Hundreds of Sussex residents more than filled Adastra Hall, Hassocks, in a significant show of protest against the Mayfield market town proposal. It is estimated that more than 400 people attended the public meeting on Friday 18 October about the developer’s proposal to build 10,000 homes in the countryside between Henfield and Sayers Common.

The scheme proposed by the developer – Mayfield Market Towns Limited – would consist of a new town almost as large as East Grinstead for up to 25,000 people, in an area with inadequate infrastructure for development on this scale and limited opportunities for jobs locally, making it a commuter town. A protest group has formed in response to the proposal, Locals Against Mayfield Business Sprawl (LAMBS).

Environmental groups met for the South East Fracking Workshop at Lenham Community Centre in Kent on Saturday 26 January. CPRE Protect Kent led the workshop, also present were representatives from CPRE Sussex, Friends of the Earth, Green Party, East Kent Against Fracking, Kent Environment and Community Network and concerned individuals including a planning consultant and a farmer.

CPRE welcomed many positive comments from the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, who spoke at the CPRE annual lecture. He spoke of better public transport for rural communities, making roads in the countryside safer and cracking down on unsightly roadside clutter. Transport was in the spotlight at this year’s lecture, indicating CPRE’s focus on this issue for the year ahead at a time when it is feared the Government may launch into a road building programme to drive economic growth, without due consideration for the countryside and sustainability in transport.

2 December 2012

A controversial planning application for eco-holiday lodges at Bewl Water has been turned down. It was CPRE Sussex’s view that this development would be inappropriate and damaging to the tranquillity of Bewl Water, which is popular for recreational use and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

19 November 2012

CPRE Sussex joined forces with CPRE national office and the National Association of Local Councils NALC to provide a planning workshop for Sussex Parish councillors to assist them in making Neighbourhood Plans. The event at Pulborough on 1st November was attended by parish councillors from Birdham, Henfield, Herstmonceux, Hunston, Patching, Petworth, Pulborough, Southbourne, Westhampnett and Woolbeding with Redford.