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Chichester Harbour Trust said in its statement: "The remarkable shift in the local election results to a Lib Dem-led Chichester District Council provides a major opportunity for the District and Chichester Harbour to be put on a path to environmental recovery - reversing what was becoming a potential catastrophe for the district and the Harbour. It is clear the community want change now. They want common sense policies with strong leadership, something that has been absent in recent Chichester history.

“We, at the Chichester Harbour Trust, are calling for:

- Major changes in the local plan to avoid the massive environmental impact on Chichester Harbour in terms of over development, public health, landscape, biodiversity, water quality and recreation.

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- Specifically, we are calling for a moratorium on all significant new development while changes to the local plan are developed and until plans for the essential infrastructure are put in place.

- A strong proactive energetic relationship to be developed by the CDC with the Environment Agency, Natural England, OFWAT, Southern Water, the agricultural community, the Chichester Harbour Conservancy and ourselves to develop specific plans radically to improve the water quality in the Harbour and its surroundings rapidly.

- Difficult as it may be, develop a constructive dialogue with current Westminster government ministers (something that has been sadly lacking) in order to ensure their housing policy does not ignore the unique circumstances of Chichester, the Harbour, the AONB and its juxtaposition with the South Downs National Park.

- To ensure that CDC has the right professional expertise and support to execute these changes.

“We look forward to working with the new CDC leadership team.”

[]The Chichester Harbour Trust is a registered charity established in 2002 to protect the natural beauty and wildlife habitats of Chichester Harbour, through the acquisition of land within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With ever-growing support from the local community, the Trust works in partnership with the Chichester Harbour Conservancy, landowners, local authorities and all those who love Chichester Harbour and wish to protect it for everyone to enjoy.

This is what Chichester Harbour Trust has said in its battle to protect wildlife following the results of the district council elections