Regeneration plans to go ahead despite petition

Horsham District Council said it planned to 'open up' the Bishopric area

Plans to regenerate part of a town centre will go ahead unchanged despite a petition signed by more than 1,700 people.

Horsham District Council wants to remove the stream and rockery from Bishopric West in Horsham in an effort to "open up" the area.

The petition asking for part of the scheme to be reconsidered was put to a full council meeting on Tuesday, where members voted to "take account of any comments raised" but not to recommend changes.

Martin Boffey, leader of the council, said: "Places change in accordance with the needs of the people and the times that we are in."

The petition had called the area "a little oasis in the concrete jungle that is Horsham".

It stated: "The removal of stream and rockery would have a detrimental effect on the atmosphere in this part of Horsham.

"It breaks up the noise from the road nearby, it is a haven for birds and provides cool shelter to people in the hot weather.

"There is already ample space for outdoor eating and we need all the green spaces we can get."

Mr Boffey objected to the town being called a concrete jungle and questioned whether that part of the town was a green space, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.

There are no plans to remove the trees lining the stream.

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