Latest News of Local Interest

Bobservation No. 87: Village Times & Politicians

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Collage for Bobervation 87

The Changing Times of Fulking & Edburton Vol 2 2007-2015 by Tony Brooks
Tony’s son Trevor has uncovered some 25 copies of this remarkable history that Tony created. He has requested that these be sold for a donation to be given to the Alzheimers Society. I do highly recommend this to villagers for a donation of £5 cash. Please give me a shout on 271 or email me if you would like a copy. If you know someone who has Vol 1 this would make a very nice stocking filler!

National Governance
Believe me this is an apolitical opinion. Over the course of my long life I have at various times supported and voted Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal and Social Democrat. I just feel so aggrieved at the attitude and performance of the current Government that I had to express my thoughts. I have seen countries governed by political clowns such as Mussolini, Berlasconi, Trump and Bolsonaro and it saddens me to see my own country falling into the same political cesspit. The awarding of peerages for personal favours and to chums has reached a ludicrous level and greatly diminished the standing of the House of Lords, not that it was ever particularly very high! I do hope that the electorate will take on board the criticisms by John Major about the appalling Owen Paterson scandal. As villagers we take part in the first rung of the ladder of democracy in appointing Parish Councillors and subsequently District and County Councillors and lastly Members of Parliament to represent us at the highest level. I do beg you, when the appropriate time comes, to cast your vote thoughtfully and with consideration for the immediate past. It is correct that Governments and Councils should be held to account for their performance while in office.

Christmas Party
It had been intended to have the usual village Christmas party in the village hall on Saturday 11th  December. The Fulking Social Committee decided not to go ahead with the event due to the difficulty of complying with basic Covid precautions. An outdoor event will be held in the North Town Field taking its place. Please do not relax your caution in fighting this pandemic.

Village Hall Meeting – Saturday 4th December 2021

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Please help save our Village Hall

Public Meeting 10am Saturday 4th December 2021

You are all invited to attend a meeting being held in the Village Hall to discuss the future of this important community asset. As you may be aware the hall is owned by the Church but is currently managed under an informal arrangement by the Village Hall Action Group (VHAG). The Parish Council for some time has been keen to formalise an arrangement with the Church to secure the hall for use by the community.

Earlier this year the Church was considering the future of the hall and following close dialogue between the Church, the Parish Council and representatives of VHAG all parties are keen that we protect this asset for use by the community and secure it for future generations.

At the meeting we will share and discuss more details of our plan which is to create a Fulking Village Hall Trust and for them to purchase the land and hall from the Church.

Do please come along.

Mark Hind – Chairman Fulking Parish Council

Reverend Tim Harford – Rector Mid Downland Parish

Please note in order to minimise the risk of Covid-19 we are asking all attendees to wear masks whilst in the hall and to wear warm clothing as the windows and doors will be open for ventilation.

Planning Meeting 30th November 2021

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You are cordially invited to an Extraordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council, on Tuesday 30th November 2021 at 7.00pm via Zoom where the meeting will consider the items set out below. 

If you wish to participate in the meeting, please can you email the Clerk on  parishclerk@fulking.net who will provide you will the log in reference. 

Mark Hind – Chairman  

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.  

21/089/PM.          Apologies for Absence. 

21/090/PM.          Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

21/091/PM.          Planning matters 

Location: Customary Cottage The Street Fulking BN5 9LU SDNP/21/05523/CND 

Proposal: Variation of condition 4 relating to planning approval SDNP/21/03640/HOUS to change the use of the garage from incidental use to ancillary use, in connection with the main dwelling 

21/092/PM.          Planning matters 

Location: Arbor Vitae The Street Fulking BN5 9LU SDNP/21/03914/HOUS 

Proposal: Extension to swimming pool plant room. Erection of single storey artist’s studio to rear of garage in walled garden

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 13th January 2022. 

On the market

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Small Acres

The land, which is about 2 acres, is entered through iron gates off Clappers Lane close to the entrance to Preston Nomads Cricket Club. We understand that, dating back to the 1960s, the site was used as a caravan park. Within the plot there is a large concrete hardstanding and the remains of a timber outbuilding with WC, electricity supply (not connected at present) and telephone (also not connected). on the south side of the land is a small caravan.

Bobservation No. 86: Tony Brooks

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Image of Tony Brooks at Fulking FairSadly, Tony Brooks passed away on Sunday 17th October as the result of a stroke and after some 5 years of Alzheimers, the latter eighteen months of which were spent in a nursing home. He was 89.
His total involvement with Fulking was greater than any other villager in the thirty years I have been in Fulking. His advice and help was always available and his engineering background very useful.
Tony and Doris first came to Fulking in 1965 when they purchased the nursery garden at Hillbrook. Over the next 50 or so years he was involved, one way or another, with everything in the village. Having lived in a mobile home on site for 5 years he obtained planning permission to build a bungalow and proceeded to build it himself! The nursery closed in 1998.
Tony’s activities included being elected to the Parish Council and subsequently becoming Chair, and being a backbone of the village Social Committee. He was very active in the Village Hall Action Group improving and maintaining the village hall.
The author of a most comprehensive history ‘The changing Times of Fulking & Edburton 1900 to 2007’, which details the history of practically every house, the profit from which (several thousand pounds) he generously donated to the St Andrews restoration fund. Subsequently he wrote a Volume 2 covering 2007 to 2015. He also wrote a history of the Shepherd & Dog pub. Copies of these books may be available in due course for a donation to the Alzheimers Society.
While his death does not come as a shock it does bring back many memories of what, in these troubled times, seems to have been so satisfying.
The funeral will take place at the Downs Crematorium, Bear Road, Brighton on Thursday 4 November at 1pm.
Lastly, Doris we are thinking of you and send you all our love.

Bobservation No. 85: Social Samantha

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Customary Cottage, Fulking, 1987, Stuart MilnerNew home
Having rented Customary Cottage for at least three years Samantha, Nick and family (and Temba!) will be leaving the village on 1st October to move into their own home in Henfield. In the short(ish) time they have been here Samantha has been a very welcome driving force in the village particularly for encouraging villagers to get together. She assures me that her involvement with Fulking will continue and I sincerely hope it will.  I am sure you will all join me in wishing them a very happy and long life in their new home.

Fulking village events
As autumn approaches I find the fascinating change of seasons makes me realise how very fortunate we are to live in such a bucolic parish. I have a real awareness of not only knowing many of the villagers but thinking of them as good friends. The Social Committee have pencilled in a couple of dates, one for the village Christmas party on Saturday 11 December and Sunday 24 July 2022 for the annual village fair and RSPCA fun dog show, all this subject to Covid restrictions at the time. Please put both dates in your diary and make a big effort to join in.

Agenda Ordinary Meeting 7th October 2021

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You are cordially invited to the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council, on Thursday 7th October 2021 at 7.30pm to be held at Fulking Village Hall. The meeting will consider the items set out below. 

Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk  

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.  

21/075/OM. – Apologies for Absence. 

21/076/OM. – Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

21/077/OM. – Approve the Minutes* of the Ordinary Meeting of 29th July 2021 and Extraordinary Council Planning Meetings of 5th September 2021   The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting. 

21/078/OM. – Councillor Vacancy. 

21/079/OM. – Reports from District and County Councillors. 

21/080/OM – Market Garden Update 

21/081/OM. – Fulking Parish Council Budget 2022/2023.  

21/082/OM. – Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions:  To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting.  

  • Operation Watershed 
  • Streetlight 
  • Finger Post 
  • Ram Pump Information Board 

21/083/OM. – Playground Maintenance 

21/084/OM. – Village Hall Update 

21/085/OM. – Clappers Lane Water Leak Survey 

21/086/OM. – Reports from Outside Bodies. 

21/087/OM. – Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

21/088/OM. – Correspondence.  To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received. 

21/089/OM. – Financial Matters: To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 13th January 2022