An unauthorised bund around the edge of land at Sopers Farm, Peppers Lane, Ashurst, should be removed, councillors have agreed.
At a recent meeting of Horsham District Council’s development control south committee, Councillor George Cockman (Ind Steyning) said: “The bund has to be seen to be believed. It is an outrageous scar on the landscape, both from the road and on the site.
The committee heard that two lakes had been created on the site and the spoil had been used for the bunds.
Enforcement notices had been issued but the applicant, Guy Harrison, had submitted a proposal to alter an existing wildlife pond and recontour the existing bund.
The application was unanimously refused after members heard there was evidence to suggest the earth bund and unauthorised culverting of adjoining land had caused Peppers Lane to flood in storm conditions.
Ashurst Parish Council had asked for the culvert to be removed and ditches dug out to prevent nearby lanes from flooding.
One objector said the bund made the entrance to a footpath look more like a tunnel.
Councillor Sue Rogers (Con Steyning) said: “The bunds are incongruous and an unnatural feature, many hundreds of metres in length. The land should be put back to where it was.
“There should be enforcement action and it should be monitored carefully.”
