Category Archives: National Park
Hassocks Station plaque
Fulking residents will remember Gina Field as one our MSDC Councillors, when she came to Fulking PC meetings. By 2003, Gina had taken a back seat at the PR business she founded (Field McNally Leathes PR) — still based in Hurstpierpoint.
One of her key local campaigns was to persuade the train companies to retain frequent services through Hassocks Station, and also to improve the indifferent 1970s station building. She always saw Hassocks as a vital stop on the London to Brighton line, and a gateway station for the forthcoming South Downs National Park.
Hassocks Station was rebuilt and opened in July 2013. The improved underpass opened a few weeks ago, and it allows disabled people to use lifts to traverse the station, whether they are rail travellers or not.
This plaque is now at the main entrance to the station.
Richard Corner
Horsdean traveller site gets ministerial approval
The Argus reports:
The Department for Communities and Local Government have confirmed that they will not be calling in a planning application for 12 permanent residential traveller pitches at Horsdean .. the Secretary of State confirmed the site will be given the go-ahead following his scrutiny. Brighton & Hove City Council will now be able to go ahead with their plans to create the site, which extends and improves an existing traveller transit site just to the east of Patcham on the north side of the A27.
Earlier coverage here.
In A Gadda Da Vida
Shoreham Cement Works may yet become the Garden of Eden. Upper Beeding Parish Council is planning an open day with a bus trip and guided tour for August to give local people the chance to find out more. Parish Council Chairman Simon Birnstingl asks “The Eden Project was made on a similar site, could we do something similar?”. Read more at the Shoreham Herald.
The biosphere has landed
Yesterday saw the designation of the first new biosphere site in the UK for almost forty years and the first ever in South-East England. The Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere was awarded this designation by UNESCO at a meeting in Sweden on 11th June. It joins more than six hundred biospheres in over one hundred countries. All the available new information is here and our earlier posts on the topic are here.
The Queen’s Speech
Governance of National Parks Draft Bill
The purpose of the Bill is to enable the composition of National Parks’ authorities to be broadened in the future. The main purpose of the draft Bill would be to provide for the holding of local elections to the authorities.
1 Direct elections
Enable eligible residents of the National Parks to directly elect some of the Authority members responsible for running their Park and taking planning decisions.
2 Amending the political balance requirement on local authority appointees
Allow local authorities to depart from the political balance rule if they appoint three or more members to the Park Authority where doing so would allow them to appoint a representative of a ward within the Park.
3 Allowing a wider range of parish representation
Allow parish councils to select their representatives to a Park Authority more widely. Currently they must select a parish councillor or chairman. They would be enabled to include anyone eligible to stand as a parish councillor.
Police retreat from Dyke
The Telegraph reports:
An illegal rave in a National Park was still going strong after nearly 24 hours after police admitted there were not enough officers to close it down.
Officers struggled to control the crowds and eventually gave up, leaving residents to endure the pounding music.
One resident in nearby Poynings, who did not wish to be named, said last night: “It’s really loud and it’s been going on all night and all day. .. I can see why it might be difficult to move them off the hill but I can’t understand why there aren’t more police officers to get rid of them.”
A [police] spokesman said: “At present the assessment is that it would not be possible or safe to close the event down, given the number of police officers available. “
The Argus has a long report:
“I spoke to one police officer nearby and asked them what they were going to do about it and I was told ‘we only have four officers, so there’s nothing we can do’.”
And the Mail also has the story this morning:
The rave, which is still going strong more than 24 hours after it started, shows no sign of stopping and party-goers have warned it could ‘carry on for days’.
A [police] spokesman said: ‘Overnight it was assessed that due to the darkness, rain, and numbers present, it was not appropriate or practical to attempt to close the gathering safely. With daylight, officers have been re-assuring local residents that action is being taken .. At present the assessment is that it would not be possible or safe to close the event down, given the number of police officers available.’
There is an informative YouTube video here.
Poynings residents express their views in an Argus comment forum:
7:21pm Sun 25 May 14 binbag says
It’s still going on now. No sleep again tonight. Don’t think the police stopped people going up there early enough. As the police are taking no action won’t this just encourage this happening more often.”
7:25pm Sun 25 May 14 Josie81 says
It’s a bloody nightmare here in Poynings. No sleep last night, can’t work today (I am studying for exams), and tonight seems set to be just as bad as last night. Police don’t seem interested in doing anything about it. Probably all down at the beach …
7:35pm Sun 25 May 14 binbag says
I’m in Poynings too. Was so loud last night. Doesn’t seem as loud now but that could be just the way the winds blowing. Too exhausted to do anything today. Hate to be a killjoy but hope it pours with rain tonight!
7:40pm Sun 25 May 14 Josie81 says
Yes, BB, nature looks set to take revenge with lots of lovely rain tomorrow 🙂 What a horrible mess these ravers have made of our beautiful Downs. Feel very sorry for the poor animals trying to rear their young in peace.
METRO now says:
By 7:00am on Monday everyone had gone and just one car remained — which had broken down.
The Argus reports a police post mortem in June:
Senior officers .. blamed rain and darkness for their decision to let the 2,000-strong party go on for more than 24 hours. .. Temporary Chief Constable Giles York .. said “It was dark, it had been raining on and off and footing was unsecure. [Raves] are not safe places. .. It’s not as simple as walking in and taking the power lead out.”
[Updated often.]
BGS Weald Basin report
Today’s papers are full of shale! shock!! horror!!! in the wake of the new British Geological Survey report on oil and gas in the Weald Basin. Contrary to the impression given by the Telegraph, for example, the intersection between the South Downs National Park and the area thought likely to contain hydrocarbons is actually quite small. Fulking is well outside the core hydrocarbon area. If you want to learn more then read the report itself, not the reports of the report.
Setting a benchmark
Trevor Beattie explains to the BBC how an overspend of £2.5m on a budget of £1.5m is ‘leading by example’ and ‘setting a benchmark’ for the National Park as a whole.
Take the Lead
This rather vulgar SDNPA cartoon appears to be aimed at dogs and children rather than their adult human carers. You will want to position your dog or child in front of the computer and then leave the room as quickly as possible. It morphs into an SDNPA endorsement for a brand of commercial dog food at the end.