Meeting held over controversial plans for Havenstoke Park in Chichester

Plans to build a 40-vehicle car park and two sports pitches on Havenstoke Park were met with a number of objections across the autumn and winter last year. Following the backlash, Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT) held a meeting on Wednesday (January 3) inviting users of Havenstoke Park to ask questions and seek reassurances about the car park and sports field plans.

Clare de Bathe, CCDT Director said: “Everything that we do is to try and build and strengthen the community that live or spend time in Graylingwell Park, and other new developments across Chichester. Our whole team care deeply about providing support and help to those that need it most – that are too easily overlooked in society.

"We already knew and heard again the passionate voices of those that love Havenstoke Park as we do. Those to whom the space is often a lifeline. We are and will continue to ensure that this space remains protected and their views respected and will minimise the impact these developments have on the lives of park users, whilst also supporting community members such as youth teams already playing football on the space to safeguard their wellbeing.”

Graylingwell resident Alan Bradbury has lived in North Mead for five years. The 77-year-old is one of a number of critics of the plan. Mr Bradbury is concerned that the park will become a ‘muddy patch’, that the car park will lead to a loss of biodiversity, and that increased traffic and footfall will lose Graylingwell and Havenstoke its ‘peaceful atmosphere’.

Mr Bradbury said he and other concerned residents have been ‘fighting against the desecration of beautiful Havenstoke Park’ for four years.

He said: “What is being proposed is totally unacceptable to the majority of Graylingwell Park Residents so far interviewed. A petition of all Graylingwell Park Residents is to be commenced on January 14, hand carried to all residents houses, asking the residents if they support the proposals responses to be presented to CDC Planning Department.”

The CCDT has produced a blog setting out the details of the proposals which can be accessed here.