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Iconic views


The Sussex Express reports the Director of Planning for the South Downs National Park, Tim Slaney, as saying:

The Rampion wind farm proposals would harm the landscape and cultural heritage of the South Downs National Park introducing 175 turbines into the iconic views from the Sussex Heritage Coast and cause large scale disruption to the landscape of the National Park through the construction of a 14km long and 30m wide cable corridor.

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), which attended 11 days of public examination and submitted in excess of 270 pages of evidence, recommended that the Secretary of State should refuse to grant permission to ensure that the landscape and cultural heritage of the National Park is conserved.

Wealden wins

Wealden CSLP
The Sussex Express reports:

A consortium of landowners have failed in a High Court bid to tear up Wealden District Council’s housing plans for the next 16 years and force it to go back to the drawing board.

One of the country’s top judges dismissed the challenge brought by the group, known as Ashdown Forest Economic Development LLP, to the Council’s Core Strategy Local Plan (CSLP.)

The group claimed the Council, the South Downs National Park Authority and a Government planning inspector who had cleared it to be adopted had been too cautious and protective of the environment and nearby Ashdown Forest. However, Mr Justice Sales today rejected all of the group’s grounds of complaint.

More details at the link.

“New haciendas and gin palaces”

George Cruikshank The Gin Palace
The Midhurst and Petworth Observer reports:

A House of Commons debate on national parks .. was called in response to a government proposal to allow the conversion of up to three dwellings, or the replacement of existing farm buildings, without planning permission.

Mr [Nick] Herbert warned the proposals could lead to ‘the creation of a suburbia .. and inappropriate development — new haciendas and gin palaces — instead of maintaining the character of the parks and the landscape, which was precisely why they were created’.

A number of Conservative MPs, many representing constituencies that lie partly or wholly within national parks, spoke against the proposals. Concerns have also been raised by the South Downs Society and the Campaign for National Parks.

Annual Parish Meeting alert

Woodland Trust sites near Fulking
Woodland Trust sites near Fulking
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on 1st May and the Parish Council has arranged for a speaker from the Woodland Trust. If anybody has any questions, or areas that they would like the speaker to cover, please contact me. And put the date in your diary!

Andrea Dickson
Clerk to Fulking Parish Council
01444 451 060
andreadicksonfpc@gmail.com

Studio Shards

Studio Shards Pauline Findlay
The March issue of BN5 has an article [PDF] about Fulking fused glass artist Pauline Findlay. Pauline is running a series of two-hour workshops in March to introduce people to her techniques (Saturday 8th March 10:00–12:00; Wednesday 12th March 5:30–7:30; Tuesday 18th March 10:00–12:00; and Saturday 29th March 10:00–12:00). More details at her website.

West Sussex Better Connected Website Now Live

better_connetctedGulu Sibanda, Principal Community Officer, West Sussex County Council writes :-

Please be advised that there is now a new website to help promote the benefits of better, faster broadband and therefore giving people information about what is happening and where.

A key feature is the interactive map which details activity by exchange area. As the network is being developed, we will update the map to show where work is being carried out and when new broadband services will become available. Initially the information that we can share on the map will be minimal but once we announce the roll out (before Easter) then it should become a useful visual tool for people to see progress in their area.

The website also has a short animation explaining the technology we will use as well as information about the benefits of better, faster broadband. Users can check the availability of broadband to their home or business and get in touch with suppliers to contract to buy services, in the usual way.

Please visit www.westsussex-betterconnected.org.uk for more information.