Mims Davies MP presents Crawley Down Petition in the Chamber protecting Elderly Resident's Home

Mims presented her petition in the Chamber today on behalf of Joy, an 86-year-old resident of Crawley Down, who is fighting to protect her home from being stranded by possible significant development behind her home, and the new road access associated with the site.

Joy has lived in her beloved home for 52 years, and we have been told of this possible significant development by other really concerned villagers which is likely to leaving Joy stranded on a ‘roundabout’ to be passed by to access new residences.

This significant proposal which comes before Mid Sussex District Council on Thursday 20th November needs your attention so that whatever happens, Joy’s home is saved from isolation.

Mims' online petition can be found here:

https://www.mimsdavies.org.uk/help-protect-elderly-residents-home-crawley-down

Mims Davies MP said:

“I rise on behalf of the 279 petitioners from Crawley Down in my constituency of East Grinstead, Uckfield and the villages, and the further 370 who have signed the petition online.

I present the petition especially on behalf of Joy, an elderly constituent who risks being cut off and isolated should this unwanted and unwarranted development take place.

The petition states:

The petition of residents of the constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield,

Declares that the proposal to potentially demolish the existing dwellings in Woodlands Close and to create a significant new access road serving potentially 48 additional homes is inappropriate and would cause significant harm to the wider local community; further declares that the scale of the proposed development is out of keeping with the surrounding area, that residents would be subjected to noise and disruption, that the affordable housing mix of the proposed development is inadequate, that Woodlands Close could not accommodate the volume of traffic that would arise from the development, that the development would risk harming the heritage asset of Grade II listed Burleigh Cottage and the natural environment, and that public consultation regarding this proposal was inadequate and has not taken into account significant flooding risks and topography.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to encourage Mid Sussex District Council to withhold planning permission for this development to protect the wider local community in Crawley Down and in particular any homes impacted by this significant road layout change which will isolate one dwelling in particular.”

It’s understood several homes will likely be knocked down to make a new access road and this will be leaving Joy, essentially stranded on her own ‘island’. Drainage is also a real problem on this site and nearby homes, which is another key and deep concern for many locals.

Appropriate water surveys need to take place as Joy's back garden has a steep slope meaning Joy's garden will be highly susceptible to flooding, which with all of these changes, means this is an extra worry.

The planning application can be found here- planning application DM/25/1593 - which Mims has sent an objection in, on behalf of the concerned neighbours, which can be found below, as it could mean an elderly residents' bungalow home could go from a desirable residence in a quiet close, into simply a large traffic island between new developments.