fulking.net - This is the community website for the people of Fulking, West Sussex

Men behaving oddly

Last night at around 3:00am, a car alarm was activated in The Street. When it was investigated, two or three men were seen hanging around by another parked car. The owner of this latter car went outside to check and the men disappeared. The police were called, but they were unable to find anything, although their tracker dog did trace a scent on to the bridleway at the rear of The Street.

Note also that the number plates were stolen from a car parked overnight at the Shepherd and Dog about ten days ago.

If you see or hear anything suspicious, please report it –- the non-emergency number is 101.

Operation Crackdown

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You will now find it easier to report incidents of anti-social driving in Sussex. Sussex Police has re-launched Operation Crackdown – a system that enables anyone to report anti-social driving and abandoned vehicles, either online or by phone

Anti-social driving can be driving that is careless, deliberately aggressive or dangerous. If you see this type of behaviour it is important that you report it, so it can be dealt with in the most appropriate way.

Operation Crackdown is a joint initiative supported by Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP), Sussex Police and all local authorities in the county. It was first launched in 2002 as a way of reporting abandoned vehicles in Sussex, and was expanded in 2007 to cover anti-social driving reports.

The system for reporting anti-social driving has now been made simpler, to encourage members of the public to easily and quickly report this type of incident and users can now keep track of the progress of their case with a specific reference number provided.
Incidents can be reported, either via www.operationcrackdown.org, or by calling 01243 64 22 22, for those who don’t have access to the internet.

Members of the public who are reporting incidents must remember, where possible, the registration number of the vehicle, the make, model and the colour, so the police can identify the vehicle concerned and make contact with the offender.

Every report received through Operation Crackdown is viewed and a decision is made against a set criteria on how best to deal with it. In the majority of cases a letter of advice is sent to the driver or rider, but a report to Operation Crackdown can also lead to arrest and possible conviction, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

Jim Stobart
Road Safety/ASD Co-ordinator
Operation Crackdown
Road Policing Unit | Operations Department
Tel 01273 404571 Ext. 44053

Community Bus Service

Fulking Parish Council along with Poynings, Newtimber, Hurstpierpoint, Keymer, Clayton and Pyecombe Parish Councils were the original supporters of starting up a community led bus service linking those parishes with Hassocks some twenty years ago.

The bus services commenced on the 17th January 1993. Each parish paid a nominal £1 to become members which allowed us to provide a bus service to the parishes. It also entitled the residents and not-for-profit organisations within the parishes to hire the community bus whenever it wasn’t being used on the bus services.

The bus services that we provide are available to any member of the public and we accept all English disabled and pensioner bus passes.

However the service we provide is loss making but nevertheless considered by those who use it as an essential service. It has this problem in common with many rural bus services. The volunteers that provide the service do so without any form of payment whatsoever. As we are a charitable organisation we cannot make a profit. Most of our income is generated by private hires enabling us to plough this back into the organisation and thus continue to provide a bus service to rural communities.

Peter Gibbons
Driver Assessor Trainer/Driver Recruitment
Hassocks Parish Council

Community Bus Route Map

Community Bus Timetable (PDF)

Oil under the Weald

The Battle of Balcombe — [Note: Cuadrilla is prospecting for oil, *not gas*, in Balcombe.]

News that you may have missed

“The rock in the Weald is splendid, it’s extremely good for shale oil,” said Fivos Spathopoulos, a visiting lecturer of petroleum geology at London’s Imperial College who studied the basin for about seven years. “If it works, it’ll be big but we won’t know exactly how big until we drill.” [Bloomberg, July 1st]

“In November, Europa .. applied for an order to quash the decision of the appointed Inspector .. to dismiss an appeal, made by Europa, against Surrey County Council’s refusal to grant planning permission to drill one exploratory bore hole and undertake a short-term test for hydrocarbons at the Holmwood prospect. On Thursday judge Mr Justice Ouseley gave judgment in favor of quashing the Inspector’s decision .. Europa CEO Hugh Mackay commented .. ‘allowing conventional exploration to take place at Holmwood is consistent with recent government initiatives to promote hydrocarbon exploration in onshore UK.'” [RigZone, July 25th]

“Some privately talk of the Weald in the terms of a potential Eagle Ford of Europe, matching much of the same characteristics of the European Bakken just over the Channel in the Paris Basin [PDF]. At a private investor conference last year the Weald potential was described in just those terms and the speaker talked of similar production of 400,000 barrels a day. Never mind that the Eagle Ford this year is pushing 600,000. At 400,000 barrels a day at $105 Brent that’s a tax take of £6.2 billion.” [NotHotAir, July 28th]

Fulking Village Fair – Sunday 28th July 2013

Fulking Fair 2013 Poster Fulking Fair 2013 exceeded all expectations.The weather was perfect, the attendance well up on the last fair and the dog show, food, drink, stalls, music, exhibitors, games, alpacas and owls were all brilliant.

There is no doubt this village fair has become one of the best fairs in the county if not in the country.

Many thanks to all the villagers who devoted so much time and energy in creating a truly wonderful occasion.

Fulking Social Committee

Click here for a selection of photos from Fulking Fair 2013

If you have any other photographs of this year’s fair that you would like to share then please email them to webmaster@fulking.net

MSDC District Plan – Submission

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District Plan

Mid Sussex District Council has formally submitted its District Plan and accompanying documents to the Secretary of State. The District Plan is being produced jointly with South Downs National Park Authority.

The District Plan will now be subject to an independent public examination by a planning inspector. As part of this examination the Inspector will hold a public hearing, these hearing sessions are anticipated to take place during Autumn 2013. Once confirmed, all details relating to the examination process will be advertised, made available online and sent to those people who asked to be notified of the examination.

The Submission documents will be available for inspection from Wednesday 24th July 2013 online at www.midsussex.gov.uk/districtplan and during normal opening hours at Mid Sussex Libraries and Help Points. Full details can be found on the formal Notice of Submission.

Should you have any queries relating to the District Plan, you can contact the Planning Policy and Economic Development Team on (01444 477053) or email planningpolicy@midsussex.gov.uk

Join the Hit Squad

If you’re interested in wildlife and enjoy working outdoors then Sussex Wildlife Trust is looking for conservation volunteers to help at local nature reserves. Every weekend, our Saturday Conservation Hit Squad, led by Sarah Quantrill, visits different nature reserves to carry out important conservation tasks. Summertime work includes path clearing, fencing repairs and bramble or bracken control. As well as learning new skills, getting out in the fresh air and meeting new people, our Saturday volunteers enjoy spotting plenty of wildlife including summer butterflies, wild flowers and birds. Although this is a weekly group working from 9-5pm on a Saturday, volunteers do not have to commit to helping every week. The only requirement is to be over 18 years old and reasonably fit. Lifts are available from Woods Mill nature reserve near Henfield or volunteers can go direct to the chosen nature reserve. If you’re interested in joining us for a taster day or finding out more then please get in touch with Liz Francis on 01273 497562 or email lizfrancis@sussexwt.org.uk

Le Weekend

From the West Sussex County Times:

New research published by the [South Downs National Park] Authority shows that a fifth of Sussex parents travelling by car have felt their blood pressure rise and one in ten has been reduced to tears. And a third of drivers have pulled over suddenly because of fighting and more than a third have had their plans ruined by traffic. .. Nick Stewart, from SDNPA, said: “We all know that travelling by car can be a demanding experience, with tantrums and traffic jams often causing stress levels to rise.”

More bus propaganda here. Those who prefer bribery to moral exhortation should note that bus passengers can “get discounts at the Shepherd and Dog Pub in Fulking and the Hiker’s Rest at Saddlescombe”.

Updated 31st July 2013.

Neighbourhood Watch

Cold Callers — Some Advice

Dear Friends,

This time of year when the weather is hot, the undesirables are out knocking on doors to gain entry and possibly ROB you. Please see below further advice that may help your in making your decision to open your door. You may think my message is a bit strong, but I do not know of another way to tell people to be careful. I hear many times of burglaries where people still leave windows open, doors unlocked because I am just popping to the shops for a few minutes. It takes 2-3 minutes for a burglar to steal from you. Please, please be more aware about your security. Look after your neighbour and they will look out for you.

You can tell door-stop salesmen not to knock — and they have to listen (it’s an offence not to!).

To stop them disturbing you print out Trading Standard’s ‘No Cold Caller’s’ sign (PDF) and put it by your front door. You have seven days to cancel most purchases over £35 made on the door-step. This cooling off period starts when you get written notice of your right to cancel (they have to give you one). If you cancel in this time you should get a refund (including your deposit). There are exceptions – check out the CAB website for details. Remember: the safest approach is to never buy on the door-step or let anyone in if you’re not sure who they are.

If someone knocks that you don’t know:

Don’t answer if you don’t feel safe
Always ask for ID and call the company to check
Don’t sign anything on the spot – get details and do your own research
Never hand over cash or agree for work to start straight away
Call the police if you feel threatened

Best regards,

John Wright MBE
Chairman
Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation.

Mobile: 07917385213
Business:01444 247368
Email: enquiries@sussexnwfed.org.uk
Web: www.sussexnwfed.org.uk