Littlehampton Neighbourhood Plan passes examination but is withdrawn from the referendum!

The news that the Littlehampton Neighbourhood Plan (NP) had passed the examination and could proceed to a referendum was heard with some jubilation by the Town Council. Unfortunately the elation was somewhat short lived as on reading the report it became clear that changes had been proposed that altered the content of the Plan and did not reflect the views of the local community.

The main issue is in relation to proposed changes to the policy regarding Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre.  The wording of the policy in the NP took on board, strong local views that in the event of Arun District Council relocating the leisure centre the current site should be retained for leisure uses only and should not be redeveloped for housing. Arun District Council in a representation to the examiner outside the formal arrangements for commenting argued that to ‘enable the relocation of the leisure centre they need to retain the appropriate flexibility on possible uses in order to assist the funding of the new facility’. In other words they want to be able to redevelop the site. This representation was not shared with everyone until after the examiner’s report had been circulated. The examiner accepted this late representation by ADC and has recommended the removal of the restriction of use for leisure purposes which in LTC’s view is a significant modification and should have:

• at the very least prompted a meeting between LTC (on behalf of the town) and ADC to address the point during examination or
• required a public hearing so that the community view could be heard

The Town Council feel strongly that the whole process has been seriously flawed, and as a result immediately called an emergency meeting of the Littlehampton NP Steering Group where it was unanimously agreed that the Examiner’s report had thrown significant doubt on the purpose of public consultation if changes of such a peremptory nature could be made.

Before submitting the NP to ADC the Plan was sent to an approved planning consultant to be ‘health checked’ to ensure that all the policies were appropriate. Apart from minor amendments, which were made, the Plan was judged to be sound. It is therefore somewhat confusing that although the Examiner held the Plan to be in general conformity with the strategic policies in the Local Plan (which is an essential requirement) he gave no clear explanation for his reason for modifying this policy and allowing other uses of the site. The NP was merely stating the preference for a continuation of the established site use for leisure

The Town Council has been left with no option but to seek legal opinion on what should be the next steps in the process. Whether the Plan proceeds to referendum is in the hands of the District Council but it is clear that neither the Town Council nor the local community could support this action given the cost to the public purse of taking forward a NP which they could not endorse.

First issued on 27th February 2014.