Introduction

The Ford Enterprise Hub (FEH) concept is a bold attempt to address the transport, employment and land use issues facing Arun District in the period after 2011, centred upon a disused airfield and an underutilised main line railway station, both at Ford.

FEH adopts a sequential approach to the issues and problems facing Arun District. It addresses transport and employment issues first and then allocates residential development in support of these twin aims. By adopting this “joined up thinking” approach we are trying to avoid the “where shall we put the houses?” approach.

Development and infrastructure issues will always be controversial, often because they have a history of not being properly co-ordinated. By taking this approach the Ford Enterprise Hub concept offers an opportunity to solve many district-wide problems and, at the same time, to take a giant leap forward in our economic regeneration efforts.

FEH focuses particularly on the problems facing the coastal towns of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and includes proposals for a new Science or Technology Park, a new Parkway railway station, a new link road between the A259 and A27, solutions to numerous road transport and safety issues, new homes located around a multi modal transport hub, better paid jobs and expanded Marina facilities.

The FEH proposals are written by three members of the community – Tony Dixon (former District Councillor), Harold Hall (former County Councillor) and John Penfold (Parish Councillor).

We are not developers, not landowners, are under no Party political influence and we have no beneficial interest in development at Ford. We are simply interested members of the community. FEH can therefore be properly described as a community based initiative.

FEH is our own local vision for our own local community, a vision which stems from concern, experience and local knowledge.

The FEH concept is similar to, but not the same as, the Ford Airfield Vision Group proposal and so should continue to be seen as a separate proposal in its own right.

Page last edited: 12/05/2008