Following a further complaint from me before Christmas to the Local Highway Manager about the mud on this path where it goes in front of the field access beside the Rising Sun Public House, he has arranged for highways staff to chase the resolution of the problem.

The Local Highway Manager agrees that the mud on the path is pretty grim. He has said that if the culprit cannot be traced to get them to clean it up, and keep it clear, the Highway Contractor will be requested to do it as a matter of urgency and the cost recharged when they find out who is responsible.

In chasing up why this much needed facility had still not been provided, I have learned that the provision of this Park has been delayed due to problems with implementing the planning condition on how much of the hedgerow should be cut back to accommodate the ramps.

The landowner had been surprised by the planning condition as he never considered the woodland creep to be a hedge (it had crept forward 10m over 25 years and was starting to make the recreation ground very small).

As a consequence the Horsham District Council officer involved has reached a compromise solution with the landowner who has agreed that 4 metres of recreation ground be regained and a further 2 metres of woodland creep being managed by the Woodlanders under advice from the County Council.

Because this compromise will result in the ramp being moved 1 metre to the east, Horsham planners were compelled to re-consult with neighbours. The revised plan was sent to them on 25 November and hopefully the green light to proceed with the works should given by the planners soon.

The scheduling of the works, once the go-ahead is received, involves the cutting back of the woodland creep before the nesting season (i.e. preferably in January, but definitely by end of February), to manage the concerns of the County Council and the Woodlanders. Viridor Credits have agreed to hold over their grant for this scheme, and so Horsham officers are recommending that no ground-works should start until the ground has firmed up so as to minimise damage to the surrounding grass areas. It is therefore likely that the ground-works will not be started until May and the ramp completed for use by skateboarders by mid June.

Best wishes for Christmas and a Happy New Year

to all my website readers and supporters, especially those in my County Division of Bramber Castle (Ashurst, Bramber, Small Dole, Steyning, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote),  and also to the local press reporters, Alex Jenkins and Sam Woodman.

Derek Deedman

Protection for children in West Sussex has been assessed as ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted in their latest inspection. This places the council’s services to children at risk of harm in the same category as Haringey’s, which have been the subject of a high level investigation following the tragic death of Baby P.

Ofsted’s report on West Sussex was released on 17^th December. Ofsted highlighted major failings on the speed of completing assessments, the numbers of children both on the protection register and looked after, who were not allocated to a qualified social worker and the number of looked after children placed in residential accommodation.

Lib Dem Morwen Millson, Leader of the Opposition on the Council said, “It is very sad but this comes as no surprise. Lib Dems have been raising concerns about the numbers of vulnerable children not allocated to a social worker for over a year.

“The most disappointing thing is that this issue has been highlighted to the Council and nothing has been done about it. Lib Dem Councillors have been demanding more investment in services to protect children in our county.

“After pressure the County Council finally coughed up £500,000 to help retain social workers and attract new recruits to the County, but this needs to be the beginning of a push to attract and retain social workers in West Sussex.

“The Conservative Cabinet has shown staggering complacency in not responding to the clear shortage of social workers quickly, and we sincerely hope that no West Sussex child will pay the price of this complacency.”

I have been advised that the Mobile Skateboarding event at the Cuthman Centre planned for Saturday 20 December has been cancelled. This is a great shame for young people in the area as the previous one in Upper Beeding had to be cancelled due to bad weather.

The next Local Action Team (LAT) meeting takes place in January when I hope a future programme of mobile events during 2009 can be agreed.

The Skateboard Park in Small Dole, largely being funded with a grant from Viridor Credits West Sussex, should be constructed during early 2009, and it would be great if a site for a permanent skateboard park could be identified in Steyning.

I have written to two Lib Dem MPs to congratulate them on being successful in the ballot to be able to introduce a Private Members Bill in Parliament, and to urge them to adopt the Fuel Poverty (Eradication) Bill, which will reinstate the duty to end fuel poverty and compel the Government to take proper action to meet its targets.

I was appalled to learn in October of the High Court judgment that ruled that the Government’s duty under the Warm Homes Act was in fact merely discretionary.  I know that this was not what Lib Dem MPs thought was being enacted at the time.

The Government have been repeatedly censured by their own Fuel Poverty Advisory Group for their failure to fulfil their duties under the Warm Homes Act.  If the Lib Dem MP’s take up this Bill, this will ensure that the Government is not allowed to wriggle off the hook completely.

The Bill specifically requires the homes of the fuel poor to be brought up to the minimum energy efficiency standards currently enjoyed by new homes.  It also requires the use of social tariffs to limit vulnerable households’ exposure to high energy bills.

Over 5 million households are currently in fuel poverty, and parents and older people will face the impossible choice between fuel and food this winter.  This Bill will not only provide a long-term solution to fuel poverty but also a much-needed boost to Britain’s construction industries.  It will also help reduce carbon emissions.

Many people in Arundel & South Downs will benefit from the success of this Bill and I hope the MPs’ will introduce it as a Private Members Bill.

A long section of lighting in Horsham Rd, Steyning is not working due to a cable fault.

Approximately 10 lights leading to the Grammar School and Steyning Leisure Centre are affected and I have been informed that the County Council is currently working with the street lighting contractors toward a temporary solution to bring them back into operation

I understand that I will be informed as soon as a plan of action is in place to carry out a permanent solution to the problem. These works would then be carried out in the New Year.

Following a query from a local Upper Beeding resident about the lack of facilities in the Upper Beeding playground, a senior Parish Councillor has confirmed to me that the Parish Council have a budget for new seats and tables, and a design was chosen in September. It should only be a matter of time before the contractor carries out the work, and there should be two new tables with seating installed soon.

There have been more ambitious plans for new playground equipment, but this has been delayed due to the change in parish clerks. Now that the new Clerk is well established the Parish Council is likely to tackle the problem of the swings in the near future.

I have reminded Parish Councillors that if finance is a problem, the Viridor Credits West Sussex Committee, which I chair, may be able to help. As an example the Committee recently approved a grant of £20,000 to Storrington & Sullington Parish Council towards new play equipment costing some £70,000.

Steyning Parish Council agreed at its November Highways and Lighting Committee to pursue a 20 mph zone through the town to include the High Street and Bramber Road and through Church Street past the Church and possibly other streets, still to be decided.

Parish Councillors consider that whilst a healthily number in the town observe existing speed limits, recent surveys show some motorists exceed 45 mph in the High Street. And the Local traffic Engineer has agreed to carry out traffic surveys to assess the situation in the area.

It is Liberal Democrat policy to support 20 mph limit proposals where they are supported by local people, and I agree that such a restriction in the High Street and Church Street would help make our roads safer for pedestrians, particularly mums with prams and elderly people who are nervous about crossing the road.

I am not convinced of the need for a 20 mph limit on Bramber Road, as with the Bramber Road pelican crossing now in the Draft Highway Works Programme for next year (2009/10), this will bring about a reduction anyway in the speed of approaching traffic from Clays Hill and the High Street. Also consideration of such a speed limit could cause the pelican crossing scheme to be delayed or even removed – disaster after such a long campaign to gain approval for the scheme!

The views of local people on these suggestions would be most appreciated, please let me know your comments. Many thanks.

Concern has been expressed about the dangers for pedestrians crossing the road at this junction.

The Local Highway Engineer agrees that there is a broad expanse of road at the junction, but considers that people are not necessarily obliged to cross at that point. He said that if people are concerned about crossing the road at this point they can always walk a few yards along each of the roads and cross with more confidence there. He feels that with the absence of any accident data that would indicate any dangers the local view is more of a perception than a reality and trying to improve the lot for pedestrians could make the situation worse and cause some degree of confusion.

Is he right? Do people consider that making a crossing point from the entrance to the Church at this junction would improve safety for pedestrians?

The next meeting of the County Council, which is open to the public to attend, takes place on Friday, starting at 10.30am at County Hall, Chichester.

As usual the Council meeting is expected to be webcast, so if you want to see the debates access is available via the County Council website.

One of the debates will be on whether the Council adopts the appointed Leader and Cabinet system or the Mayor and Cabinet system following the county elections on 4 June.

The former is being recommended to Councillors as it involves the least change from the current system. (The change being that the new Leader would be appointed by the whole Council for a period of four years, who then selects his/her own Cabinet, rather than as at present being appointed by the Council as a whole.)

The Mayor and Cabinet system would mean an all- county election of a Mayor who would then appoint his/her own Cabinet. This would be much more democratic as the Leader would be as powerful as the Mayor but without being elected by the electorate as a whole.

In addition there has been no consultation with the public about which option to chose.

What is your view? Please contact me by Thursday evening.

These resurfacing works between Coxham Lane and the entrance to the Grammar and Primary Schools in Steyning, originally planned for the end of November, are now expected to be carried out next week, starting on Monday (15th).

Highways have assured me that the contractor will not work during the peak going to/from school times each day so that the very many pupils and parents using the route should not be affected.

The Chanctonbury County Local Committee (CLC) last week noted the Draft Highway Works Programme which is to be circulated to District and Parish Councils for their comments during January/February 2009.

The schemes in the Bramber Castle include: -

Steyning

Bramber Road pelican crossing facilities (funded from planning development contributions), and

Charlton Street lighting columns.

Upper Beeding

School safety zone outside Upper Beeding Primary School (including advisory 20mph limit signs), and

Henfield Road, Edburton Lane to Tottington Drive Small Dole carriageway surface dressing.

Having worked hard for the provision of the Bramber Road crossing  and to improve safety for children going to school throughout the Bramber Castle Division, it is great news about the first schemes planned for 2009 in Steyning and Upper Beeding.

The proposed provision of the Bramber Road pelican crossing next year will be greeted with relief by all those who have campaigned over many years for a safe crossing at the dangerous Bostal Road/Bramber Road/Goring Road junction.

The planned school safety zone outside Upper Beeding Primary School (with work likely during next April) will be the latest stage in improving safety for the children going to School. Renewing the red road surfacing, with ’slow’ signs painted on the road, together with flashing 20 mph signs (during school dropping off and collecting times), should make the school entrance very much safer in future.

The Mobile Waste Service Task Force today agreed to issue a final reminder about the free home composting bin which is available to residents of the Chanctonbury area of Horsham.

The County Council will be sending a leaflet about this to all Parish Councils in the area for them to include in Parish Magazines and other mazagines circulating within each area as appropriate. The offer ends on 31  March 2009 - so if you have not ordered your free bin yet contact County Waste Management soon!

The Task Force also learned that Horsham District Council will soon be considering the introduction of a second green bin service to be rolled out across the District. The cost, for those who need a second bin for their green waste (unless they are happy to take this waste to the local Mobile Waste Centre), is likely to be £20 for the purchase of the bin with a collection charge of £79 per annum. The  existing green bins will continue to be collected free of charge (part of your Council Tax bill) - Horsham is one of the few Districts in West Sussex not to charge for the collection of the first green waste bin. So if you can compost your green waste it is cheaper to claim your free composting bin than to pay for the extra weekly green waste collection!

Finally, the start date for commencing the roll-out of the new kerbside mixed dry recycling collection service remains as July next year. The Chanctonbury area will be first on the list for the new service, but only part of the area will receive the new service from July, the rest will follow in turn over the rest of the year and into 2010. It is expected that it will be two years before the whole of the District is covered.

I have just visited the Acting Head Teacher at Upper Beeding Primary School to discuss the School Travel Plan, and was delighted to learn that the School had taken first place in the County Council’s Extra Mile Award, which had been run during the InternationalWalk To School week in October.

And Steyning Grammar School came joint second!

The winners of the Award was decided by the percentage of pupils within each school who travelled by a sustainable mode transport. Upper Beeding won with 95% and Steyning Grammar were joint second with 94%.

This is great news and shows that campaigning for School Travel Plans and the use of sustainable modes of transport does bring results. Well done everyone involved.

There was positive support at the Chanctonbury County Local Committee (CLC) meeting to this proposed new bus service.

I raised the need for early confirmation of a subsidy at the meeting in Partridge Green last Tuesday evening. I am pleased that the County Councillor for Henfield was very supportive to the Henfield Parish Council’s wish to see the use planning developer contributions for highways & transport in Henfield to help fund the first year operation of the new bus service. 

I stressed at the CLC meeting how essential it is for the County Officers to resolve any Horsham District Council and all the parish council support, so that, if confirmed, the new bus service could be operating by Easter next year. Hopefully such a new bus service would be successful and so able to continue after the first year on a commercial basis without subsidy.

In addition to those wishing to shop, attend leisure facilities or go to/visit relatives/friends at Worthing Hospital, the new bus service could be well used by people who work in Worthing and students going to college.

Should sufficient financial support be agreed, I consider that it would be useful for a joint committee to be formed to ensure that the operation of the new Compass Travel bus service is regularly reviewed. Every opportunity must also be taken to market the new service to holiday visitors to Worthing, as well as Worthing residents, to use it to visit our attractive small towns and villages north of the Downs.  

As a result of the discussion on this matter at the Chanctonbury County Local Committee on Tuesday evening the County Councillor for Henfield has agreed to establish a working party with representatives from Horsham District Council, the Environment Agency and County Council Highways, plus, hopefully Southern Water. I have asked that this working party’s terms of reference include the need to ensure better co-ordinated working throughout the Chanctonbury area so that this may resolve the public perception of ‘buck-passing’ whenever flooding concerns are raised.

Also of interest is that the government intends to publish a draft Floods and Water Bill for consultation next year that will, according to Defra’s website, create a single unifying Act of Parliament that amongst other things addresses all sources of flooding and clarifies responsibility to facilitate flood risk management.  More information can be found on the website: -
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floodsandwaterbill.htm

The Government’s plans for new laws will do little to help hard-pressed families in this area claims a leading local Liberal Democrat.

The plans were outlined in the Queen’s Speech but disappointed Lib Dems say that the Government’s announcements will do very little to help local people cope with the recession said Derek Deedman, County Councillor for the Bramber Castle Division of west Sussex County Council.

“The measures given in the Queen’s Speech are not enough to help people with the real problems we are now facing,” Derek said.

“We need legislation to change the way energy tariffs work to make sure people get the cheapest prices for their essential fuel and power and changes to taxes to put money back in people’s pockets.

“With the massive discounts on offer in the shops at the moment, the short term trimming of VAT will make little difference and what we need is income tax cuts targeted at low earners and paid for through closing tax loopholes used by the rich. Residents in this area who are worried by the economic situation will find little comfort in this programme.

“We need action to force the banks to lend money on fair terms to small businesses and families – and make it quite clear that if the banks cannot be made to act, the government will lend directly itself.

“The Government wasted the opportunity to help people in last week’s Pre-Budget Report and now with the Queen’s Speech they are wasting it again.”

Ends

My wife, Ros, who was a Lib Dem candidate for Steyning at the Horsham District Elections last year, reports that once again the illegal parking in the High Street is causing chaos this afternoon.

Despite Horsham District Council operating the Civil Parking Enforcement Scheme on behalf of West Sussex County Council, their low level of enforcement in this part of the District leaves much to be desired.

Ros will now be chasing up the Tory District Councillor to honour his pledge to local people during the elections - to ensure that Horsham District carries out it’s functions in the south of the District to the same standard as in Horsham Town. It is clearly not doing so when it comes to this illegal on-street parking - so when will the Tory Cabinet Member concerned carry out his responsibilties?

The CLC meeting will start at 7 pm in Partridge Green Village Hall and there will be discussions on: -

*Flooding in our local area

*Waste Management update (the new facility to deal with all County household waste at Warnham near Horsham Town)

*Highways and Transport Schemes to be funded by developer contributions

*Highway Works Schedule 2009/10

*Community Initiative and Village Shops Programme funding.

Everybody is welcome to attend and there will be a public forum during the evening when people can make their views known on local issues and ask questions. Hopefully all those concerned about possible flooding in their area will attend, comment and ask the appropriate authorites how they are working together to reduce the risk of flooding. In addition, under the developer contribution debate I will be asking the CLC to approve, in principle, support for the proposed new daily, two hourly 106 bus service between Henfield and Worthing from Easter next year - support from local people at the meeting would be appreciated.

Following my meeting a few months ago with Chris Chatfield, Managing Director of Compass Travel, good progress is being made on the possible start next Easter of a new direct, two hourly daily bus between Henfield and Worthing via Upper Beeding and Steyning. (It is suggested that the first bus would leave Worthing at 7.15 am and return from Henfield at just after 8 am, reaching Worthing just before 9 am. The last bus would leave Worthing at 5.10 pm and return from Henfield just after 6 pm, reaching Worthing just before 7 pm.)

I have raised the matter with Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding Parish Councils, and Henfield Parish Council has also considered and welcomed the proposal (and asked their County Councillor to do the same). I have discussed the proposal with my colleagues on the Chanctonbury County Local Committee and intend to make a formal proposal regarding funding at the next CLC meeting at Partridge Green Village Hall on Tuesday 2 December.

Chris Chatfield has also had a very positive response from Henfield, Steyning and Bramber Parish Councils and Horsham District Council, although he has yet to meet with Upper Beeding Parish Council and Adur District Council (which will also be served by this new bus service).

The Public Transport Officer at the County Council is keen to increase the number of commercially sustainable bus routes in the County and has given a ’supportive but cautious’ response. There could also be some direct County Council financial support in relation to school transport which would give income for the route.

His caution about the proposal is mostly about the second year, as, if the number of passengers is good, but not financially viable without local authority support, the service would have to stop since the majority of the possible funding would only be available for one year.  

In my view, since many local people have been saying for a long time that they want this new bus service (and this is reflected in the support from most of the Parish Councils), this is a risk worth taking. If this ‘kick-start’ funding for the first year of operation is approved, for it to continue after that first year it will be up to local people of all ages to use the new bus service. 

Although it seemed that the objections of a local landowner had stopped consideration of this scheme; however, following contact with the Chairman of the Rights of Way Committee, I am pursuing this matter further with the Principal Rights of Way

It would appear that there is a list of possible upgrades from foot path to bridleways which is progressed by negotiation between the Rights of Way staff and the various landowners involved.

I have asked how the priority of the various schemes on this list is decided and whether local people could provide more information which might advance this scheme up the list.

Liberal Democrats in Arundel & South Downs are appalled at the train companies plans to impose an above inflation price increase of regulated fares, season tickets and saver tickets with an even steeper increase in unregulated fares.

The announcement of the inflation-busting fares hike on 21st November was met with an angry response by Derek Deedman, County Councillor for the Bramber Dastle Division.

“At a time when people are struggling with the recession, these fare increases, which the Government has agreed can come into effect on 2nd Janury 2009, will be adding to people’s difficulties and is stinging passengers for more cash.

“These rises could make the recession worse in this area and could lead to more congestion and pollution as people abandon public transport for their car instead.

“I want the government to step in and use the power they have over regulated fares to impose a freeze on ticket prices for a year. This could be paid for from within the Government’s road-widening budget. Locally the planned advanced spending on grade-separated junctions on the A24 should be abandoned – the accident prevention measures introduced by the County Council have worked and local people are completely opposed to the upgrading of the A24 to a virtual motorway.

“Just as the Government stepped in to freeze fuel duty for motorists because of the recession, they should change their mind and stop these price increases going ahead.

“Rail passengers will rightly feel that they are being held to ransom.  They have every right to feel angry with this price hike and with the Government for letting it happen.”

Anatole Kaletsky writes in The Times:

The Tories have chosen this moment to self-destruct, leaving no plausible alternative to Labour, and nobody, apart from the redoubtable Vince Cable, to challenge Mr Brown’s delusions of grandeur - or potential economic misjudgments.

Talleyrand’s famous remark about the House of Bourbon - that they had “learnt nothing and forgotten nothing” - seems to apply with equal force to David Cameron’s Conservatives after their repeated decapitations since 1992.

Last week George Osborne showed that he had learnt nothing, by foolishly identifying the recent weakness of sterling with the alleged weakness of the British economy and the Government’s fiscal policy. In fact, the pound’s decline is not a problem but a solution. It follows naturally from the Bank of England’s aggressive rate cuts and the monetary freedom that Britain retained by staying out of the euro. This precious freedom is now reflected in the highly competitive exchange rate and ultra-low interest rates that will help to lay the foundations for recovery, just as they did in 1994-95 and 1983-84.

This week, Mr Cameron showed that he had forgotten nothing by suddenly reverting to the policies of John Major - not just the “strong sterling” totem, but the whole package, complete with empty promises of fiscal restraint, warnings about a “Labour tax bombshell” and contempt for Keynesian economics. These were policies that Mr Cameron used to advocate when he worked for Norman Lamont. The leader of the Tory “modernisers” was supposed to have forgotten all this nonsense when he left the side of the former Chancellor on Black Wednesday, but he has now reverted to type…

Unfortunately for the Tories, their policies are thoroughly bad economics.

This open meeting is scheduled to go ahead on Friday 28 November from 1.00 to 2.30 at the Steyning Centre (Committee Rooms 1-2).

The panel will be:

Jackie Campbell, Chairman of Steyning Parish Council  – chairing the meeting
George Cockman & Len Warner, Horsham District Councillors
Derek Deedman, West Sussex County Councillor
Nick Herbert MP for Arundel & South Downs

It will be a non party political meeting and local residents will be invited to raise any issues that may be concerning them. Please encourage anyone who may be interested to come along.

The local Police have asked me to make people aware that there has been an incident on Steyning High Street, where a female driver was in static traffic and while waiting for traffic to move, a male tried to get into the vehicle by trying the door handles. Luckily the vehicles doors were locked and he could not get in.

This incident highlights that locking your car doors whilst driving increases personal safety, as drivers can be in vulnerable situation when in static traffic, at junctions and traffic lights. This is an isolated incident in our area, but it reminds people that we do not know who’s around, and you will be much safer by locking your car doors when driving.

Despite the continuing campaign by the Small Dole Action Group against the way the County Planning Committee considered the objections to this planning application in April, I was informed on 13 November that planning permission has now officially been granted.

This means that the operators will now be able to raise the final restored levels at the site and to continue disposing waste there until 1 October 2010. They will then have another year to restore the site.

As people will know, there is no West Sussex household waste going into the Site as this now all goes to Warnham, north of Horsham Town. The Small Dole Site now caters solely for commercial and industrial waste.

Following pressure from Steyning Parish Council and me, the County Council has confirmed that its £5000 contribution towards the annual cost of running the Neighbourhood Wardens in Bramber, Steyning & Upper Beeding and in Ashington will be made available to the Parish Councils via the Horsham Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership for 2009/10.

The County Cabinet Member concerned has, however, made it clear that after that date Horsham District and the Parish Councils involved must ensure that the Neighbourhood Warden Schemes are permanently financed from local funds, as elsewhere in the County.

The Bramber, Steyning & Upper Beeding Neighbourhood Wardens provide a tremendous service to local people, both old and young and I am certain that the majority of residents will wish to see it continue after 2010.

Subsidised bus services that operate under contract to the County Council in the Horsham District area are to be re-tendered during the winter 2008/9. The 1985 Transport Act requires that contracted bus services are re-tendered at least every five years, and the new contracts will run from the end of March 2009.

It is expected that the timetables on these services though my Division will for the most part remain the same as at present. Unfortunately the Tories are unlikely to make any additional County Council finance available to allow significant improvements to be made to any services.

The services which might be used by people from my area to be re-tendered are listed below:
Service 17 (Sundays) Horsham - Cowfold - Brighton: Two hourly operated by Compass Travel
Service 23 (Sundays) Horsham - Ashington - Worthing: Two hourly operated by Compass Travel
Service 100 Pulborough - Storrington - Steyning - Burgess Hill: Hourly operated by Compass Travel
Service 101 Horsham - Billingshurst - Pulborough: Hourly operated by Compass Travel
Services 108/109: Lancing - Steyning - Horsham: Shopping services operated by Compass Travel

The main concern about the present 100 timetable is that it runs at almost the same time as the 2A between Upper Beeding and Steyning. Clearly this is of no value to those residents who wish to just travel between the two. In addition, since the present 100 arrives in Upper Beeding from Small Dole just after the 2A has left for Shoreham, and in Upper Beeding going to Small Dole just before the 2A arrives in Upper Beeding from Shoreham, it is most unlikely that Small Dole residents will use the 100/2A as a way of going to/from Shoreham as they have to wait for nearly an hour before the next connection. I will be making these two points to the Public Transport Section reviewing these services, so that hopefully they can be addressed in the new contract.

If you have other comments or suggestions to make about any of these services please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be grateful if any comments you wish to make could be with me by early December

Following rumors about the possible resumption of cement production at the Site, the County Council Planning Compliance Section has informed me that the current planning permission situation is : -

‘Shoreham Cement works has an established use as a cement production facility since, as the original planning permission had no cessation and restoration condition, there is no loss of use through abandonment.

The only issue that may come up if production is to be resumed is if the buildings and machinery need replacing before actual production re commences.

It is understand that this will probably be the case, as the technology has moved on and the buildings are in poor condition due to neglect. In order to re use the buildings under the same permission, they would have to be restored materially as they were built. This might constrain up-to-date operations and procedures.

In effect, if the machinery or buildings need to be substantially altered, whilst the use is retained, a new planning unit is created by the physical changes, as established by case law (Jennings Motors v S.O.S. (1982).’

In summary, the Site has existing planning permission for cement production, but since it is likely that new up-to-date buildings would have to be constructed, with modern machinery installed, a new planning application would have to be made and approved before cement production could be re-started.

The current location of the Register Office for the District at the Horsham Old Town Hall has been less than ideal, not least because of the very poor access arrangements and there had been a proposal to move the facility to Park House in Horsham. However there is now a much cheaper option as the County Council has purchased the former Insurance Office building ‘Parkside’ which it is now renovating to become ‘County Hall North’ to re-house the County Offices in the area in one building.

Despite this option, instead of relocating the Register Office to the new ‘County Hall North’, which already provides impressive accommodation, including the banqueting suite, which may be made available for wedding receptions by a future restaurant franchisee, the Tories are sticking to their original plans to move the Office to Park House!

Lib Dem Morwen Millson, Leader of the Opposition on the County Council, has asked the Tory Cabinet Member making the decision how much will be paid to Horsham District Council for the accommodation at Park House, and what arrangements will be made for reserving parking for weddings. She pointed out that the adjacent District Council car park is a public pay and display car park.

The County Council has a modern Registrar’s Office at Centenary House Worthing for the Worthing area, why not a similar Office in Horsham? And, since ‘County Hall North’ is just a short step away from Park House the excellent planted and maintained gardens there could still be used for post wedding ceremony photographs.  

It will be a disgrace if the Tories press ahead with renting office facilities at Park House instead of using the excellent facilities which will be available at ‘County Hall North’ - at a time of considerable financial pressure on the County Council budget and Council Tax every opportunity should be taken to save money, not waste it!

Upper Beeding Parish Council having agreed last week to recommend the Chanctonbury County Local Committee to use of some of the planning development contributions related to transport towards the cost of upgrading the existing Footpath Right of Way to a bridleway for the above cycleway, I learned today (11th) that the landowner of the Footpath route from its junction with the Downs Link to its junction with New Hall Lane would object to such a proposal.

Since it would appear that there is no alternative route which meets the health, safety and security concerns of landowners, it looks as though, unless local people have any other ideas, the scheme is dead. Although there is the fallback of an on-road footway this would be much less safe and considerably more expensive, which would probably defer any such scheme for very many years.

I am very sorry about this as many people have taken the trouble to express their support for such a cycle route which would enable the development of bridleways either side of the Downs Link, towards building a network of cycle and equestrian routes between the small towns and villages of the Adur Valley.

I thank all those local people for their support for this idea.

Concern quite rightly continues to be raised about the anti-social driving activities of the few who drive along the pavement with no regard for the safety of pedestrians, children in particular, walking along the Shooting Field spur road entrance to Steyning Primary and Grammar Schools.

These drivers can be reported to Operation Crackdown (anti-social driving). This can be done on their website (or via the link on this site). If people report the anti-social drivers action every time, after 3 complaints about the same driver the Police will issue a warning and if such behaviour continues the vehicle can be seized.

It is possible that local people will raise their concerns with the Press, although both the Parish Council and I are urging action by the County Council to prevent this anti-social driving. The County is currently insisting on action by both the Grammar School and Primary School on Travel Plans and on reduced parking permits for the Grammar School before installing bollards or taking other preventative measures.

I am continuing to put pressure on the Travel Plan/Safe routes to school team to resolve this dangerous situation, whilst the Primary School has set up a Travel Plan Group of Governors to prepare a Travel Plan, and the Grammar School is reviewing the layout of their car park to enable more people to park on site.

Steyning Parish Council meets tomorrow (Monday, 10th), 7.30pm at the Steyning Centre. The meeting is open to the public and they can ask questions of the Parish, District and County Councillors present at the meeting.

Woodmancote Parish Council meets on Tuesday, 11th, at 8pm at the Parish Hall, Brighton Road. The meeting is open to the public and District and County Councillors will be present.

Make sure you are able to vote at future elections.

Go to the link on this website under Local Councils links. By having a postal vote you can vote whether you might be away on holiday or business on election day and of course you do not lose your vote should you be ill or have young children and your spouse is late back from work on the day.

Public meetings to discuss this proposal are being held this month.

Locally there will be a meeting at Worthing Hospital on Tuesday, 11 November from 6 to 7.30pm in the Board room, Washington Suite, and at Southlands Hospital on Monday, 24 November from 6 to 7.30pm in the Lecture Theatre.

Further information, including an information leaflet is available on the Worthing & Southlands NHS Trust website. (See link under Health Services.)

A local Steyning resident has called for Church Street to be included with the Parish Council campaign for a 20 mph speed limit for the High Street.

Although they had a mixed response to the ‘Steyning News’ article, the Parish Council is pressing ahead to discuss the 20 mph proposal with the Traffic Engineers.

I certainly support a 20 mph limit throughout all residential areas where people want them, and agree there would be a very good case for Church Street to be added to the High Street scheme. I have passed the resident’s request to the Parish Clerk for the Council to consider his suggestion.

At the Steyning Parish Council meeting on Monday, 10 November it was reported that this suggestion will be considered by the Parish Highways & Lighting Committee.

Upper Beeding Parish Council also agreed at it’s meeting last night to recommend to the Chanctonbury County Local Committee that planning development contributions related to transport schemes could be used to help fund a new footpath from Silver Birches in Small Dole to Woods Mill.

This scheme was suggested by former Lib Dem District Council candidate, Marian Brown, to enable Small Dole residents to visit the environmental centre without having to get into their cars for such a short distance.

The Parish Council is also supporting the possible daily bus service running every two hours from Henfield to Worthing, subject to confirmation of support from villagers. Hopefully the next Upper Beeding Parish newsletter will contain an article about this and people will respond to the Council in good numbers.

I will also be supporting these two schemes at the next Chanctonbury County Local Committee meeting.

The Parish Council at last night’s meeting agreed to my suggestion that the Chanctonbury County local Committee should be recommended to use some planning development contributions related to transport schemes for the possible cycle route from Small Dole to Henfield.

Although the possible route is entirely in Henfield Parish the cycle route would be of particular benefit to Small Dole residents who live in Upper Beeding Parish.

It was also good news in this regard to learn at the Countryside Access Forum for West Sussex last week that the County Council’s Corporate Plan for 2009/10 provides for an increase in the number of Rights of Way for walkers and cyclists.

I will be supporting the Parish Council’s recommendation at the next meeting of the Chanctonbury County Local Committee on 2 December in Partridge Green.

I recently had to complain yet again about some poor aspects of this year’s grass cutting of highway verges and that some verges continue to be ignored.

From colleagues on the County Council I know this is a problem throughout the County so I welcome the news that a new contract for grass cutting is being issued for next year. I understand that this will provide contractors with electronic maps of all urban grass, so hopefully this will ensure that no areas are missed in future.

We will still have to on our guard for poor standards and to report them to the County Council whenever they occur! I will post the work schedule for grass cutting as soon as I am informed.

This consultation exercise was closed on 14 August.

It was confirmed at the Countryside Access Forum for West Sussex that the outcome will be reviewed in due course by the Forum’s Off -Road Working Group.

LIBERAL Democrats in Arundel & South Downs have called for a cut in income tax for people on low and middle incomes to help them beat the recession.

“Inflation is at its highest for years,” said Derek Deedman, County Councillor for Bramber Castle Division. “Residents of this area are struggling with rising fuel and housing costs. They need money in their pockets now.

“Liberal Democrats are calling for a cut in income tax of 4p in the pound. It will be paid for by closing the loopholes used by the most wealthy to avoid paying tax. And we will increase the level of tax on the most polluting activities.

“Too many people are faced with the prospect of either eating properly or heating their homes. Action is needed now to help residents Arundel & South Downs who are struggling with rising prices.

“Many residents on low incomes are paying more in tax following the government’s decision to double the starting rate of income tax to 20p in the pound. Though the government was eventually forced to come forward with a package to compensate people for the tax increase, many are still worse off.

“Cutting income tax will therefore give residents and our local economy a boost at a time when it is desperately needed

It is being reported at the Countryside Access Forum for West Sussex meering tomorrow that the Inspector’s report on the re-opened South Downs Inquiry, which formally closed on Friday 4 July 2008, is expected to be submitted to Defra at the end of November 2008. It is, however, unlikely that the report will be available to the public until a decision is reached.

It is expected that an announcement on the decision will be made in Spring/Summer 2009.

Hopefully the decision will be to proceed with the establishment of a national park for the South Downs which will be formally approved by Parliament before the next General Election, which must take place by June 2010.

On Thursday (23rd) I had the great pleasure of representing our local community at the official opening by the Duke of York of the Sir Harry Ricardo Innovation & Sustainable Transport Centre at Ricardo’s Shoreham Technical Centre.

Based next to the Old Toll Bridge and Shoreham Airport, Rocardo’s have been based in Shoreham for nearly 100 years and in the last few decades have expanded world-wide. Committed to the development of new technologies and innovation powering all forms of transportation, and in the forefront of efforts to improve fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions, the company continues to provide many skilled engineering jobs to the young men and women who have grown up in the area and started their education in the schools of Steyning, Lancing, Shoreham and Worthing.

For more information about Rocardo’s go to www.ricardo.com

LIBERAL Democrats in Arundel & South Downs have backed plans to help small businesses survive the looming recession.

The plan by the party to boost businesses was launched by leader Nick Clegg and the party’s Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable. The plan includes:

• a substantial cut in interest rates to lower the cost of loans and investment;
• immediately overhauling the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme to improve government support for business loans;
• banks which receive government financial assistance adopting a new code of conduct on rearranging business credit and overdrafts;
• developing with energy companies an assistance package for small businesses struggling with high energy bills

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy here in Arundel & South Downs,” said Derek Deedman, County Councillor for Bramber Castle Division. “It is vital that we give them a fighting chance to get through the recession.

“The government has given a massive bailout to the banks. But ministers must now look at the bigger economy. Small businesses here in Arundel & South Downs and throughout the country generally, are suffering from the downturn. Profits are being squeezed and jobs are at risk.

“A big cut in interest rates will be a big boost to many local businesses throughout the small towns, villages (both in our local high streets and those home-based) and in the large rural area, which make up this constituency, and could mean the difference between staying open or closing down.

“Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have taken the lead with their plan to help businesses and I and Arundel & South Downs Liberal Democrats am giving it our full backing.”

I have recently referred an example of poor grass cutting of a verge in Upper Beeding and the continued lack of grass cutting of a verge in Steyning, to the County Council’s Grass Cutting Contract Manager.

I am awaiting his response on the situation but in the meantime I raised the problem of general poor grass cutting standards throughout the County at the Policy & Resources Select Committee meeting yesterday at County Hall.

A report proposing improved customer service on dealing with complaints was being discussed at the time, and the officer was reporting, as an example, how a grass cutting problem in the west of the County was being resolved. I and a number of other County Councillors brought the officer’s attention to the fact that the grass cutting contract standards and conditions are not, in our view, being fully enforced.

I said that it would be better if the number of contracted cuts in a year (eleven) was reduced to say, ten, with the money saved to be used for a higher standard of enforcing contract compliance.

The path closure is necessary to protect public safety whilst improvement works are being undertaken on the bridleway.

Unfortunately this link route using the South Downs Way east of the River Adur, from St Botolph’s bridge using bridleway 3209 to the A283 will continue to be unavailable for another 21 days from the 28TH OCTOBER 2008. The footpath and bridleway along either side of the River Adur and St Botolphs bridge will remain open for pedestrians and equestrians.

Should you have any queries regarding the closure please contact Becky Lawton, Rights of way Officer  on 01273 777928 or if you have a query about the effect of the notice on persons using the highway, to Jon Perks on 01243 777621.

Brighton & Hove Buses have now completed the survey of the school buses stopping at the Rising Sun in Upper Beeding in the morning..

The survey showed that the first bus (2A) does end up full, but the second bus (20) , another double decker, approximately 10 minutes later still has a fair number of seats available. The Brighton & Hove Commercial Manager has told me that their survey did not find any specific problems with people standing or sitting on the stairs as has happened in the past.

Hopefully people are now willing to wait for the second bus once the first bus is full, but if the overcrowding problem happens again please contact me.

The economic crisis means everyone’s worried about the future, and many are struggling to get by from day to day. The banks have been bailed out. I believe now it’s time for action to help people and their families through these tough times.

Liberal Democrats are determined to help people. We’ve put together a simple action plan that will really make a difference, putting money in your pocket, cutting unfair bills, and keeping people safe in their homes.

While Labour and the Conservatives just argue about who is to blame, Liberal Democrats are focused on practical help for people and families. There are four urgent changes we’re calling for:

1. Cutting taxes for struggling families so you’ve got more money in your pocket. The Liberal Democrats will cut taxes for people on low and middle incomes, raising them for the richest so the tax cuts are affordable.

2. Lowering energy bills so you can afford to keep warm this winter. As wholesale fuel prices fall - they have dropped 28% since August - utility companies must lower people’s bills too.

3. Keeping people in their homes, so you don’t need to fear unfair repossessions. We must ensure that banks only ever repossess people’s homes as a last resort.

4. Lower mortgage payments and cheaper business loans through big interest rate cuts. People and businesses need help paying off their mortgages and loans, so we need substantially lower interest rates.

This package of measures would make a real difference to people’s everyday lives. You can read more details at www.libdems.org.uk/recoveryplan

And you can spread the word about the action British families need by forwarding this message to friends and family.

We need to win the fight for action to help families. I take on Gordon Brown on these issues every week: but I need your help. To really represent everyone, it’s crucial that I understand exactly how people’s lives are being affected across the country. So please, get in touch with your stories about the credit crunch in your family, and your area.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg
Leader of the Liberal Democrats

The Forum meeting last night at the Steyning Centre discussed three background Papers covering Strategic Mineral Sites, Strategic Waste Sites and Development Management.

No specific waste sites were discussed, just the criteria and constraints that should apply in deciding on which sites to include in the final proposals. The Group I was in certainly seemed against including any sites in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the reasons for this were noted.

There is another Forum meeting due to take place in Lower Beeding later this month.

The further key stages in the development include discussions with stakeholders, the search and initial assessment of possible sites and then the preparation of revised Background papers to enable the various County Committees to be advised on progress by June/July 2009.

There will be further community Forums between June and August 2009 before recommendations to approve the draft Core Strategy go to the various committees and full Council by December 2009. The approved draft document will go out to an informal six week consultation between January and February 2010.

Further stages will follow, including an examination in public by a Government Inspector, before the publication of the Adopted Core Strategy (including the identified sites) in November 2011.

The West Sussex Principal Rights of Way Officer has welcomed the idea of providing a bridleway from Small Dole to join the Downs Link to enable horses and cyclists to use the route between Small Dole and Henfield.

At the meeting it was confirmed that it would be difficult to upgrade the footpath along New Hall Lane where the landowner objects to the idea, but it is possible that an alternative route may be made available.

The Rights of Way staff will now investigate the full land ownership of the possible route. The part of the route near the river will require substantial works to enable it to be used by cycles and so the works will need to be designed and funding found.

It is clear that a number of problems remain to be resolved if this cycleway is to be achieved and I will report back on the situation as more information is available.

Drainage Improvements in the Henfield Road, Upper Beeding are due to start in the week commencing 27^th October 2008 and last for up to two weeks.

The scheme is to carry out drainage repairs to assist drainage of excess water from the carriageway and alleviate further flooding problems in the area.

During the course of the works, 2 way traffic lights will be erected on site and will remain in place until the materials have hardened. Generally, these will be erected each morning and taken down at the end of the day to allow rush hour traffic to pass through freely, though there may be occasions when they remain in place whist materials are hardening.

The Highways Agency have announced that there will be no more weekend closures of the A27 at Arundel to complete the work at the railway bridge. Although further road closures had been allowed for the work was carried out in 3 weekends. There is some finishing off work but that will not require road closures.

Great news for travellers using the A27 through Arundel, and for the people of Littlehampton which faced gridlock when the A27 was closed.

It was good to hear at yesterday’s Liaison Group meeting at Small Dole that it appears that the air quality in Small Dole has improved in recent months, with fewer smells from the Landfill Site. Work is also in progress on the Site to further reduce the incidence of smells.

The planning approval to extend the life of the Site has still not been implemented due to ongoing legal discussions between the County Council and the Small Dole Action Group. There is, however, less waste going into the Site since all the household waste from West Sussex now goes to the Biffa landfill Site at Warnham.

As part of the continuing action to reduce smells from the Site, the new Site Manager, Mr Sarasketa, said he was willing, subject to operational constraints, to visit all residents who telephone his office during working hours to report odour problems. The telephone number is 01903 879544.

The Chanctonbury area County Task Force met this morning to review the current situation and the progress on the plans for the Service next year.

The current service should include a white van for people to leave white goods (such as washing machines) for recycling as promised in the County Council letter to all residents a few months ago. This has not happened, and we were assured today that this was due to a delay in gaining Cabinet Member approval. This has now been agreed and a collection vehicle for such items will be provided by Horsham District Council (hopefully from next week) when the Mobile Waste Service attends the various sites.

There have also been delays in replacing the various recycling collection dry mixed waste bins based permanently at each collection site. This is due to long lead-in times for the supply of such equipment by suppliers who are also facing rapidly increasing costs (plastic bins, oil price rises). It could still be a few more months before the bins arrive; in the meantime people should continue the separate bins.

Task Force members also asked about the supply of free home composters to residents in the Chanctonbury area to help reduce the use of the Mobile Waste Service. We were told that as at 4 October nearly 3500 units had been requested by residents. If you have not yet taken up this great offer, please do so soon!

The new Mobile Waste Service from next year will be introduced on a rolling basis as Horsham District Council roll out their new improved kerbside recycling service. This is expected to be by July 2009 in the Steyning area.

Finally consideration is still being given to the provision of a new permanent Household Waste Site in the Chanctonbury area. A further report will be made on this at the next Task Force meeting on 9 December.

Under the title “Working together for a better future” West Sussex County Council adopted its Sustainable Community Strategy for West Sussex 2008 – 2020 at its meeting on October 10^th.

Deputy Leader Dr James Walsh said “ This paper is purely aspirational; it is all words with no promises of specific actions especially on solar heating, energy conservation, and water recycling.  We have had 20-30 years of plans and more plans.  What we need is real action”

Dr Nigel Dennis, Lib Dem spokesman for Highways and Transport, commented: “Cycle expenditure by West Sussex County Council is half the national average and the cycle network is little more than a series of short, disconnected routes, poorly used.”

He added:

“if we are to get people to cut down on car use we must have better integration of public transport services.  Bus timings must link up with trains and we need better through ticketing and more Travelcard schemes.”

We have had strategies for footpaths, cycleways and public transport - and no action. There is a particular need for these extra services in the Bramber Castle area and it is about time we saw some action on this from the County Council!

A local Upper Beeding resident recently had a problem with the 2A service - due to the bus running early he missed the bus and was late for an appointment in Steyning. Brighton & Hove Buses have investigated the situation, but because of a delay in dealing with the problem have been unable to use the CCTV footage to pinpoint the cause.

Brighton & Hove Buses are keen to be made aware of problems regarding services to ensure they provide an excellent service which people will want to use. So if you have any such problems, especially early/late running, please let them know via the website link on the left.

West Sussex Tories at yesterday’s full County Council meeting rejected the Lib Dem request for the Leader of the Council to consider ways of using the Sustainable Communities Act to ensure a balance between the provision of smaller affordable homes and the larger units favoured by developers.

Lib Dem Morwen Millson, Leader of the Opposition on the Council, had moved this proposal to ensure that whatever level of new development is permitted in the county, this balance, including the balance between houses and flats - is aligned with need in each area.

It is very sad that, whilst continuing to talk of local determination on housing numbers, the Tories do not want actual local housing need, mostly for smaller affordable housing units to enable our young people be able to buy or rent in the communities where they grew up, to determine what is actually built.

Following informal consultations earlier this year, authorisation has been granted to publish this proposed traffic Order to undertake a formal consultation on a prohibition of waiting at all times on lengths of Castle Lane, Steyning

The web-link that will enable viewing of the:-

• plan showing the current and proposed waiting restrictions
• statement of reasons for proposing to make the Order
• copy of the Public Notice that will be advertised in the Shoreham Herald on 9 October 2008
• draft Order

is shown below.

http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/roads-and-transport/motor-vehicles-and-parking/traffic-regulation-orders/traffic-regulation-order-consultations/chanctonbury-county-local-committee.en

If you wish to raise an objection, express support or make any other comment about this proposal please either send an email to tro.team@westsussex.gov.uk  or write to TRO Team, West Sussex County Council, The Grange, Tower Street, Chichester, PO19 1RH, quoting reference TRO/73.

Please note that the statutory consultation period ends on 31 October 2008 and any comments must be received  before this date

I have asked Brighton & Hove Buses about overcrowding on the 2A at the Rising Sun, Upper Beeding, which was reported to me last week. The 8.35am bus was so full, mainly of school children, that apart from standing, some children were sitting on the stair steps.

It appears that Brighton & Hove have had similar overcrowding problems before due, in their view, to the number of children accepted at the Grammar School from the Shoreham area exceeding the capacity of the buses available.

Brighton & Hove Buses have agreed to investigate the current situation on the two morning buses and to let me know what action is proposed to overcome the problems. The County Council has been warned about the possible need to arrange for another bus.

I also referred to this problem at a meeting I had with the Director of Support Services at the Grammar School today on another matter. She agreed to investigate whether the students were reporting the problem.

At a meeting to discuss the B2116 from Woodmancote to Albourne on 2 October, Highways staff rejected a petition from Albourne residents calling a speed limit for the length between Albourne and Woodmancote (speeds had been measured and the Accident and Investigation Branch had also been consulted). Instead proposals were made of a plan to deal specifically with the dangerous parts of the road by signs, surfaces and the cutting back of hedges etc. During the discussion it was, however, agreed that advisory speed limit signs could also be provided where appropriate.

Local Woodmancote Parish Councillor, Crispin Blazeby, had studied that part of the road with the Local Traffic Engineer the day before the meeting, and considered that from Woodmancote residents point of view the Highways staff proposals would be the correct approach.

Crispin and I also learned that resurfacing of the surface is being done outside of the plan and the section on the corner beyond Paynesfield will be done in the near future.

The part of the plan affecting Woodmancote is on the corner immediately beyond the top of Blackstone Lane and involves: -

*Installation of new chevrons of a more striking design,

*A further corner sign to the East with a speed note,

*The corner sign to the North to have a speed note,

*New surface of a red warning nature with “Slow” on it, and,

*Cutting back of woodland/hedge on the inside of the corner.

Consideration of a pathway/bridlepath on the ground was discussed sympathetically and will be looked at separately – it was recognised that equestrians were in particular danger on that corner.

The Woodmancote Parish Action Plan recommends attention to the Twineham Lane junction by “Balloos” – Crispin had looked closely at this and with the Local Traffic Engineer considered the visibility at that point to be OK.

The overall cost of the work would be £23,000 and needed to take place before the end of this financial year.  After 12 months a review would take place to judge the effect of the changes.

It was agreed that the “Woodmancote“ sign by the “Paynesfield” corner would be removed to reduce confusion.  (Postal addresses in this area of Woodmancote are of course “Albourne”).

The Liberal Democrats South East Regional Conference will take place in Worthing this year on Saturday, 25 October. The conference itself will be at the local Northbrook College in Worthing on the Littlehampton Road, and, in particular, Lib Dem members will: -

·        * have the opportunity to hear interesting people such as Lib Dem Front Bench MPs Chris Huhne, Lynne Featherstone, Steve Webb, and Norman Baker to name but a few,

·         *be able to attend a policy debate on transport chaired by Lib Dem Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker, a subject very close to our hearts here in Worthing and Chanctonbury,

·         *discuss the problems facing the European Union, with Sharon Bowles MEP and other European Election hopefuls.

It is also likely that there will be a Hustings session for the “President of the Liberal Democrats”, between three possible candidates.

I had a very constructive meeting yesterday with Chris Chatfield, the Managing Director of Compass Travel.

He is very keen to try to improve the bus services to/from the Bramber Castle area and we talked about how this could be progressed. This will clearly involve consultation with the people of the area who would hopefully be interested in using improved services and with the various Parish and District/Borough Councils who would need to be involved.

He will now be contacting the various Councils to arrange a meeting when these possible improvement plans can be discussed.

As I have campaigned for improved public transport in the area for many years, I welcome this initiative by Compass Travel. All depends on the authorities involved and the willingness of people to use the bus rather than the car, but hopefully with good will this will be achieved.

Additionally, if this initiative does result in improved bus services it would also give those without cars greater opportunities to travel to Worthing/Horsham Town to work, go shopping or use the bigger leisure facilities. And, of course, it would give the people from those areas a better chance to visit the rural attractions available in the towns and villages of our area. A win-win situation for the economies of both areas to help offset the current downturn.

Gordon Brown’s proposals to deal with the economic slowdown are too little too late, say Arundel & South Downs Liberal Democrats.

The party has published its own package of proposals designed to help people left struggling by the credit crunch. And the plans are being strongly backed by members in Arundel & South Downs.

The Liberal Democrat measures include tax cuts for low and middle income households, stopping unnecessary repossessions, action to cut energy bills and moves to stop reckless banks jeopardising economic security.

West Sussex County Councillor, Derek Deedman, said:

“Gordon Brown’s response to the economic crisis has been too little, too late.

“Here in Arundel & South Downs and across Britain people are struggling with rising bills, rising prices, and wages that aren’t keeping up.

“If the Prime Minister really wants to help people on low and middle incomes he should take the simple and obvious step of cutting their taxes, releasing billions of pounds to boost the economy.

“The Liberal Democrats have consistently called for action to cut energy bills, stop irresponsible behaviour by banks and deliver more help for those threatened with repossession. If Gordon Brown had acted when we first raised these issues we would not be in as deep a mess as we are.”

Key points of the Lib Dem Fairer Future Economic Recovery Plan

• Put more money in people’s pockets - tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes
• Stop unnecessary home repossessions and provide more affordable housing
• Make energy companies reinvest their windfall profits in cutting bills
• Extra help for people in debt or who lose their jobs
• Tough new rules to limit the excesses of the City

Steyning Parish Council Highways & Lighting Committee last night agreed that the disadvantages from closing the Lane to vehicular traffic near the Chalk Pit far outweighed the possible safety improvements for pedestrians using the Lane. They could not, therefore, support any request to the County Council to close the Lane.

I had asked the Committee (which had previously expressed concern about the safety of walkers using the Lane) to consider supporting the possible closure of the Lane on behalf of local residents who felt unsafe walking on this narrow road. However other residents had pointed out to me the increased risks for even more people from the increased traffic which would result on other local roads, and at the dangerous Bostal Road/Bramber Road junction where traffic would have to gain access to the alternative Bostal Road to go over the Downs

Steyning Parish Council Highways & Lighting Committee last night agreed to support my campaign on behalf of local residents for urgent action by the County Council to improve pedestrian safety on this access road. The action to install bollards on the exit side of the road is necessary to prevent vehicles using the pavement and putting children at risk when there is traffic congestion.

There was also a suggestion that in the longer term, parking on both sides of the road could be restricted, with parking banned between say 8 and 9am and 3 and 4pm so that the full width of the road would be available at peak times (my only concern about this is that it might lead to higher traffic speeds, but may be road humps could be introduced to stop that). Clearly if a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for this idea was supported by the County and local residents it would then make it possible to remove the proposed bollards on the exit  side of the road if a TRO was implemented.

I am a member of the West Sussex Learning Difficulty Partnership Board.

At the Board meeting last week I met Martina Osei-Bobie who is one of the three part time members of the West Sussex Carers Support Service team. She is responsible for the Worthing & District area which includes the Chanctonbury area of south Horsham.

Although she already has contact with many people in our area who are caring for adults with learning difficulties, there are no doubt many others who are not aware that she might be able to help them in their role as carers.

If you are such a carer or know someone who is, and maybe needs help/advice, Martina would be glad to hear from you. She can be contacted by: - ‘phone 01903 528689, fax 01903 528611 or email martinaoseibobie@carerswsx.org.uk

LIBERAL Democrats in Arundel & South Downs have thrown down the gauntlet to the Conservatives on the eve of their conference by demanding answers to questions about the economy.

Leading the charge for the local Liberal Democrats is County Councillor Derek Deedman. He said that with the credit crunch biting hard, residents in Arundel & South Downs have a right to know what the Conservatives would do to restore the economy to health.

“The credit crunch started last year but so far, the Conservatives have said a lot about how badly the economy is going, and very little about how they want the economy restored to health,” said Derek.

“If the Conservatives want people in this  area to vote for them, they should tell them what they are letting themselves in for. It seems to me that the Conservatives are either clueless about how to solve the economic problems or have policies that they want to keep hidden.

“I am therefore challenging the Conservatives in Arundel & South Downs to tell us where they stand on the big issues facing local residents.”

Derek is calling for answers to the following:

Will the Conservatives make the richest pay their fair share of tax?

The only tax proposals announced by the Conservatives are to cut Inheritance Tax for millionaires, abolish Stamp Duty on shares and introduce a marriage-based tax system which would penalise widows, those escaping domestic violence and anyone else who is not married.

Will the Conservatives continue to defend the behaviour of City fat-cat speculators?

The Conservatives have refused to criticise the City hedge funds, which have significantly worsened the recent financial crisis.

What do the Conservatives mean by sharing the proceeds of growth, and how will they do it in a recession?

Why have the Conservatives nothing to say about council and other social housing?

The Conservatives brought council house building effectively to an end when they were last in government. Now council housing is badly needed but the Conservatives have been silent about this.

Do the Conservatives now admit they got it wrong on Northern Rock?

The Conservatives failed to see the Northern Rock fiasco coming. When it did arrive they kept changing their position on how to deal with it. Now that other banks are facing difficulties will they continue to oppose state ownership on ideological grounds?

Why did the Conservatives ignore the dangerous boom in lending and house prices?

Whilst the Government let the boom in credit get out of control, the Conservatives sat idly by. Now that the housing bubble has burst, the Conservatives are happy to make political capital. Their frontbencher Andrew Mitchell MP said that the economic problems besetting the country have created ‘an incredibly good moment’ for the Conservatives.  How can taxpayers believe they will do anything to tackle the problem were they in government? (Source: ePolitix.com 26/9/08)

What is their view of house prices?

High house prices mean many people are unable to get their foot on the first rung of the property ladder. However, the Conservatives have so far failed to accept that prices needs to be more realistic. They were the first to propose a Stamp Duty holiday to get first time buyers into the market. Yet that same policy completely failed when they introduced it the last time they were in office. People did not want to buy homes which a few months later would be worth a great deal less than they paid for it.

Why do the Conservatives still support Council Tax?

The last Conservative Government introduced the unfair Council Tax in the wake of the disastrous Poll Tax. 15 years on and after it has doubled under the current Government, the Tories have still failed to tackle this flawed tax, which disproportionately hits pensioners and poor families. Indeed in West Sussex the Conservatives have increased Council Tax by 123% since they regained control of the County Council in 1997.

Derek Deedman said, “So far the Conservatives have failed to tackle any of the big issues facing families today.

“Their empty words have got them through until now, but they are no substitute for actual proposals when it comes to tackling the serious problems facing our economy. The Conservatives must stop dodging the tough choices if he really wants to establish any economic credibility with voters.”

Following my request for early action to improve this footway, I have been told by the Highway Engineers that it will be resurfaced towards the end of November.

This is great news for the very many users (school students and people going into town) that the badly rutted surfaces of this footway alongside the Shooting Field football ground will soon be a thing of the past.

Having submitted the results of the public consultation on this possible cycleway from Small Dole to Henfield to County Hall  for comments, a meeting has now been agreed with the Principal Rights of Way Officer at County Hall on 13 October to discuss the possible ways forward to progress the scheme. The possible route was supported by a majority of local residents.

I will report back on the outcome following the meeting.

Today West Sussex County Council announced that Biffa Waste Services have been appointed as the Preferred Bidder for the MRMContract. This contract for the processing of municipal waste not re-cycled over the next 25 years is due to be signed in March 2009.

The value of the contract at today’s prices will be just over £1 billion, which is significantly cheaper than the £1.6 billion it would cost to do nothing and continue to send rubbish to landfill.

The contract is for a non-incineration process at new waste management facilities to be built at Biffa’s own site at Brookhurst Wood, Warnham, North Horsham. Since all the County’s current municipal waste already goes to the site to be landfilled the new contract will not involve the transport of any additional waste to the area.

This contract is the result of four years working with the Districts and Boroughs in the County, consulting with community groups and consideration by a County Councillors Task Force (of which I am a member).

This is very good news for the County in that the wish by the majority of people that incineration should not be involved has been achieved.

It is also great news for the people of Upper Beeding, Bramber and Steyning in that the Old Cement Works site will not be used for this waste facility. There is no doubt that the major objections which would have been made against the heavy lorries transporting nearly 300,000 tonnes of waste each year to that site, delaying any planning bid to use the Cement Works site for a considerable period of time, played a part in making the decision to accept the Biffa bid.

However we have only won the battle, not the war! The Cement Works site is still in the County Council’s draft Minerals and Waste Planning Framework as suitable for a waste management facility such as an incinerator. Municipal waste only represents some 20% of the total waste which has to be disposed of in the County, and so a commercial operator could come along tomorrow with a planning application to use the Cement Works site for a waste management facility to deal with that waste. I will continue to campaign to have the Cement Works site and all such sites in the potential South Downs National Park deleted from the Minerals and Waste Planning Framework to remove this threat to our local environment.

Following many complaints about the former site in Smugglers Lane, a public meeting was held involving leading parish councillors, the police, PCSO and wardens. Despite some success in convincing people that the young people were not a group of anti-social youths, a few local people disagreed and scattered dog excrement and broken glass over the site, ending any chances of it being used again.

Whilst it is understood that there were some issues of noise, the young people had taken the complaints on board and were behaving. It is very sad that a few adults responded by ruining the site, and leading parish councillors want to make up for it by providing a suitable site.

Unfortunately the current proposal for a site accessed off The Bostal is not suitable. It would be on a site half way up The Bostal, past the reservoir, and left through a gate of sorts for pedestrians and horse riders along a marked bridleway. It is an SSSI, part of the current AONB and likely to be in the South Downs National Park.

Although it is understood that the young people only want to be able to dig a few jumps and ride their bikes, as they did in Smugglers Lane, and there is no proposal for an official BMX park at this stage; with the growth of the sport now it is an Olympic success this could well change. In addition there are other concerns that would need to be addressed: - unsupervised youngsters crossing main roads, the conservation status of the land and legal requirements arising, the needs of other users, accessibility in the event of an accident and the safety of the young people using the site.

Another complication is that there is a proposal to change the status of The Bostal to a Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT), and this is due to be considered by the Planning Inspectorate in January 2009. Even if this is approved the primary users of BOATs are intended to be walkers and horses, with only secondary/occasional use by vehicles. How can public access to a BMX track be compatible with that? The number of horse-riders daily using The Bostal has increased dramatically in the last year or so. There is a clear possibility of conflict between them and all the people going to and from a BMX meeting. Finally this proposal might pre-empt consideration of a Traffic Regulation Order to ban vehicles from The Bostal, which is still one of the preferred options of the local opponents to the BOAT bid.

Clearly for the reasons highlighted The Bostal site is not acceptable, but another site needs to be identified which would be a suitable replacement for Smugglers Lane and capable for further development to a full BMX track should it be a success. Constructive suggestions which I can pass to the Parish Council would be appreciated.  

The Lib Dem Conference in Bournemouth was the best yet, with a record attendance and great speeches - especially from Nick Clegg, Vince Cable and Chris Huhne. Go to the link to the Liberal Democrats and click on the conference section for more details.

Nick’s speech was the highlight of the Conference. The key points from his speech were: -

‘Labour cannot help people – they are a ‘zombie government’, stumbling around with no idea what to do.

The Conservatives won’t help people - they are a say everything, do nothing party, avoiding any tough policy decisions.

Nick announced the Liberal Democrat Fairer Future economic recovery plan – four steps to a better economic future -

1) Action to stop unjust repossessions

2) New approach to regulating the City - limiting the excesses of the market

3) Put in place the building blocks for future economic stability - interest rates that take house price changes into account, and independent monitoring of our fiscal rules
4) Tax cuts for families who are struggling

The Liberal Democrats are now the only party that can deliver social justice, and the only choice for anyone who wants a fairer Britain.

We will put money back in the pockets of ordinary families - tax is a means to an end and government should not take a penny more than it needs

We will make Britain the first truly green economy in the world - a huge expansion of renewable energy, and energy independence within the EU

We will change politics so that every person counts - with fair votes, an end to big donations and a stronger Parliament

We will make government ‘people shaped’, with benefits shaped around the needs of people and families, not bureaucrats.

Patients should have far more control over the care they get. So people with long term conditions get to be part of designing the care they need.

Children struggling, or falling behind, should be helped with extra support – one-to-one tuition or catch up classes, funded by a “pupil premium” which targets extra cash at deprived children.’

The latest opinion polls show that most people think the Lib Dems are now the Party in tune with ordinary people (Populus for the Times), and is reflected in the immediate change in support for the Party (YouGov for the Daily Telegraph): -

Tory down to 44%,

Labour down to 24%

Liberal Democrats up to 20%.

After a number of letters over the last year to Royal Mail I have been told that the Local Collections Manager has at last agreed to a new post box, and is proposing to site this in Shoreham Road as requested by me on behalf of local residents.

However, this is still at the planning stage and work will only commence when planning approval is received.  If everything goes according to plan Royal Mail anticipate that the new post box will be in place by early 2009.

It has been a long battle to convince the Royal Mail of need for the new post box, to serve particularly the older residents of that area, and those with disabilities who find it difficult to get to the post box at the Post Office, but at last we are almost there!

The first Autumn Conference with Nick Clegg as Leader starts tomorrow in Bournemouth. This is the first time the Conference will start on a Saturday and will therefore end a day earlier on Wednesday with the Leader’s speech at about 12 noon.

More Lib Dems than ever have booked to attend and I will be travelling to Bournemouth (my home town) by train on Saturday (booked before the news about the A27, see article below!).

The BBC will be covering the Conference on the BBC TV Parliament Channel, on BBC 2 from noon on Monday and Tuesday and 11 am on Wednesday. You will also be able to catch up with Conference news on BBC Radio 5 Live.  In addition don’t forget to check up on the Web.

Work to refurbish the bridge carrying the A27 over Arundel railway station will start later today, Friday 12     September. The work will include resurfacing the road, renewing the waterproofing of the bridge and carrying out brickwork repairs where necessary. The work will take place over 3-5 non-consecutive weekends, during which time the bridge will be closed to traffic.

These weekends are:

8pm Friday 12 September until 6am Monday 15 September

8pm Friday 26 September until 6am Monday 29 September

8pm Friday 10 October until 6am Monday 13 October

8pm Friday 17 October until 6am Monday 20 October

8pm Friday 31 October until 6am Monday 03 November

During these times the A27 will be closed from the Causeway roundabout to the junction with Crossbush Lane. Access to Arundel Railway Station, homes, businesses and local roads will be maintained from each end of this section, but the bridge itself will be closed to traffic.

There will be pedestrian access to the station from the bridge by means of the footbridge, and pedestrians will be able to access the station platforms from the station. For wheelchair users, there will be arrangements to allow escorted passage over the bridge while it is closed. There are also provisions to allow emergency services across the bridge in the event of an emergency.

A fully signed diversion route will be in place during each closure. Westbound traffic on the A27 will be directed off the A27 at the Crossbush interchange onto the A284 heading southbound to join the A259 heading westbound. Traffic will continue along the A259 through Bognor Regis to join the A29 Shripney Road northbound. Traffic will continue northbound on the A29 until the junction with the A27 at Fontwell to continue westbound.Eastbound traffic along the A27 will use the same route in the opposite direction.

I understand that these essential safety works will help keep the bridge in a safe and serviceable condition for the future. The work has been carefully planned to limit delays, and the Highway Agency (which is responsible for the A27) is confident that they will be completed in the allotted time.

Whilst the diversion route has been agreed with the police and the local authority, and has been chosen as it is uses roads which are suitable for the type and volume of traffic that uses the A27, there will clearly be considerable traffic congestion and delays. The Highway Agency is advising drivers to plan their journeys before setting out, and to allow some extra time while the closures are in place. However people should also consider using the railways (unless engineering works are being carried out!).   

The new community car park in Church Street is now open for use after the school day, at weekends and during school holidays.

Jointly funded by the Grammar School, Horsham District Council and planning contributions allocated at the request of Steyning Parish Council, this car park is an important addition to parking facilities in the Town.

The extra car parking facilities for the teachers will release spaces in the Steyning Centre (Fletchers Croft) car park they used to occupy during the school day and so the temporary car parking facilities along the access to Fletchers Croft Car Park ought to now be restored to grass.

I have been pressing for the signs for the new car park to be provided soon.

The Government has asked Horsham District Council if it wants to take up an offer of extra grant by agreeing to allow free swimming for over 60’s and under 16’s in the District’s swimming pools such as at the Steyning Leisure Centre.

The District Council will be discussing this matter tomorrow evening (10th) and I have suggested to District Councillor George Cockman that the proposal should be welcomed. This is as an excellent move to improve the health of older as well as younger people by increasing the availability of free sporting activities. This would also provide an alternative, free activity for those on low incomes, and for local young people, a few of whom might otherwise engage in anti-social behaviour.

George considers that the Government’s present plans need to be improved to really attract young people. This is because the current offer is just for free access in all adult sessions which is not likely to be much good for them and certainly not for the rest. He suggests that more funds are needed for equipment for youth leisure swimming activities and to enable specific youth sessions to be provided.

George has agreed to hopefully convince the Council to support making these points in the response to the Government.

Now that the new Steyning Health Centre has opened it is necessary to consider what should happen to the temporary car parking area alongside the access road to the Fletcher’s Croft Car Park. The NHS Trust is liable to fully re-instate the area under a licence agreement with Horsham District Council.

A number of views have been expressed about this, and it has been suggested that some or the entire temporary car parking area should be retained. Steyning Parish Council is asking for comments in the August edition of Steyning News on retaining part of the temporary parking. In addition another comment has been made that if this extra parking was to be available on a permanent basis, the opportunity could be taken to restrict the current car parking alongside the Church bank.

In my view, however, this temporary parking area should be fully reinstated to grass.

With the new Church Street car park for the School during the day, the spaces previously used by the School, in the Fletcher’s Croft car park, are now available for additional public parking. The extra spaces at the Church Street car park area are also available to the public outside School hours.

I consider that this is such a sensitive area of the Town that any decision should follow a public debate/meeting. Hopefully there will be many comments on the Parish Council article in Steyning News and a public meeting will then be arranged to discuss and agree the way forward.

Following a request from a resident of Newham Close for action regarding the large number of cars parking in the Close, causing concern about access for Emergency vehicles, I asked the Local Traffic Engineer to review the situation.

He has now done this and agrees that it is quite congested with parked vehicles. However he considered that at the time of his site visit access to all parts of the Close was easily achievable and would have been for any sized vehicle needing to gain access.

In his view if a Traffic Regulation Order was agreed to restrict parking within the Close, this would also impact upon the residents unless a Residents Parking Scheme was introduced. Residents would then have to purchase permits for parking. In addition he considered that if this system was to be used then every resident within Steyning might want the same system for his or her road.

What do people think? If a Resident Parking Scheme for Newham Close is considered as the right way forward to overcome excessive car parking, it may come down to a full review of all parking within Steyning, and the adoption of a Controlled Parking Zone for the area.

Steyning Parish Council meets tomorrow evening, 7.30pm Monday, 8 September at the Steyning Centre.

Woodmancote Parish Council meets at 8pm on Tuesday evening, 9 September in the Parish Hall, Brighton Road, Woodmancote,

Both meetings are open to the public and County and District Councillors will be present.

Earlier in the year I was told that a scheme for bollards or railings, to stop vehicles mounting the pavement to avoid waiting their turn to exit the schools, had been included in the 2008/09 minor scheme programme. I was assured that I would be contacted when the final designs for the scheme had been prepared.

The officers in charge of school travel plans have now said that whilst both the Grammar and Primary School Plans mention traffic congestion in the area, they do not mention any need for bollards or restrictions on the spur road.

I have now reminded the County Council about the promised provision of bollards or railings along the Shooting Field spur road to the school entrances

As will have been seen from the local press, major Maintenance Works to Bramber A283 Court Bridge are due to start next week and could last for some eleven weeks. Work will generally take place from 7am to 7pm, though there may be occasions when works finish earlier or begin later in the day, depending on the type of work carried out.

The work will take place on one lane at a time, with the north and south sides across the bridge being closed to traffic in turn to assist the flow of traffic during the course of the works, with 2 way traffic lights. These will remain in place until the works have been completed.

Permission has also been given to use part of High Trees Car Park at the Beeding roundabout situated opposite the bridge for storage of materials that are to be used for the works. Every effort will be given to keep disruption to car park users to a minimum. The van that parks in the car park will still be able to provide a service to walkers during this time.

Focus readers will recall that these works were expected to have been carried out during the summer months and that the stretch of road concerned, between the Beeding and Bramber Castle roundabouts, would be subject to a temporary 40 mph speed limit. There is no mention of such a speed limit in the latest publications about these works and I have asked whether this will not now take place.

It is also a great pity that these works have delayed, as previously they would have taken place with over the summer holidays. Now there will be much greater traffic problem at peak hours with all the school traffic on the roads.

I have been contacted about what action can be taken to reduce the danger to pedestrians using the narrow part of the Lane from it’s junction with Laines Road to the chalk pit.

Previously the Steyning Parish Council suggestion to provide a pavement was rejected by County Highways. This time it has been suggested that the above mentioned closure of the Lane would make the road much safer for pedestrians whilst not stopping the small amount of traffic going to/from the chalk pit. Through traffic going over the Downs would use the more suitable Bostal Road.

I have also been contacted by another local resident, who drives and walks this section of road regularly, who can see why the closure suggestion has been made, but believes that it is not a practical way forward. 

He believes the perceived safety of walkers would be the only benefit from the proposal.

He considers that with the route currently being used by many residents of Newham Lane, Laines Road, Hills Road and the surrounding estate when entering or leaving Steyning, forcing these vehicles to use the Bostal Road route would cause more problems. Additional traffic would go through the village centre and/or use Ingram Road as a ‘rat run’. In addition there would be extra traffic at the Bostal Road junction which is already probably the most hazardous location for traffic and pedestrians in the village. The proposal would also lead to longer journey times and increased fuel consumption for a significant number of Steyning residents and visitors.

He has never felt unsafe walking the section of Newham Lane in question, and considers the narrowness of the road works to the walker’s advantage by forcing traffic to slow significantly. If it is felt that steps need to be taken to make the Lane safer for walkers, he suggests warning signs, ‘Walkers in Road’ or similar, perhaps combined with extending the 30 mph limit up to the chalk pit.

I have asked the Parish Council for views on the possible closure of this Lane at the entrance to the chalk pit, taking into account these alternative views, and this will be considered at the Highways & Lighting Committee meeting on 30 September.

Following reports of illegal parking on yellow lines in Saltings Way and Pound Lane, Upper Beeding; Horsham Council officers (acting under delegated powers from the County Council) have told Derek Deedman that they will be giving greater attention in future to the illegal parking in those roads.

Residents are rightly concerned that much of this illegal parking is hazardous and could result in accidents if such parking is not prevented.

At long last the new Steyning Health Centre opens at 10am on Monday, 1 September. For more information go to the Health Centre website via the link on the left.

There are two meetings next week.

Upper Beeding Parish Council meets on Tuesday at 7.30pm at Small Dole Village Hall.

Ashurst Parish Council meets on Thursday at 8pm at the Village Hall.

Both meetings are open to the public with District and Parish Councillors present to answer questions. I will be on holiday.

In an article today in many national newspapers I understand that the Tories will be launching a drive to encourage healthier lifestyle and insisting that people claiming biological or environmental causes for their obesity are simply making excuses.

Well they obviously have no idea why most people get into this condition. Just one example from the whole variety of possible causes - for those on low incomes, is to compare the price of junk food/sweets etc with good nutritional meals/fruit etc – no prizes for guessing which is the cheapest. They are really launching a persecution of such people by encouraging bullying in the playground, at work and in the community. The outcome will certainly not reduce obesity but might increase the number of suicides.

Only a few Small Dole residents are interested in the possibility of such a bus service suggested by Compass Travel and advertised in the Summer edition of Focus. Just eight people said they would use this bus service. In view of the low number I am sad but not surprised that the Manager does not wish to pursue the matter at the present time.

I will include a report on this in the next edition of Focus and this may provoke further support for such a bus service. If so it might be possible to convince Compass to at least trial a service before Christmas.

LIBERAL Democrats in Arundel & South Downs are making their final preparations to attend the party’s conference in Bournemouth in September.

A number of members from the Chanctonbury area will be heading for the conference which will be held from Saturday 13^th to Wednesday 17^th September.

Debates taking place will include pensions, crime, eco-towns, the housing and mortgage crisis, transport and health.

“We are looking forward to a good conference and some lively debates,” said Councillor Derek Deedman, Local Party Chairman.   “We are also looking forward to speeches from leading figures in the Liberal Democrats, particularly Nick Clegg’s Leader’s speech on the final day.

“People in this area are feeling the pinch with rising unemployment, rising prices for food and energy and a collapsing housing market. So there will be a great deal of interest in the debate about the housing and mortgage crisis and in the speech of Vince Cable MP, our Shadow Chancellor.

“I am also particularly interested in the debate on our visions and values paper, Making it Happen, and on two of our proposed policies - Building a Transport System for the 21^st Century and Shaping Our World Through a Strong Europe. On Making it Happen I especially support the priorities to deliver big tax cuts for those who are struggling and to end the unfair Council Tax, to invest in clean energy instead of nuclear, and getting people out of their cars and into quality public transport. I want to see how our Transport policy will lead to improved public transport for our area, and the way Lib Dem policies will lead to the UK playing a constructive part in Europe to protect and promote our national interests, protect our citizens and further our influence in the world.

“It should be a great few days in Bournemouth which will enable the Liberal Democrats to set out our vision for Britain.”

LIBERAL Democrats in Arundel & South Downs have given their strong backing to ambitious calls by Nick Clegg MP for Britain to become self-sufficient in energy.

The Liberal Democrat Leader has called for a major programme to build up Britain’s own energy supplies through wind, tidal, wave and biomass technologies.

Mr Clegg said, “We have an enormous opportunity to create real energy independence for the UK, freeing ourselves from the shackles of foreign oil, coal and gas. This will require the kind of ambition and political will that succeeded in putting man on the moon.”

County Councillor Derek Deedman said, “I am delighted that Nick Clegg is calling for a green revolution in the way we produce power.

“The recent Russian invasion of Georgia and the ongoing troubles in Iraq and Iran show just how dangerously reliant Britain is on energy from unstable parts of the world.

“We have to build up our own energy supplies and as an island nation, we have an abundance of natural and clean energy sources that both Labour and Conservative governments have failed to develop.

“Whilst Labour and the Conservatives joined together earlier this year to agree Britain should have a new generation of nuclear power stations, Liberal Democrats believe this will leave a legacy of radioactive waste for future generations. It will also leave us dependent on foreign supplies of uranium.

“Liberal Democrats in Arundel & South Downs welcome Nick Clegg’s call for Britain to develop clean energy supplies and become self-sufficient in them by 2050. This is an industry in which we as a nation should aim to be world beaters“.

Despite the weather looking ominous yesterday it held out for the whole session (10-3pm) at the Memorial Field, and the event was yet another success for the Local Action Team.This follows on the success of the mobile skate park events in Upper Beeding last month. A big ‘thank you’ must go to the Neighbourhood Wardens and Horsham’s Mobile Skate Park supervisor for the organisation at the event.

The younger children came in the morning as planned and really enjoyed it and quite a few parents came to watch on and off as well.  Unfortunately there was an injury (broken arm!) but it comes with the territory and could have happened walking across the street.  Horsham’s Mobile Skate Park supervisor dealt with it perfectly and an ambulance was called.

The afternoon went well too with some of the older kids coming along.  Again the behavior was great, noise minimal and they helped pack up and clean up at the end.  A number of residents walked by and everyone was very supportive.

The Local Action Team will be reviewing the mobile skate park events which have taken place over the summer to see what can be done to build on their success.

This is the great news from Jennie Musgrove, the Project Coordinator for the new building which is due to be handed over by the contractor this Friday 22nd August - 2.30pm on time and within budget. Congratulations to Jennie and her team on this success!
Following the delivery of new furniture and fittings next week, the doctors, other health professionals and administrative staff will move in on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th August. The Upper Beeding Surgery will remain be open for emergencies during the move. The New Health Centre will then open to patients on Monday 1st September.

The existing temporary Health Centre buildings in Fletchers Croft are due to be removed on 2 and 3 September, so the Steyning Centre car park will be closed whilst the removal work is carried out. The work should be completed in time for the car park to re-open just ahead of the school term start on 4h September.

For more information about the New Health Centre click on the link on this website under Health services.

The official opening celebration date has yet to be confirmed but is still likely to take place in October.

The meeting of the Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding Local Action Team (LAT) today heard that the Steyning Zero Tolerance campaign is a success. The figures for anti-social activities are being collated, but the indications are that they show a welcome downturn on the figures for the same period last year. Good news for the launch of the campaign in Bramber and Upper Beeding next month.

However, aggressive behavior by individuals who have become intoxicated with alcohol continues to be a problem. In my view we must start to change the culture in this Country, that getting ‘merry’ or drunk is just a ‘laugh’ and is something to be expected, especially from young people. The media is to be blamed for promoting such a culture, particularly on television.

Not that the media is much better on the smoking front. How many TV programmes can you name where people are unnecessarily shown as smoking and/or drinking to excess? We cannot expect young people in particular not to smoke or to drink to excess when leading personalities are shown doing just that almost every night. It would surely not be difficult to eliminate such activities from television shows? The savings to the NHS from fewer smokers and heavy drinkers would be enormous, as would be the benefit to family life and community safety from a reduction in anti-social behavior from drunks on our streets or in their own homes.

The Police, Police Community Support Officers and our Neighbourhood Wardens can help tackle the drunks in our community, but the Government, media and people as a whole can do much more to show that drinking to excess is unacceptable in a civilized society. And let’s do much more to show that anyone with any sense or concern about their own, as well as other peoples, health should not be smoking at all, not just in those places banned by law.

Liberal Democrats in Arundel & South Downs have described a call by a Conservative-leaning think tank for people from towns and cities of the North to pack their bags and move to the South as appalling.

Policy Exchange, described as David Cameron’s favourite think tank in the media, claimed many towns and cities in the North were failing and regeneration would not save them. They suggested people should move to the South East instead. Policy Exchange was set up by Michael Gove, now a senior Conservative MP.

“The idea that people should abandon the North and move to the already crowded South East, where house prices and living costs are sky high, is an insult to people living here,” said Derek Deedman, Chairman of Arundel & South Downs Liberal Democrats.

“I am staggered that a think tank so close to the Conservatives is making such a call. I am appalled that they are saying that large swathes of the North can simply be abandoned and yet more pressure be put on the South East to accommodate even more houses we have no room for. This proposal is at considerable odds with the local Conservatives attacking the Labour Government for wanting more houses built in West Sussex. Once again the Conservatives don’t seem to know what they want!

“Here in Arundel & South Downs the battle is between Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives at the next general election. People should make it quite clear to the Conservatives that we don’t want any more houses in our areas unless they are affordable houses for people who already live here (but do not have their own housing).

“What the Policy Exchange has done is to highlight the lack of understanding many Conservatives have of the North and to show that they have no consistent policy on housing in West Sussex.”

I have been asked why the County Council no longer directs Horsham District Council household waste collection to go to Small Dole.

This is because when the landfill capacity in the County started to run out the County had to make interim arrangements for disposal of the waste prior to the new Materials Resource Management Contract (which will deal with all waste not re-used or recycled) coming into operation in 2009/10. Since at the time (last year) the Small Dole site was due to close in April 2008, and any extension was subject to planning approval, that site could not be considered and so an interim contract was agreed for all Horsham household waste to go to Warnham from this year.

This interim contract is now in operation. As all the recycling and waste minimisation targets have been achieved, along with a lower growth in waste than had been anticipated, the waste going to Warnham is only just meeting the minimum tonnage agreed in the contract.

Whether this lack of municipal waste going to the Small Dole site will have an impact on the current estimated life of the site will be raised at the next meeting of the Horton (Small Dole) Landfill Liaison Group.

The construction of the new Health Centre is expected to be completed later this month.

Provided all goes to plan it is likely that the move to the new building will take place at the end of August with the new Health Centre open for business from 1 September. The temporary Health Centre will close whilst the move takes place, but the Upper Beeding centre will reamin open for urgent appointments.

The temporary buildings at Fletchers Croft should be removed a few days after, but the Steyning Centre car park will have to close whilst this takes place. The new car park in Church Street (next to the Library) for the School (and community use after school hours and at weekends) should help relieve the parking situation at that time.

There will be more publicity about the move and confirmation of the dates at the Temporary Health Centre, in the local media, and hopefully the Parish Council’s ‘Steyning News’.

George Cockman, Steyning’s Independent District Councillor, has just passed me a complaint from a local resident in Newham Close who reports that she was unable to get her car out of the Close recently, because of parking on both sides of the road.She writes that this has been getting worse for some time with residents from other roads using the Close for parking; it would not be possible for emergency vehicles to access houses in the Close.

Since this is a County Council and Police matter, George has asked the Police to have a look at the situation, and I have asked the Local Traffic Engineer to investigate whether a Traffic Regulation Order, restricting parking in the area, should be considered.

Local Lib Dem Focus Team member, Andrew Purches, has informed me that Highways staff have been out in Upper Beeding today surveying what action can be taken to improve the traffic situation in these roads.

These surveys relate to the possible Traffic Regulation Orders for parking restrictions in these two roads, reported in the Summer edition of Focus as having been planned for 2009/11.

It is understood that Upper Beeding Parish Council asked for some action to overcome the problems for traffic caused by the parked cars on these narrow roads. It is not clear, however, what action was suggested by the Parish Council as the records currently cannot be found. Andrew, who is also an Upper Beeding Parish Councillor, will be pursuing the matter with the new Parish Clerk.

In the meantime, whatever scheme is eventually proposed by the County Council for each of these roads, there will be full consultation with the public on the details of any scheme before they are approved by the Chanctonbury County Committee for work to take place within the next two years.

Commenting on the news of Northern Rock losses of half a billion pounds since nationalisation, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable said:”These figures confirm the suspicion, held by many of us, that the Government and the regulators were badly deceived by Northern Rock’s former managers when they agreed to bail it out on the basis that it was a good bank with a good loan portfolio.

“Some of us suspected at the time, and it is now clear, that reckless lending by the managers, in some cases to well in excess of the value of the property, was going to lead to large numbers of borrowers being unable to sustain their mortgage payments in difficult times.

“I am encountering cases of people being repossessed as a result of deeply foolish loans and the bank and the taxpayer who now own Northern Rock are having to absorb the resulting losses. The one redeeming feature of the current situation is that when markets recover, the Government will be able to retrieve some value from the sale of the bank which would not have been the case had they underwritten the losses of a privately run bank, as was their original plan.”

Concerns have been expressed about the letter to all residents from the County Council regarding the future operation of the Horsham Mobile Waste Service in the Chanctonbury area.

I can confirm that the proposals listed in the letter for the period from July 08 to March 09 are taking place. This includes the provision of the appropriate containers in the car parks used for the Mobile Service such as Fletchers Croft, Steyning as stated in the letter.Where this has not yet happened WSCC and HDC are sorting this out and will be reminded about the matter if it does not happen!

The proposals from March 09 are still subject to discussion with the Parish Councils and further meetings of the Task Force are being provisionally arranged for October and December this year. I am sure concerns about the bulky non-hazardous waste collection after next March will be shared by others and debated at those meetings.

For those who feel that the changes do not reflect an improvement in services, the letter does not represent the final word on the situation. I have no doubt that all parish, district and county cllrs will still be working to get the best possible service for local people from March 09.

West Sussex Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement that the County Council is to consult residents on spending more money on footway maintenance.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Morwen Millson says, “The Liberal Democrats have consistently pressed the Conservative led council to spend more on pavements in order to improve residents’ safety.

“Last July we called on the County Council to improve access to services, in particular by provision of safe crossing points, well maintained footways and reliable transport to enable vulnerable people to access vital services safely and easily.* This proposal led directly to the formation of Footways Task Force (referred to in the Council Press Release), which is looking at the issues around pavement maintenance.

More recently, our budget amendment in February this year called on the Council to put an additional £400,000 into additional maintenance of roads and pavements. Although the Conservatives voted this down as unnecessary and unaffordable, they have since put an extra £300,000 into repairing pot holes and have now announced this consultation on footway maintenance to address a back log of nearly £20 million on faulty pavements. We are delighted that the Conservative Council is responding to the Liberal Democrat agenda of providing pavements the people of West Sussex want to walk on.”

The state of pavements and twittens in my area is on constant concern to many local people, especially the elderly,  and so an improved level of maintenance from this u-turn by the Tories can only be welcomed. 

During a debate at the County Council meeting on 25 July, Liberal Democrat Councillors condemned the Council’s performance on supporting the education of young people being looked after by the Council.

The Council’s Corporate Plan aimed to increase the percentage of West Sussex Looked After Children gaining at least one GCSE from 60% to 68%. The target was not reached.

Lib Dem group leader, Morwen Millson, said, “The Council has been concerned about the educational achievement of this group of children for almost eight years and yet has still not achieved just 68% of all Looked After Children attaining just one GCSE. As Corporate Parents we continue to fail our most vulnerable young people.

Deputy Leader Dr James Walsh said : ” The Council is failing disgracefully to support this most vulnerable group of children. Their life-chances are being taken away from them, as they will be virtually unemployable without even single a low-grade GCSE to show from their education. Many are truanting, and little action is taken. We must not let this go on, and urgent action is needed now”

I also spoke on this matter and said, “As a corporate parent visitor to one of the Council’s Children’s Homes, it is clear to me that there needs to be much greater co-ordination between those responsible for the care of each child and school staff if the educational achievement by our looked after children is to be improved.”

County officers have now analysed the speed monitoring results of traffic through the Street and confirmed that it does qualify for a 20mph speed limit.

The request for the introduction of a 20mph scheme has been assessed against the County Traffic Regulation criteria. The assessed score of 28 puts it 5th on the Chanctonbury County Local Committee priority list, and means that the request could be implemented in the next financial year. 2009 - 2010.

Congratulations must go the Bramber Parish Councillors who have worked hard to achieve this outcome, and I will be supporting an early introduction of the 20 MPH limit.

The County Road Safety Team have told me that this review will be carried out later this year to assess the impact of the speed management scheme introduced early last year on the A281 through Woodmancote.

It has been confirmed that once the review is carried out I will be given the details of the outcome.

I discovered recently that when the new national concessionary bus scheme was introduced from April this year, the concessionary bus pass for companions to help blind people use buses was made discretionary to district councils. And most councils in West Sussex have decided that with Government Grant insufficient to cover the cost of the concessionary bus scheme in their area they would stop providing the concessionary companion bus pass.

This is discrimination against blind people and indeed others with disabilities who need a companion to use the buses.

I have taken this up with Horsham District Council, and whilst they are willing to pay for a companion pass within the Horsham District they have been unable to persuade other West Sussex District Councils to do the same.

I therefore raised this matter at the West Sussex County Council meeting on Friday, 25 July, and suggested that the new Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning & Transport should fund the cost of providing such companion passes accross the County. (The take up of the 3-in-1 discount card has not been as much as expected so there should be a big saving on the budget of £2.9m for that scheme.)

I also suggested that part of the saving from the 3-in-1 discount card scheme should be used to fund an extension of the concessionary disbilities bus pass scheme so that it operates earlier than 9 am. This would encourage people with disabilites into work as they would then be able to start work before 9am as required by most employers.

Parking along this section of the Lane causes access problems for larger vehicles such as refuse lorries or emergency vehicles. I have requested on behalf of local residents that parking is removed from this area to allow larger vehicles unimpeded access and to remove congestion caused by parked vehicles.

The County Council proposal, which is designed to facilitate the passage on the road or any other road of any class of traffic (including pedestrians), is:-

*To extend the double yellow lines on the North East side of Castle Lane from the end of the existing double yellow lines to the driveway access of Edgehill, and

*To extend the double yellow lines on the South West side of Castle Lane from the end of the existing double yellow lines to rear access of Hillside Terrace.

Hopefully this will be approved by the Chanctonbury County Local Committee and the works carried out later this year.

To all visitors to my website.

Due to the failure of the computer support arrangements for all Liberal Democrat Councillors websites for a few days recently this site was not available.

Hopefully this has now been resolved and business will be as usual in future!

Information Shops are a partnership between West Sussex County Council Youth Service and local District Councils. They provide young people in West Sussex, aged 13-25, with information, advice and support on: -

• Counselling
• Help to write a CV
• Pregnancy Testing
• Help to fill out forms
• Access to a wide range of information
• Condoms
• Leaflets
• Housing Referral
• Sexual Health
• Advocacy i.e. speak on the young person’s behalf
• Drugs and Alcohol intervention
• Liaison with other helping organisations
• Internet use
• And…much much more. Information Shops aim to: -

• Offer young people social education - in other words, help them make informed decisions about all areas of life e.g. work, relationships, health, finances.
• Respect young people and their point of view.
• Treat all enquiries as confidential.
• Be on the young person’s side. They do not talk parents, teachers or anybody else in authority without their agreement to do so except in very special circumstances, which would be discussed with the young person.

The Staff

• Are friendly and welcoming & easy to talk to.
• Do not judge in any way or make people feel embarrassed when dealing with personal issues.
• Help young people make positive choices without telling them what to do.
• Are trained to a high standard
• Will try and find someone who can help if they are unable to or specialist help is needed.

The Adur Information shop is based in Shoreham for young people in the Adur District area. It also, however, able to help young people from the Bramber Castle area of Ashurst, Bramber, Small Dole, Steyning, Upper Beeding and Woodmancote. The Shop is advertised at Steyning Grammar School.

Information Shops are currently under threat as previously reported on this website, but the Adur Information Shop clearly fulfill a major role in helping young people from the Bramber Castle area and I will what I can to ensure it is maintained.

For more information go to the Adur Information Shop website link shown under the Young People category on this website.

Once again this County Council meeting is likely to be webcast.

To see your County Councillors in action take the link via the West Sussex County Council website. The meeting starts at 10.30am.

One of the major items to be discussed is the County Council response to the Boundary Committee for England proposals for the new electoral divisions from 2009. Of particular contention are the proposals for the County Councillor for Billingshurst to also cover  Ashington, and significant division changes in Crawley. No changes are proposed for Bramber Castle.

Sussex Police is very keen to promote the use of the Neighbourhood Policing Website and increase the readership of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) individual blogs. Did you know that there is a facility for individuals to ’sign up’ to automatically receive blogs when they are published?

This is done by visiting the Sussex Police Website at www.sussex.police.uk selecting the individual PCSO for Steyning (Andy Reed) or Bramber/Upper Beeding/Small Dole (Carol Boniface), and click on the box ‘Get your Updates by Email’. You then simply complete your email details in order to receive regular blogs. This facility can be stopped at any time. (There is a link to the Sussex Police website from this website under ‘Neighbourhood Policing’)

This seems a great way of increasing PCSO contact with local people and I hope many people will take up the offer.

Liberal Democrats in Arundel & South Downs have welcomed the launch of the Liberal Democrats’ vision for Britain by Party Leader Nick Clegg MP. Called ‘Make it Happen’, the paper will be debated at the party’s conference in Bournemouth in September.

In ‘Make it Happen’ the Liberal Democrats say:

·         They will cut taxes for ordinary families

• If your local hospital can’t see you on time, they will pay for treatment elsewhere
• They will switch taxes from people to pollution - so it pays to go green
• To improve standards in education, they will fund extra help for those who need it most
• They will put Britain at the heart of Europe to make us a force for good in the world
• They will stop ID cards so we can keep control of our privacy
• They will change the voting system so everyone’s voice counts
• They will bring communities together with local people in charge

·         They will give communities a say in how offenders pay for their crimes

Derek Deedman, Chairman of Arundel & South Downs Liberal Democrats said, “I am delighted to be able to back ‘Make it Happen’. It sets out how the Liberal Democrats will run Britain.

“No resident of Arundel & South Downs has escaped the rising cost of food and fuel. The credit crunch is biting hard and local people are feeling the pinch.

“Nick Clegg has set out how we can help ordinary people through cutting taxes on those on low and middle incomes. Thousands of people in my area will benefit from this.

“In September, members from the Arundel & South Downs Executive Committee will be heading to the Liberal Democrats’ conference where we are looking forward to taking part in the debate on ‘Make it Happen’.”

I have recently been approached about the possible closure of the Shoreham based Adur Information Shop.

I have asked how many young people from Ashurst, Bramber, Small Dole, Steyning, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote use the services available at the Shoreham based shop. Apart from the Worthing Information Shop it is clearly the most accessible from a public transport point-of-view, and far closer than the one in Horsham. Hopefully statistics of such use are available.

I do not recall seeing any publicity in the Chanctonbury area about the Adur Information Shop, and yet the services available could be a useful facility in helping the Bramber, Beeding & Steyning Local Action Team interact with young people in the area.

Comments about the use of the Adur Information Shop by young people from this area would be very useful.  

The Liberal Democrats have today outlined radical plans to tackle youth crime.

The dual approach aims to stop young people committing crimes in the first place by enabling them to play a full role in society through increased training and volunteering, as well as stopping criminal behaviour early by making young offenders face up to their crimes.

The main proposals contained in the paper A Life Away From Crime (copy from me via my email address) include:

· The creation of a Youth Volunteer Force, to engage with young people, involve them in community projects and give them skills to benefit them in later life
· Establish Community Justice Panels across the country, where offenders admit their guilt to the community and agree on a Positive Behaviour Order as a course of action
· Create a dedicated PCSO youth officer within every Safer Neighbourhood Team to identify and work with teenagers most at risk of offending
· 10,000 more police on the streets by scrapping the ID cards scheme
· Intelligence-led stop and search and ‘hot spot policing’ targeted at gun and knife crime
· Restorative justice programs to be run in every community, specifically targeted at early intervention with widespread use in schools and care homes

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Affairs Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

“This Government has spent 10 years trying to sound tough while failing to cut youth crime.

“In fact, ministers have embarked on the mass criminalisation of a generation of young people. By dragging more and more young people through the criminal justice system, they have reduced the fear of a criminal record and contributed to the problem.

“Instead of shock tactics to grab headlines, we need practical measures that are proven to work.

“Only the Liberal Democrats propose a dual approach to stop kids from getting involved in crime in the first place, and measures to make them face up to the consequences of their actions if they do.”

The next meeting of the Parish Council takes place this evening at the Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft, Steyning.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm. The Neighbourhood Wardens will be reporting on recent activities, and District and County Councillors will also be present to report and answer questions from Parish Councillors and public.

Many congratulations to the Neighbourhood Wardens for the success of the Mobile Skate Park held at Upper Beeding Primary School on 10 July.

Clearly the kids had a great time and also enjoyed seeing some demonstrations from Peter Short (who runs the Mobile Site and has roller-skated for England).

Hopefully the Mobile Skate Park events next month in Steyning will be as successful.

Click on to the Neighbourhood Wardens website (on useful links) for more information about last week’s event.

The weed growth in this footpath has now been treated and the evidence of this should shortly become visible. The Local Highway Manager has assured me that Highways staff will keep an eye on it in future and if it needs more than one spray a year it will be organised.

Concern has also been expressed about the overhang growth problems, but these are totally the responsibility of the landowners. Woodmancote Parish Council will be writing to all the relevant landowners asking them to deal with the problem, as such personal letters have been shown to be far more effective ( 95% success rate ) than the County Council sending impersonal letters which tend to be ignored. If no action results from the Parish Council letters within a reasonable timescale, then the County Council will be willing to follow-up more formally in due course.

I have asked the Parish Council to obtain more statistics of use of the footpath so that a case may be made to complete the final part into Henfield. Clearly such a scheme will have a higher priority in the Highway Works Programme if an increasing number of people are using the footpath.

At the special meeting held yesterday morning at my suggestion, with Parish and District Councillors, the local Highway Manager revealed the results of the traffic survey carried out north and south of Blackstone during a week last month.

It was found that at the checkpoint south of the Village that 266 vehicles per day passed at an average of 33/34 mph, with between 86 and 91% travelling at less than 41 mph. At the northern checkpoint, near Rose Cottage, the daily figure was 247 vehicles at an average speed of 39mph with some 66% travelling at less than 41 mph.

In view of the low traffic speeds, the meeting agreed that the introduction of a 40 mph limit, although justified by the existing speeds, would probably, based on experience elsewhere, lead to an increase in average speed up to near the 40 mph. In addition it was noted that the daily traffic numbers were much lower than on other ‘c’ classed roads.

The provision of road humps was suggested to reduce current speeds, but since this would require street lights and road markings and signs this was ruled out on environmental grounds.

Concern was expressed that the County Council was not doing enough to implement the County Highway Plan with regard to reducing lorry traffic along Blackstone Lane, and the Local Highway Manager agreed to discuss this with the officers at County Hall responsible for the implementation of the Plan.

It was suggested that individual action to report speeding lorries to their owners or to the Police via the Operation Crackdown number/website (see the link on this website) would help tackle the problem of lorry and speeding traffic.

Overall the meeting had to agree that in view of the low number of vehicles using the Lane and the low speed of that traffic, there was little that could be done to address local concerns about the use of the road. Woodmancote Parish Council will be reporting back to local residents in more detail about the meeting.

I have agreed to investigate further the possibility of advisory traffic signs re-directing lorry traffic from Blackstone Lane to other routes. In addition, at my request, the District Councillor present at the meeting agreed to investigate whether Horsham District Council could implement improvements to the centre of Blackstone since it is an official Conservation Area. Such works would enhance the local environment and might also deter through traffic using the Lane.

The next Parish Council meeting takes place tomorrow evening at the Parish Hall, Brighton Road, Woodmancote.

The meeting starts at 8pm, and County & District Councillors will be present to report on current activities as they concern the Parish and to answer questions from parish councillors and the public.

The Forum (CAFWS) aims to improve countryside access for all across the county. It is an independent, advisory body operating on a statutory basis.CAFWS was established in 2003 as required by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act), which placed a duty on each County Council, Unitary Authority and National Park to set up a Local Access Forum (in West Sussex this is CAFWS).

There was an excellent Forum Workshop at Haywards Heath on 2 July about the West Sussex Rights of Way Improvement Plan. The Plan was prepared last year but, although required by Government, no extra government funding has been provided to enable the Plan to be implemented.

The Workshop discussed ways in which CAFWS members could influence various bodies such as County, District and Parish Councils to assist in implementing the priority parts of the Plan. I made a strong plea to give the improvement of the Downs Link a priority, with more links to local communities such as Small Dole for cyclists. Ways to achieve this were discussed, including greater involvement of Parish Councils along the Downs Link route.

I have added a website link to the CAFWS website for people to keep up to date with it’s activities and progress on the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

This footpath is currently being temporarily closed for emergency electrical work.

It has been agreed, however, that once the work is finished, the contractors will re-instate the path to the full width available. This would make it possible to consider making the route from Breach Close to the Grammar and Primary Schools entrance usable for cycling as well as the very many pedestrians who use it every day.

I will ask for this to be taken into account in the the school travel plans currently being revised.

A small number of residents have expressed support for a route alongside the Henfield Road, suggested in the Spring edition of the Bramber Castle Focus. This would enable people to walk/cycle between the villages in safety. Some said that it would also encourage them to cycle rather than use their cars.

One respondent suggested that rather than build such a new roadside footpath/cycleway, a cheaper solution would be to use the existing Right of Way (FP 2775) along New Hall Lane, and then go west to connect to the Downs Link. This would then provide a direct access from Small Dole by foot and bike safely to Henfield and Steyning in a much nicer environment.

Does this latest idea have local support? Please let me know.

Following the outcry against the proposed closure of this Service and the consequent setting up of a joint County, District & Parish Councillors Task Force to review the proposal, it has been agreed to continue the Service, with some minor changes, until March 2009.

The main changes are: - all metal items will now go into the caged unit for recycling, and hazardous waste such as TVs and computers will no longer be accepted.

From April 2009, a revised fortnightly mobile service will  concentrate on green waste for recycling,  co-ordinated with the roll out of the District Council’s new improved kerb-side collection  arrangements.  The mobile service for non-recyclable waste will also continue, but on a less frequent basis – possibly monthly.

This joint working by the local community  has achieved success, and the County Council has pledged to keep us  informed on the service in future.

Tuesday, 1 July

Upper Beeding Parish Council meets at 7.30 pm at the Beeding & Bramber Village Hall, High Street, Upper Beeding.

Wednesday, 2 July

Bramber Parish Council meets at 7.30 pm at the Beeding & Bramber Village Hall, High Street, Upper Beeding.

Thursday, 3 July

Ashurst Parish Council meets at 8 pm at the Village Hall, Ashurst.

County and District Councillors will be present to answer questions from the public.

Upper Beeding Primary School, Upper Beeding Baptist Church and Beeding & Bramber Village Hall have joined forces for today’s Village Fete. The profits  from this event will be divided equally between all three charities.

Mrs Connell, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, parents, friends and School Governors (including me!) are giving up some or all of this Saturday to help make the Fete a success and are manning some of the stalls.

The Fete starts at 10am and finishes at 5pm.  The weather is supposed to be good, so come along to join in the fun.  See you there!

In the by-election in Henley yesterday the Liberal Democrats increased their share of the vote and held their own against the Conservatives, in spite of the Tories current very high opinion poll ratings.

Labour suffered the most humiliating result losing their deposit and coming fifth.

The result was: -

Tory 19796 56.7% (+3.2%)

Lib Dem 9680 27.7 % (+1.7%)

Green 1321

BNP 1243

Labour 1066

Ukip 843

Others 966

Turnout 34915

The key message for the next General Election from yesterdays result is that in contests with the Tories, the Lib Dems should hold their current seats, whilst in contests with Labour, the Lib Dems are likely to make gains.

Compass Travel have a bus available for an additional shopping service on a Wednesday, and I have been contacted about the need for such a service from Small Dole to Brighton.

Clearly such a service would not provide the daily regular hourly service to Shoreham and Worthing lost when the 2A service timetable was changed, removing the connection with the 100 service, but if the shopping service was to Worthing –would it meet a need? The service could include Edberton, Fulking and Poynings.

Compass Travel say they would need to carry at least 15-20 people each week to justify it without a subsidy. And with fuel prices soaring it is unlikely  such a subsidy would be available from the County Council, which will be under pressure to increase the subsidy for existing routes.

So, is there a demand for an additional shopping bus service to Worthing or Brighton? Please let me know.

Operation Crackdown, which has been a great success in removing abandoned vehicles from local neighbourhood, has been extended to try to tackle anti-social drivers.

A representative of Operation Crackdown was at the Chanctonbury County Local Committee on Tuesday to explain the new campaign which has been in operation for a few months.

You can tell Operation Crackdown about anti-social driving you have seen by using the new Sussex-wide Operation Crackdown website (using the link from this website).

Speeding, thoughtless driving or riding, under-age drivers or riders, drink or drug driving, tailgating, mobile phone use whilst driving, vehicles in an unsafe condition, abandoned cars, untaxed cars ans motorbikes……

If you see any of these things or any other unreasonable behaviour by drivers or riders: -

*if in another vehicle, pull over safely (or ask a passenger) and write down the details of the vehicle causing concern (make, model, colour, number plate), location (house number, shop name, road name etc), and what happened.

*when able to access a computer, visit www.operationcrackdown.org or call 01243 642222 with your information.

Remember, do not attempt do do any of this while driving!

Your information will be analysed and appropriate action taken by Sussex Police.

If you, like me, are tired of anti -social driving in our area, especially speeding on our residential roads, don’t tolerate it…. Report it!

The Priority List for the next few years for the Chanctonbury area was approved by the County Local Committee on Tuesday.

Apart from the waiting restriction scheme for the Charlton Street area already mentioned on this website and due to be carried out later this year, the schemes for the Bramber Castle area are: -

2008/09

Extension to the existing waiting restrictions at the Castle Lane/Jarvis Lane junction, Steyning

2009/10

Waiting restrictions in Hyde Lane/Pound Lane, Upper Beeding

2010/11

Waiting restrictions in Saltings Way, Upper Beeding

There will, of course, be full public consultation on the detailed proposals for the above schemes, before they are considered by the Chanctonbury County Local Committee for approval.

Upper Beeding Primary School, Upper Beeding Baptist Church and Beeding & Bramber Village Hall have joined forces to have one Village Fete for the first time, and the Chanctonbury County Local Committee on Tuesday agreed to making a grant of £1000 towards the setting up costs and equipment.

The Fete is taking place on Saturday, 28 June.

I was pleased to recommend to my councillor colleages on the Chanctonbury County Local Committee that they should approve this grant, which will help towards this first joint event being a success and reduce the cost of future Village Fetes.

West Sussex County Council are to impose a 40 mph temporary speed limit on the A283 from the Upper Beeding roundabout to the Bramber Castle roundabout.

The new speed limit is due to operate from 14 July 2008 to enable maintenance works on the bridge over the river Adur to be carried out safely.

The works will last for approximately 11 weeks or until the proposed works are completed, whichever is earlier.

Any queries about the effect of the Order on traffic using the highway should be directed to the West Sussex County Council Contact Centre, telephone number 01243 642105.

I have informed the officers that it is a pity that the limit will not be permanent, especially if there are no problems whilst it is in operation. It will make the Downs Link crossing of the A283, which is between those two roundabouts, much safer.

The Local Highway Manager has just updated me on the grass cutting situation.

He confirmed that the reason why the grass cutting had fallen behind by early June was because of the bad weather earlier in the season which delayed the operatives, and the slow growth in the early months for the same reason when normally vigorous growth is expected. The weather has turned warmer of course which combined with the wet conditions has led to the grass being very difficult to cut.

The delay in cutting was two weeks at the most, but this has been pulled back to just one week now, so the situation is improving. The cut which should have taken place in Steyning on 2nd June actually took place on the 10th which was one week and a day late. The next cut in this area is due to commence 26th June and will begin in Upper Beeding to make sure it is completed before Beeding in Bloom.

He regrets that the schedule did fall behind but every effort is being made to catch up and hopefully the County should be back on programme very soon.

He stated that it is unfortunate that the County was not in a position to collect the cut grass, even under these circumstances, as the expense in doing so would be prohibitive.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport confirmed to me at the County Council meeting on 6 June that the full eleven cuts planned for the year would take place.

Hopefully the programme of cuts will now proceed according to the published schedule and the area will look attractive once again.

The Government’s ‘one size fits all’ approach to schools was accused on Monday of failing thousands of pupils by not providing a personalised education by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg.

In a speech on 16 June, Nick Clegg set out plans to give schools greater freedoms, allowing them to tailor education to the needs of their pupils. He proposed:

· Scrapping mandatory national tests for seven and 14 year olds, with the money saved put into early assessment at age five and a huge expansion of one-to-one reading and numeracy tuition.
· Abolishing the overly prescriptive national curriculum and replacing it with a shorter document, and allowing all schools the curriculum freedoms currently enjoyed by Academies.
· Taking the politics out of the day-to-day management of schools by establishing an independent Education Standards Authority and slashing the size of the central government department by half.
· Changing targets so that schools are incentivised to address the needs of all pupils, not just those ‘borderline’ pupils.

Contact me for a full copy of the speech.

The next meeting will be tomorrow on 17 June at Henfield Leisure Centre.

Starting at 3.30pm with a Speed Watch & Road Safety ‘talk to us’ Event and followed by a full CLC meeting starting at 6pm. The meeting will establish priorities for Traffic Regulation Orders and feature a West Sussex Fire & rescue Presentation.

All are invited to both events with free tea and cake.

Derek Deedman will be present for both events.

For more details go to the link on this website to the Chanctonbury CLC.

There will be a Forum meeting to update local community groups, Parish Councils and Residents Associations about the West Sussex Minerals and Waste Development Framework (MWDF) on Wednesday, 9 July from 7 to 9.30pm at the Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft Steyning.

Invitations have been issued to those who may have been involved with the work that the County Council Minerals and Waste Policy Team (the Team) undertook during 2005 and 2006. The Government announced further changes to the planning system since then and the decision was taken to wait until the outcome of these changes was known until proceeding further with the MWDF. Rather than producing three separate documents, it is likely that there will be a single Core Strategy document including strategic minerals and waste sites. Comments received from the previous consultation will inform this work.

The aim of the Forum is to provide a chance to catch up with where the Team is with the work and to check, challenge and seek clarification of information and thinking so far, and local input is important to the early evidence gathering stage. The evening will be run by County Council officers and facilitated by an independent team from Inside Outreach who are working with the Team enhance their community engagement.

Hopefully people will leave the meeting clear about what is going on; what the changes are to the planning system and how it applies in West Sussex. Feedback will also be sought on some of the evidence the Team has gathered so far. This will be in preparation for a more formal consultation in 2009.

Attendance is by specific invitation only. If you represent a community group in the Bramber Castle area, have previously contributed to the work of the Team or consider you have an input to make on behalf of a community group not originally involved, and have not been invited, please contact me by 23 June. Spaces are limited and so it may not be possible for you now to be invited, but I will see if a place can be found.

The Steyning, Bramber & Upper Beeding Wardens now have their own website and a link to this has been added to this website under their name.

Go to http:/sbubwardens.squarespace.com for news, information and how to contact them.

I have complained about the dangers of the Horsham Road/Steyning Bypass junction for a number of years. It is particularly bad at night; but the County Council does not support improved street lighting because such a ‘pool’ of light, with darkness either side on a fast road, is considered to be even more dangerous. 

Earlier this year I suggested to the Local Highway Manager that consideration be given to the provision of reflective road studs on the A283 westbound approach to the Horsham Road junction. The exit is a sharp bend off the Bypass which is not really clear in the dark and such indicative studs would improve the situation.

A new Traffic Officer is now in post and will be investigating such a safety improvement.

The Order for this temporary closure, to carry out electrical works, will come into effect on 30 June and will last for 6 months or until the proposed works are completed. It is anticipated however that the works will start on or soon after that date and will take 2 weeks to complete.

The published alternative route available for pedestrians will be via the footpath that runs behind 22 Breach Close and the exit adjacent to 14 Coxham Lane. Another option is the footpath from Tanyard Lane to Thornscroft and then the footpath from Thornscroft to Coxham Lane.

Any queries about the works to take place should be directed to Emma Osbourne, Amber Langis, telephone number (01474) 573831. Any queries about the effect of the closure on pedestrians using the footpath should be directed to Emily Delicata, WSCC, telephone number (01243) 753599.

Concern has been expressed to me about the present state of the footpath and so this is a good opportunity for a full width reinstatement of path to be carried out. I am informed that the County Council is in discussions with EDF at the moment to achieve this on completion of their work.

Following the reinstatement work hopefully more parents will use the Newmans Gardens Car Park to drop off their children to walk to school or to then walk with them to school. This would then reduce the traffic congestion at the Shooting Field entrance to the Grammar and Primary Schools.

As the local County Councillor, I have agreed that the proposed Traffic Regulation Order containing additional yellow lines for White Horse Square, Charlton Street and at the junction of Sir Georges Place and the High Street, can be published for public consultation.

The parking of cars in the very narrow White Horse Square has been a contentious issue for many years. Damage has been caused to front walls by vehicles trying to pass the cars parked opposite the houses concerned. The small proposed extension of the yellow lines, although not welcomed by all local residents, is a compromise to protect property whilst not making a significant reduction in the limited number of parking spaces in the area.

As the local County Councillor, I have agreed that the County Council can approve the introduction of ‘clock cards’ by Horsham District Council in this car park, to improve the enforcement of the one hour parking limit.

In giving my support I have made it clear that this approval does not extend to any other changes that the District Council might wish to introduce in the future. (e g charges, to which I am completely opposed.)

Following my recent meeting with the Local Highways Manager he has agreed to take the following action: -

*will investigate the provision of another ‘unsuitable for heavy vehicles’ sign, this time at the Cripps Lane end of Jarvis Lane. Hopefully this will considerably reduce the damage to parked cars and the traffic congestion caused by of such vehicles using this very narrow Lane.

*will pursue the provision of ‘gateways’ at either end of Small Dole and in Bramlands Lane in Woodmancote. The Small Dole ‘gateways’ are included in the Highway Works programme for 2008/09 to be funded by planning contributions fron developers. The Bramlands Lane ‘gateways’ were agreed when it was decided not to continue with an official 30 mph limit.

*chase the removal of the trees growing in the ditch at the Canons Way junction with the A283 Steyning Bypass. The trees considerably reduce the visibility for traffic wishing to turn right from Canons Way of fast approaching traffic along the A283 from the west.

*arrange for permanent traffic signing for the new Health Centre in Newmans Gardens, Steyning, in time for it’s opening in late August/early September.

*chase work on footway defects in Shooting Field and potholes at junction of Tanyard Lane and Beach Close (both in Steyning) I had previously reported to him.

*arrange for traffic/speed counting in Blackstone Lane , Woodmancote, to obtain data on which to base proposals to improve the traffic situation along the Lane.

*take action to require the restoration of the grass verges along the Steyning Bypass damaged by contractors vehicles attending to utility work. (The obstruction caused by one of these vehicles parking on the Castle Lane bypass foot/cycleway are being addressed by the Police.)

The next meeting takes place tomorrow, starting at 7.30pm at the Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft, Steyning.

The meeting is open to the public, and Police, Neighbourhood Wardens, District Councillors and the County Councillor will also be present to make reports and answer questions.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning & Transport confirmed to Derek Deedman at the County Council meeting on 6 June that the full programme of grass verge cuts would take place this year.

Derek asked the question in view of the number of planned earlier grass cuts which do not appear to have taken place, leaving the grass sky high in many areas.

The Cabinet Member admitted that the bad weather had delayed some of the grass cutting, but that the full number of eleven cuts programmed for the year would take place by the Autumn.

In a historic vote the County Council at it’s meeting on 6^th June voted by an overwhelming majority to bid to the Government to take over the functions of the West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT).

The Council was encouraged to take this action by the Government’s recently announced proposals to give people the chance to have a greater say in the way local health services are delivered, to help improve services to patients, and to make the local NHS more accountable to the people they serve.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor, Derek Deedman (Bramber Castle), proposed to the meeting that the functions of the PCT be brought under democratic control. The Leader of the Conservative Group congratulated Derek on bringing the proposal to the Council, which he said was one of the most important that had come before the Council in recent years. With some agreed amendments the proposal was accepted by the majority  Conservative Group and passed overwhelmingly, with the only opposition coming from the three members of the Labour Group present.

Mr Deedman said, “Local Government Association, Conservative and Liberal Democrat policies support greater local democratic control of local health services, and we should take up that challenge as to how that can be achieved, now.

“Direct County Council responsibility for local health services would enable the democratic deficit to be addressed, and would lead to improved working between health and social care. If it had already been in place this would have enabled the appalling original ‘Fit for the Future’ proposal, which, even now, has only been partially addressed at a high cost to the County Council budget, MPs’ and stress to the public, to have been avoided.

“Furthermore such a responsibility would give democratic control over the need for a new hospital in the Crawley and Horsham area which is currently of great to local residents. In addition the County Local Committee network would be an ideal forum for local monitoring and public consultation on local area health provision.

“Finally such an organisation would lead to considerable cost savings. For example it would need one Chief Executive and one set of support services for finance, legal, IT and personnel.

“This is a ‘win win’ situation - better, more effective and efficient local health and social care services, under local democratic control, and at a lower cost. I am delighted that the Council supported my proposal.”

Note - a full webcast of the debate can be seen via the West Sussex County Council  website link  from this website.

A number of residents have contacted me about the lack of grass cutting of highway verges leading to ever taller grass - and just when the judges will soon be around for the annual ‘In Bloom’ contest.

It appears that it was all that rain last month which caused the May grass cut to be cancelled, but the Local Highway Manager has responded to the concerns by organising an earlier cut this month than planned.  The verges should now be cut in Upper Beeding, and hopefully Steyning as well, on 23 June. This should enable the cuttings to be dispersed before the ‘In Bloom’ judging takes place.

The meeting, open to the public, will be at County Hall, Chichester, starting at 10.30am.

The meeting may be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the County Council website on the internet. Log on to the West Sussex website (link from this site) at 10.30am on Friday!

Apart from questions to the Leader and Cabinet Members, one major debate will be on whether to approve more paid jobs for the Tories with an additional Cabinet post (for Education & Skills) and up to four more deputy cabinet posts.

Another debate will be on my Motion to welcome the Government’s proposals in the draft Queen’s Speech to improve local control over the National Health Service, by asking the Leader of the Council to call on the Government to approve a merger of the West Sussex PCT and the County Council.

In starting the debate, I will highlight the Conservative Chairman of the Local Government Association press release supporting giving people the chance to have a greater say in how their local health services are delivered. I will refer to the existing close working between the County Council and the PCT in a number of areas (£100m budget) and how this is proposed to be extended in the next Local Agree Agreement to work jointly on a number of targeted improvements to services.

I will stress how such a merger would address the democratic deficit in the current situation, which led to the appalling proposal as the original ‘Fit for the Future’ which has only been more-or-less corrected at a high cost to the County Council budget, MPs and stress to the public. Furthermore such a merger would give democratic control over the need for a new hospital in the Crawley and Horsham area. In addition the County Local Committee network would be an ideal forum for local monitoring and public consultation on local area health provision.

Finally such a merger should lead to considerable cost savings. Starting at the top, one organisation would only need one Chief Executive and one set of support services for finance, legal, IT and personnel.

This is a ‘win win win’ situation - better, more effective and efficient local health and social care services, under local democratic control, and at a lower cost. I hope the Council will support my proposal.

The fuel protests hammer home a clear message. After the 10p tax rebellion, the local elections, and the Crewe by-election, no one can doubt the mood of the country any more. There is insurrection in the air. The British people are ready for change and they don’t believe Labour can deliver it.

So the next big question is: what kind of change do people want? And which opposition party can make it happen?

The Conservatives have painted an image of a brave new world, where the sun shines and David Cameron charms the birds out of the trees. The Cameroons have started to believe their own hype: insisting on their right to enter Number 10 without working out what they’d do once the door closed behind them.

Their strategy is simple enough: why bother choosing policies when the Government is shooting itself in the foot? Cameron’s speech on tax last week was a case in point: he made a virtue of the fact that he will make no further specific commitments on public spending or tax. They are elevating policy evasion to an art form. 

Cameron cries crocodile tears for the poor families affected by the doubling of the 10p tax rate, but his one and only tax policy is to cut inheritance tax for the richest six per cent of people. He has supported calls for “food security” - code for protectionism - but also lectured the World Trade Organisation on the importance of free trade. 

He tells us to “go green”, but won’t commit to specific policies to help us. He has preached about personal privacy, but wants to abolish Data Protection laws. Like Labour, he promises to decentralise, but steers clear of explaining how or when.Tory policy makes about as much sense as a Turner prize entry.

Currently, this incoherence is the Tory party’s greatest strength: they can’t be pinned to anything people don’t like. But it’s no serious programme for government. It offers nothing to people concerned about knife crime, or worried about higher fuel bills. The public has been promised the moon on a stick by Mr Cameron. Soon they will start to ask how he’ll get it for them - and a gleaming smile won’t be enough. 

Politics is about choices between competing ideas, not just agreeing with everyone. It’s because we understand this that the Liberal Democrats speak in detail about how we would deliver a more liberal Britain. We are the only party committed to cutting taxes for low and middle income families at the next election. We’re committed to fair pensions for women, and the immediate restoration of the earnings link - while the other parties just talk about doing something for pensioners, possibly, some day. 

We’ll change the school funding system so children who need the most help, get the most help, and we’ll put together a financial plan to pay for every penny. Everyone, no matter their background, will have a patient guarantee, so if the NHS can’t treat them in time, the government will pay for them to be treated elsewhere. 

We don’t just talk about protecting the environment. We’ll make polluters pay, so we can cut taxes for ordinary families, charge a toll for lorry road journeys so we can invest in a high-speed rail network, put fair charges on air travel, and support local recycling and green energy. 

Policy details are seldom much interest to voters. But people deserve to know what a party will do if it wins. Without detail the public has no sense of the values of a politician, still less any evidence that they’ll stand by them. 

The Conservative Party has convinced itself that it deserves power but that it’s safer not to tell us what it would do with it. But as the election closes in, people will see that they have been promised nothing dressed up as everything. 

With the Brown Government circling the drain there is the chance for a genuine new direction for the country. Not just a change of prime minister, but a real change of direction. That calls for a party that doesn’t just talk about the idea of change: it makes change happen.

Discussions have taken place with the two Primary Schools and the Grammar School and with the Towers on individual travel plans, but there is a good case for a joint travel plan for the area.

This is because some children go from Upper Beeding to St Andrew’s Primary School, Steyning and Steyning Grammar School, some children from Steyning go to Upper Beeding Primary School and the Towers. 

Clearly a joint plan could put forward more radical solutions for safer travel to/from the various schools, especially involving a safe crossing of the A283, which would have more chance of sucess than if just part of individual plans.

The Grammar School is going to update all the survey information within their travel plan and also survey the staff and 6th formers as it is felt that this is where their biggest problem lies. 

A meeting will be organised after half term when everyone can meet to discuss the way forward.

Following the proposals in the Government’s draft Queen’s speech I am moving a Notice of Motion at the next County Council meeting on 6 June: -“This Council welcomes the Government’s proposals in the draft Queen’s speech to give people the chance to have a greater say in how their local health services are delivered, to help improve services to patients, and make NHS trusts more accountable to the people they serve. This Council considers that this would be best achieved in

This Council would be pleased to work with the West Sussex PCT to establish a pilot scheme for such an arrangement, and asks the Leader to call on the Government to formally approach the Government to approve a merger of the PCT and County Council as a pilot for it’s proposals in the draft Queen’s speech.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) has made some good comments on the 2008 draft legislative programme: -

• “The best way to make the police more accountable would be through councils and councillors.  Councils are visible, open and democratically accountable to the residents they serve. Bypassing directly elected councilors risks disrupting the successful local work which is already occurring.” But the first past the post electoral system means that here in West Sussex the Tories have an overall majority on all County and District Councils and they can, and do, ignore the majority of local views on many issues - the opposition to a South Downs National Park despite massive local support for such a Park being just one example! 
• “Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) must be more accountable for the decisions they make. Health accountability can be achieved through the use of local government structures already in place and an additional local electoral structure would be unlikely to be effective or efficient.” The West Sussex County Council  should be campaigning  to become  the PCT for the County.
• “The government is absolutely right to want to improve people’s influence over local decisions.  Many councils are already leading the way on this issue, responding to thousands of petitions every year.  Councils will want to ensure that new legislation doesn’t impose unnecessary new rules for town halls to follow.” Right! But we can really only oppose this if councils actually represent, and make decisions on, the whole range of local political views. It does not happen like that in West Sussex!
• “The LGA is disappointed that the government has been overly cautious in its approach to the Supplementary Business Rate. It is important that local authorities should be given powers to levy the supplement and it is regrettable that the power will not be available to district and London councils.” Many local businesses are already struggling to survive in current economic circumstances, so giving powers to both County and Districts to levy supplementary business rates could be the final straw for a large number of them. There is a case for local authorities to have the responsibility for levying the Business Rate restored to them to help fund economic regeneration in their areas, but it should be at the strategic county level - perhaps the Government should be moving to a unitary local government system as the basis for its business rate proposals?      

The Conservatives have recently been making a great deal of noise about the need to compensate people who lose out as a result of Labour’s decision to double the 10p income tax starter rate.

But they refused to support a compensation package when one was proposed last year.

In June 2007, in the House of Commons, after the tax rise was first announced, the Liberal Democrats and a small group of Labour backbenchers proposed an amendment to the Government’s Finance Bill which would have made the Government compensate those people on low incomes who would end up paying more under Labour’s tax grab plans.

Where were the Conservatives? “We cannot support it,” said Conservative spokesperson Theresa Villiers MP during the parliamentary debate. Only one Conservative MP voted for compensation, and he has since resigned from the party!

The Conservatives only woke up to this issue and started making a fuss this year, after the changes came in, when they saw the press were interested in it, and thought it would help them in the local elections. More than a year after the Liberal Democrats first raised the issue.

And now Labour’s tax policy is a farce!

The latest u-turn to try to rescue Labour from defeat at Crewe, will cost £2.7bn, by increasing the personal allowance. But, as the Lib Dems Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable has pointed out, only £630m of that will actually go to the 5.3 million people who lost out from scrapping the 10p tax rate, making it an extremely poorly targeted policy. And 1.1 million of the lowest paid workers will still lose up to £100 each! And even those getting some money back will have to wait until September - thanks Gordon.

At the end of the day the poor will be paying more tax to enable those who are better off to pay less - and this is a Labour Government???

Increasing anti- social behaviour at the Memorial Field  was the topic of many complaints and calls for action at the Parish Council meeting last night.

Local people attending the meeting complained that, despite the attention of the Neighbourhood Wardens, the actions of a few local youths were making their lives a misery, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Drinking leading to bad language and abuse, using the area as a toilet, youths going into back gardens to collect footballs, and use of the children’s play equipment to stand on to look into back gardens were examples of the problems faced by Newham Lane residents.

The Police were viewed as not being a great help, as when they did arrive in answer to residents phone calls the youths saw them coming and disappeared before they could be caught and identified.

The Neighbourhood Wardens suggested varying their working hours to try to catch the major culprits. It maybe, however, that other more expensive measures (with possible implications for the parish precept), such as moving the play area to the other side of the Field away from houses, providing a high fence to protect back gardens or even employing another Warden to concentrate on supervising the Memorial Field and other open spaces will have to be considered.

Clearly more needs to be done to reduce this anti-social behaviour occurring in the first place, perhaps working with parents and schools, but this will take longer to achieve and people, quite rightly, want action now.

Steyning Parish Council meets tonight, Monday, 12 May, starting at 7.30pm at the Steyning Centre.

Woodmancote Parish Council meets tomorrow evening, Tuesday, 13 May, starting at 8pm at the Parish Hall, Brighton Road.

Both meetings at the annual general meetings when the new Council Chairmen will be elected.

Both meetings are open to the public when they can ask questions on major local issues.

County and District Councillors will be attending.

A number of people have complained about the burger van in the High Trees Car Park at the Upper Beeding roundabout on the A283.

County Officers have advised that there are no highway grounds on which the burger van can be removed, but there are South Downs Joint Committee and County land ownership issues. The present management arrangements in respect of the car park need to be confirmed before recovery of the land presently occupied by the burger van could be considered.

In any event there is a view that the burger van is not really causing a problem. Also it is claimed that users of the South Downs Way seem to be enjoying the convenience of the van at the end of a long day walking, cycling and riding.

One of the problems is, however, that the burger van attracts heavy vehicles to the site which sometimes blocks the car park for other users, and can cause a dangerous traffic situation at the entrance from the roundabout. Since the car park is also used by equestrians to unload/load horse boxes, the provision of a height barrier to prevent use by heavy vehicles would be difficult, but this is being investigated. Clearly if this can be resolved then the presence of the burger van might be acceptable in providing a valued facility for users of the South Downs Way.

Any comments from local people would be welcome.

The updated, 17 page edition of the 2008 pocket guide is now available.

Please contact me if you would like to be emailed a copy.

At the recent Annual Upper Beeding Parish Meeting the Neighbourhood Wardens for Bramber, Steyning & Upper Beeding presented a report on their activities during the last year and their plans for 2008/09.

Now the Wardens can issue penalty tickets for dog fouling and dropping litter they will be working to reduce this sort of anti-social behaviour across the area. Fortunately this sort of behaviour is only carried out by a few people, but it has a significant impact on the street scene, and can also be a danger to health.   (And don’t forget that dropping cigarette butts is also litter.) Contact the Wardens, Paul Sweeney on 077344 387 888 or Kylie Calder on 07734 387 889 (or via the office on 01903 813 236) if you have information on regular sites/times when this sort of anti-social behaviour is carried out.

The Wardens will be continuing with their work to control other sorts of bad behaviour such as under age drinking in our recreation grounds, whilst at the same time working with the junior wardens from the Upper Beeding (and soon Steyning) Primary Schools.

And they are still able to help those more older residents who are unable to get out by collecting medicines etc for them.

Our Neighbourhood Wardens are doing a great job - help them to do an even better one!

The consultation period will be from May to July 2008.

The County Policy & Resources Select Committee on Wednesday (7th) at County Hall will be considering the methods used in preparing the draft Strategy, whether additional groups might be engaged in the preparation of the Strategy work and how to promote the consultation in local communities.

The Strategy will be for all the population, not just those who have been traditionally been supported because they have been seen to have the highest needs. It should: -

aim to build strong and cohesive communities where individuals feel included and recognise their responsibilities;

assist individuals and communities to access services and opportunities with minimal intervention; and

encourage service providers to work as partners in focusing needs and aspirations of people, ensuring that there are high quality affordable services, and improving information provision from a variety of sources including through the web, so people can identify, and take, opportunities and choices.

I will be suggesting that Parish Councils should be included in the consultation, and will be reporting on this the Upper Beeding and Bramber Parish Council meetings this week.

A summary of the Framework document is available from the County Council at:

www.westsussex.gov.uk/scs

Please read the Framework, consider the information it presents, and then respond to the questions at the end of the document.

Upper Beeding Parish Council meets tomorrow (6th) evening at Beeding and Bramber Village Hall.  It is the annual meeting of the Council  when the Chairman of the Council for 2008/09 will be elected. The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

Bramber Parish Council meets on Wednesday (7th) evening at Beeding and Bramber Village Hall. It is also the annual meeting of the Council when the Chairman of the Council for 2008/09 will be elected. The meeting starts at 7pm.

Both meetings are open to the public and County and District Councillors will be present.

Following the improvements to the Downs Link/South Downs Way earlier this year, a second phase of works is planned for later this year to improve the South Downs Way eastwards from the bridge to the A283.

This will involve raising in part the height of the bridleway, lengthening the ramp down from the riverbank to reduce the path gradient, and laying an improved stoned surface.

During negotiations with the landowner agreement has been made to widen the path to facilitate these works and for the convenience of future path users. The present path gradient is no steeper than previously existed but, once works are completed, will be significantly shallower.

This is more good news for users of the Downs Link/South Downs Way through the Bramber Castle Division. Hopefully there will be more to come soon!

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has praised the party’s strong performance in the local elections. Gordon Brown said it had been a “bad and disappointing” election for Labour, as the party suffered its worst council results in at least 40 years. BBC research suggests Labour won a national equivalent vote share of 24% of votes cast in England and Wales, behind the Tories on 44% and Lib Dems on 25%. Lib Dems gained a net 33 councillors on top of an already impressive 2004 performance, and have taken four new councils – Sheffield, Hull, St Albans and Burnley. (BBC)

Nick Clegg said, “These are a very strong set of results for the party. Against the predictions of most pundits, we have successfully defended the record number of council seats that we won in 2004 - the best ever year for Liberal Democrats - and for only the second time in our history, we have outpolled Labour

“We have gained my home city of Sheffield, as well as St Albans, Burnley and Hull. We are also the largest party and came within just one seat of gaining overall control in Oldham, Warrington and Cheltenham. And we made important gains in key seats like Derby, Colchester and Reading.

In Wales too our progress has been impressive. We’ve made gains across the country and strengthened our position as the largest party in Cardiff.

This is a very strong performance and a great tribute to the hard work of our councillors up and down the country. It was a very good night for us.”

Go to the link for the Liberal Democrats on the left for more information.

A number of people at the Upper Beeding Annual Parish Meeting asked when the High Trees Roundabout would be resurfaced.

Highways officers have confirmed that the work is programmed for the 23^rd and 24^th June, although this date may vary slightly either way as a result of the contractor’s quicker progress on his programme of works or delays due to weather or plant breakdown.

A revision has been made to the proposed no waiting restrictions in Charlton Street after an initial public consultation.

I am concerned that these latest revised proposals for new waiting restrictions in Charlton Street do not now address the request from local residents in White Horse Square to stop cars parking opposite their properties. Cars parked in that part of Charlton Street force vehicles, especially the large ones, over to ‘their’ side of the road leading to damage to front walls. I have asked for comments from the officers on this apparent omission.

For further information on the latest proposals, click on the link below for copies of:

• the Statement of Reasons
• plan(s) of the proposal

http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/roads-and-transport/motor-vehicles-and-parking/traffic-regulation-orders/informal-consultations/CH3.en

There will be local elections in neighbouring Adur and Worthing on Thursday 1, May.

Half the Council plus a few casual vacancies will be up for election in Adur, whilst a third of the Council will be up for election in Worthing.

There are Liberal Democrat candidates for all the seats being contested in both areas, with no unopposed nominations.

The Lib Dems are fighting active campaigns in both Adur and Worthing and with Labour out of the running in both areas, the contest is between the Liberal Democrats and the Tories.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday, 1 May, starting at 8pm in the Village Hall.

The meeting is open to the public; any questions can be asked at the end of the meeting.

Local District Councillors should be present.

A few local residents have expressed concerns about the safety of the Bramber roundabout to Roman Road section of Castle Lane.

This section of Castle Lane is very narrow with bends and few passing places. The current building works along the Lane have not helped, making the route even narrower in places, although these works should be completed soon.

There have been calls to make the Lane one way, or for better passing places to be provided with safer refuges for pedestrians using the Lane for access to properties. People walking or cycling between the roundabout and Roman Road are able to use the Castle Lane bypass pathway, provided a few years ago to be a safe alternative to the dangerous narrow section of Castle Lane.

When residents of the area were surveyed many years ago on possibly making the route one way there were very many objections. Has this view changed? Comments please to Derek Deedman via this website.

Following the withdrawal of Labour MP Frank Field’s amendment on the 10p rate of tax, Lib Dem Leader, Nick Clegg, has written to Labour MPs urging them not to be bribed by the Government’s ‘last minute smoke and mirror promises’ and instead to vote for the Liberal Democrat amendment against the doubling of the 10p rate of tax. The unspecified measures announced during the week by the Government won’t come into effect until November at the earliest, and will not help all of the millions of people affected by the original change.

It must be hoped that for the benefit of many people in the Bramber Castle Division, and the millions across Country, the former rebel Labour MPs will join the Liberal Democrats in a cross-party effort to defeat this punitive tax change. There has still been no commitment to ensure that all people made worse off by this tax rise will be fully compensated. Regardless of whether the Treasury back-dates any future compensation payments, this will still mean low paid workers will be out of pocket for at least the next seven months. Parliament should send a clear message that they do not believe that the poor should be targeted to pay for tax cuts for the better off.

Labour MPs yesterday called off their revolt over the abolition of the 10p income tax rate after the Chancellor promised to compensate poor households who will lose out. He said he would use the minimum wage, tax credits and winter fuel payments to compensate the estimated 5.3 million families who will suffer financially from the abolition of the 10p rate. Changes, he said, would be backdated to April 2008.

However, the Chancellor has not promised to ensure all 5.3m people on low incomes who have lost out as a result of the Budget will be fully compensated:

• If he is to ensure that all people are fully compensated from the abolition of the 10p rate, the Exchequer will have to spend up to an additional £1.23bn
  
• To ensure that all 600,000, 60 to 64 year olds receive full compensation through the winter fuel allowance the cost would have to be almost doubled from £250 to £482 at a cost of £120m
  
• Changes to tax credits to compensate people would be investigated. However, currently people under the age of 25 are not entitled to tax credits. Furthermore, take up of tax credits by eligible people without children (one of the key groups who lose from the doubling of the 10p rate) is just 22%

 For people currently outside the tax credit system,  the low pay commission will be consulted on possible changes to the minimum wage:

• • The minimum wage for 16-18 year-olds is currently £3.40 per hour, or £6,630 per year (based on 37.5 hour working week)
  • The minimum wage for 18-22 year olds is currently £4.77 per hour, or £9,301 per year (based on 37.5 hour working week)
  • The minimum wage for 22 year olds and over is currently £5.52 per hour, or £10, 764 per year (based on 37.5 hour working week)
    

 To ensure that all people on the minimum wage would no longer loose out from the 10p rate, the minimum wage would have to be increased for all people to £18,500 per year - or £9.49 per hour. 

It is clear that Gordon Brown’s tax changes are now in total disarray. In a last-gasp attempt to appease its own backbenchers, the Government has cobbled together a set of half promises which will not even be properly revealed for another seven months. People who have just seen their tax rates doubled are unlikely to be comforted by the reassurance that the Government is going to tinker with an overly complex and failing tax credit system, which people under 25 aren’t even entitled to.

Many people in the Bramber Castle Division on low incomes will be worse off from these tax changes. Yesterday on Newsnight the Labour spokesperson even claimed that they were looking at how to benefit people on low incomes rather than admitting they needed to restore the cuts the Government had made to those people already low take home pay! Only the Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed this attack on low earners with the Tories abstaining on the issue when it was first announced last year. And even the Lib Dems have not succeeded in consistently highlighting in the media throughout the last year the way Labour intended to widen the poverty gap. But at last the media is taking notice that only the Liberal Democrats have the person with the right skills from a career in business and finance – Vince Cable, to address the problems caused by Labour’s ineptitude.

The County Cabinet Member for Public Protection has agreed to investigate the reason for the reduction in County grant towards the Bramber, Steyning & Upper Beeding Neighbourhood Wardens this year and the proposal to stop the grant  altogether next year.  

Derek Deedman has highlighted to the Cabinet Member that the Neighbourhood Wardens are highly valued by the local community. They have proved to be a vital addition to the Police presence and have played a significant part in reducing anti-social behaviour in the area. The Wardens are also providing positive activities for young people (Junior Wardens from the Steyning and Upper Beeding Schools). They also provide a community help service for older people.

Derek has stressed that it would be a tremendous loss if the Service had to stop after 2009 because of the loss of County Council support to the Warden Scheme. Although the Scheme is mainly financed by the three Parish Councils; making up the loss of County Council grant would have a big impact on parish precepts.

The Annual Parish Meeting will take place this Wednesday evening at the Beeding and Bramber Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm.

The County and District Councillors will be present.

There will be a presentation by the Neighbourhood Wardens  and the Horsham District Street Scene Team, including various youth projects.

There will be a discussion on various matters raised by Parishioners.

The Parish Council Committee Chairmen will be reporting on activities during the year and be able to answer questions from the public attending the meeting.

Pat Stringer, who is just taking over as Commercial Manager of Brighton & Hove Buses, has agreed with Horsham District Council officers that there is an unfortunate gap in the afternoon 2A service to Steyning. He has apologised for the impact this had on bus users from Horsham District.

As the timetable has only just been changed, however, he says it would not be possible to change this again until later in the year. This was because bus operators must give the Transport Authority a lengthy notice of changes and, of course the timetables have been printed and are already in operation.

Pat has, however, agreed to look carefully to try to resolve this issue for the next possible timetable review in September. Although it must not be forgotten, that as a commercial service, the changes would have to be based on a business case. He concedes that the afternoon slot should be able to generate the required patronage.

So, unfortunately not good news for the short term, but Horsham DC officers feel confident that B&H have now clearly got the message and will try to resolve this in the autumn.

In the meantime Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding bus users should continue to contact Brighton & Hove Buses when this break in the hourly service causes them a problem.

Woodmancote Parish Council and several local residents, supported by local County Councillor, Derek Deedman, have objected to this application on planning and highway safety grounds. 

Bramlands Lane is an unclassified rural road, with no footways or street lighting, with a single vehicle width, damaged grass verges and subject to a derestricted speed limit.