RIVERBANK: Sorry tale of the riverbank is a disgrace

THE Shoreham Herald has kindly kept unwelcome development of the riverbank in the public eye.

It will be interesting to the see proposed plans of the developers. I note that they call it Riverside Walk regeneration, which is the most ludicrous misnomer they could conjure up.

Wiping out a wildlife habitat (flora and fauna) on an existing riverside walk, before even getting planning permission to do anything, is a disgrace.

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They have upset residents, walkers and nature lovers. I feel that they have an uphill task to get their plans approved.

Currently, we are pursuing three courses of action:-

1. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, we can apply for a Definitive Map Modification Order. This will establish that there has been a footpath, with uninterrupted access, for more than 20 years.

2. We shall be checking to see if any covenants would prevent building on this site.

3. We shall contact the Sussex Archaeological Trust to establish their right to survey the whole area of Riverbank Industrial Estate, as this was the site of the ancient Shoreham Harbour, according to the Map of Shoreham dated 1350.

It is obvious that additional housing is required, but, at the moment, the height and density of proposed development projects squeezed into inappropriate sites is wrong.

Peter Horrocks

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