Statement from Southwater Parish Council Regarding Planning Application DC/25/0638

Southwater Parish Council is aware of several inaccurate and misleading comments that have circulated on social media following the Planning Committee meeting of 4th June 2025. We appreciate the community’s engagement in local matters, particularly where they concern youth provision and public open space. However, the Council has a duty to address several false claims, personal accusations, and misinterpretations that have been shared publicly.

On the Decision to Object to DC/25/0638

The Planning Committee’s decision to object to planning application DC/25/0638 was based on planning law and independent advice, not personal bias or favouritism.

The proposed site lies outside the ‘Built-Up Area Boundary’ and is therefore non-compliant with the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan (SNP) a planning document prepared by the local community and approved at referendum by 2,440 residents, with approximately 83% voting in favour. The SNP currently carries full planning weight, especially given that Horsham District Council’s emerging Local Plan has been declared legally unsound.

Independent planning advice obtained by the Council confirmed:

• The site is a landscape of Local Value, identified as having no capacity for development (Southwater Landscape Sensitivity & Capacity Study – Reg 15 document).

• The scheme would introduce urbanising features into an undeveloped rural setting.

• The inclusion of a car park and absence of sustainable transport measures or EV provision conflict with SNP15.
  

While the Council is wholly supportive of the need for sports pitches, this particular proposal does not comply with planning policy, and to have supported it regardless would have been a dereliction of responsibility to uphold the Neighbourhood Plan.

On Pre-Application Engagement with Southwater Football Club

Southwater Parish Council’s Pre-Application Panel met with the Chairman of Southwater Football Club prior to the Planning Committee meeting.

At that meeting, the Panel was broadly supportive in principle of improved football provision in the parish. However, it was clearly explained that the proposed site was not compliant with the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan, which limits development to within the Built-Up Area Boundary.

The Council recognises that the need for new facilities arises from the landowner’s decision not to renew Southwater Football Club’s lease of Phillips Fields (as advised by the Chairman of SFC), which has placed the club in a difficult position. We shared in the frustration that this has necessitated a change-of-use application for agricultural land and regret that a more policy-compliant alternative has not been secured.

Importantly, the Council has supported Southwater Football Club, and this support was reflected in the inclusion of Phillips Playing Fields (used by the club for over 40 years) in the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan under Policy SNP7, which designates it for formal and informal sports.  Both the Council and SFC share its frustration that the lease was not renewed.

On Allegations of Conflict of Interest

Claims that Councillors Derek Moore and Graham Watkins acted in breach of the code of conduct or failed to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest are entirely false.

Neither councillor has any financial or personal interest in Southwater Football Club or the land subject to application DC/25/0638. Both have acted within the rules, as per the Local Government Association guidance on the Councillor Code of Conduct.

Interests must arise from specific business before the Council, not from perceived connections or unrelated trustee roles. Any assertion to the contrary is misleading and speculative.

On Comparisons to The Ghyll and their 3G Pitch Proposal

It is not appropriate to compare the Council’s planning response to DC/25/0638 with any other application, such as the 3G pitch proposal at The Ghyll. Applications must be considered on their own merits and within the relevant planning framework.

On the Use of Section 106 Funding

S106 contributions are not controlled by the Parish Council. They are governed by legally binding agreements and administered by Horsham District Council.

The idea that the Council is attempting to monopolise or withhold funding is completely unfounded and speculative.

On Transparency and Respectful Engagement

All Planning Committee meetings are live-streamed and publicly accessible to ensure full transparency. The meeting on 4th June followed proper procedure and allowed registered speakers the opportunity to make their statements.

The Council welcomes public scrutiny and encourages respectful debate. However, the tone and nature of recent social media comments ranging from personal attacks to unsubstantiated conspiracy theories do not foster constructive dialogue and risk deterring good people from serving the community.