Readers may have seen coverage in the local press about two recent developments relating to footpaths and bridleways in the area due south of Bramber and Upper Beeding. Unfortunately the reporting is rather opaque as to exactly what has happened and where. One development is a new (safe) bridleway crossing for the A283. This may be the topic of a further post when a map becomes available. The second development, the one considered here, is the surfacing of a previously unsurfaced footpath running along the west bank of the Adur. This has been compacted and it can now be navigated by people pushing buggies, prams, pushchairs and strollers, or those in invalid carriages or wheelchairs. The newly compacted path runs from St. Botolph’s (almost) to the centre of Bramber. You can click the thumbnail for a PDF map that shows the enhanced section as a continuous red line marked 3516 and 1933 (done by hand — other footpaths appear as segmented red or green lines).
[Many thanks to Martin Leigh-Pollitt of the Steyning & District Partnership for providing the map.]
Sussex Wildlife Trust is generously offering to pay a total of £100 for a set of a dozen professional quality photos that they can use in their calendar, magazine and website:
We are looking for twelve stunning photographs capturing the best of the wildlife and landscapes of Sussex. Show us the wild places that are special to you. It could be high on the Downs, deep in the woods or your favourite urban nature spot. We’d also love to see your local wildlife shots. Amaze us with the ladybirds in your garden, migrating wildfowl, macro spiders, flowers carpeting a woodland floor, colourful fungi, clouds of downland butterflies or a sleeping hedgehog in the park.
*The relevant calculation assumes that each photo will take one hour to produce, on average. Only one photographer will actually receive any money. The remaining set of mugs will receive a set of mugs.
The show will be held on Saturday August 15th 2015 in the Mackley Sports Field. The show is open from 1.30pm, entry to the marquee commences at 2pm and the show will close at 5pm. There will be a dog show, stalls from local charities and societies, childrens’ amusements, music from the Patcham Silver Band and refreshments. The marquee will hold displays of oddly shaped vegetables, local produce, handicrafts, photography and cooking that will be judged as part of the show’s events.
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.]
The annual meeting of the Fulking Village Action Plan Group is to be held on Wednesday 12th August at 6:00pm in the Village Hall. As the plan is now established and is ticking along, it has been suggested that the group should be disbanded and responsibility for the plan handed over to the Parish Council. This way, the plan will still be active and the opportunity to update it will still be available to the community.
If you have any suggestions, thoughts or comments, please do come along to the meeting to discuss them.
Kate Watson
Secretary, Fulking Village Action Plan Group
[Cartographical note: the thick red line shows the route of the four lane rat underpass that is being built to connect Brooklands Pleasure Park to Bolney.]
