If you somehow managed to miss both editions of Roy Taylor’s talk in Poynings last November, then you have another chance to catch it on Tuesday 4th March at 7.30pm in Harriet Johnson Hall, Sompting. Details here.
Latest News of Local Interest
South Mid Sussex County Local Committee
Wednesday 12 March 2014 at 7:00pm, Woodlands Meed College, Birchwood Grove Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 0DP.
For further information and an agenda please contact: talkwithus@westsussex.gov.uk or telephone 0330 22 22527.
“New haciendas and gin palaces”
The Midhurst and Petworth Observer reports:
A House of Commons debate on national parks .. was called in response to a government proposal to allow the conversion of up to three dwellings, or the replacement of existing farm buildings, without planning permission.
Mr [Nick] Herbert warned the proposals could lead to ‘the creation of a suburbia .. and inappropriate development — new haciendas and gin palaces — instead of maintaining the character of the parks and the landscape, which was precisely why they were created’.
A number of Conservative MPs, many representing constituencies that lie partly or wholly within national parks, spoke against the proposals. Concerns have also been raised by the South Downs Society and the Campaign for National Parks.
Mid Sussex Older People’s Council Newsletter
Ovwood
The Argus has just posted a long report about a property developer’s plans to merge Ovingdean and Woodingdean.
Annual Parish Meeting alert
Andrea Dickson
Clerk to Fulking Parish Council
01444 451 060
andreadicksonfpc@gmail.com
Studio Shards
The March issue of BN5 has an article [PDF] about Fulking fused glass artist Pauline Findlay. Pauline is running a series of two-hour workshops in March to introduce people to her techniques (Saturday 8th March 10:00–12:00; Wednesday 12th March 5:30–7:30; Tuesday 18th March 10:00–12:00; and Saturday 29th March 10:00–12:00). More details at her website.
West Sussex Better Connected Website Now Live
Gulu Sibanda, Principal Community Officer, West Sussex County Council writes :-
Please be advised that there is now a new website to help promote the benefits of better, faster broadband and therefore giving people information about what is happening and where.
A key feature is the interactive map which details activity by exchange area. As the network is being developed, we will update the map to show where work is being carried out and when new broadband services will become available. Initially the information that we can share on the map will be minimal but once we announce the roll out (before Easter) then it should become a useful visual tool for people to see progress in their area.
The website also has a short animation explaining the technology we will use as well as information about the benefits of better, faster broadband. Users can check the availability of broadband to their home or business and get in touch with suppliers to contract to buy services, in the usual way.
Please visit www.westsussex-betterconnected.org.uk for more information.
Fulking Parish Council – Planning Meeting Wednesday 5th March 2014
Fulking Parish Council will hold a Planning Meeting on Wednesday 5th March 2014 at 6.30pm in the Village Hall
TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PLANNING APPLICATIONS:-
SDNP/14/00675/FUL
Perching Sands Farm Edburton Road Fulking Henfield BN5 9LS
Agricultural building to serve the needs of the farm with two internal stables for private use.
Full information available on the South Downs National Park Website – here.
Members of the Public and Press are invited to attend.
Members of the public are entitled to speak at the meeting for two minutes, by prior arrangement with the Clerk Mrs. Andrea Dickson , tel 01444 451060 at least 1 hour before the meeting. No more than two speakers for each application and two against.
Andrea Dickson
Clerk to Fulking Parish Council
12 Turners Mill Road
Haywards Heath
Mayfield runoff
The LAMBS website has another interesting article, this one on the implications of the Mayfield development for the regional hydrology:
“Every time it rains there would be massive floods which could wipe out Shoreham,” says Frank Preston who worked on the river for 30 years, as a Flood Defence Agent for Southern Water Authority. “The extra impervious run-off from houses and roads, that sort of thing, would just overpower the river.”
..
John Donaldson, former Operations Manager for the Environment Agency, with 35 years of experience in the water industry, says he was “horrified” when he heard of the plan. “The impact of the drainage system and surface water run-off will be a nightmare,” he says. “We can hardly manage the run-off that we’ve got at the present time. There’d be even greater flooding without doubt – to land, to property, to road systems and transport – everything. The upland catchment already has enough water in the meadows and fields – we cannot take any more water.”
..
[Peter Haworth Booth:] “The implications of Mayfield are enormous. I think a lot of houses just won’t be habitable. I don’t know what the quantities of water are but the speed of the run-off is going to cause mega problems from here down to Bramber.”
Read the rest at the LAMBS website.