Derek Deedman

As many people will be aware, for some time (years in fact), Steyning Parish Council has been considering ways in which the present poor quality toilet facilities in the High Street could be upgraded. It was also considered essential that any new scheme should include adequate provision for a bus shelter. A scheme has at last been finalised which will retain the existing structure of the building but with two modern, high tech, toilet pods inside it. Outline plans are available for inspection in the Parish Office.

This will be completed, hopefully in the summer of 2008, in conjunction with the Steyning & District Community Partnership and Horsham District Council. To make the scheme more wide ranging in terms of overall community facilities, a number of fingerposts will also be installed around the town and, once the Health Centre and Croft Meadow development is completed, up to 17 additional parking spaces will be created in Newmans

Gardens car park.Part of the financing arrangements will include a grant of £40,000 from South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the Partnership and the more evidence of support for the scheme they can be shown, the more likelihood there is of a grant application being successful. The Secretary of the Steyning & District Community Partnership would therefore be very grateful if local organisations could write to him, using the organisation’s headed paper, in support. Some of the improvements which might be mentioned in such a supporting letter could include:-

They are essential community facilities for the young and elderly and for visitors to an important

South Downs gateway town, they will be of great benefit in helping to sustaining the local economy. Steyning is an important hub for the surrounding area in terms of shopping, education and health care and requires modern public toilets and a decent bus shelter, the new facilities will be modern and energy efficient, wide consultation in the community has identified the need for these facilities,

the provision of Fingerposts will help visitors gain more out of a visit to the town and to more easily find strategic places like the Church and the Museum, additional parking spaces in

Newmans

Gardens car park will ease the pressure on illegal parking the High Street which is becoming increasingly dangerous for pedestrians.The target for putting the grant application pack together is mid January. Please phone Richard Woodman, Secretary of the Steyning and District Community Partnership Ltd, 01903 879457, if you have any questions or want to talk about this. Otherwise please write to him: Richard Woodman Secretary Steyning and District Community Partnership Ltd The Steyning Centre Fletchers Croft Steyning West Sussex, BN44 3XZ.