Bowls club shock - latest

SPORT England's decision to drop its objection to proposed development of part of the Gullivers Bowling Club site prompted a reaction this week.

Gullivers Action Group vowed to continue to fight to preserve the open space.

In a press statement, the group said: "Gullivers Action Group has fought long and hard to raise awareness of the threatened loss of the Gullivers Bowling Club greens, resulting in two planning applications being rejected by Rother councillors.

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"An appeal has been lodged by Churchill Retirement Living for the second application to build a four-storey block of retirements flats on the site, and it is disappointing to see that a government agency consultee to the application has now been persuaded to withdraw its objection (Bexhill Observer, Friday, May 25).

"Having been granted Rule 6(6) status by the Planning Inspectorate GAG is a third party in the appeal process. This has required the submission of a Statement of Case to the Planning Inspectorate and then a Proof of Evidence to substantiate all the matters to be considered at the appeal. So why was GAG not informed of this latest development? At the very least it would have been courteous of our public servants in the Town Hall and nationally at Sport England to advise a third party in the appeal process of the withdrawal of 'a key reason for refusing the redevelopment'¦'"

The statement added: "Considering that it was GAG, and not our local planners, who first contacted Sport England for its views on the 2003 planning application, this is bitter irony indeed.

GAG does not accept the findings of this report and will be seeking to exercise its right at the forthcoming Public Inquiry to present evidence regarding the report's inaccuracy and the extent of its consideration. What is more worrying for us all '“ as protestor or bystander '“ is the slack standard of national and local government bodies in carrying out their duties. They seem intimidated by big business and forgetful of their primary duties to their paymasters - the common man.

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"GAG will not be so intimidated and will continue to fight to preserve this last green open space so close to the town centre. Let us test the resolve of those charged with implementing our planning laws to properly take into account the existing legislation for the protection of such spaces which day by day are fast disappearing, especially here in Bexhill."