Category Archives: National Park

Residents to solve monkey puzzle

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Protest march at Shamrock Farms
The West Sussex County Times reports:

Councillors were urged by planning officers at this week’s planning committee meeting to make a decision on the future of an old ‘monkey farm’ .. the two commercial buildings located on a brown field site in Small Dole have been proposed to be demolished and replaced by two detached houses with garages .. the application has been refused on previous occasions, reducing the number of dwellings from four, to three, and finally to two .. the industrial buildings were marketed for commercial use over a specified period, but did not generate any interest. .. It was finally agreed that the application be refused and the decision to be placed in the hands of residents as part of the local parish council’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Removal of overhead power lines

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Eyesore on the ridge above Fulking
The South Downs National Park Authority has a relevant press release:

Local residents and walkers using footpaths around the South Downs village of Cocking now have a clearer view, thanks to a £25,500 scheme by Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD) to remove nearby overhead power lines. .. SEPD engineers have recently completed a three month project to replace overhead electricity lines from land near the church with replacement underground cables. Three spans of power lines have been taken down and four wooden poles. .. The project was funded by a special allowance, granted to SEPD by industry regulator Ofgem, to invest in projects to underground power lines in AONBs and National Parks in central southern England.

3000 years in 3 hours

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Saddlescombe in the Bronze Age
Saddlescombe Farm, Sunday 23 February 2014, 10:00am — 1:00pm, all tickets £3.00, children and dogs on leads welcome, slightly challenging walk, advance booking not needed.

An opportunity to discover an ancient downland farm and its surroundings. Saddlescombe Farm has seen over 1000 years of history and still retains many of its old buildings, including the donkey well and 17th century barn. The surrounding downland holds even greater allure with over 3000 years of stories to tell.

More information: Graham Wellfare, 01273 857712, graham.wellfare@nationaltrust.org.uk

Flood inhibition

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SDNPA flooding
Six hundred trees are being planted on farmland in the South Downs National Park to help prevent a repeat of recent flooding and soil erosion.

David Hamilton Fox, who manages the Cowdray Home Farms, in West Sussex, said: “The River Rother in the heart of the South Downs National Park floods most years but this winter has been particularly bad. As well as misery for locals we have lost a considerable amount of topsoil, which is vital for growing crops, and will eventually increase the silt in the river – perhaps leading to more flooding.

More here.

An 18% premium

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Fulking property
The Independent reports:

Figures from Nationwide suggest there is an 18 per cent premium for a property situated within a National Park and an eight per cent premium for a property within 5km of a National Park.

England’s newest National Park, The South Downs National Park in Hampshire and Sussex,contains the highest number of households, around 47,000.

Join the Saddlescombe education volunteers

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Volunteer teaching team at Saddlescombe Farm
Learning outside the classroom: join the new volunteer teaching team at Saddlescombe Farm. A new classroom is being developed in one of the farm buildings. The day will be spent introducing the education staff, meeting current volunteers and finding out what is planned for the future.

Friday, 24 January 2014, 10:00am — 1:00pm. More info here.

“A community impact assessment”

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Nineteen Acres
The Argus reported yesterday that:

Travellers have moved onto national parkland north of 19 Acres in Brighton. About 40 vehicles were reported to have set up an unauthorised encampment on land north of 19 Acres in Dyke Road, Brighton yesterday. The group is believed to be the one evicted from Sheepcote Valley by Brighton and Hove City Council on Tuesday evening. Officials believed the group would move into West Sussex, not onto land it owns in the South Downs National Park.

A council spokesman said that officers will visit the new site to carry out “a community impact assessment”.

Idyllic spot for care home

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Court Farm House in Toads Hole Valley
The Argus reports:

Thornton Properties wants to demolish Court Farm House in Devil’s Dyke Road, Hove, and replace it with a 58-bedroom care home and five detached properties. The land, which is near the junction of the A27 and the South Downs National Park, is part of the Toad’s Hole Valley site. Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee threw out the plans in March 2013, as it did not match with the long-term vision for the site. The developers have appealed the decision, which [is now being] scrutinised by a government inspector after an inquiry in Hove Town Hall [which started] at 10:00am today.