Latest News of Local Interest

Happy on being environed with a great ditch (part II)

This is the second of two posts documenting the Operation Watershed drainage work that has now been (almost) completed by Edburton Contractors in Clappers Lane. The discovery of a sewage leak meant that one aspect of the work could not be continued. These photographs were taken on 21st June. Click any thumbnail image to scroll through the full set of larger versions.

In the blue zone

In the blue zone

Fire risk map for our corner of West Sussex. Fulking is in the blue zone.

West Sussex County Council is about to reduce the budget of the fire and rescue service by £1.6m (just under 6% of the existing budget). There’s a consultation process and our own Parish Council will be holding a public meeting at 7:00pm on 10th July immediately before the scheduled PC meeting. If you plan to attend, you should probably read the glossy consultation document [PDF] in advance. Fire nerds will also want to look at the (much less glossy) equality impact report [PDF] in order to learn that the service estimates that the proposed changes will lead to three additional dwelling fire fatalities and £8m in additional property damage costs over the next century.

Happy on being environed with a great ditch (part I)

This is the first of two posts documenting the Operation Watershed drainage work currently being done by Edburton Contractors in Clappers Lane. These photographs were taken at the point where the public footpath emerges from Boggy Lagg and crosses the lane (i.e., immediately north of Knole House), over the period 13th–18th June. Click any thumbnail image to scroll through the full set of larger versions.


Amended 20th June.

The grave of Lady Brook

The grave of Lady Brook

Due to growing concerns over the design of the proposed scheme and the need to incorporate a grid over the top it, there has been a major rethink about the project. Darren Rolf, Senior Community Solutions Officer, and his Volunteer Development Team will be heading up the project with as many volunteers from Fulking as possible.

The proposed design is to lay a wooden support and concrete foundation at the base of the spring and lay the flints on to this — the sandbags will remain in place behind the flint work and will also provide support. At the top of the spring the lining flints will progress into a wall. The wall will be the same height as the lowest rung of the current barrier, but this barrier will be built into the wall, thus concealing the lower half. The top of the wall will be finished with topping stones. The upper rail of the current barrier will be concealed with a square wooden casing and we can paint the concrete posts brown to blend in.

Volunteers are required to help with all aspects of this project, from digging, brick laying to general labouring if you have any special talents please don’t be shy Lady Brook Spring needs you. If you are interested in helping with this project please can you contact Andrea Dickson on andreadicksonfpc@gmail.com as soon as possible with general availability both for weekdays and weekend that you would be able to help.

Dates for the revised & rescheduled ‘community solution’ await confirmation.