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. 

Traffic flows along Bramlands Lane are light given that it primarily serves a small number of dwellings/small holdings. 

It has been estimated that the maximum traffic generated by the proposal for 50 tents would be 45 trips per day based on occupancy of 30 tents with 1.5 movements each tent. This would lead to 100 vehicle movements along Bramlands Lane. 

This would be a significant number over and above the existing traffic flows on Bramlands Lane and given the single vehicle width would lead to further damage of the verges and greater risk of accidents to road users. 

Highways accept that some campers would explore the countryside by sustainable modes of travel as recommended in the proposed Green Travel Plan but this would be a small percentage of all movements. 

In the circumstances the highway authority is recommending that the planning application be refused on road safety grounds in that Bramlands Lane is insufficient in width to accommodate safely the additional vehicular movements that the proposed tented campsite would generate, resulting in an increased risk of accidents to road users.

Hopefully the District Council Planning Committee will accept this recommendation and refuse planning permission for this scheme.

County staff are continuing to work with the School to reach travel mark level two (TML2).

Once the school achieve this Level consideration will be given to completing the path between Pound Lane and Monks Walk as a minor scheme. However it appears that there are currently many schools on the county list, so the work is unlikely to be done within the next year or two. Being at TML2 will put the School in a better position to have the footpath completed.

The Chanctonbury Liberal Democrats are holding a Table Sale this Saturday at Storrington Village Hall.

The Sale will be between 2 and 4pm, refreshments will be available. All welcome.

In view of the representations made by the Task Force reviewing the Service, the County Cabinet Member has deferred the current closure of the present Service from 30 June, 2008 to 30 September, 2008.

Derek Deedman has welcomed the news as it will give the task Force longer to consider the possible options for the way forward, and allow a sub-group of the Task Force to consider the technical options being drawn up by the County & District officers.

The sub-group will consist of just Parish Councillors and the technical officers involved with the Service. Jackie Campbell, the Chairman of Steyning Parish Council, together with other Parish Councillors from Thakeham, Pulborough, Washington, Storrington and Henfield. The first meeting of the sub-group will be on Monday, 28 April.

The red surfacing works outside Upper Beeding Primary School, to complete the Safer Routes Scheme for the School, due to have been carried out this month, have been delayed.

The work is now scheduled to be done during June/July so hopefully by then the works should be complete.

The final improvements to the footpath from Pound Lane to Monks Walk, with work to the part through the Monks Walk garage compound are still, however, outstanding, and action on this is being pursued.

West Sussex County Council intend to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along Elm Grove Lane, Steyning. Pedestrian access will be maintained.

The Order is necessary to allow works to lay a new electric cable to be carried out in safety.

The alternative route for vehicles will be via Tanyard Lane, Church Lane and Church Street.

The Order will come into operation on the 28th of April 2008 and will continue for eighteen months, or until the proposed works are completed, whichever is earlier. It is anticipated that the works will be completed in two weeks.

Any queries about the works to take place should be directed to Murphy Ltd, telephone number 0800 0835234.  Any queries about the effect of the Order on traffic using the highway should be directed to West Sussex County Council Contact Centre, telephone number 01243 642105.

The second Task Force meeting took place yesterday and progress is being made towards consideration of possible options for the way forward.

Following the discussions which have taken place to date, to address the main problems of health & safety and lack of recycling from the present facilities the options include: -

Replacing the existing service, with an ongoing, but restricted recycling service, possibly on a less frequent basis (green waste only and/or monthly/summer only),

Offering all householders an additional green collection bin (at a cost – approx £50 for the bin plus £50/£75pa for collection),

Provision of a free home compostor to all households who wish to have one,

Subsidising a bulky refuse collection for large items,

In addition a restricted general waste service for waste going to landfill might continue.

The next meeting is planned for Monday, 28 April to hopefully agree the final recommendation to be made to the County Cabinet Member who will make the final decision.

Please let me know any comments you may have on the above options.

The County Council has published  its intention to make a temporary closure Order for part of Bridleway 1872 in the Parish of Ashurst

The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any person from proceeding along a length of Public Bridleway No. 1872, Ashurst, from its junction with Public Footpath No. 2511 (GR16481611) southwards to its junction with Spithandle Lane (GR16841533).

The Order is necessary to protect public safety whilst resurfacing works are undertaken.

Unfortunately there is no alternative route available using the Public Rights of Way network.

The Order will come into effect on 6^th May 2008 and will last for 6 months or until the proposed works are completed, whichever is earlier.

Any queries about the effect of the Order on persons using the bridleway should be directed to Emily Delicata, WSCC, telephone number (01243) 753599.

The next meeting of the County Council takes place on Friday, 18 April at County Hall, starting at 10.30am.

A new County Council Chairman will be elected to replace Margaret Johnson who is retiring from the position after seven years.

Apart from questions to Cabinet Members, the major debate will be on the County Council submission to the Boundary Committee of the Electoral Commission for new county division boundaries to operate from 2009. No changes are proposed for the Bramber Castle Division. However, within the Chanctonbury area of the Horsham District, Ashington could be detached from the Storrington Division and added to the Billingshurst Division. (This change is to enable, with other changes, an extra Division to be created in the Horsham Town area, as the Horsham District will be entitled to 12 instead of the current 11 County Councillors.) If approved by the Electoral Commission in due course there would be 71 County Councillors from 2009 compared with the present 70.

It is possible that the County Council meeting will again be webcast for live or subsequent broadcast via the County Council’s website. This will not be known until the start of the meeting, so on Friday check the County website via the link on this website for information.

The next Parish Council meeting starts at 7.30pm on Monday at the Steyning Centre.

The meeting is open to the public.

Despite excellent speeches from seven local residents explaining why the planning application to extend the life of the Horton Landfill Site at Small Dole should be refused, including health fears, the majority of the County Planning Committee voted to approve the application.

Local County Councillor, Derek Deedman, in his presentation to the Committee, highlighted the continuing growth in heavy traffic throughout the area, the fact that the Head of Waste Management Services (the Waste Disposal arm of the County Council) had told him that the Site did not feature in the Interim Contract for Waste Disposal (thus shooting down the claims that there was a need for the extra waste facility at Small Dole), and that the draft County Minerals & Waste Planning Framework policy on land raising (which this scheme was) stated that it did not form part of the preferred waste strategy and was unlikely to be acceptable. He then read out an example email from two local residents showing what a very bad impact the operation of the Site had on their daily life. Derek also referred to the litter from vehicles going into and out of the Site and wanted an extra planning condition to require vehicle containers to be covered to prevent spillage or loss of material onto the public highways. He finally asked for the application to fill the present void to be approved by extending planning permission to 1 June 2009, (with a further 18 months for restoration only), but called for the bid for extra waste to be tipped at the Site to be refused.During the Planning Committee discussion some of the Committee members were concerned at the health fears which had been raised by the Henfield Medical Centre, outlined by some of the residents speaking against the scheme, but wanted this addressed by stronger planning conditions rather than to refuse the application. One Member took the view that his area had suffered from planning decisions in the past - so why shouldn’t Small Dole receive the same treatment! Another Member felt that although the Committee had refused a similar land-raising waste application in the recent past, because this had then been allowed on appeal by the planning inspector, the Committee could not refuse this application.

Two Members did, however, speak out against the application. One agreed that the present void should be filled, but that any further tipping went against what could be regarded under the Human Rights Act as proportionate in terms of its continuing effects upon the private lives and homes of Small Dole residents. They had had their ’share’ of waste disposal. The other Member felt that the quality of life of local people was important and the County Council should base its actions on improving and enhancing the quality of life of all its residents.

Following a discussion as to how the planning conditions could be improved to better control the toxic and other gases and smells from the Site, the Committee decided, despite the objections, to approve the planning application. The use of the Site for disposal of waste is now to cease on or before 1 October, 2010, with restoration to be completed by 1 April 2012.

Derek said, “I hate to lose any debate, and although the odds were stacked against the application being refused I really thought there might have been a chance this time. For the people of Small Dole it is an extremely disappointing decision.”

The meeting takes place at 8pm at the Parish Hall.

County and District Councillors will be present.

There will be reports on activities by the Parish Council over the last year, and updates on progress on the Blackstone traffic problems and the implementation of the various actions  in the Woodmancote Parish Plan which was agreed in 2007.

The County Planning Committee meets at 10.30am tomorrow (Tuesday, 8 April) to decide the planning application to extend the life of the Site to 2010 (from 1 April 2008).

The meeting takes place at County Hall and is open to the public. The Small Dole Action Group and Derek Deedman (local County Councillor) will be calling on the Committee to refuse the application.

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the extension from 1 April of free off-peak bus travel for over-60s and those with disabilities to anywhere in England using a single pass. And well done Horsham District Council in sending out the new passes to existing bus pass holders before 1 April. All those over 60 who do not yet have a pass should apply now to Horsham District Council.

But yet again the Government has introduced an excellent scheme without providing sufficient funds for councils to carry out the administration and for the bus companies to provide the services.

So a scheme which should encourage more people to get out and about, improving their lives and helping local economies, and using the buses rather than their cars, is being tarnished. Councils are having to consider cutting other council services to offset inadequate government grant, and bus companies might cut services because they are not receiving enough money from councils to cover the cost of the extra passengers!

Locally all existing bus services are continuing (including the 108 Wednesday shopping service to Horsham via Upper Beeding, Steyning and Ashurst), – but the 106 daily shopping service to Worthing still needs more passengers. And the summer timetable for the 2A still fails to link up with the 100 service times through Upper Beeding – so effectively no service for Small Dole residents wishing to go to/from Shoreham by bus.

The need to allow for 12 county divisions in the Horsham District if the electoral review of the County Council is to be adopted in time for next year’s county elections will be mostly achieved within Horsham Town.

There could be a knock on change within the Arundel & South Downs Constituency area, however, as Ashington will be transferred from the Storrington Division to a new Billingshurst and Ashington Division if the new arrangements are approved.

The County Council on 18 April will approve the recommendations to the Electoral Commission’s Boundary Committee. The Committee will be consulting with District and Parish Councils before final recommendations are agreed later this year.

Finally there are indications that the Government will defer next year’s county elections from May to June to take place on the same day as the European Parliamentary elections.

Bramber Parish Council meets tomorrow evening, 7.30pm at Bramber & Beeding Village Hall.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Carol Boniface will update the Council on police matters in the Parish.

Faustina Bayo, Development Officer, Action in Rural Sussex, will outline proposals for a Bramber Parish Plan - local people interested in helping prepare a parish plan will be most welcome for the discussion on this  matter.

The Annual Ashurst Parish Meeting takes place at Ashurst Village Hall on Thursday, 3 April, starting at 8pm.

Coffee and biscuits will be available and there will be an opportunity for residents to meet Parish Councillors to discuss any local issues.

Mrs Marlene Carman will be giving a talk on the Steyning & District Community Partnership and the Steyning and Ashurst Conservation Volunteers.

County and District Councillors will also be present at both meetings.