After a four month furlough, Fulking local history essays resumed earlier this month with William Axon’s 1897 essay on Poynings and Fulking, A Ruskin Pilgrimage. Such essays don’t usually appear on the home page (they are too long). They do show up in the ‘Recent Posts’ list in the left sidebar but are easy to miss there. If such posts interest you, then you should just check the list provided in the ‘Local History’ menu item under ‘About Our Village’ every few weeks to see if something new has appeared at the top. The purpose of the present note is to draw your attention to the fact that today sees the publication of no fewer than three local history items: Tony Brooks’s history of the Yew Tree Cottage site and biographical pieces on two of the former residents Albert E. Browne OBE and his son Ken (Memories of Devil’s Dyke).
Latest News of Local Interest
Horton Clay Pit SSSI
A Viridor residents newsletter [PDF] tells us that:
Viridor intends to submit a planning application in June 2014, accompanied by an Environmental Statement, relating to the infill and restoration of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) area at the Horton Clay Pit.
In 1991, the former clay pit was granted planning consent for restoration using landfilling. A condition of this consent was that the SSSI would be retained and as a result the landfill was designed around it. The SSSI now forms one side of a shallow excavation with the landfill lying on the other side.
A recent technical stability report found that long-term remediation of the SSSI was not feasible. The only practical and sustainable solution is burial by
inert infill and restoration of the whole SSSI void to prevent any further erosion. Natural England has agreed in principle, subject to the Gault clay being protected by a marker layer.The scheme will establish additional grassland married into the existing adjacent restoration profile. It will also provide further woodland planting and establishment to enable habitat linkages across the restored landfill.
If you want to comment, the deadline is 3rd June. More information is available in the newsletter quoted above, the Viridor website, and at the Shoreham Herald.
Police retreat from Dyke
The Telegraph reports:
An illegal rave in a National Park was still going strong after nearly 24 hours after police admitted there were not enough officers to close it down.
Officers struggled to control the crowds and eventually gave up, leaving residents to endure the pounding music.
One resident in nearby Poynings, who did not wish to be named, said last night: “It’s really loud and it’s been going on all night and all day. .. I can see why it might be difficult to move them off the hill but I can’t understand why there aren’t more police officers to get rid of them.”
A [police] spokesman said: “At present the assessment is that it would not be possible or safe to close the event down, given the number of police officers available. “
The Argus has a long report:
“I spoke to one police officer nearby and asked them what they were going to do about it and I was told ‘we only have four officers, so there’s nothing we can do’.”
And the Mail also has the story this morning:
The rave, which is still going strong more than 24 hours after it started, shows no sign of stopping and party-goers have warned it could ‘carry on for days’.
A [police] spokesman said: ‘Overnight it was assessed that due to the darkness, rain, and numbers present, it was not appropriate or practical to attempt to close the gathering safely. With daylight, officers have been re-assuring local residents that action is being taken .. At present the assessment is that it would not be possible or safe to close the event down, given the number of police officers available.’
There is an informative YouTube video here.
Poynings residents express their views in an Argus comment forum:
7:21pm Sun 25 May 14 binbag says
It’s still going on now. No sleep again tonight. Don’t think the police stopped people going up there early enough. As the police are taking no action won’t this just encourage this happening more often.”
7:25pm Sun 25 May 14 Josie81 says
It’s a bloody nightmare here in Poynings. No sleep last night, can’t work today (I am studying for exams), and tonight seems set to be just as bad as last night. Police don’t seem interested in doing anything about it. Probably all down at the beach …
7:35pm Sun 25 May 14 binbag says
I’m in Poynings too. Was so loud last night. Doesn’t seem as loud now but that could be just the way the winds blowing. Too exhausted to do anything today. Hate to be a killjoy but hope it pours with rain tonight!
7:40pm Sun 25 May 14 Josie81 says
Yes, BB, nature looks set to take revenge with lots of lovely rain tomorrow 🙂 What a horrible mess these ravers have made of our beautiful Downs. Feel very sorry for the poor animals trying to rear their young in peace.
METRO now says:
By 7:00am on Monday everyone had gone and just one car remained — which had broken down.
The Argus reports a police post mortem in June:
Senior officers .. blamed rain and darkness for their decision to let the 2,000-strong party go on for more than 24 hours. .. Temporary Chief Constable Giles York .. said “It was dark, it had been raining on and off and footing was unsecure. [Raves] are not safe places. .. It’s not as simple as walking in and taking the power lead out.”
[Updated often.]
Visit Fulking in Ditchling
Chris Gildersleeve and Jen Green are showing their art in Ditchling as part of the Brighton Open Houses scheme over the Bank Holiday on 26th May, from 11:00am to 5:00pm, at Kennel Cottage, 88 East End Lane, Ditchling BN6 8UR. Chris is showing fired sculpture of human figures, natural forms and Buddhist themes, and Jen is showing landscapes in watercolour, prints, woodcarvings, mosaic mirrors and cards.
[Corrected.]
Two choral concerts
Cantatrice will perform on Friday, May 30th, at the Steyning Centre, 12:15pm–1:00pm, while Kaleidoscope Singers perform on Thursday, June 5th, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Penlands, Steyning, 8:00pm–9:00pm. The evening concert will feature madrigals, sacred music and Stephen Foster arrangements, and includes a string ensemble and Hannah Corcoran on saxophone. More details here.
BGS Weald Basin report
Today’s papers are full of shale! shock!! horror!!! in the wake of the new British Geological Survey report on oil and gas in the Weald Basin. Contrary to the impression given by the Telegraph, for example, the intersection between the South Downs National Park and the area thought likely to contain hydrocarbons is actually quite small. Fulking is well outside the core hydrocarbon area. If you want to learn more then read the report itself, not the reports of the report.
Events for children
- Saturday 24th May Children’s Parade
- Sunday 25th May Gillian McClure – author and illustrator
- Monday 26th May Family Fun Day – for children and adults
- Tuesday 27th May Making Stories: Children’s Creative Writing W/shop
- Wednesday 28th May Messy MAC
- Thursday 29th May Family Fun Afternoon at Croft Meadow
- Thursday 29th May Drop-in Craft Event at the Library
- Friday 30th May The Story of Little Red – puppet theatre
- Tuesday 3rd June Eleanor Hawken – author
- Thursday 5th June Jo Simmons – author
- Friday 6th June Adam Stower – author
- Saturday 7th June Julia Donaldson – author
Devil’s Dyke Road
01444 451 060 / andreadicksonfpc@gmail.com