Latest News of Local Interest

A second runway for Gatwick

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Readers will recall that the Parish Council held a public meeting on Wednesday 30th April to hear the views of the local community and to respond to an earlier consultation document.

Yesterday, the Airports Commission published for consultation its assessment of proposals for additional runway capacity at Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

The consultation presents the commission’s analysis of the proposals shortlisted by the commission last year: two for expansion at Heathrow Airport and one proposal at Gatwick Airport. It invites public comment on the commission’s detailed consideration of each proposal. This includes analysis of the cost of each proposal, the effect on communities of noise, property loss and construction, and the economic benefits and environmental impacts.

The information included in this consultation will enable respondents to give their view on the strengths and weaknesses of each short-listed option. It also invites comment on the commission’s review of the underlying evidence and analysis. These comments will then be taken into account and used to validate and challenge the commission’s assessments, ahead of the final report in the summer of 2015. During the consultation the Airports Commission will hold open discussion sessions for local stakeholders in both the Heathrow and Gatwick areas. The consultation will close on 3 February 2015.

Preston Nomads: licence change

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Preston Nomads bar as it once was
Preston Nomads has applied for a change in the way it is licenced. They wish to change from a club certificate to a premises licence. The main differences are as follows:

  • The ability to hire out the premises, provide alcohol and regulated entertainment to non-members;
  • Provision of regulated entertainment — films or recorded music between 8:00am–10:30pm Monday to Sunday, indoors;
  • Supply of alcohol 8:00am–10:30pm, Monday to Sunday indoors and outdoors;
  • Hours of the premises: 8:00am-11:00pm Monday to Sunday.

Further information can, in principle, be found at www.midsussex.gov.uk. Good luck!

Cold call burglaries

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Cold-callers linked to 26 burglaries in the region
Sussex Police report:

Since August there have been 26 break-ins at towns and villages across the Horsham district that detectives believe have been committed by the same people. The offences began in August in Storrington but have spread to Coolham, Henfield, Steyning, Horsham, Pulborough, Bramber, Billingshurst, Kirdford, West Chiltington and Ashurst as well as Petworth in the Chichester district. The thieves have escaped with jewellery, cash and unusual household ornaments.

Katy Wood, from the Operation Magpie team, said: “We believe the offenders could be cold-calling at homes to try to work out who is in and whether they are likely to have valuables. We think they are then returning when no one is home — perhaps because the residents have told them they won’t be there — and breaking in”.

The victims closest to Fulking were located at Broomfield Road in Henfield, Kings Barn Lane in Steyning, Maudlyn Park in Bramber, and School Lane in Ashurst.

Better Connected Broadband Project — State Aid Public Consultation

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Broadband map for Fulking area

Key: grey = good, green = less good, white = wait three years

I encourage residents to respond to the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Public Consultation on High Speed Broadband before the consultation closes on 23rd November. Click the map above to find the consultation documents (direct link not possible). If you look at the Next Generation Access (NGA) map listed there, you can see that we are not at present included. But it would only require a small extension to the proposed high speed broadband patches just north of Clappers Lane on the A281, or around Poynings, to transform our broadband both in terms of cost and service. As readers are well aware, high speed broadband is becoming more and more important for general living, work, and house resale.

I am hopeful that if enough of us respond, the possibility of extending the high speed areas will be considered. I have suggested to WSCC that the NGA patches are extended to Clappers Lane, Holmbush Lane, and central Fulking. If you need something clarified, it might be worth telephoning Diane Williams at WSCC: 01243 777100.

Andrew Iversen (andrew.iversen@gmail.com)

Sussex Woodcraft Society Annual Show

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Sussex Woodcraft Society

Saturday 15th November, 9:00am–4:30pm, Henfield Hall

This is the Society’s 29th annual show. Ours is one of the few wood clubs that encompass all aspects of woodworking skills. Carving, turning, marquetry, dolls’ houses, toys and pyrography are just some of the wide range of work exhibited by our members which is all hand crafted locally. A lot of work will be on sale and will make superb Christmas presents. Some of our members also hope to be demonstrating their skills on the day.

So, if you enjoy the beauty and variety of wood products and like talking to friendly and knowledgeable crafts people, I’m sure you will enjoy a visit to our show and I look forward to meeting you.

Brian Campion

PM names A27

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David Cameron neck tie poppy
Today’s Telegraph reports:

“[There will be] action to improve some of the most important arteries in our country – like the A303, A1 and A27 ..”

In his Autumn Statement on December 3 George Osborne, the Chancellor, will announce plans for improvements to .. the A27 on the south coast. Many of the projects go through marginal constituencies ..

Changing numberplates

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Silver Audi A3
Please look out for a silver Audi A3 and/or a blue Ford Mondeo acting suspiciously.

A gang of burglars have attacked 40+ houses between 15:00 and midnight, across Mid-Sussex (mainly), East Sussex and Surrey, on 14 dates in October and November. They use lockup garages to store these cars (with no numberplates). They then steal numberplates from cars with the correct model/colours, use the stolen numberplates, commit burglaries, ditch the stolen numberplates, and hide the unmarked cars to use again.

If you see such a car that seems to have changed its numberplates, or your car has lost its numberplates, please phone Police on 101 (the non-emergency number). Or if you find dumped numberplates. If you think you’re seeing a burglary in progress, or about to happen, phone 999.

Oh — and there’s a £10,000 reward for a tip that leads to a successful conviction…

Richard Corner [219]