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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Although there has been little support for a cycleway from Golding Barn to Small Dole, a staff member at Woods Mill feels there would be lots of support for the provision of a cycle track from Small Dole to Henfield.

Certainly the amount of traffic including heavy lorries, car transporters etc. on the road between the two Villages is horrendous and this undoubtedly deters most people from attempting to cycle the route.

Such a link would complement the footway from Woodmancote to Henfield, and encourage more people who visit Henfield from its outlying villages to walk/cycle rather than use their cars.

In addition there are a number of businesses based along the Shoreham Road between Small Dole and Henfield. There could well be interest from people who live in Small Dole or Henfield, and work in the business premises concerned, to cycle/walk to work rather than take the car if there was a safe route along the road. A positive survey of the staff at those businesses would be extremely valuable in making the case for the provision of such a foot/cycleway. Any help in organising a survey would be appreciated.

 Although there has been little support for a cycleway from Golding Barn to Small Dole, a Small Dole resident feels there would be lots of support for the provision of a cycle track from Small Dole to Henfield. 

Certainly the amount of traffic including heavy lorries, car transporters etc. on the road between the two Villages is horrendous and this undoubtedly deters most people from attempting to cycle there.

Such a link would complement the footway from Woodmancote to Henfield, and encourage more people who visit Henfield from its outlying villages to walk/cycle rather than use their cars.

Concern was raised a t a recent New Heath Centre meeting about the lack of a street sign for Fletchers Croft, Steyning.

The access road to the car park at the Steyning Centre is not marked with a nameplate, and this has caused confusion for people looking for the temporary Health Centre and for  visitors to Steyning looking for the car park. Horsham District Council which is responsible for street nameplates has been asked to provide one for Fletchers Croft. 

In addition the District Council has been reminded about the Castle Lane nameplate at the Bramber roundabout end where the sign is in the wrong place. Currently the sign is sited on the Castle Lane footway bypass so that drivers might be confused as to which route to follow, as the footway has been designed for cycle use and is wide enough for vehicles. Hopefully the Council will soon move the nameplate to the actual Castle Lane side.

The Draft Plan was  discussed at the Countryside Access Forum for West Sussex meeting in Billingshurst yesterday.

Andy Gattiker, the South Downs Way National Trail Officer outlined the strategic aims included in the Draft Plan (which is open to the public for consultation until 1 February). Further details on www.nationaltrail.co.uk/southdowns/

In response to a question from Derek Deedman it was confirmed that improving the safety of the Way where it crosses major roads such as the A283 in Upper Beeding was  included under the section of the Draft Plan relating to ‘Managing the Trail and its corridor’.

Derek Deedman has asked the Safe Routes to School Officer to consider the provision of a pelican crossing on the A283 Steyning Bypass at the Castle Lane crossing.

After a campaign by Derek Deedman a few years ago, the County Council provided a joint pathway/cycleway alongside the A283 Steyning Bypass from the Bramber roundabout to the Castle Lane crossing point of the Bypass.

The new route is well used by both walkers and cyclists for leisure activities and by students attending the Grammar School. The problem is that having reached the end of the pathway/cycleway users are presented with the option of making the hazardous crossing of the A283 with traffic travelling up to (and over!) 60 mph, or turning into De Braose Way, at the top of which cyclists have to dismount as the Twittens from there and over the Bypass are not for use by cyclists. In the circumstances the easiest and preferred option for many is to cross the Bypass. Many parents are, therefore, unwilling to allow their children to travel by bike to school when their child could end up killed or seriously injured and continue to drive them to school instead.

Derek believes that a pelican crossing at this location would lead to a considerable increase in children being able to cycle to the Grammar School from the Upper Beeding and Bramber area.

Cycle charity ‘Sustrans’ have obtained some grant money to start completing a surfaced link from the end of the Downs Link to the Ropetackle development in Shoreham High Street. They are currently applying for planning permission to resurface the final approx. 100m of the County Council owned section at the very end of the Downs Link and then to construct a new path across the scrub and ditch to the riverbank and resurface approx 50m south. This will then still leave a gap from that point to the existing Ropetackle development which will have to be completed when the new Ropetackle North development gets approved and the Environment Agency have completed any necessary works on the embankment. A safety audit will also have to be carried out on this proposal before it can be approved. There is then the possibility of extending the resurfacing on the section up to the Toll Bridge depending upon how much money is available.

Following the recent improvements to the South Downs Way (SDW) Bridge at St Botolphs, an additional £20,000 has been found from the County Council budget to be spent on the Downs Link between Bramber and Shoreham this year. The section between Bramber and the SDW Bridge is regarded as a priority in terms of upgrading.

Mike Croker, a local cyclist and John Ford, a member of the Ramblers Association, have made suggestions for the use of this money. Derek Deedman has passed these to the County Countryside Manager for him and the County Cycling Officer to consider in connection with the upgrading proposals.

Mike Croker has proposed that the Coombes Road from Lancing to Bramber should be re-designated as a ‘Quiet Lane’, with traffic restrictions for use as a cycle route. In this regard he agrees that the section of the Downs Link between Bramber and the SDW should be a priority for improvement as it would facilitate an easier route into the Bramber area from Coombes than the Annington Road’s rather steep hills.

In addition to supporting this improvement John Ford has asked whether the idea of going from Bramber Castle, as far as the river bridge, then under it and back to the rail track on the south side of the A283 still a contender to eliminate the current A283 crossing at road level. He additionally supports making the Coombes Road a “quiet route” for cyclists from the Sussex Pad north to St Botolphs Church and suggests that the cycle route could then join the old rail track north, loop under the A283 at the river, then go north to Bramber Castle as mentioned above.

At the Steyning Parish Council meeting last night a senior Horsham District Council officer outlined the current position on the car parks in the Town.

High Street

It has been agreed after months of negotiations that the fenced-off wall will be reconstructed by the District Council, with future maintenance of the wall being the responsibility of the neighbouring owners.

It is expected that the arrangements for carrying out the work will take a few months so that the reconstruction work will not be fully completed until mid-2008. In the circumstances the District Council will investigate painting temporary chevron white lines next to the fence to gain as many parking spaces as possible.

Fletchers Croft

The temporary spaces alongside the entrance road will be repaired by the District Council with the costs shared with the Primary Care Trust. The District Council may also consider making the spaces permanent after the temporary Health Centre has been closed to give more car parking spaces at the car park.

Newmans Gardens

With the new Health Centre under construction and the works related to the new Care Home about to start it is likely that there will be a period when use of the car park will be further disrupted in the early part of 2008.

Part of the car park (ten spaces) will be used for parking at the site offices for the Care Home contractors and more of the remaining 4 hour waiting spaces will be converted to 24 hour parking. This will provide more long-term parking spaces for both workers in the Town and the workers at the two construction sites whilst the Health Centre and Care Home are being built.

The District Council says it is committed to improving communications with local people on what is happening at the car park over the coming months.

The Parish Council has asked the District Council for greater enforcement, by the car parking wardens, of the yellow no parking lines in the High Street. This is to prevent even more cars displaced from the car parks clogging up the High Street.

Action is being taken to further increase the number of car parking spaces in Steyning with a new car park next to the Library for the School during school hours and the community the rest of the time. In addition the District Council is being pressed to reorganise the Newmans Gardens car park to provide more spaces once the construction works are completed. However, in the long term, we cannot expect to cope with ever increasing car traffic, and much more must be done to increase the number of cycleways/footpaths and public transport to encourage people out of their cars when travelling to Steyning.

At the last meeting of the County Council Derek Deedman asked the Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy about the lack of sufficient investment in properly restoring the Downs Link between Steyning and Shoreham.

She promised a written reply which is as follows: -

“As you are aware the Countryside Managers have been addressing the state of the surface of the Downs Link over the last few years but have only a limited budget. Currently the annual expenditure on surface improvements on the section north of Steyning to the County Border is £15-25K and south of Steyning is £12K (this year). This allows us to make only modest inroads into upgrading the surface.

“We do however take advantage of any opportunity available to get additional funds to allow more to be done. A sum of £20k has become available this year and the officer concerned will be contacting you to discuss the priorities and expenditure planned on this stretch. In addition we are also discussing further work with Sustrans, our Cycling Officer and the South Downs Joint Committee, to see if we can pool funding to address the additional stretches between Shoreham and Bramber.”

At the last meeting of Bramber Parish Council it was suggested that the Council might consider using some of the funds available from planning developments to help fund such restoration work. Derek Deedman has passed this information to the Countryside Officers who will be contacting the Parish Council to discuss the matter.

“Hopefully further progress will be made soon, and I will continue to press for the Link to be fully restored to a decent surface for all users for at least that part of the route between Shoreham and Steyning” said Derek.

Derek Deedman has welcomed Steyning Parish Council’s Highways & Lighting Committee decision last Tuesday evening (20th) to support the provision of a cycleway along the Horsham Road from the Leisure Centre to the Bypass and then up the Horsham Road from the Bypass to the little foxes nursery site.

The Local Highway Manager’s draft proposal was for just a footway, but the Committee considered that only a dual use facility would provide value for money as a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists.

Derek said, “Although just a footway would have been better than nothing, I am very pleased with the Parish Council decision as I want to see a network of cycleways eventually connecting up all the small villages and towns in West Sussex to provide a safe, healthy and more environmental alternative to the car in the future.”

“Clearly there will now be the question as to whether the County Council can meet the extra cost of a cycleway over a footway, but this must be done if we are to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists to travel around West Sussex and to start tackling the impact of climate change.”

The matter of more cycle routes was raised at the Steyning Parish Council Highways & Lighting meeting last Tuesday.

A suggestion was made that a short stretch of Right of Way 2600 between the School entrance in Shooting Field to Coxham Lane be adapted for use by cyclists. Concern was expressed that at school times that footpath was very heavily used by children walking so it would not be suitable for use by cyclists. In addition it is not clear how cyclists would get to/from the Coxham Lane end as the Rights of Ways from/to there are clearly not wide enough, and Coxham Lane itself goes into the dangerous section of Horsham Road.

It was agreed however, that Derek Deedman should contact the County Officer looking at improving the safety of walking/cycling to the Primary School, for her comments on the proposal.