Fresh Rookwood development plans labelled ‘window dressing’

Earlier this month, the council claimed that ‘nature would be at the heart’ of its revised plan for the site as it outlined proposals to expand Warnham Local Nature Reserve alongside increased outdoor leisure and recreational facilities.

HDC said it has ‘listened and incorporated the feedback from residents, local businesses and key stakeholders in developing this proposal’.

But the revised plans have not gone down well with everyone.

On the council’s own Facebook page one user said: “You are not going to win this one. You have seriously underestimated the strength of public opinion in Horsham.”

Another wrote: “You haven’t listened to anything. I have yet to speak to one local who wants this area developed.

“The residents of Horsham are being boxed in by housing that has encroached on all the green space we want and we need for ourselves and for our children.”

Others labelled the plans ‘utterly ridiculous’ as well as criticising spending on third-party consultants.

One resident said: “This is yet another massive housing development thinly disguised to look like the council are doing something we want.”

Another added: “If nature were really at the heart of your plans for Rookwood you wouldn’t be thinking of building on it at all.”

Another resident wrote: “You do not make a space greener by building on it. This is window dressing to cover a council asset being sold off.”

Golfers’ camaraderie

This week golfers at Rookwood have spoken out about what would be lost if the development went ahead.

There are numerous groups that play there on a regular basis and one of them is the Rookwood Seniors.

Their spokesperson Alan Ridgway described it as a ‘thriving’ group with ages ranging from mid 50s to over 80 with the majority five-day season ticket holders with reserved tee times ever Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They hold two competitions every month, individual and pairs knockout cup competitions during the summer and winter as well as friendly matches against other clubs across Sussex and Surrey both home and away.

Alan said: “The camaraderie that has built up within the society and between seniors of other clubs is a vitally important aspect of the social side of our golf, whilst the game is good for our health and wellbeing.

“We provide significant support to Rookwood through patronising the ‘halfway hut’ during our rounds and The Warnham Barn after golf and for meals on inter-club match days and other occasions during the year.”

NPPF 97

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) contains a hurdle the council will have to overcome it wants to build on Rookwood Golf Course.

NPPF 97 (previously 74) states that existing open space, sports and recreational facilities should not be built on unless they are clearly shown to be surplus to requirements or in the proposed development they would be replaced by equivalent or better provision.

This clause was valuable for campaigners in their fight with the council to secure a replacement for Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre.

The Bridge opened back in 2018, but originally no replacement was proposed. This course of action was justified by the council’s 2011 Leisure Futures Study, which said of Rookwood: “Unaffiliated or pay and play golf is maintaining and growing its interest, the municipal course at Rookwood will continue to be required and should be adequate to provide opportunities for people to gain access to the game.”

It went on to note that the council obtained significant financial benefit from the course, should retain it and work with the operator to seek reinvestment to enhance the viability of the site.

Meanwhile the last published assessment of golf provision is the 2014 Horsham District Sport, Open Space and Recreation Assessment based on 2012 data.

Data put together by residents already shows a decline in golfing provision in the district since then.

Paul Kornycky, who campaigned for a new leisure centre at Broadbridge Heath, said: “It seems incomprehensible that HDC has not learnt from its previous attempts to ride roughshod over national planning policy protection for sports facilities.

“Where is the assessment alleging that Rookwood is surplus to sporting need, which we can all then scrutinise?”

Figures have been shared with the County Times showing the golf course’s usage over the last five years.

The average since 2015 is more than 34,000 rounds a year, and even with periods of lockdown due to the pandemic this year’s figure will exceed this average and could approach 40,000 due to increased demand in 2020.

‘Window dressing’

Keep Rookwood Green Alliance (KRGA) has suggested the council’s new plans ‘with its expensive glossy images is primarily window dressing to lull the public into a false sense of security enabling a watered down and much less attractive development once the site is accepted as part of the local plan’.

The group has asked whether a traveller site was planned and if housing would still be built on Fairway 15 ‘damaging’ the green corridor between Boldings Brook, Riverside Walk and the Red River.

Earlier this month, KRGA held a well-received virtual meeting for residents, starting with a film by Amanda Ward called ‘through the eye of a child’ about what would be lost if Rookwood was developed. This was followed by a presentation providing the context for the local plan and outlining concerns about the impact of development on biodiversity and wellbeing of residents.

Attendees shared their concerns, frustration and anger, with one participant pointing out how Rookwood belonged to residents and was merely owned and managed by the council on their behalf.

Tim Thomas highlighted the progress made on gathering information on wildlife at Rookwood, while Sally Sanderson said they were ‘delighted’ to see such strong support through petitions, survey participation, attendance of the Bio Blitz, work recording wildlife and comments on social media.

Peter Simpson said: “We know what will be lost since Rookwood represents 33 per cent of the large accessible green space in Horsham town whereas many of the councillors making the decision appear quite unfamiliar with the site.”

Council responds

In response the council said work is underway by independent consultants to update the 2014 SOSRA and will be shared as part of the local plan process.

Once completed it will be scrutinised by an independent planning inspector as part of examination hearings.

A HDC spokesman described how the national trend for golf is declining and ‘this area is no different’.

However it does not have specific usage figures for Rookwood Golf Course as it is leased to a private operator and is not in a position to share profitability details.

The spokesman added: “All local authorities are obliged to achieve best value for their land.

“Any funds are reinvested for service delivery to their communities. In this instance, the council, in response to feedback from residents, local businesses and key stakeholders, has changed the proposed plans substantially since original plans were suggested back in 2016.

“If accepted as part of the local plan, the current proposed plan will deliver a sensitively designed development with much reduced housing levels. The revised plan will have no housing allocated on the northern section of the site, only provision of a new school.

“The new proposal will provide opportunities for expansion of the nearby Warnham Local Nature Reserve, as well as increased outdoor leisure and recreational facilities. The northern section of the site will now offer many possibilities for re-wilding, improving biodiversity, enhancing wildlife networks and enabling the community to get closer to nature.”

• An online petition opposing development at Rookwood is closing in on 10,000 signatures. Visit www.change.org/p/horsham-district-council-no-to-rookwood-golf-course-future-development-for-housing