ABOUT SOSCA
ABOUT US
SOSCA is an alliance of individuals and groups involved in promoting the environment, community, and economy of Chichester’s coastal plain. Our district is one of the most beautiful destinations for residents and visitors on the south coast but its unique and fragile environment is under threat from both overdevelopment and climate change. As guardians of an area steeped in history and containing some of the south’s most important wetlands and wildlife habitats, we have a duty to safeguard the Chichester coastal plain for future generations.
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WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
We recognise there is a requirement for more housing. What is not wanted is market led housing of high prices or housing for second homes. What is needed is housing that is well built, sustainable, and affordable either to buy or to rent. And for local democracy through communities and local government to determine what is needed and where.
WHAT WE ARE AGAINST
The imposition of a new system which gives priority of developers over communities and imposes a blanket ‘algorithm’ to determine the numbers and where they should be built. The whole planning process would then be determined by central committee within Whitehall. This process would take NO ACCOUNT of the damage to the environment or consequences of climate change. It would result in the coalescence of the whole of the south coast and destroy the very environment the government is constantly saying it is protecting.
OUR SUPPORTERS
The Alliance has built up a wide and inclusive support from parishes across the Chichester Coastal Plain and others. Langstone, Emsworth & Westbourne, Southbourne & Nutbourne, Chidham & Hambrook, Bosham, Fishbourne, Donnington & Stockridge, Hunston, Mundham, Aldmonington, Sidlesham, Oving, Tangmere, Pagham, Selsey Town, East Wittering & Bracklesham, West Wittering, Birdham, Itchenor, together with their many environment groups, residents’ associations and other local organisations. The Alliance works closely with Chichester Harbour Trust, CPRE Sussex, CPRE Hampshire, and other major national organisations. The Alliance has support across the whole of West and East Sussex, East Hampshire and parts of Surrey, Kent and South London.
WHO WE ARE
Libby Alexander
Founder of SOSCA,
Arts Degree, ex UN, ex Trustee of CPRE Sussex
Have lived in many countries but returned to West Sussex where I and my family spent their childhood. It soon became apparent that the landscape I had known was fast disappearing under a sea of developments which were harming the local environment.
Dave Parham
Lead Consultant in
International Development of computer systems​
Successful sailor. Formed Save Our Island Action Group (Hayling) in January 2026 working on behalf of the residents on the island.
Jenny Bentall
BA Hons Social Psychology, MA Social Work.
Teacher training - PGCE
Vice Chair of the Bosham Association​
Backgroundin community development focusing on inner city renewal followed by secondary school teaching in English and Drama. Lived in Bosham for over 20 years.
Catja de Haas
RIBA, PhD, UCL,
MA in Housing & Urbanism from the Architectural Association. Visiting Lecturer at several UK universities.
Encouraging the involvement of communities in rethinking how to design sustainable neighbourhoods. Co-organised a series of lectures for the CDC, Parish Councils and Planners.
Mike Owens
Fireman, Sailor, Surfer and Founder of Hayling Sewage Watch.
Mike decided to create a site that monitored Southern Water's sewage discharges into the sea after becoming ill on several occasions whilst swimming.
Bianca Carr
Associated Member
Founder of Final Straw Foundation in 2018. With a background in healthcare, she inspired communities across the UK to cut down on pointless plastic and protect the environment. the Foundation is now a charity and operates from Emsworth.
Dr. Carolyn Cobbold
Bsc Eng, Msc, PhD (Cam), FRSA,
Research Fellow at Cambridge University
Worked within the corporate risks industry. The organiser of the Going Dutch project of the Manhood Peninsula. This led to being involved in the creation of Europe's largest coastal realignment scheme - Medmerry Nature Reserve.
Rosalind Bowen
Resident in Bosham for many years.
Member of the Bosham Association.​
Resident in the area for many years. A sailor with first-hand experience of the threats to Chichester AONB.
Keith Meadmore
Degree in Business Studies
Experience in operational processes, systems and processes improvement. Actuarial sciences and analysis, especially the monitoring of water companies statistics and data across our harbours and Pagham.
Barbara Melrose
Position of Senior Management across the Health Industry
Long time resident of Emsworth with strong concerns over the growth of development strangling the local communities.
Di Pitts
Agriculture Consultant
Background in farming at Oving together with Agronomy across Southern England.
By working together with many environment and concerned groups we hope to persuade local and national politicians that there is a better and more positive way forward.
STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING
