The original document invited comments on the District Council’s plans for housing provision for 2006 to 2016. This document made no reference to any further plans for major housing provision in Cuckfield although there may have been some occasional in-fill opportunities. Specifically, sites at Bylanes, Chatfield Road and land north of Riseholme, Broad Street which had been considered previously were rejected in favour of other, more suitable (in the opinion of the Council planners) sites.

Subsequently, these three sites have again been promoted as suitable for development by interested parties i.e. developers or their agents. This process now moves into a second stage in which all the preferred sites and all alternatives suggested by respondents to the Council’s original document will be examined by an independent Inspector early in 2007. This will be held as an “examination in public” where all submissions on this subject will be scrutinised.

As a local resident, you may wish to make your views known to the Inspector. You have until October 2nd, 5pm to respond.

You can examine the details of all three submissions on the MSDC website. You will find the details here. The three sites in question are ALT/26,27 and 28.

It must be stressed that these sites are not part of the District Council’s preferred options but nevertheless, they must now be considered by the Inspector. If you wish to pass comment on any or all of these alternative sites you should do so now. The Cuckfield Society feels that further development is not justified at the present time and will submit rebuttals to these proposals but the Inspector needs to gauge public opinion so your response is needed.