FORD ECO-TOWN: Residents speak out as eco-town plan unveiled

The information on the 5,000-home development was seen by several hundred people.

Among those who went along to the Regis Centre were Aldwick mother and daughter Pam and Ellie Edgington.

Middle-aged Mrs Edgington said: "I am quite impressed with the scheme. I am interested in the eco-friendly concept.

"I know there has been a lot of information about it and a big band of people opposing it and I wanted to find out about it.

"My main reservation about the scheme is that everything down to the paint used on the homes has to be friendly to the environment."

Ellie (16) said: "I've just completed my geography GCSE at Bishop Luffa School and it was on eco-friendly developments.

"This scheme is the sort of thing we should be doing from now on. We are using a huge amount of gas and electricity and we are running out of supplies.

"There are far more benefits to an eco-town than there are disadvantages. It will make environmentally friendly practices available to everyone and not just a privileged few."

Brendan Keown, a spokesman for the developers, said: "A lot of people want to go along and find out about the scheme. They have heard a lot about it in the media and they want to know more information.

"I would like to think we are reaching out to people and it's nice to see that they are enthused by the idea.

"This is a really important development for the whole of Arun. People know that and that's why they want to get the facts."

The Bognor display was one of three along '“ with Ford Airfield's Saturday market and Littlehampton '“ staged on consecutive days. More than 500 people visited in all.

In addition the website www.fordairfieldecotown.co.uk has received 300,000-plus visits.

Another spokesman, Gary Pleasants, added: "What is becoming increasingly clear from the many discussions and comments we have had is that there are real concerns about the housing crisis and road problems in Arun. Many see an eco-town at Ford Airfield as the best, most sustainable solution to these problems."

The display was staged by the two groups behind the eco-town proposals, the Ford Airfield Vision Group of landowners and developers and the three individuals behind the Ford Enterprise Hub.

Their proposals have been accepted by the government on to a 15-strong shortlist from which the ten locations around the country will be chosen this autumn.

But the scheme has provoked the largest public opposition seen around the Five Villages. Up to 1,500 protestors joined a Communities Against Ford Eco-Town protest rally in Yapton three weeks ago.

Arun District Council has also taken the innovative step of forming a special select committee to examine the proposals in detail.

The committee's recommendations to oppose the scheme are being debated by Arun's councillors before being sent to the government.

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