News Slinfold Parish Council

Inside this Winter 2015 edition

Clerk’s corner 2

Neighbourhood plan 2

Highway issues 3

Chairman’s message 3

Community information 4

Youth worker update 5

Contact details 6

Welcome to the Winter 2015 issue of Parish Council News. This newsletter is delivered to every household in the parish and aims to keep all residents in touch with matters that may be of interest, including the Parish Council’s activities

1

News from your Parish Counciland forthcoming meetings. The next edition of this newsletter will come out in early summer. If you have something that you would like included in that edition, please contact the Parish Clerk (details are on the back page).

Christmas has come early to the KGV playing field which is nestled in between The Grattons, Greenfield Road, Lyons Road and Mitchell Gardens.

Back in 2009, the Parish was given planning permission to install a full sized Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) in the play field. Unfortunately, it was not possible to secure funding for the MUGA so instead, at their meeting in August, the Parish Council resolved to approve a quote for new equipment from Proludic which includes a smaller sports area (about half of the size originally planned) and three additional items of play equipment for older children. See picture to the right.

This equipment provides a much needed and long awaited improvement to the play area allowing young people to enjoy outdoor activity all year round.

The Parish Council recognises that

some concerns were raised by a few residents previously when permission was sought for the full sized MUGA with regard to noise and the potential lighting of the area. The Parish Council can

confirm that the area will not be lit and should not be used after dark.

Young people, mums, dads, please take a visit to KGV field, we hope that you will enjoy the new facilities.

King George V (KGV) Playing Field

2

Hello again, where did that six months go since the last newsletter? Scary!

Now that winter is here and Christmas is fast approaching, I would like to draw your attention to some of the more seasonal articles in this newsletter.

Make a note of where your nearest salt bin is should there be snow or black ice and take a look at West Sussex County Council’s website for tips on how to keep yourself safe this winter; check that the drains outside your home run freely to minimise the risk of flooding in your area; and consider cutting back your overhanging hedges and trees that border the footpath or highway as they can cause injury to passers-by. In November, Councillor Jane Slipper and I met with a number of companies to look at options for new play equipment for KGV field. I am delighted that the Parish Council chose an excellent design which I hope will give the young people in Slinfold hours of enjoyment.In 2016, I shall be turning my attention to smartening up the green space around Six Acres and perhaps improving access

to the Downs Link. If you have any thoughts on this I would love to hear from you.Tobias Mothe our Environment Officer left during the year, it was sad to see him go but we wish him every success with his new venture. I am looking forward to working with Dennis Elmes who joined us earlier this month. Dennis and I are employed by the Parish Council to work with and for the community. If you have something that you would like me to put to the Parish Council, please do not hesitate to contact me (details are on the back page).Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with kind regards from your Clerk.

Mary

Clerk’s

corner

Slinfold Neighbourhood Plan UpdateOn the 13th and 14th of November, the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group held a public exhibition at Slinfold Village Hall. This was the third public exhibition so far in the Neighbourhood Plan process and important as considerations have changed with regard to how sites should be assessed and the number of proposed sites has increased to fifteen.

The exhibition focused on “Sustainability” as set out by the National Planning Policy Framework i.e. the Economic, Environmental and Social benefits that could be achieved from individual sites. Display boards explained what this meant and how sustainability could be considered. Essentially, an emphasis on a smaller number of homes per site, more centrally located around the village, increases the chances of a site being considered “Sustainable”.

The boards set out on a site-by-site analysis of the proposals put forward by developers and on the same page the proposals that the working group considered were sustainable in terms of numbers of development given the above criteria.

The public was asked to score the sites on the same basis. The results are summarised in the graph opposite.

The full consultation results can be viewed on the Slinfold Neighbourhood Plan website – www.slinfoldnplan.org

The conclusions of the exhibition were presented to Slinfold Parish Council on the 26th of November. The Neighbourhood Plan Working Group were seeking approval to the following resolutions so that the drafting of the plan could be completed and submitted to Horsham District Council for consideration. The Parish Council RESOLVED:

1. that the Housing Need for Slinfold parish during the life of the Neighbourhood Plan will be in the range of 60 to 100 houses (including “windfall sites”) and recognises that there is a requirement to plan for the upper limit.

2. to support the sites proposed to be brought forward for development through the Neighbourhood Plan.

3. to support the proposed sites to be designated as green spaces in the Neighbourhood Plan.

Site no. Site Unit no. Scoring

13 The Cobblers – Hayes Lane 10 1

5 Bridge House Equestrian Centre 4 2

3 Nowhurst Business Park 10 3

4 Crosby Farm/North of Cricket Pitch 21 4

2 East of West Way/Nibletts Farm 18 5

11 West of Spring Lane 10 6

1 East of Hayes Lane 15 7

TOTAL: 88

3

“The only thing constant in life is change”

This universal fact was first articulated by the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, in the 6th century BC and will certainly resonate with Slinfold residents in the 21st century. Whilst many of us would prefer things to remain the same, the reality is that with the increasing need for ever more housing in the crowded South East, our village is going to change. The Neighbourhood Plan is a way for us to manage this change and accept our share of development whilst preserving the essential character and charm of this wonderful village. As well as providing housing, the Neighbourhood Plan should also deliver community benefits and protection for local green spaces. You can read an update on progress to date on the page opposite. The Neighbourhood Plan Working Group is comprised of volunteers from the community – if you would like to contribute to this important work or find out more, please make contact via the website – www.slinfoldnplan.org

The last six months have seen some changes to the Parish Council and we currently have two vacancies. Any resident who lives in the Parish or lives within 3 miles of the Parish boundaries, or is employed in the Parish and over the age of 18 may become a parish councillor. If you are interested in becoming involved with representing your local community, please contact the Clerk, Mary Burroughs. We also have a new addition to the Parish Council team, Environment Officer, Dennis Elmes, who some of you may already know as he lives in Slinfold. With winter approaching, it looks like he will certainly be kept busy!

One change which we hope will prove popular with everybody is the addition of a sports area and play equipment for older children in KGV (King George V) field, which was designed in consultation with the young people of the village. By the time you read this, it should all be in place and ready for use whatever the weather.

Finally, this year has also brought change to the church and the school, as we welcomed Reverend Sandra to St Peter’s in May and Miss Laura Phibbs to Slinfold School as Headteacher in September. On behalf of the Parish Council, I would like to wish them and all Slinfold residents a Merry Christmas and Peaceful New Year.

Camilla Gibson

Chairman’s message

The Parish Council is very aware that speeding on the roads in the parish is of concern to our residents. However, despite many attempts with both Sussex Police and West Sussex County Council Highways to try to introduce measures that would slow drivers down we are not having a great deal of success.

We wanted the police to do speed checks and issue fines for exceeding the speed limit on our roads and to set up a Community Speedwatch (CSW) group for the village so that we could encourage drivers to stay within the speed limit and report those that don’t.

We met with the police a while back to progress this issue and received their report in response in October. Sergeant Mark Miller from Sussex Police prepared a Traffic Assessment Report and in it he advised that speed enforcement is primarily managed by their Roads Policing Unit and are graded Red, Amber, or Green based on Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) figures. Red are more urgent locations that require enforcement. Quite simply he advised that there are no KSI’s or other information that suggests speed enforcement is a priority on our roads.

He referred in his report to Community Speedwatch (CSW) – this is where a group of volunteers from the community monitor traffic from an authorised site. There is a strict criterion for what qualifies as a safe site and the local policing inspector has overall responsibility for setting up a CSW scheme. Lyons Road, Hayes Lane, The Street and Park Street were assessed for speed watch and a 100 vehicle speed check was organised for Lyons Road. Hayes Lane and Park Street were assessed as not being suitable locations for a monitoring and enforcement site.

On 20th October, a 100 vehicle speed check was carried out by PSCO Tracy Field in the 30mph limit by Lyons Close. Most cars were travelling on or below the speed limit but a few were recorded as travelling at 36, 37 and one at 45mph. Tracy advised that to set up a Community Speed Watch scheme, training is required but it was unlikely that the local policing inspector would authorise this, it is also unlikely that

there will be staff to train and support Community Speed Watch.

So in short, the Police will not be enforcing speed limits in the parish nor is it likely that they will authorise the setting up of a CSW.

Sgt. Miller did have some suggestions that the Parish Council may like to explore which may encourage motorists to stay within the speed limits, including improving the visibility of signage and purchasing a mobile Vehicle Activated Speedcheck (VAS) sign. The Council is looking at VAS signs and has purchased wheelie bin stickers which will be made will be made available to residents in Lyons Road, The Street, Park Street and Hayes Lane. The stickers simply say POLITE NOTICE – SLOW DOWN and the Parish Council would ask that drivers in the parish stay within the speed limits for the safety of all residents.

Five Oaks Road A264 – West Sussex County Council (WSCC), Highways has responded to the Parish Council’s request as to County’s investigations into the speed limit on this road. Residents living in the area have a desire to promote an extension of the 40mph speed limit on the Five Oaks Road. WSCC advise that when they look at speed data to apply to a proposal for a speed limit, they look at the mean average speed over a week. The results from data collected are as follows: Outside Ranfold Lodge, Five Oaks Road: Southbound 42.1mph, Northbound 40.1mph; Outside Toat Hill Farm, Five Oaks Road: Southbound 43.9mph, Northbound 43.7mph.

Their assessment is that whilst the speeds are appropriate for a 40mph limit, the characteristic of Five Oaks Road along that stretch is not suitable and therefore this speed limit would not be extended. They attached the county’s presently adopted, Speed Limit Policy to support their assessment which is available on request.

Speed limits in the Parish

403020

4

Calling all bus users – Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI)

Do you use the bus to travel to Horsham and beyond? Do you often wonder when the next bus will come along, particularly if you think you have missed it? Then we would love to hear from you. The Parish Council is to consider the purchase of a RTPI display sign similar to the one pictured here. Please email or call the Clerk if you would like to see an information sign inside the bus shelter in The Street.

Well the clocks have gone back, the heating’s come on and the leaves, which looked so beautiful on the trees, have fallen. So it’s time to think of clearing those ditches and drains!

Hopefully you will have noticed that our drainage system seems to have been coping better with what water we have had this year, but now it’s a matter of keeping it clear of debris and detritus for the winter.

Over the year your Parish Council has been working with West Sussex County Council in giving advice to residents and working round the various ‘hotspots’ that have caused surface flooding in the past. With funding from Operation Watershed a new drop kerb has been installed at the end of the Hayes Lane system feeding into the outfall and a new trash screen installed at the entrance to the piped system from the open ditches feeding water down Hayes Hill. The Parish Council also organised an extra gully clean in Hayes Lane on 12th December.

We will have to wait to see how effective these measures will really be

Slinfold Parish Council has recently approached Gatwick Airport Limited once again to appeal to them to reduce overflight of the populated centre of Slinfold.

The principal causal factor for our increased overflight is asymmetric vectoring by National Air Traffic Systems (NATS) to the East above 4,000ft, thus affecting not only Slinfold but also our neighbours in Barns Green and Southwater.

The Parish Council believe that there are possible mitigants which are capable of relieving the situation, such as, keeping planes on the PRNAV line for longer, multiple routings, arrangements for respite and requiring NATS to adopt symmetric vectoring.

All very technical we know but in the meantime please keep complaining if you are disturbed by a noisy plane. Call Gatwick’s noise line on 0800 393 070; or email noise.line@gatwickairport.com; or send a letter to Gatwick Airport Ltd, Flight Performance Team, Destinations Place, Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, RH6 0NP. Tell them what time a particular flight woke or disturbed you and include your postcode/address.

Gatwick Airport noise

Adopt a Telephone KioskAt some stage in the near future, BT will take away the red phone box in The Street and the kiosk in Hayes Lane as it simply is no longer cost effective for BT to maintain them and they have given us the opportunity to adopt them for £1.

The Parish Council would like to turn the red box in The Street into a library as pictured here. This will mean that the payphone would be removed. If you still use the payphone please contact the Clerk.

A REMINDER The School (Village) Car ParkA message for our residents and their visitors: Are you visiting the village? Perhaps you are attending a service at the Church or a function or class in the Village Hall? Please note that the School Car Park is open outside school hours for public parking.

if we experience any extreme weather this winter.

So the system should be in better shape and ready, but now it is up to you to do your bit if you possibly can. Please ensure ditches and drains near to you are clear. While pea shingle looks decorative on your drive it is a nightmare for the drainage system. Shingle is of course formed by the erosion action of water in rivers and seas. Hence it is nicely rounded and very mobile under torrential rain. We have seen shingle transported hundreds of yards from driveways! The problem is it settles in gullies and pipes once the water flow slackens, blocking them and reducing the capacity of the system. So, if you have pea shingle, please keep it under control.

Finally, a word of warning on flood sacks. While this is the extreme option, when all else has failed, if your property has been prone to flooding, now is the time to stock up. Also, please remember to put them somewhere accessible.

Let’s be prepared for a flood free winter.

Councillor Mark Wellesley-Wood

Your underground infrastructure

5

For the last year, we at Community Youth Work, have been fundraising for new mobile skate ramps. In the past I have brought the old skate ramps into the village for the resident teenagers to enjoy. This has always been an incredibly popular activity. However, the ramps we used were old, worn out and difficult to transport and assemble. Now, after a year of fundraising, we have brought new and improved ramps. These ones are easier to use, with a new light weight surface, more variety of ramps and with a half pipe that can be placed on any surface not just concrete.

With these new ramps will come regular opportunities for skateboarding, BMX or scootering. We will be bringing them in during half terms and other school holidays with some regular after school sessions as well. Keep an eye out for our poster and banners around the village. It’s great to be able to give the young people an opportunity to enjoy outdoor sports and work on their skills and tricks in a safe environment.

Slinfold Youth Club has been running for a year now and we have a great group of young people attending. With regular games, crafts and a fully stocked tuck shop there is lots to do and people to catch up with. But we are always looking for new volunteers to support the young people of the village. Whatever your age, if you enjoy chatting and playing games, we would love to hear from you.

In October, we ran a trip to Thorpe Park’s Fright Night which gave the young people a chance to get to know others from across the district as well as having a fun experience. We will also be taking a number of young people away to Gravity Force at the end of December to celebrate all the hard work they have done this year.

There are lots of plans in the pipeline. Over the summer we took a number of young people to the PGL Centre in East Sussex. We are planning on doing this trip again next summer and we will also be running a sports week to celebrate the 2016 Olympics. The final activity we are looking at doing is a boys residential concentrating on survival skills, so look out for details coming soon. Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dan

Youth worker update

For more information on any of the above please contact:

Dan Fairchild; email: dan.fairchild@horsham-matters.org.uk

Mobile: 07702 492841

Getting ready for winter but let us hope we don’t get snow!

Slinfold Parish Council has an advisory team who work alongside Horsham District and West Sussex County Councils on an Emergency Plan for the Village. Part of this plan includes provision for ‘severe weather’ and this winter’s plan was agreed in the autumn.

There are four salt/grit bins in the parish: by the bus shelter in The Street, on the corner of Lowfield Road and Streetfield Road, outside the Village Hall and opposite the Chequers Inn, Rowhook. These have now been filled but if they require a refill then please contact the Parish Clerk.

The bins contain a mixture of salt and grit that is intended primarily for use on public footpaths that have not been treated. It is not intended for use on private areas of land. We would encourage residents to help themselves to a bucket or small bag of salt/grit and clear the area outside their properties when pavements are slippery with snow or ice. Guidance on clearing snow can be found on www.direct.gov.uk/clear-snow-road-path-cycleway

The Parish Council is keen to hear from any vulnerable people in the village who may need support during severe weather. If you, or a neighbour, would welcome a call should the snow descend this winter, just to check that all is well, please provide details to the Parish Clerk (01403-785864).

MONEY MATTERSAnnual Accounts 2015-16 and Precept Requirements 2016-17

The Parish Council’s annual accounts to 31 March 2015 have now been signed off by PKF Littlejohn, our external auditor, and are available to view on our website www.slinfold-pc.gov.uk under “Accounts”.

The precept is the amount of Council Tax requested by the Parish Council. The amount requested from Horsham District Council for 2016-17 will remain the same as 2015-16.

Forthcoming meetings 2016Thursday 28th January Parish Council

Thursday 25th February Parish Council

Thursday 24th March Parish Council

Thursday 28th April Annual Meeting of the Parish

Thursday 28th April Parish Council

Thursday 26th May Annual Council Meeting

Thursday 30th June Parish Council

Thursday 28th July Parish Council

Meeting dates for the Highways Byways and Transport committee, the Recreation Youth and Environment (RYE) committee, and the Finance committee can be found on the website.

Contact the Parish CouncilFor further information on your local Parish Council visit www.slinfold-pc.gov.uk

PO Box 315, Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 9XX

Clerk and Financial Officer: Mrs Mary Burroughs Tel: 01403 785864 Mobile 07733 359479 email clerk@broadbridgeheath-pc.gov.uk

Neighbourhood Plan Administrator: Jane Bromley Email: info@slinfoldnplan.org

Environmental Officer: Dennis Elmes is out and about in the village on a regular basis. If you are concerned about a particular area that needs attention please call him on 07510 540730 or contact the Clerk.

Chairman: Camilla Gibson Tel: 01403 790277, Email: c.gibson@slinfold-pc.gov.uk

Useful NumbersTracy Field is our Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) and she can be contacted by telephoning 101 (Sussex Police) and asking to be put through to her extension or by mobile 07766 997894. You can also email her on HorshamNPT@sussex.pnn.police.uk

Horsham District Council: 01403 215100 www.horsham.gov.uk

West Sussex County Council: 01243 777100 www.westsussex.gov.uk

6

Parish CouncillorsSimon Bailey 01403 790866 bailey.family23@btinternet.com

Gordon Constantine 01403 791138 g.constantine@slinfold-pc.gov.uk

Lesley Day 01403 790167 l.day@slinfold-pc.gov.uk

Camilla Gibson 01403 790277 c.gibson@slinfold-pc.gov.uk

Paula Redmond 01403 790187 p.redmond@slinfold-pc.gov.uk

Edward Skeates 01403 790037 e.skeates@slinfold-pc.gov.uk

Jane Slipper 01403 790702 janeslipper@yahoo.co.uk

Gael Stenton-Chandler 01403 790149 g.stenton-chandler@slinfold-pc.gov.uk

Mark Wellesley-Wood 01403 790120 wcswood@aol.com

District Councillors: Patricia Youtan and Stuart RitchieCounty Councillor: Liz Kitchen

Parish Council meetingsMeetings are open to the public and the press (who have a right to attend) and are preceded by a session for public comments. Council meetings take place in the Parish Room at the Village Hall. Visit our website at www.slinfold-pc.gov.uk for agendas and minutes of previous meetings or view the notice board at the bus shelter in The Street, or in the Village Shop. Start times can vary but usually are 7:30pm.

Our Village Hall is a charity-run community facility; it is not affiliated to any other organisation. The Charity’s objective is:

The provision and maintenance of a village hall for the use of the inhabitants of the Parish of Slinfold (without distinction of political, religious or other opinions) including the use for meetings, lectures and classes, and for other forms of recreation and leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.

The Hall is managed and operated on behalf of the village by a group of volunteers. It has no employees, enabling us to keep the running costs and thus the hire charges as low as possible. All the Trustees and other helpers give their time freely for the benefit of the community.

Currently, we are in urgent need of volunteers:

• to co-ordinate the maintenance of the hall

• to help with the organising and running of ‘events’ such as Concerts, Plays and Wine-Tastings.

Slinfold Village Hall: Request for volunteers• to run the website and social media

presence.

• to assist in taking bookings and showing prospective customers around

If you think you could find a little time, even just a small amount to help with this community facility which is run for the benefit of the whole village, please contact: Neil Peachey 01403 791554 or chairman@slinfoldvillagehall.co.uk

For more information go to: www.slinfoldvillagehall.co.uk