Latest News of Local Interest

Bobservation No. 104: No Election, No Mow

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image of un=mown lawn
No Mow May
On Monday 1 May ‘No Mow May’ will commence. This wonderful idea created by ‘Plantlife’ seeks to get us all through the month of May without mowing our grass. Of course, unless you are rewilding 100%, it is allowable to create mowed paths which will enable Robins and Blackbirds to source insects. Otherwise it will free the wildflowers so they can grow wild, provide a feast for pollinators and lock away atmospheric carbon below ground. Now this all sounds very easy but most British gardeners have been brought up with a ‘cricket pitch’ mentality, this encourages large swathes of beautifully geometrically mown green lawn to delight the eye; you must resist this archaic attitude and think of saving the planet from climate change. Beware of marriage destroying arguments! And remember there are no weeds only wildflowers growing in the wrong place!

Parish Council Elections
So it turns out that there is such a lack of interest in standing for election to the Parish Council in Fulking that there was no need to hold an election at all! I believe this means that Fulking continues to have a Parish Council of five unelected members and as vacancies occur villagers will be co-opted by invitation from the currently unelected but co-opted members. I think it is a great disappointment that current villagers are missing the chance to exercise their right to choose who they wish to represent them at the base of the whole democratic process. Of course, ideally, what should happen is that the whole Parish council should have to be re-elected individually at the end of each four year term, but alas such is not the case. I hasten to say this is in no way a criticism of the existing Parish Council.

Family History Workshop

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How to start and help with exploring your family history and to hear from others about their family stories.

Lead by Sue Albery at Beeding & Bramber Village Hall on Wednesday 5th April 2023 at 7.45pm (entrance to car park is opposite the hall). Organized by Beeding and Bramber Local History Society, visitors welcome — £5 entry or join on the night — membership for 1 year only £15.

Bobservation No. 103: Planning Update

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Planning Update: Public Facility

I understand that a planning application will be placed on record at Mid Sussex District Council and South Downs National Park for the installation of a public toilet next to the Ruskin water feature. This will accommodate the needs of both men and women. It is suggested that to conjoin with the name of Ruskin in the village that the proposed toilet be given a title chosen by Fulking villagers. Possible titles might be the name of a local celebrity, a villager or even a politician or member of the Royal Family. Perhaps the toilet could be painted blue to remind us of the political party that has been so successful in restoring confidence and wealth to all Fulking villagers. We could doff our headwear as we pass. [1.4.23]

Charmayne Diamond RIP

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Charmayne Diamond
Alas! What a rotten year we have just had and now more news of another ex- Fulking villager who has passed away. Charmayne was a most enthusiastic villager and greatly enlivened the annual Call my Bluff wine quizzes. I was fortunate enough to be sitting in the Theatre Royal in Brighton with her and Lee on the evening when the Argus award for ‘Best Community event in Sussex’ was awarded to Fulking for the Fair and the three of us went on stage to receive the award. She was so excited. This could only have been achieved with her generosity in running the Dog Show and letting us use her two fields adjacent to her house for the fair. I hope it would not be incorrect to say she was genuinely one of those ‘larger than life’ people who very occasionally cross one’s path. Goodbye Charm!

Bob Rowland

Agenda Planning Meeting 3rd April 2023

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You are cordially invited to an Extraordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council, on Monday 3rd April 2023 at 7.00pm via Microsoft Teams where the meeting will consider the items set out below. The public is invited to this meeting so please contact Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk on 07767 422733 or at parishclerk@fulking.net if you would like to join this meeting.  

Mark Hind – Chairman  

Following the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, and regarding regulations on Access to Local Government Meetings, members of the public are advised that they have a right to film/record the meetings of Fulking Parish Council. Members of the public are also advised that by attending a meeting of Fulking Parish Council, they give their consent to being filmed/recorded by other members of the public, if such activity is taking place. 

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

23/034/PM.          Apologies for Absence.  

23/035/PM.          Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

23/036/PM.          Planning matters- SDNP/23/00661/HOUS

Location: Coombes The Street Fulking Henfield West Sussex BN5 9LX
Proposal: Single and two storey extension (demolish existing extension)

23/037/PM.        Community TRO. 

 

Date of APM & AGM to be Thursday 18th May 2023

Planning Meeting – Sunnyacres

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You are cordially invited to an Extraordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council, on Thursday 23rd March 2023 at 7.00pm via Microsoft Teams where the meeting will consider the items set out below. The public is invited to this meeting so please contact Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk on 07767 422733 or at parishclerk@fulking.net if you would like to join this meeting.  

Mark Hind – Chairman  

Following the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, and regarding regulations on Access to Local Government Meetings, members of the public are advised that they have a right to film/record the meetings of Fulking Parish Council. Members of the public are also advised that by attending a meeting of Fulking Parish Council, they give their consent to being filmed/recorded by other members of the public, if such activity is taking place. 

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

23/030/PM.          Apologies for Absence. 

23/031/PM.          Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

23/032/PM.          Planning matters- SDNP/23/00198/HOUS 

Location: Sunnyacres Clappers Lane Fulking West Sussex BN5 9NJ  

Proposal: Erection of a three bay oak framed garage with clay tiled roof and wood cladding 

23/033/PM.        Any other business. 

Date of APM & AGM to be Thursday 18th May 2023. 

Fulking Parish Council Ordinary Meeting – 16th March 2023

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Dear All, 

You are cordially invited to the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council on Thursday 16th March 2023 at 7.30pm to be held at Fulking Village Hall, the meeting will consider the items set out below. 

Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk  

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

23/018/OM.            Apologies for Absence. 

23/019/OM.            Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

23/020/OM.            Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 12th January 2023 and Planning Meeting on 2nd February 2023. 

The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting.  

23/021/OM.            Reports from District and County Councillors.   

23/022/OM.            Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting.   

  • SDNPA Planning Appeal    

23/023/OM.            Council Elections 

23/024/OM.            Reports from Outside Bodies & Correspondence 

23/025/OM.             Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

23/026/OM.            Playground Update 

23/027/OM.            WSCC Watershed & Drainage update 

23/028/OM.            Clerk Pay Review.    

23/029/OM.             Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure.  

Date of the Annual Meeting is Thursday 18th May 2023.  

Next Ordinary Meeting provisionally scheduled for Thursday 13th July 2023.   

 

Bobservation No. 102: Good Fortune

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Fingers of God - sun shining through cloudGood Fortune
With the news of the Turkish earthquake and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the proximity of Spring is a very good time to reflect on the good fortune of those who live in the Downland villages. It is only by  accident and luck of the draw that we have come to enjoy the stability and peace of the South Downs. Even though I am now living in Henfield my attachment to Fulking is undiminished and I find a new wave of enthusiasm emanating from the Fulking Social Committee under the leadership of Sally Brownie. I like to think that I continued where Nick and Jill left off and have now successfully passed the baton to Sally. These things do not just happen; they require a great deal of time and thought to make them succeed. Without like minded support from the Committee nothing would be possible.

Fulking Fair 2023
Inviting stallholders to the fair and letting them have a free pitch with a voluntary donation, based on success, usually means being inundated with offers. This year is quite different and the response has been very disappointing. Please rack your brains for anyone you know who would like a pitch for Fulking Fair at Perching Sands Farm, Sunday 16 July and let me or Sally know.