Friends of Chesworth Farm

Readers of our social media know that the Friends of Chesworth Farm have followed the debate on including Rookwood in the draft Local Plan – and the Friends are against any development on the area.  So we’re taking the chance to share news of two public events hosted, by The Horsham District Older Peoples Forum (HDOPF) on this Thursday morning and also on the evening of Thursday 8 April. To quote from the HDOPF website:

Rookwood Development – public meeting

“Concerns were raised at the Horsham District Older Peoples Forum public zoom meeting on the 3rd March about the proposed sale of land at Rookwood, with its public golf course and situated next to Warnham Nature Reserve, for housing development.

“The public disquiet is illustrated by the number of letters published in the West Sussex County Times over the past weeks. A proposal was made and voted for, that the Forum should hold a public zoom meeting to hear both ‘for and against’ sides as to the publicly owned green space being sold and built on.

Pineapple Mayweed at Rookwood

“Cllr Jonathan Chowen, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure & Culture (Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead Parishes) has been active in explaining the HDC proposed development and has agreed to attend to explain the proposed development and answer questions from the public. Sally Sanderson, Chairman of Friends of Horsham Park, and part of the alliance of Horsham Green Spaces and Keep Rookwood Green, has agreed and will be attending along with other alliance representatives to give a short presentation as to why they are against the development and also answer points and questions.

“There will be 2 public zoom meetings, each with up to 100 spaces. The first, 10am–12noon on Thursday 25th March mainly aimed at older people living in the Horsham District and the second 7pm–9pm Thursday 8th April mainly aimed at residents living in the 3 unparished areas of Horsham town represented by Horsham Denne, Horsham Forest and Horsham Trafalgar Neighbourhood Councils.

“If you would like to attend, please email hdopforum@gmail.com and if sufficient space, the zoom joining information will be sent. Spaces will be, as far as possible allotted on a ‘first come first served’ basis. More than one person in a household can attend. It would help if you state which meeting you would like to attend, where in the District you live, if aged 60+ or live in the unparished area.

“We will of course, be flexible as far as possible. It is hoped that the level of feeling either way, on this proposed development will be shown by the numbers attending. Questions and / or short points that you wish to put should ideally be sent in with your request to attend, prior to the meeting to ensure the meeting can go ahead smoothly. There will be a Chat room facility, for further questions if time allows and to make comments, during the meeting. All participants other than speakers will be on mute with video switched off except when asking a question. The meeting will be recorded.”

The Horsham District Older Peoples Forum (HDOPF) is an independent, non-political, voluntary group that is free to attend and take part in.  It acts as the ‘ears’ and gives a ‘voice’ for people aged 60 and over who reside in the Horsham District Council area or who cares for someone who is.