Goring playground yobs feared
GORING residents are fighting plans for an adventure playground on the greensward east of The Plantation.
A Big Lottery Fund grant has given Worthing Borough Council £200,000 to spend on children's play areas, and Goring has been allocated one of the three schemes planned.
But Goring Residents' Association is mustering support against what it fears will cause a fresh upsurge of rowdyism and vandalism in the area.
Association chairman Frank Lee said he had heard there were going to be two areas there – one for over-twos and the other for over-12s.
"The one for older children is described as a 'challenging play area', but nobody seems to know what that means.
"The main problem has been a lot of anti-social behaviour on the greensward where they propose to put this 'challenging' playground, at the bottom of Aldsworth Avenue," he said.
"Over the last couple of years, the local action group, with help from the police, has more or less got on top of the problem. Now, we are faced with the council putting this 'challenging' play area, which we think will just attract these lads to come down and break it up.
"The council put a fence around the new barbecue stands, but it has been smashed to smithereens. We are not against a playground, but this is in the wrong place," he said.
John Thorpe, the council's assistant director (leisure and culture services), said the Goring scheme was not due to start until 2009/10. The facilities would be for children aged two to 16, but the design was not yet decided, and there would be full consultation with local people.
Local Press Coverage from The Worthing Herald and The Argus
Protesters reeling as sailing club win battle
By Paul Holden
Protesters fighting to stop a popular seafront leisure area being built on
were reeling today after dramatically losing a battle which seemed to be
going in their favour.
Worthing Borough Council's Cabinet last night ruled that the town's sailing
club in Goring could be relocated - even though another committee voted
against the idea last week.
The decision stunned campaigners who had packed the public gallery at the
Town Hall. They branded it a sham and vowed to continue their fight.
Senior councillors on The Cabinet warned that if they didn't agree to the
club's move, the council might lose millions of pounds earmarked for the
construction of a new swimming pool.
The row erupted after the council agreed to sell seafront land at the
junction of Sea Place and Eirene Road, Goring, to developers for scores of
flats.
The council said it needed to dispose of the land so proceeds could be
ploughed into a new pool complex to replace the 40-year-old Aquarena in
Brighton Road.
But the sailing club, currently situated where the flats would go, sparked
uproar when it unveiled plans to build a new headquarters about 150 yards
west of its existing site.
Part of the proposed HQ was inside the club's boat compound, but it also
encroached on neighbouring land which protesters argued was protected public
open space.
They warned this could open the door to further development of Goring
greensward, a major family leisure area, and raised a 2,800-name petition
against the move.
The protesters were confident of victory after Conservative Goring ward
councillors Steven Waight and Ann Sayers last week sided with Liberal
Democrats on the overview and scrutiny committee to reject the club's
proposals.
However, the Tory-controlled Cabinet sank their hopes by siding with the
sailors, claiming the town's need for a modern pool was more important than
saving this small plot of land.
Coun Keith Mercer, leader of the council, said: "The greensward is one of
our treasures and I would fight tooth and nail to save it. However, I don't
believe this particular recommendation will affect the greensward.
"It is unbelievable we would consider putting housing estates on that
greensward. I don't know how anybody could envisage that."
Coun Paul Yallop said the loss of the land was a small sacrifice.
He said the youth of the town wanted a new pool, which could be delayed for
years if the sailing club was barred from moving, prompting the developers
to pull out of the deal.
To howls of derision from protesters coun Yallop added: "My view is this
piece of land is scrub. The land is not greensward by any dictionary
definition I have read."
After the meeting, Frank Lee, chairman of Goring Residents' Association said
The Cabinet's decision proved the whole overview and scrutiny process was a
sham and a pointless waste of time.
He added: "I am not going to let this sham win the day."
Mr Lee hoped the land would be given village green status and therefore
totally protected.
Plans for the new club, which last week warned it would have to close if the
move was blocked, still have to be considered by the council's development
control committee.
Goring locals a step closer to land-battle win
We shall fight them on the greensward
THE CONTROVERSIAL piece of Goring land at the heart of a residents' campaign
against overdevelopment is a step closer to being saved.
Worthing Council's Overview and Scrutiny committee voted on Wednesday
evening against officers' recommendations that Worthing Yacht Club should be
allowed to build a new clubhouse partly on public land south of its dinghy
compound.
A crowd of around 50 locals cheered and applauded after members voted seven
to six in favour of rejecting the plans.
Campaigners had previously addressed the committee to outline the moral and
legal case against allowing development on what they claimed is part of the
greensward.
They argued allowing the land for use would open the door for future
building on the land.
Goring Tory Steve Waight strongly criticised the attitude of council
officers to local residents concerns, which he described as "bordering on
contempt", in particular their dismissive treatment of two petitions
containing almost 3,000 signatures.
The yacht club scheme is part of plans for flats and other seafront
properties on land between Sea Place and Eirene Avenue.
The final decision on the disposal of the 170 square metre plot will be made
by the council's cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday evening (November 6).
Geraldine Lissenburg, shadow chair of the committee and opponent to the
plans, said: "We used tonight's scrutiny meeting to successfully argue that
the whole of the "greensward" should be designated as a "village green" in
perpetuity to avoid elected officials trying this again in the future and I
very much hope just as many local people will attend next week to ensure the
Cabinet to NOT overturn the wish of the scrutiny committee."
Sailing club plan hits storm
By Paul Holden
Campaigners were celebrating today after scoring a major victory in their
battle to stop building on a popular seafront leisure area.
Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors on Worthing Borough Council
last night joined forces to scupper controversial plans to move Worthing
Sailing Club's headquarters.
Protesters feared this could open the floodgates to further development of
Goring greensward, which they regarded as protected public open space.
Lib Dem leader coun Bob Smytherman presented a 2,801-name petition calling
on the council to reject the proposed relocation despite warnings that the
club could close.
The tide turned in favour of protesters when senior Conservative Steven
Waight, a Goring ward councillor, launched a scathing attack on council
officers for "rubbishing public opposition".
He said officers had treated protesters' views in a manner bordering on
contempt.
Coun Waight told the council's overview and scrutiny committee: "I have
always pledged to protect the greensward from any form of development."
He was backed by fellow Goring Tory councillor Ann Sayers, swinging the vote
7-6 in favour of the protesters.
Frank Lee, chairman of Goring Residents' Association, said after a sometimes
heated meeting: "This is definitely a victory."
However, the issue still had to go before the council's Cabinet for a final
decision on November 6.
The row erupted after developers unveiled plans to construct scores of flats
close to the existing sailing club, which warned its view of the sea might
be partially blocked by the new housing scheme - a claim disputed by
protesters.
To overcome this problem, the club wanted to move from its base east of Sea
Place to a site about 150 yards west, where a new HQ was planned partly
within its existing boat compound.
But the club sparked uproar by saying it also needed a small plot of
neighbouring land outside the compound to bring the building nearer the
coastal path, enabling race officials to have an unobstructed view of the
sea.
Richard John, treasurer of the sailing club, his voice choking with emotion,
said: "We need to be able to see the sea as far as Ferring to the west and
Worthing Pier to the east.
"We feel it is essential there is a sailing facility in a place like
Worthing. Our club is 100 years old. We also want to save the greensward,
but to call this little bit of land greensward I am afraid is stretching the
imagination a bit.
"If we are left where we are we shall have to close. Our club will not carry
on."
He was backed by Conservative councillor Clive Roberts, who said: "This
little bit of land is not important."
But Mr Lee said: "Residents have nothing against the sailing club. It's a
great feature of Goring, but if the council is allowed to give up this small
piece of land it puts all of the greensward under threat."
But Goring Residents' Association is mustering support against what it fears will cause a fresh upsurge of rowdyism and vandalism in the area.
Association chairman Frank Lee said he had heard there were going to be two areas there – one for over-twos and the other for over-12s.
"The one for older children is described as a 'challenging play area', but nobody seems to know what that means.
"The main problem has been a lot of anti-social behaviour on the greensward where they propose to put this 'challenging' playground, at the bottom of Aldsworth Avenue," he said.
"Over the last couple of years, the local action group, with help from the police, has more or less got on top of the problem. Now, we are faced with the council putting this 'challenging' play area, which we think will just attract these lads to come down and break it up.
"The council put a fence around the new barbecue stands, but it has been smashed to smithereens. We are not against a playground, but this is in the wrong place," he said.
John Thorpe, the council's assistant director (leisure and culture services), said the Goring scheme was not due to start until 2009/10. The facilities would be for children aged two to 16, but the design was not yet decided, and there would be full consultation with local people.
Local Press Coverage from The Worthing Herald and The Argus
Protesters reeling as sailing club win battle
By Paul Holden
Protesters fighting to stop a popular seafront leisure area being built on
were reeling today after dramatically losing a battle which seemed to be
going in their favour.
Worthing Borough Council's Cabinet last night ruled that the town's sailing
club in Goring could be relocated - even though another committee voted
against the idea last week.
The decision stunned campaigners who had packed the public gallery at the
Town Hall. They branded it a sham and vowed to continue their fight.
Senior councillors on The Cabinet warned that if they didn't agree to the
club's move, the council might lose millions of pounds earmarked for the
construction of a new swimming pool.
The row erupted after the council agreed to sell seafront land at the
junction of Sea Place and Eirene Road, Goring, to developers for scores of
flats.
The council said it needed to dispose of the land so proceeds could be
ploughed into a new pool complex to replace the 40-year-old Aquarena in
Brighton Road.
But the sailing club, currently situated where the flats would go, sparked
uproar when it unveiled plans to build a new headquarters about 150 yards
west of its existing site.
Part of the proposed HQ was inside the club's boat compound, but it also
encroached on neighbouring land which protesters argued was protected public
open space.
They warned this could open the door to further development of Goring
greensward, a major family leisure area, and raised a 2,800-name petition
against the move.
The protesters were confident of victory after Conservative Goring ward
councillors Steven Waight and Ann Sayers last week sided with Liberal
Democrats on the overview and scrutiny committee to reject the club's
proposals.
However, the Tory-controlled Cabinet sank their hopes by siding with the
sailors, claiming the town's need for a modern pool was more important than
saving this small plot of land.
Coun Keith Mercer, leader of the council, said: "The greensward is one of
our treasures and I would fight tooth and nail to save it. However, I don't
believe this particular recommendation will affect the greensward.
"It is unbelievable we would consider putting housing estates on that
greensward. I don't know how anybody could envisage that."
Coun Paul Yallop said the loss of the land was a small sacrifice.
He said the youth of the town wanted a new pool, which could be delayed for
years if the sailing club was barred from moving, prompting the developers
to pull out of the deal.
To howls of derision from protesters coun Yallop added: "My view is this
piece of land is scrub. The land is not greensward by any dictionary
definition I have read."
After the meeting, Frank Lee, chairman of Goring Residents' Association said
The Cabinet's decision proved the whole overview and scrutiny process was a
sham and a pointless waste of time.
He added: "I am not going to let this sham win the day."
Mr Lee hoped the land would be given village green status and therefore
totally protected.
Plans for the new club, which last week warned it would have to close if the
move was blocked, still have to be considered by the council's development
control committee.
Goring locals a step closer to land-battle win
We shall fight them on the greensward
THE CONTROVERSIAL piece of Goring land at the heart of a residents' campaign
against overdevelopment is a step closer to being saved.
Worthing Council's Overview and Scrutiny committee voted on Wednesday
evening against officers' recommendations that Worthing Yacht Club should be
allowed to build a new clubhouse partly on public land south of its dinghy
compound.
A crowd of around 50 locals cheered and applauded after members voted seven
to six in favour of rejecting the plans.
Campaigners had previously addressed the committee to outline the moral and
legal case against allowing development on what they claimed is part of the
greensward.
They argued allowing the land for use would open the door for future
building on the land.
Goring Tory Steve Waight strongly criticised the attitude of council
officers to local residents concerns, which he described as "bordering on
contempt", in particular their dismissive treatment of two petitions
containing almost 3,000 signatures.
The yacht club scheme is part of plans for flats and other seafront
properties on land between Sea Place and Eirene Avenue.
The final decision on the disposal of the 170 square metre plot will be made
by the council's cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday evening (November 6).
Geraldine Lissenburg, shadow chair of the committee and opponent to the
plans, said: "We used tonight's scrutiny meeting to successfully argue that
the whole of the "greensward" should be designated as a "village green" in
perpetuity to avoid elected officials trying this again in the future and I
very much hope just as many local people will attend next week to ensure the
Cabinet to NOT overturn the wish of the scrutiny committee."
Sailing club plan hits storm
By Paul Holden
Campaigners were celebrating today after scoring a major victory in their
battle to stop building on a popular seafront leisure area.
Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors on Worthing Borough Council
last night joined forces to scupper controversial plans to move Worthing
Sailing Club's headquarters.
Protesters feared this could open the floodgates to further development of
Goring greensward, which they regarded as protected public open space.
Lib Dem leader coun Bob Smytherman presented a 2,801-name petition calling
on the council to reject the proposed relocation despite warnings that the
club could close.
The tide turned in favour of protesters when senior Conservative Steven
Waight, a Goring ward councillor, launched a scathing attack on council
officers for "rubbishing public opposition".
He said officers had treated protesters' views in a manner bordering on
contempt.
Coun Waight told the council's overview and scrutiny committee: "I have
always pledged to protect the greensward from any form of development."
He was backed by fellow Goring Tory councillor Ann Sayers, swinging the vote
7-6 in favour of the protesters.
Frank Lee, chairman of Goring Residents' Association, said after a sometimes
heated meeting: "This is definitely a victory."
However, the issue still had to go before the council's Cabinet for a final
decision on November 6.
The row erupted after developers unveiled plans to construct scores of flats
close to the existing sailing club, which warned its view of the sea might
be partially blocked by the new housing scheme - a claim disputed by
protesters.
To overcome this problem, the club wanted to move from its base east of Sea
Place to a site about 150 yards west, where a new HQ was planned partly
within its existing boat compound.
But the club sparked uproar by saying it also needed a small plot of
neighbouring land outside the compound to bring the building nearer the
coastal path, enabling race officials to have an unobstructed view of the
sea.
Richard John, treasurer of the sailing club, his voice choking with emotion,
said: "We need to be able to see the sea as far as Ferring to the west and
Worthing Pier to the east.
"We feel it is essential there is a sailing facility in a place like
Worthing. Our club is 100 years old. We also want to save the greensward,
but to call this little bit of land greensward I am afraid is stretching the
imagination a bit.
"If we are left where we are we shall have to close. Our club will not carry
on."
He was backed by Conservative councillor Clive Roberts, who said: "This
little bit of land is not important."
But Mr Lee said: "Residents have nothing against the sailing club. It's a
great feature of Goring, but if the council is allowed to give up this small
piece of land it puts all of the greensward under threat."
