and Cuckfield with 1,450 houses – as the plan is due to be considered by Mid Sussex District councillors.
Deputy Chief Executive of MSDC Judy Holmes has informed our two local parish councils that they are due to recommend approval of the Ansty Farms proposals, submitted by the developer Fairfax.
The final decision will be made by twelve councillors on the planning committee who have recently rejected officer’s recommendations on another local development, as they had sound grounds on which to object.
Members of the community-wide Cuck-stye campaign have been busy for some weeks compiling an evidence-based 35-page dossier, with the help of a team of consultants and legal support, demonstrating comprehensively why the evidence shows the plan is not sustainable.
They also reported back to the community in a wellattended briefing session at the Talbot pub last month, led by Cuckfield Parish Council Chair Andy Burton and Giles King, Chair of the Cuckfield Society.
This campaign report along with a 2-minute film has been sent to all officers and members of the planning committee, who will also have been provided with a range of officer’s own reports, explaining why they now back the development.
At the committee just three representatives of the campaign will have very limited time slots to make the case against the development. Cuckfield District Councillor Jim Knight, who is not on the committee will also have an opportunity, unconstrained by time limits, to make the case against Cuck-stye.
“We have left no stone unturned in the drive to ensure that we have provided a very professional, evidencebased case to MSDC, thanks to input from a range of consultants and advice from our KC,” said Simon Stokes, Chair of Ansty and Staplefield Parish Council. “I am confident that the councillors will make a balanced judgement in our favour, but there’s little doubt the case will then go to appeal,” he added.
