A large area of The Severals (173 acres) has been identified by WSCC and the SDNPA as a possible sand working site. The Cowdray Estate which owns the land has expressed an interest in developing the site for minerals extraction.
If that were to happen it is the Parish Council’s view that it would be disastrous for the local area. Although The Severals is in the parish of Woolbeding there would be a considerable effect on everyone living in the Bepton Common area and for the village as a whole. Workings can go on for 20 years or more.
The County Council and the Park Authority are carrying out a consultation exercise involving the Severals and a number of other sites. The consultation period ends on 22 September. Let WSCC know your views on sand working in the Severals without delay! There is a link to the relevant WSCC/SDNPA documents and response form here.
Inevitable features of this proposal would include:
- Extensive tree felling
- Ruination of the landscape
- Permanent and perhaps vast holes in the ground (like at Minsted)
- Alterations to the level and flow of groundwater (and the potential effects this would have on your garden)
- Severe damage to plants and wildlife including habitat destruction and severance of wildlife corridors
- Additional heavy traffic on the A272, with possibly a new roundabout at or near the Severals Road junction and more heavy traffic in Midhurst
- Impact on Public Rights of Way – this area includes part of the Serpent Trail
- Noise from tree felling, use of heavy vehicles and dust pollution are additional problems that would adversely affect the area
If you object to this proposal write and tell the Council so in your own words and with your reasons.
The address to write to is:
Strategic Planning (Minerals Local Plan)
West Sussex County Council
County Hall
Chichester
PO19 1RH
They can also be emailed at mwdf@westsussex.gov.uk
Information from the websites of the following organisations might provide extra ammunition to include in letters of objection.
- Friends of Midhurst Common
- South Downs National Park Authority
- West Sussex County Council
- Cowdray Estate
- Council for the Protection of Rural England
- Bat Conservation Trust
- RSPB
- Sussex Wildlife Trust
- The Midhurst Society
.
Bepton, West Sussex 
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I fail to see how this can be called a Holistic Estate which cares about the land. It is the absolute opposite. I live in Heatherwood a short distance from the proposed site. The extraction of sand will have a devastating effect on people’s lives. Breathing particles of this nature will affect the lungs and cause early death.
So much is said about air quality these days how it can indeed kill people with asthma. With the lorries thundering through Midhurst and affected areas this indeed will have that affect.
Rosemary: It is important that you make your views known in the consultation. Details of how to do so can be found on the pages of this blog.
We have had costly problems not only because we unknowingly bought our bungalow which is built on shifting sand but a stream running through which erodes our land – therefore drastically altering the area s geology sounds to me a thoughtless mission and Benton have had flooding – now to add to the problems are houses being built on the waste sight – the drainage is far from adequate-