Challenge in the country

Few would argue Mid Sussex has some of the most beautiful scenery in the county.

However, problems of rising house prices, a shortage of low-cost homes and a lack of adequate community facilities are threatening the lifeblood of the rural economy.

Authorities are struggling to solve the problems without damaging the nature of the countryside, which is cherished by all.

Community leaders recently held a State of the Area debate, the first one of its kind, hoping to identify the problems in Mid Sussex as part of the Local Government Act 2002.

More than 80 people from across the district gathered to discuss possible solutions to the growing dilemmas facing the community.

Mid Sussex has traditionally been seen as an affluent area but it is this apparent wealth which is forcing many key workers to move.

As in Brighton and Hove, housing has become a major concern for the authorities, who fear industry could suffer if workers are forced to move to cheaper areas.

District council leader Christine Field said: "People are concerned about housing for our young people in the district.

"We are not going to solve the housing problem in a year but I think what this sort of debate can do is help increase our understanding and public understanding of the complex issues.

"We all want new houses but none of us want new buildings. There is real tension between the need to provide new housing and the value of the countryside.

"Mid Sussex has got a good record of providing brownfield sites but there comes a point when you cannot do that anymore."

Stephen Rostron, area director for Sussex Enterprise, fears there is a real danger of businesses losing out because staff cannot afford to pay such high house prices.

He said: "Younger people cannot afford to live in the area and supply of skilled workers starts to drop off.

"You end up with a situation where you can no longer sustain business in the area and while it may not be palatable for everyone, business is what sustains the area in which we all live.

"The problems for Mid Sussex are generally the same everywhere: Affordable housing and an inability to fill the spectrum of employees, from low-skilled workers to highly-skilled management.

"You need to be able to attract and retain those sorts of people. You need to be able to travel about the county in an efficient way.

"We have industries in Sussex that require traditionally low-paid workers. If they cannot live here or relatively close to their place of work they will move elsewhere.

"If people come from outside the area, that creates traffic problems and has a knock-on effect."

However, according to Mr Rostron it is not just lack of affordable housing which is causing problems.

Traffic congestion, parking and lack of community facilities have all had an impact.

He said: "You need adequate schools, social and health care facilities. All of those things are part of a balance that needs to be reached, otherwise you end up as a new town which is empty in the morning when everyone goes elsewhere to work and fills up again at night.

"When you are looking at infrastructure requirements you have to have at least some of them in place before you start building houses.

"I admire the council for trying to bring it all out into the open but solutions will almost certainly require compromise, such as the loss of one greenfield site to save a much larger greenfield site elsewhere."

Housing is something Burgess Hill town councillor Gill Balsdon is very familiar with, having been involved in extensive discussion for future housing to the west of the town.

She said: "Mid Sussex has its own problems. They are not the same as Crawley or Brighton.

"There is a lot of housing being suggested in Mid Sussex and no one wants it next to them. Housing is something people get concerned about, sometimes unnecessarily."

Housing was not the only issue which people felt was important in the area. The district council has recently put up parking charges, which has led to concerns about people parking in residential areas, drivers ignoring signs and illegal parking.

Mrs Balsdon said: "I don't know why we can't have a five-minute stop because a lot of people who park illegally generally only want five minutes to get money out of the bank.

"The district council is a bit touchy about car parking charges at the moment. They know it was unpopular to do and they know they did not consult the town council.

"They have shot themselves in the foot because people are no longer using the car parks."

Mrs Balsdon was also present at the State of the Area debate and although she had reservations, she felt the idea behind it was beneficial.

She said: "The idea of the meeting was a good one although I am not sure how much will come out of it. It was the first one and it is always difficult to set something up.

"The idea of getting non councillors in there is excellent but they are not used to that type of discussion and it takes a while to get used to it."

A report is due to be published later this year and the council is planning further meetings.