Littlehampton residents's anger at Arun District Council's bunds

Residents of Helyers Green, Wick, Littlehampton, say newly installed anti-parking bunds are “wreaking havoc” in the residential area.

Debra Nalden, who lives in the green, said Arun District Council told them the measures were put in place to deter residents from parking around the green and to prevent travellers “encroaching on the land”.

She said people are worried that emergency vehicles will not be able to get through the narrow roads due to the bunds, which are mounds of material placed near the kerb of the road, and do not understand the need for them.

“Residents always park considerately as the roads are very narrow and very often larger vehicles can struggle,” said Ms Nalden.

“Occasionally when the weather is fine cars are parked on the very edge of the green. 

“This is always as a last resort.

"One resident who has lived here all her life had told us that she has never known travellers to invade the land in the 50 years she has lived here."

The council has been slammed for how it went about installing the bunds, with Ms Nalden saying residents “awoke to diggers moving earth” after no warning or consultation.

The bunds had to be reinstalled after being placed less than a metre from the kerb.

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There are also fears about what has been used to create the bunds, which residents say includes “glass, rubble and boulders”.

The bunds being installed (Image: Debra Nalden)

Ms Nalden said a child has already been injured.

“Our complaints to the council have fallen on deaf ears,” she said.

A spokeswoman from Arun District Council said the bunds were to protect the “important amenity”.

“In common with other projects across the district, which have been well received by the public, we have installed earth bunds at the greenspace at Helyer’s Green,” she said.

“This work has been done to deter unauthorised access onto this greenspace, thereby protecting this important amenity for the benefit of the community to enjoy as intended.

“Initially work was not completed to our satisfaction and contractors were asked to return to rectify a number of issues which included some concerns raised by residents and local councillors.

“These matters have now been addressed and the bunds will shortly be sown with some wildflower seeds, with a community bulb planting event planned for the autumn.

“The bund will continue around the entire greenspace in due course.”