Fulking Parish Council will hold their quarterly meeting at 7:30 on Thursday January 14th 2016 in the Village Hall — agenda. Members of the Press and Public are welcome to attend.
Latest News of Local Interest
Carol Singing
Join Tricia for carol singing around the village, or to listen at home. Everyone is welcome, of all ages. We start at 5 pm at Tricia’s house, 37, Clappers Lane and finish at the Shepherd and Dog. With mulled wine & mince pies (no need to bring harmoniums, bonnets or top hats).
Tombola
Tombola prizes are still needed for the Xmas party this coming Friday. Deliver either to Louise at 13 Clappers Lane (773) or to Bob at Furzefield, Clappers Lane (271).
Bob
Many a green isle needs must be
Charlie Flindt writes in Farmers Weekly (£):
I’ve been spotted rummaging through the hedges and tracks than border my farm, searching high and low for, would you believe, an electricity substation. It turns out that if you are lucky enough to find one on or near your farm, and it’s over 33kV, you’re blessed: you can now go ‘generator farming’.
On a concrete pad (hmm, carbon footprint?), surrounded by a massive earth bund, an array of diesel-powered (yes, diesel) generators are installed and linked to the grid. Their sole purpose is to switch on and provide back-up power when the national grid is found wanting. They are known as ‘short term operating reserves’, or STORs.
The figures (as supplied by Strutt and Parker) are astonishing. The average STOR will supply 20MW, and so will need 50 400kW generators. The rents are even more mind blowing. The rule of thumb is £1,000-£2,500/MW capacity, so for a 20MW STOR – well, do the sums yourself. The other good news (assuming you yourself don’t live in earshot) is they tend to only work at night – probably something to do with the inherent night-time uselessness of solar farms. And if you do live nearby, fifty grand a year will pay for some serious double-glazing, or even a new house at the far end of the farm.
Poynings News
Eight pages of news from our neighbours.
Carol Service
1937 Burgess Hill Water Act
The following letter has just appeared in the current issue of Poynings News. Since water was pumped from Fulking as well as Poynings, it seems rather likely that exactly the same legal and financial considerations apply to those with water sources on their land in Fulking.
In the 1930s the Burgess Hill Water Company began abstracting water from the natural chalk downs aquifer in Poynings, pumping millions of gallons from boreholes and sending water to the rapidly expanding town of Burgess Hill. The result was that the water table dropped and many farms and other properties in the area found that their wells and springs which had provided water for centuries dried up. The Crown Estates successfully promoted an Act of Parliament which required the Burgess Hill Water Company (and its successors) to provide piped water to the affected properties. Each property was allocated an annual “allowance”, roughly equal to the volume of water previously obtained from wells and springs. Over and above the water allowance the water used was to be charged for. Since 1992 the water in the South East is supplied by South East Water, an Australian and Canadian owned Investment Trust Company, which has progressively taken over several local water undertakings. South East Water is now seeking to renege on its legal obligations to provide an allowance of water without charge. If your property is subject to the above Act you could see your water bill massively increase over the next year or so. My property’s annual water bill is set to rise from a few hundreds of pounds to over £10,000. I am not surprisingly contesting this. I strongly suggest that if your property is affected that you contact me with a view to taking concerted action.
Michael Crowther: Poynings Grange Farm, Henfield Road, Poynings BN45 7AW
07802 201 854 mcrowther@crowtherassociates.co.uk
Buy art, support LAMBS, kill Mayfield
Dance Night in Fulking Village Hall
Fulking Village Hall, Saturday 12th December 7.15pm for 8.00pm!
An exciting night out in the Village Hall
Two live bands. ‘Sold as Seen’ have been a big success at Fulking Fairs, and ‘Kate’s Kitchen Band’ are a great Ceilidh band.
Both bands will get you dancing!
Entry £5, Bring a bottle.
Tickets at the door, so come early!!
Phone Nick on 868 for more information.
Bobservation No. 14
This year the party is being held on Friday 18th December from 6:30pm in the Village Hall as usual (although it was once held in the former clubhouse at Preston Nomads).
We have tried all sorts of variations in the past, carol singing (no one listened!), having a kids’ party at the same time (pretty chaotic!), charging for entrance (someone had to be on the door!), dimming the lights (dangerous with mulled wine!) and finally ended up with what we do now: talk, nibble and drink!
Over the years it has become a wonderful way of introducing newcomers to the village to other villagers and getting them to see what a welcoming and hospitable village Fulking is. All villagers, their families, and former villagers are welcome and although the event is principally for adults, if you cannot get a babysitter, do bring the kids with you. Incidentally, the Shepherd & Dog is having a children’s Christmas party on 24th December at 4:00pm.
We gave up having an entrance fee some years ago (see above) but, if you are coming, please bring a plate of savoury eats with you. Wine both mulled and unmulled and soft drinks are supplied by the Fulking Social Committee and the cost is usually defrayed by having a Tombola, for which we need both adult and child prizes (drop them off at 13 Clappers Lane (Louise, 773) or Furzefield, Clappers Lane (Bob, 271). Help in passing wine and nibbles around is always appreciated, as is clearing up afterwards.
If you are free on the evening of December 18th, I do urge you to come along. I promise we will make you welcome and you will enjoy the company.