This is a part of Crawley, actually a part of Broadfield, which often gets forgotten as its a little scrap of land separated from the rest of town by the A264.

Its quite likely only by some historical fluke that it has ended up within Crawley’s boundaries instead of in Horsham district. But everyone has heard of it even if few have been there, as its the location where everyone wants a new hospital built, and which was offered by Crawley council to the NHS trust for such a purpose.

What is less widely known is that this is the only part of the town with an AONB designation. This AONB designation seems a little strange, as the parcel of land within our borders is not actually that great to look at. Its pleasant enough, but on its own its not special, or outstanding – its just that it is on the the very edge of a much larger AONB.

At the moment the land is used by the scouts for camping out, and there are a few manky structures and old campfires as evidence.

Walking through the woods here you get a bit of an idea of Broadfield must have been like before it had all the houses built. It must have been quite a sight when the whole hill was one great forest.

Because of the AONB status of the land it is protected from any normal form of development, like houses or offices. The only exception would be something of general use to the community at large, hence the offer to the NHS trust to make it available for a hospital site. It was also put forward as a possible site for a travellers’ campsite and as a mental health facility.

Sometimes you get the feeling that the council’s attitude to this land is like a child with money burning a hole in his pocket and that all the suggested uses are not because this place, right at the most Southerly tip of town, would be the best location for any of them, just that as a piece of land which can’t be developed for anything except for benefit to the community, whenever a need for a community facility arises, Pease Pottage is considered.

If a hospital is ever built here, it will certainly be convenient for us in Broadfield to be able to walk to it. (With the way the traffic backs up here by 7:00am it would be quicker to walk to it as well) It would be convenient for the doctors too, since it backs onto Cottesmore golf club.

In the meantime, we will make the most, of a place where we can have a quiet walk in the country, without having to drive anywhere, as long as we are brave enough to cross the A264. Being on the edge of town might leave us a bit distant from facilities, but it does have its benefits.