Latest News of Local Interest

Parish Council Meeting – Thursday 12th January

You are cordially invited to the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council on Thursday 12th January 2023 at 7.30pm to be held at Fulking Village Hall, the meeting will consider the items set out below. 

Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk  

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

23/001/OM.            Apologies for Absence. 

23/002/OM.            Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

23/003/OM.            Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 13th October 2022 

The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting. 

23/004/OM.            Reports from District and County Councillors.   

23/005/OM.            Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting. 

  • Playground Repairs

23/006/OM.            2023 – 2024 Precept 

23/007/OM.            WSCC Road & Drainage Repairs 

23/008/OM.            Small Acre Update 

23/009/OM.             Village Hall Update 

23/010/OM.             Reports from Outside Bodies. 

23/011/OM.             Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

23/012/OM.              Correspondence.  To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received. 

23/013/OM.              Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

23/014/OM.               To set a date of Annual General Meeting of the Council and Annual Parish Meeting:  

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 13th April 2023. 

 

Bobservation No. 100: A New Year’s Wishes

Bobservation No.100*

The New Year 2023
I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year and can only say I do hope it is better than 2022! It has been a sad year for Fulking , the passing away of Baz Parmar, Mick Gaule, Nick Bremer and Sheena Trist all of whom, in their various ways, were important contributors to village life. Externally Covid has continued to harass us, although not as badly as at its peak and village social life has been gradually getting back to normal. This has culminated with the very successful village annual Christmas party, with which Sally has really taken over the reins of directing the Social Committee with great enthusiasm and a very good band of helpers.

My New Year’s Wishes
My hopes for 2023 are: 1. Ukraine winning the war against Russia. 2. The Government agreeing to talk to striking unions about pay. 3. An end to Covid. 4. Inflation reducing to a low single figure. 5. The needy receiving social benefits that enable them to live reasonably. 6. An end to Tax havens and all tax evasion. 7. Demolition of the Houses of Parliament and building a completely new House of Commons in the centre of England. 8. An end to the House of Lords and the aristocracy. 9. A technical reduction in the size of the Royal family and a modernisation of the Monarchy to include normal taxation. 10. A total return to remaining in Europe. 11. The church being reasonable about the sale of the Village Hall. AND 12. ENGLAND WINNING THE ASHES!.

* not out

Bobservation No. 99: Friends Departed RIP

Watercolour - view from stile across meadow southwest towards Downs

Watercolour by Nick Bremer- view from stile across meadow at Perching Sands

‘Baz‘ Parmar

My very good friend Baz passed away on the 4 November. He fought a quite horrific type of cancer some years ago and until quite recently had been clear. Regrettably he suffered another bout which eventually proved to be fatal. A quiet, modest, helpful and unassuming man who had been a most successful orthodontist, my respect for him was great. He was part of one those remarkable Asian families who came to Britain as a result of the crisis caused in East Africa by Idi Amin. We should all consider these national advantages before criticising any form of immigration to our shores.

Nick Bremer

So hard to know what to say about the passing away of an old chum. Both Nick and Jill contributed more to the social life of Fulking than anyone in the past 30 years and were my inspiration for getting involved in this wonderful village. Nick was a fine artist who designed and produced the so attractive village pictorial signposts. Even though old age has made it necessary for us to move to Henfield we still have a fine watercolour of the bluebells at Furzefield that we commissioned Nick to create, reminding us of happy days with them in Fulking. Wonderful sense of humour, golf addict, terrible cribbage player, great friend and colleague on the Parish Council. See you next Tuesday you old devil!

On the market

Barn Cottage, Poynings Road

In the 1930s, this site was where the village blacksmith’s shop stood. It was here that the farm and dray horses were shod and all the hardware (gates, hinges and wrought iron railings) for the Shepherd and Dog and the village houses were forged. It was originally part of the Bungalow Farm, known today as ‘Four Acres’ and it was later partitioned off from the farm as a separate property. The buildings comprised a wooden house with a corrugated iron roof and the oldest walls were constructed of horsehair, dried leaves and daub. Some of the original beams still form a feature of the interior of the house. An adjoining lean-to was fitted with a large, sliding door where carts were stored and behind this was a yard and stable.

Mr. Ernest (Ernie) Wingham, who kept cows off Holmbush Lane, occupied the house for many years. Ernie operated a milk round at the north end of Fulking. He also kept a stock of shotgun cartridges at the house and some of the older residents of the village can recall being sent to purchase these for their fathers’ guns. When Ernie later moved to Littledown Farm, he sold the property to the local builders, Ridge & Franks, who used the building to store their materials. They later rebuilt the property, converting it into a single dwelling and sold it. In the 1980s the site was enlarged to include an additional area of land to the east, which provided a garden and parking area. Parts of the old farm walls still survive as testament to the origins of this small cottage with its wonderful views south to the Downs.

Passages quoted from Anthony R. Brooks (2008) The Changing Times of Fulking & Edburton. Chichester: RPM Print & Design, pages 142-143.

And Barn Cottage, in the north west corner of old Hut Farm? Exactly what it says: a bungalow built ‘inside’ a barn when planners said ‘no’ to proposed demolition.

Passage quoted from Gill Milner (2013) Hugh Rapley at Hut Farm.

Bobservation No. 98: Democracy Quiz

Image of St Andrews with inset of Rishi SunakSt Andrews Quiz evening
This annual event, with a brilliant quizmaster, always so well organised and with a delightful supper, has been a great pleasure for quite a few years now. Last Friday the Furzefield Four, comprising the recent and current owners of that property, had a disastrous attempt at answering most of the questions but in spite of that had a most enjoyable evening. This really is a fixture on the local village calendar. Long may it reign!

Democracy?
Considering the ghastly mess that this Government has got all of us into, it is worth reflecting that the poorest will suffer the most and the wealthiest the least. I count myself as one of the more fortunate citizens and am enthusiastic to change this imbalance as soon as possible. Our nation has staggered along under a system that is flawed from top to bottom. Because change should start at the top I suggest the following changes should be considered. The Monarchy should be modernised and be subject to same laws as the rest of us. The Parliament buildings containing the Houses of Commons and Lords should be sold off and the proceeds invested in a new and modern parliament in the Midlands, which after all is nearer the centre of England. Members of Parliament should be elected by proportional representation and the House of Lords members should be similarly elected by the voting public. The Prime minister should only be chosen by the electorate and the enfranchisement age reduced to 17 for all elections. All remuneration and expenses for elected representatives should be carefully scrutinized and either reduced to acceptable levels or scrapped. The revaluation of domestic property should be updated as soon as possible for council tax purposes with second properties subject to double that tax. Having moaned about all that, and to be completely apolitical, I do sincerely wish the new Prime Minister the very best of luck. He seems a decent sort of man and I am delighted we have a leader who, for the first time, is a person of colour. He faces a very difficult journey but, so long as he has support from his own party, he may be able to lead us put of this mess.

Agenda – Ordinary Meeting Thursday 13th October 2022

You are cordially invited to the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council, on Thursday 13th October 2022 at 7.30pm to be held at Fulking Village Hall. The meeting will consider the items set out below.

Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk

Following the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, and regarding regulations on Access to Local Government Meetings, members of the public are advised that they have a right to film/record the meetings of Fulking Parish Council. Members of the public are also advised that by attending a meeting of Fulking Parish Council, they give their consent to being filmed/recorded by other members of the public, if such activity is taking place.

AGENDA

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.

22/062/OM. – Apologies for Absence.

22/063/OM. – Declaration of Members’ Interests.

22/064/OM. – Approve the Minutes* of the Ordinary Meeting of 7thth July 2022 The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting.

22/065/OM. – Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions: To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting.

· Operation Watershed

22/066/OM. – Reports from District and County Councillors.

22/067/OM. – Market Garden, Conifers & Small Acres Update

22/068/OM. – Antisocial behaviour MSDC & Police support

22/069/OM. – Ladybrook Spring & drainage clearance

22/070/OM. – Pop Up Camping

22/071/OM. – ROSPA report & Playground Maintenance

22/072/OM. – Village Hall Update

22/073/OM. – Waste Water Treatment building works

22/074/OM. – Fulking Parish Council Budget 2023/2024.

22/075/OM. – Reports from Outside Bodies.

22/076/OM. – Information Items. To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings.

22/077/OM. – Correspondence. To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received.

22/078/OM. – Financial Matters: To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure.

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 12th January 2023

Bobservation No. 97: Fulking Affinity

Signpost showing Clappers Lane signFulking  Affinity
It is nearly 7 weeks since old age caused us to leave our beloved Fulking and move to Henfield. The move was a sensible one dictated by the passing years and whilst we are now small wheels in what seems like a big cog, we were quite unable to cope with being custodians of the unique 3 acres that constitute Furzefield.
Fortunately we have passed the baton on to worthy successors. It is quite surprising to find that where we nowlive it is as quiet or possibly even quieter than Clappers Lane but the same camaraderie does not appear to exist amongst neighbours, age probably being a major factor.
I am still in regular contact with Samantha and the Monday group and get village news from some of the many friends we made while we were in Fulking. The Social Committee is now being led enthusiastically by Sally who tells me that plans for a Christmas party are under way and, if we are invited, I look forward to joining with you in this village annual event. I know just how hard it is to get these occasions off the ground, so please do offer to join in and help as much as you can.
Just can’t stop nagging you!!

Planning Meeting – Wednesday 5th October 2022

You are cordially invited to an Extraordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council, on Wednesday 5th October 2022 at 6.30pm at the Village Hall where the meeting will consider the items set out below. 

Mark Hind – Chairman  

Following the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, and regarding regulations on Access to Local Government Meetings, members of the public are advised that they have a right to film/record the meetings of Fulking Parish Council. Members of the public are also advised that by attending a meeting of Fulking Parish Council, they give their consent to being filmed/recorded by other members of the public, if such activity is taking place. 

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

22/058/PM.          Apologies for Absence.  

22/059/PM.          Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

22/060/PM.          Planning matters – SDNP/22/04317/FUL 

Location: Small Acre Clappers Lane Fulking West Sussex  

Proposal: Change of use of land to provide two pitch settled gypsy accommodation site, including erection of utility building 

22/061/PM.    Planning Matters – SDNP/22/04214/FUL 

Location: Perching Parva Farm Holmbush Lane Woodmancote Henfield West Sussex BN5 9TL  

Proposal: Demolition of existing commercial building and the erection of a replacement building.  

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 13th October 2022