No joy in search for Sidley homes site

Monday's cabinet meeting agreed to take no further action.

There was outcry when it was proposed to build on part of the off-street car park. Officers were asked instead to look at other Rother-owned land in Sidley.

Of 13 sites examined, three were deemed to have potential:

*All Saints' allotments, between All Saints' Lane and Ninfield Road

*Open space and woodland north of Sidley

*Woodland at the junction of Turkey Road and St Mary's Lane

In a report to cabinet, director of services Tony Leonard invited councillors on Monday to decide which if any should be subject to detailed analysis.

Some 10,000 from the economic regeneration land banking fund would have been necessary to do a feasibility study on each site. But in his report, Mr Leonard warned that:

*All Saints' allotments were well-used and while the allotments had no statutory status, change of use to housing would be "controversial". Such a prominent site would have to be landscaped. Highway access would have to be provided for more than 30 vehicles.

*While woodland north of Sidley was not preserved, any development would be beyond the built-up area

*The woodland on the Turkey Road-St Mary's Lane junction "makes a substantial contribution to the amenity of this area and its loss would be opposed."

The original Sidley car park report had suggested one and two-bedroomed apartments in a three-storey building with parking underneath.

Cllr Stuart Earl said it would still be possible to build something of this nature on the site of the existing lock-up garages on the edge of the car park without loss of parking spaces.