New rat underpass proposed

Andrew Griffiths reports:

There are significant plans being put forward by RWE for the expansion of the Rampion offshore windfarm with an associated onshore cable corridor and a new electricity sub-station. The cable corridor in particular impacts upon this constituency as it cuts through the South Downs on its journey north to the national grid at Bolney.

A map of the existing Edburton rat underpass, aka ‘cable corridor’, can be found here.

An Anglo-Saxon execution burial

Saxon execution burial post-excavation
What archaeologists uncovered along the Rampion cable route: after describing the landscape, the talk will turn to the discoveries they made including the Anglo-Saxon execution burial site that was found on Beeding Hill.

A talk by Ed Blinkhorn and Garrett Sheehan to Beeding & Bramber Local History Society at 7:45pm on Wednesday 3rd April 2019 in the Village Hall, Upper Beeding. There is a hard-to-detect car park immediately opposite.

Poynings & Edburton road closures

Dogleg closure
The dog-leg that connects Poynings to the Saddlescombe Road will be closed from Monday 15th February until Friday 19th February. More details here but the notice appears to be incorrect judging from the diversion signs already posted.

If you were thinking that you might escape from Fulking by driving in the opposite direction, that’s tough, the Edburton Road is also closed, for the same period (rat underpass work). Stock up and stay put.

Rat underpass

The sun sets on Twineham

Mud hut with solar panel and coot Twineham solar farm Phillip Coote

Phillip Coote (Con, Crawley Down and Turners Hill) asked if they should “all live in mud huts and burn wood” instead.

Colin Trumble (Con, Hurstpierpoint and Downs) added: “In terms of planning there’s not a lot we can do about it, but I do feel sympathy with the people and the villagers who are going to be affected.”

Annie Hirst, chairman of Twineham Parish Council, spoke of their “disappointment” at the officers’ decision to recommend the application be approved, and felt the large-scale solar farm would have an “additional cumulative industrialising effect” on the area.

[With apologies to Princeton University for the wilful abuse of their photograph.]

SDNPA Cabling FAQ

Cable pulling Rampion trench duct E.ON
Work is due to start this month on the cable ducts that will provide Lancing and Worthing rats with a safe and sheltered route from Brooklands Pleasure Park to Bolney. Click on the image above for the SDNPA’s notes on the matter. A map of the Edburton rat underpass can be found here.