Latest News of Local Interest

The Subsidy Scheme

The Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme
Residents who have the misfortune to live in the primitive northwest border areas of this parish, at the end of long winding concrete tracks, or in the Cold War deep bunkers beneath Scarboro Stroods, and who struggle to connect their acoustic couplers, 103A modems, teletypes, and visual display units to AOL and Compuserve, may wish to visit culture.gov.uk to see if they qualify for a bung from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Bobservation No. 30

Stylised images of government websites and logos

Hats off to Central Government for proposing that District Councils should extend the ‘bedroom tax’ to private properties and raise additional Council Tax by imposing an extra band to cover unoccupied bedrooms in properties rated at bands F and above.

I understand that the amendment will not take place until 1st October 2017 and Council Tax bills will be amended as necessary on that date. The sums raised will be earmarked for the improvement of social care for patients leaving hospital and this should in turn relieve the pressure on hospitals by freeing-up bed space.

It is proposed that the necessary information regarding what bedrooms are or are not occupied will be by written submission from the immediate neighbours, who will be invited to disclose the necessary details to the District Council in the strictest confidence. I suppose there will be some who may consider this a ‘snoopers’ involvement but fair minded villagers will realise what an important step this will be to relieve pressure on the NHS.

Brighton hocks Downs (update)

Brighton hocks Downs update
The Argus reports:

The controversial sale of two key downland sites has been dropped in the face of fierce public opposition. A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “After reviewing the situation, a cross party Policy Review Panel has taken the view that the sites at Poynings* and Plumpton should not be sold at this time.”

*The foot-slope field of the Devil’s Dyke estate.

HDC Walks

HDC walks
Horsham District Council runs a very large programme of guided walks. Most of these are somewhat remote from Fulking but the list does include walks in and around Clayton, Chanctonbury Ring, Henfield, Steyning, Washington and Wiston. If you like this kind of walk, then you can click on the image above to download the 24 page PDF brochure.