In fact this seems to be getting worse. It is very noticeable on my regular walks in the area that many dogs have been allowed by their anti-social owners to foul the pavements in our area.

This matter was raised at the Local Action Team (LAT) meeting in November, when it was mentioned that the Horsham District Council Street Scene Team were doing early morning patrols in the area, speaking to dog walkers and providing bags. I was unable to attend the November meeting as I was at another meeting, but clearly the resources being allocated to resolve the current level of dog fouling is completely inadequate.

I will raise this matter again at the next LAT meeting; please let me know if your pavement is being fouled.

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.

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.)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’.