Sir Peter Bottomley has made the following statement on his Facebook page:At the recent Public Inquiry, the Council made a very clear case against the development, Ferring Conservation Group made a very clear case against the development. I would like to think that I, too, made a very clear case against the development.However, in spite of the clear case against the unwanted development, the Inspectorate has now ruled that the appeal should be allowed and granted outline planning permission to concrete over the north Goring Gap.I am wildly angry, to put it politely.If West Sussex Council wants Goring Gap to be a green space, if Worthing Borough Council wants Goring Gap to be a green space, if Arun District Council wants Goring Gap to be a green space and if the entire community is united in wanting Goring Gap to be a green space, surely Goring Gap should be a protected green space.I do not believe a planning inspector should be able to overturn the decision with three vague paragraphs.I will seek to speak immediately with the Chief Whip, the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister.The decision has to be called in for review by the present Secretary of State. It must be overruled.If any Inspector can trample on the democratic responsibility of the planning authority in this way, what is the point of Worthing Borough Council and what is the point of the member of parliament?The fight to protect Goring Gap goes on, the battle is not lost.We are grateful for his consistent and full-hearted support. – Ed
