Bobservation No. 48 – Changing Times


We live in an age where changes are occurring more rapidly than ever before.

Driving into Henfield from Fulking the other day I found myself being disappointed with the number of new fences that have been put up on the roadside of properties as well as a cultivated look to the grass verges. It seems such a short time ago that all along that particular road was wild but tidy vegetation which seemed the natural way and in my opinion the correct one, preserving the country look of the area.

Maybe I am wrong and in general residents prefer a tidier look both to the hedging and the land in front of it. Having been in Fulking for 26 years and having reached an advanced age I am probably guilty of living in the past. I am appalled by Trump, Brexit, Global Warming, Plastic waste and the lack of social cohesion in the world.

Having said that the very good folk who give up their valuable spare time to get involved with the Parish Council, the Parochial Church Council, the Social Committee, the Village Fair, the Village Hall Action Group to mention a few of the ongoing groups are to be greatly appreciated and bring about a very stable base for the village to exist with as many old fashioned values as possible.

Please put these dates in your diaries:

  • Saturday 8th December – Village Christmas party in the village hall 6 till 8pm.
  • Saturday 9th February 2019 – Wine Quiz in the village hall 7 for 7.30pm
  • Sunday 28th July 2019 – Annual Village Fair 12 till 5pm

Recycling Permits

In a way, this is a trailer for a scheme which starts on 1st October. From then you will need a permit to use a van, pickup or single axle trailer to visit a recycling centre in West Sussex.
Some vehicles will be banned from that date:
• multi axle trailers (four wheels)
• horse boxes
• tipper trucks
• flatbed or dropside trucks
• Luton (box) type vans

The good news is that (provided you are a West Sussex resident) getting a permit takes just a minute or so on-line.

Find out more at the WSCC website.

 

Minutes of Ordinary Parish Council Meeting – 12th July 2018

Minutes of Ordinary Parish Council Meeting
held at 7.30pm on Thursday 12th July 2018 at the Village Hall Fulking.

Present:

Chairman                                         Cllr Firth 

Fulking Parish Council (FPC)         Cllrs Hind, Dyos and Healy 

Mid Sussex District Council          Cllr Watts-Williams 

West Sussex County Council        Cllr Dennis 

Parish Clerk                                     Trevor Parsons 

Members of the Public                 There were 5 members of the public present. 

  1. Apologies for Absence
    Cllr Trist (FPC) and Cllr Wilkinson (MSDC)
  2. Declarations of Interest
    None for this meeting
  3. Approval the Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting of 10th May 2018
    The minutes were approved and signed as a true record of the meeting
  4. Reports from District and County Councillors

    Report from Cllr Watts-Williams (MSDC)
  • The District Plan was adopted at the end of March 2018 with the number of new homes to be built as follows. Years 2014 – 2031 being 16,390. This is made up of 876 pa to 2023/24 and 1,090 pa from 2025 – 2031. A Call for Sites was issued in October 2017, which is published on the MSDC website and this has initially generated interest in a potential 31,000 homes, including the Mayfield proposals.
  • MSDC policy is to build houses in or around existing towns and villages, with towns taking the greater share.
  • The Government has purchased all land around the Northern Arc in Burgess Hill which will speed up the development there which will include duelling the existing A2300 and building the Science Park and Business Hub.
  • Most residents requiring temporary accommodation are currently housed in B&B in Brighton. MSDC are looking to acquire their own temporary accommodation building in mid Sussex.
  • The relationship between SDNPA and MSDC has been challenging especially with regards to planning. Cllr Watts-Williams has been elected to be the MSDC representative liaising between the two bodies.

Report from Cllr Dennis (WSCC)

  • Funding for the A2300 duelling of £17.m has now been approved and is expected to commence in January 2020, finishing in April 2021.
  • Cllr Dennis has spoken to Richard Speller regarding the TRO Parking application submitted by Cllr Hind. This application will be considered for approval in June 2019 for the financial year 2019/2020.
  • PNCC has consulted WSCC regarding bridleway repairs to the entrance of the club and Cllr Dennis suggested that grant funding could be possible to assist with the project.
  • Potholes. Cllr Dennis recommended the Love West Sussex App where the public can photograph a pothole and email the picture to the maintenance / patching teams.
  • WSCC are looking at more effective grass verge cutting solutions and is aware that some grass verges are getting too high especially at difficult road junctions.
  • Cllr Dennis visited the MBT (Waste Management) site in Warnham near Horsham and was impressed with the operation. With recycling static at 45%, more needs to be achieve to hit the target of 55% by 2022.
  • Mid Sussex is one of the worst areas for referring possible children’s mental health issues and Cllr Dennis attended an awareness event in Burgess Hill highlighting the issues. Better collaboration between local authorities, schools and parents is needed.
  1. Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions
    Winter Management Plan
    Cllr Hind has submitted the grit audit to MSDC and bins less than 50% full will be filled in due course.
    If authorised by Highways Department farmers will be used to clear snow from the roads in extreme cases and by paid for their services.Cllr Firth has chased up the new HGV signs however a change of contractor has delayed its installation.
    Operation Watershed
    The Parish Clerk has contacted Edburton Contractors and Land Build to request quotations to alleviate flooding opposite Lower Kents, it is expected that joint site visits will occur in the next couple of weeks.
    Cllrs Healy also suggested that further Watershed monies should be sought for Clapper Lane.
    Road condition PNCC
    PNCC have source quotations for the repairs which have come out far higher than expected. With reference to the note earlier Cllr Dennis suggested that WSCC grant funding should be explored.
  2. Planning Application
    SDNP/18/02349/HOUS – to demolish summer house and build a garden room at 2 South View Cottages, The Street, Fulking BN5 9LT
    It was noted that:
    There were no objections to the plans
    The existing site is very secluded.The Parish Council voted in unanimously in favour of this application
  3. Parking – Road Lines
    FPC are considering parking restrictions close to the Shepherd & Dog for which public opinion was sought with the options of
    a) double yellow lines
    b) single white line or
    c) no lines.
    43 responses were received with 71% in favour of yellow lines. As any highways decision will take to at least June 2019, Cllr Dennis suggested that the Parish Council pay for white lines first, after consultation with the residents who would be most affected, to see what impact the markings would have.
  4. Reports from Outside Bodies
    The Fulking Fair will be held on NTF on Sunday 29th July between noon and 5pm with a dog show, music, food, pony rides and stalls in the streets. This will be preceded by a Call My Bluff evening on Friday 27th July.
  5. Information Items
    FPC were represented at the inter parish meeting held on 10th July. Planning was discussed at length, where it appeared that MSDC were far better placed and more organised with their District Plan that the adjoining area covered by Horsham District Council. GDPR was also discussed and agreed it was still confusing. They are looking to invite SDNPA to the next meeting.Cllr Dyos and the Clerk attended a parish workshop run by SDNPA in Iford on 19th June, there were presentations on whole states, infrastructure, environment and Dark night Skies. The event was well attended and provided a good opportunity for networking.
  6. Correspondence
    Upper Beeding have recently completed a Neighbourhood Plan and the Clerk agreed to share the information with all councillors.SDNPA is looking to create a @Local Heritage List@ which will cover the entire park as one way to identify non-designated heritage assets. Cllr Firth and Parish Clerk agreed to undertake the exercise and respond.
  7. Items for Next Agenda
    •  Dark Night Skies
    • Elections 2019
    • Parking
    • Market Gardens
  8. Financial Matters

2018/2019 Cheques from Barclays current account (50052760 – BALANCE £7,548.66) issued from 23rd April to 12th July 2018.

Date                                 Description                                 Cheque No                          Amount 

23/4/2018                      E.on Direct Debit                                                                       £46.98 

30/4/2018                      Mark Stepney – Grass                 100731                              £360.00 

10/5/2018                      Came & Co Insurance                  100732                              £389.05 

10/5/2018                      MSDC – Dog Bin Mgt                   100733                              £330.84 

10/5/2018                      SLCC Subscription                        100734                                 £84.00 

10/5/2018                      Satswana – GDPR                         100735                              £180.00 

12/6/2018                      APM Refeshments                       100736                                 £41.98 

12/6/2018                      Information Commissioner        100737                                 £10.00 

12/6/2018                      Mark Stepney – Grass                 100738                               £360.00 

12/6/2018                      UK Host4u                                     100739                                 £61.80 

12/7/2018                      Playsafety Limited                        100740                              £100.80 

12/7/2018                      Councillor Training                       100741                                £51.43

Income – 30th April 2018 – Precept MSDC £4,348.00

Date of next Ordinary Meeting Thursday 11th October 2018 to be held at the Village Hall, Fulking.

Meeting closed at 21:25

Bobservation 47: Village Demography

Village Demography

Over the last twenty six years since I first set my roots in the parish of Fulking the demography of the village has changed quite dramatically. Because of this it has become increasingly difficult to get more recent arrivals in the village involved or indeed even to attend village functions of any sort.

The Christmas Party, the Christmas Market, Seedling Sunday and the Call my Bluff evening have fewer attendances year on year. This makes it harder for the small band of enthusiasts to get events off the ground. I quite realise and sympathise with younger families with children to bring up, a living to earn and a household to maintain, which makes it difficult to find spare time to help out.

Maybe your input could get us to change direction or initiate new activities and events. The Social Committee would be delighted to hear from you with new ideas. Fulking is a delightful place and if we wish to keep it so I suggest your giving a few minutes thought to what we might do in going forward and perhaps coming along with your ideas.

If it is easier give me a ring on 271 or email me on bob.pamrowland@btinternet.com.  Please put Saturday 8th December in your diaries for the Christmas party in the village hall from 6 till 8pm.

Lastly let me disclaim any responsibility for Bob’s Cafe in Poynings; however good it may be. Great idea – well done Poynings!

Clappers Lane + Truck = Mayhem

On Friday a truck missed the turn to AVS Fencing in Holmbush Lane and continued down Clappers Lane damaging vegetation and the fencing at Preston Nomads Cricket Ground where it turned around.

According to AVS, all suppliers are given directions and told not to go down Clappers Lane. However they believe that a contributory factor is that the sign on the corner of Clappers and Holmbush Lanes, which they have permission from WSCC to put there, was removed or at least not visible. AVS have mended the fencing and cleared up as best they can, but would appreciate any information about how the sign came to be tampered with. Contact: 01273 492969

Bobservation 46: Village Happenings

Call My Bluff Fulking 2018
Call My Bluff
We have been doing a Call My Bluff evening for quite a few years now and the original formula seems to continue to be popular. On Friday 27th July the evening was as riotous as ever with some really obscure wines. Eight tables of eight contestants and the winning  table succeeded in spite of protests about skulduggery, which were ignored by the judges, one of whom was persuaded by the flattering limerick that won the tiebreak!. Once again many thanks to Dave and Emily from the Shepherd & Dog for all their generosity and hard work, Jackie for her knowledgeable performance, Michael for his complicated scoring, Jay and Louise for such a good raffle, Nick for everything and the few of you who helped clear up afterwards.

Fulking Fair
The Fair was cancelled due to incredibly unlucky stormy weather in the middle of a heat wave. This was most disappointing after all the hard work that had gone into all of the preparation. The Social Committee and helpers give up a lot of their spare time to create an annual event which has become a feature of the Sussex summer. Many thanks to all of them.

Allsorts Fun Dog Show
To try to salvage something from the cancellation of the Fair an Allsorts Fun Dog Show will now take place in the North Town Field on Sunday 5 August from midday till 4pm. Parking in Downside Meadow. Light refreshments and ice creams will be available and of course the Shepherd & Dog will be open as usual. If you have a dog PLEASE join us, if you don’t then borrow one!

Speed Indicator


An LED speed warning sign will shortly be installed at the entrance to our village on a temporary basis. The aim is to improve safety by reducing speeding as vehicles enter the village, to reinforce our speed limits and to collect average speed data.

It will be moved during the next two weeks and may return later in the year.

For the technically minded, these signs are called Speed Indication Devices and are provided by West Sussex County Council.  They display the speed vehicles approach the sign, as well as recording that speed, the date, time and the class of vehicle. No personal data (such as a number plate) is recorded.

Planning meeting 19th July 2018

Drawing of Barn Cottage with red roof

A planning meeting of the Fulking Parish Council will be held at 7.30pm, on Thursday 19th July 2018 at the Village Hall, The Street, Fulking, to transact the following business:

Discussion of:
SDNP/18/03314/HOUS: Extension and re-modelling of existing house
Barn Cottage, Poynings Road, Fulking, BN5 9NB

Members of the Press & Public are welcome to attend.

By prior appointment with the Parish Clerk, a maximum of 2 people may speak for up to 5 minutes each in favour, and a maximum of 2 people may also speak for up to 5 minutes each against the application.

Trevor Parsons
Parish Clerk, Fulking
15th July, 2018

parishclerk@fulking.net
01273 846310
17 Ockley Way, Hassocks,
West Sussex,
BN6 8NE

Be a Councillor

Council elections are coming up in 2019, and it’s not just the Parish Council…

Both West Sussex and Mid Sussex are urging candidates to come forward. Just imagine what it would do for Fulking to have one of its residents as a district or county councillor.

If you are interested in serving your community, now’s the time to start thinking about it.

To find out more, or click the links below or the icons above:
Parish Council – email parishclerk@fulking.net or contact one of the councillors
District Council
County Council 
General Guidance