Homeshare
January 2008 meeting -
Pedestrian Crossing on the Main Road planned
December Meeting report
Vacancy for Parish Councillor
Parish Councils to continue influential role in local planning decisions
A Message from the Chairmen of Support St Richard's Campaign
Speed monitoring in Broad Road
Summer Newsletter
January Meeting report
Young Drivers' Skills Course
Somewhere for young people to play ball games - the Parish Council response
May 2006 - Council changes
ICIS: Information for life
Portsmouth Mediation Service
Parish Directory updated
Parish Council Statement on Bonfires
Hamstead Meadow update
Things are stirring in the Dell
Community Transport
Police in force at Parish Council Meeting
Brakes applied to speeding campaign
Reporting Problems

	ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Thursday 24 April Steve Clark, Parish Council Vice-Chairman, (left) reported on the year's work and Road Safety. Cliff Archer (right) reported on the New Village Centre Project
	Full report
Shona Archer, Development and Building Control Service Enforcement Team Manager gave a talk about Planning Applications and Planning Enforcement in the Parish.		Myles Cullen, Local District Councillor and Leader of the Council reported on District Council matters and factors affecting the Council Tax

Homeshare West Sussex - Could it suit you? Do you have a home, some help would be useful, and you would like the companionship? Need accommodation, willing to help the householder in exchange for somewhere to stay?

What is a homeshare? A homeshare involves two people with different sets of needs. Both of them will have something to offer which can help to meet each other's needs. Firstly, people who have a home that they are willing to share. They may need some help and support with tasks such as cooking and cleaning. Or maybe they simply feel the need for companionship. These people are known as householders . Secondly, people who need accommodation. They will be willing to give up to a maximum of ten hours a week of their time and help in exchange for somewhere to stay. These people are known as homesharers . More info or e mail dawn.blake@westsussex.gov.uk

January meeting headlines- Co-option of new Parish councillor - The application by three members of our community to serve on the council by necessity lead to a vote. It was felt a great shame that only one could fill the vacant post and the Chairman Mike Penny urged the unlucky two to reapply in March when an other seat would become available. After a ballot former Chairman of the council Bernard Clarke from Cot Lane , Chidham was voted on to the council and took his seat for the rest of the meeting. Bernard, a sailor of some note see link has served before in Chidham prior to his round the world trip, and has delivered a new village hall in a previous parish, Great Brickhill! Precept 2008/09- A strong debate was held to consider the options put forward by the finance committee. The final decision, when tied up, will appear in this months parish news letter (link) , but it was agreed an increase was needed to fund a crossing on the A259 and to further develop the village centre project. Speeding Signs in Broad Road- The long promised WSCC enhanced signage in Broad Road is due for implementation in March, but it was felt dedicated ‘kill your speed' signage was needed both in Broad Road and Priors Leaze. The council is to seek approval via highways.

Pedestrian Crossing on the Main Road planned . This will be a Light-Controlled Pedestrian Crossing on the A259 between Broad Road and Chidham Lane. The Parish Council has resolved to take the lead on the installation of a light-controlled pedestrian crossing on the A259. The cost will be met from the parish precept, augmented from other sources such as charitable trusts, funding bodies, fund-raising events and donations. Traffic speed on the wide A259 between Broad Road and Chidham Lane means that pedestrians find the road difficult to cross safely. Pedestrian refuges are provided, but not infrequently cars see the bollards too late when overtaking and pass them on the wrong side. The Parish Council and Chidham School Governors have discussed the lack of a proper A259 crossing for many years. The project is on WSCC Highways' list of schemes, but it will be many years before installation by WSCC could become a reality. Parents and carers of children at Chidham School are reluctant to allow their children to cross the A259 alone because of its dangers. 43 of the pupils live north of the Main Road and could potentially walk or cycle. Pedestrians and cyclists alike would benefit from a proper crossing. The objectives of the School's 2006 formal Travel Plan are in accordance with the Local Transport Plan. The objectives are: To improve road safety Reduce car use Raise awareness of transport-related environmental issues In the Travel Plan, the School expressed its concern specifically regarding the lack of a proper crossing on the Main Road and reported that a significant number of children would prefer to walk or cycle to school. A light-controlled crossing could also act as a useful traffic-calming device.

CO-OPTION OF A PARISH COUNCILLOR

There is a vacancy for a Parish Councillor to be co-opted at the next Parish Council meeting on Thursday 3 rd January 2008 . If you wish your name to be put up for candidature, please email any councillor for an application form. Applications are to be returned no later than Friday 28 th December. The candidate should reside in, or within three miles of the Parish.

PARISH COUNCILS TO CONTINUE INFLUENTIAL ROLE IN LOCAL PLANNING DECISIONS Parish councils will continue to play an influential part in local planning decisions, a committee of Chichester District Councillors has decided. A joint meeting of the North and South Area Development Committees came to the conclusion after reviewing procedures for dealing with planning applications at committee level. Domestic planning applications cannot be approved by district council officers acting under delegated powers if the parish council objects. This means the matter has to be decided at an area development committee, made up of district councillors and allows the opportunity for a parish council representative to state its case. “Parish councils have an important role to play in the planning process, and we felt this procedure should be retained,” said Councillor John Ridd, chairman of the joint meeting. Current planning procedures have been in place for five years, and in that time, the number of applications being considered by area development committees has risen. Therefore, to speed up the decision-making process at meetings, the maximum number of speakers will be reduced from 12 to eight, but speakers will continue to be allowed to state their case for up to three minutes. Planning applications will also be heard at the beginning of meetings, leaving the standard items until the end. “There is a lot of public interest in planning applications, and it is not fair to ask people to wait around from the morning until mid afternoon for their particular application to be heard. This change is about managing the meeting better and speeding up the democratic process,” said Councillor Ridd. “To reduce the cost of running the committees, we will also end the practice of sending out letters to interested parties inviting them to speak at committee meetings. If members of the public are interested in a particular case, we know they will follow it from start to finish, and will already be aware of the committee dates, so we are reducing duplication of work for our officers as well. “It is right that we should be reviewing our procedures in light of various changes over the past five years, and we hope that everyone involved in the planning process will see the benefits of the changes and support them.” The changes will come into force from 1 February 2008.

A Message from the Chairmen of Support St Richard's Campaign Dear Supporter, We are now in a crucial part of the Public Consultation on the future of St Richard's Hospital, Chichester and will be sending you frequent updates. The consultation will end on November 14th 2007. The Primary Care Trust will deliver their decision in Spring 2008. The consultation is the public's chance to voice their opinion. There are various ways that you are able to do this: 1. Please come to the Public Meetings. These have been widely publicised in the local press and can also be seen on our website. The ones in the coming week are as follows: * Monday 3rd September, Selsey Leisure Centre, 7pm * Wednesday 5th September, West Wittering Memorial Hall, 3.30pm * Wednesday 5th September, East Wittering Village Hall, 5.30pm * Thursday 6th September, The Venue, Chichester Please visit www.supportstrichards.co.uk for more details. 2. Write to the PCT: If you did this prior to 26th June 2007 your letter will not be included in the final analysis so it will be necessary to write again. Please visit our website www.supportstrichards.co.uk if you would like some pointers to include in your letters. The address for the PCT is: Creating an NHS FFF, FREEPOST SEA1064, West Sussex Primary Care Trust, The Causeway, Goring by Sea, Worthing, BN12 6ZZ 3. Fill in the PCT questionnaire: This is available online. Visit: www.southeastcoastfff.nhs.uk or telephone 0800 7076975 to obtain your own copy of the full consultation document with the questionnaire included at the end. We are supporting Option B and C in which St Richard's will be the Major General Hospital for West Sussex. Please help us deliver our leaflet: We are finalising our leaflet to go out to households within the area and would very much appreciate help in delivering the leaflet. Please contact Abigail Rowe at the number below or by replying to this email if you can help. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us either by email or by phoning 01243 788122 Ext 2728. With many thanks for your continuing support. Andrew Tyrie and Dr. Marjory Greig, co-chairmen of Support St Richard's Campaign.

Speeding in Broad Road		Stop press!! SID visits again
SID (speed indicator device) visited Broad Road on Monday (21st May) and again on Thursday 24th May, and recorded average speeds at 44mph in the 30mph zone near the Post Office - there were some vehicles off the scale. 62% of vehicles measured exceeded the legal limit. It may be returning soon, and next time it may not just be collecting data! So KILL YOUR SPEED . The visits were organised by Carol Hasket t and funded by the Parish Council in an attempt to provide evidence to WSCC of the need for enhanced signage as a bare minimum to the Broad Road / Priors Leaze junction and up to the Nutbourne railway station . Alex Sharkey, team leader of the WSCC Highways Traffic Management and Calming Dept. has admitted previously that the 30mph reduction in the area, put in place as part of the Rural Village Speed Limit Programme, has failed to slow drivers sufficiently in recent years. He has promised Steve Clark of the Parish Council an inspectors report within the week following presentation of the SID data.
Is this you? Would you like the parish council to notify the police of offenders?	Carol Haskett collecting data from the visiting SID, assisted by Alan from WSCC. Passing locals voiced their support.
a typical speed	not all road users had to apply their breaks when they noticed the sign!
Read the book? Got the T Shirt? now .... ( video coming soon)

Young Drivers' Skills Course

As part of Chidham Parish Council's response to local residents' concerns over speeding and inconsiderate driving, the Council is to encourage young drivers in the area to sign up to a Young (17 to 25 yrs) Drivers' Skills Course. see details

Parish Council changes

The May Parish Council meeting started with the re-election, by a unanimous vote, of Mike Penny as Chairman and Robin Yeld as vice. The composition of this working groups were also established :

Finance and General Purposes:
M. Penny (Convenor)
Miss S. James
R. Yeld

Planning:
M. Penny (Convenor)
C. Archer
M. Gladwin
S. Clark

Environment:
C. Archer
A. Cooper
M. Gladwin
R. Yeld

Village Centre Feasibility Study Working Group:
Miss S. James
C. Archer
S. Clark

Representatives to Chichester District Association of Local Councils:
C. Archer
M. Penny

Representatives to The Bournes Forum:
C. Archer
M. Penny

Editor of the Parish Council News and Web Site Co-Coordinator:
Miss S. James

Responsible Financial Officer:
B. Mann, Parish Clerk

MEETING DATES

Suggested meeting dates for 2006/2007 are:
Thursday 1st June
Thursday 6 th July
Thursday 3 rd August
Thursday 7 th September
Thursday 5 th October
Thursday 2 nd November
Thursday 7 th December
Thursday 4 th January
Thursday 1 st February
Thursday 1 st March
Thursday 5 th April
Thursday 3 rd May

Meetings start at 7.30 pm

ICIS: Information for life - enabling people in West Sussex to find help

Portsmouth Mediation Service - Interested in becoming a Volunteer Mediator?

Mediation is an informal but structured way of dealing with disputes. Vountary Mediators provide an impartial, independent, confidential service, visiting people in their own homes, to help them deal with their dispute and find ways forward. Training will be given. Being an Accredited Mediator is a transferable skill.
Why not find out more?

Latest Edition of the Chidham and Hambrook Parish Directory now out! Should you be in it?The Directory is your guide to local clubs, societies, facilities, organisations, producers, suppliers, businesses, tradesmen, current projects, current initiatives, etc. It is delivered free to residents and is also on this Website. Click here to get a free insert in the next edition of the Parish Directory.

Parish Directory in Pdf format

Parish Council statement on Bonfires

Hampstead Meadow Update

The Sussex Rail fence has been erected to the road side of the green in an attempt to stop cars cutting across the grass. This was done following comments passed to the Parish Council via the parish plan consultation events and text on the questionnaire. The Highways agency determined the one metre set back from the kerb which unfortunately will not offer the verge as much protection as we would have liked. We have received a number of favourable comments following the works, but would like to know if you have any further ideas for the area. Please use the links on the web site to let us know and we will consider them all, or call in to any Parish Council meeting to join the discussions on up and coming projects.

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Things are stirring in The Dell !

 At last real progress can be seen in The Dell. Work has already started on restoring it to its former glory, fondly remembered by generations of local people. The key to this was the 125-year lease that the Harbour Trust has obtained on the northern part of The Dell.

	The photo shows the handing-over ceremony, at which a real peppercorn for the rent changed hands!

Chichester Harbour Trust has obtained a 125-year lease on the northern part of the land behind Hamstead Meadow and work has already started. Nettles and bracken that had overrun The Dell have been cleared and the stream has been tidied up.

	The Dell, when it was overgrown with bracken and nettles

The photo shows just how bad things had become. Naturally, the trees and selected coppices and shrubs have been kept safe, but the rubbish dumped over the years is being removed.

The cleared areas will be tilled to encourage re-growth of the seedbed in the spring. Early in 2006 the Harbour Conservancy will plant some areas with hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple and alder and other plants that suit a woodland setting. It is hoped that local people will join well-established volunteer groups in a planting working party, possibly in January. Parish Plan volunteers and others, watch this space for news!

The Parish Council, local residents, the Chichester Harbour Trust and the Chichester Harbour Conservancy have worked together to produce a management plan. This will ensure that The Dell will once again become a quiet place for everyone to visit and enjoy.

	Mature Oak in The Dell

Cliff Archer


Community Transport

The following information, covering our parish, is taken from the West Sussex Community Transport Directory 11 th Edition, circulated at the November Parish Council meeting.

Sammy Community Transport Limited ( Chichester )

(01243) 827821
Mr Peter Wells
York Road Chambers
York Road
BOGNOR REGIS
PO21 1LT

(01243) 862636
office@sammytransport.org.uk

Residents of the areas shown below who are unable to access public transport and attending medical appointments.

Volunteers’ cars:
Chichester , Ashling, Birdham, Boxgrove, Bosham, Dryton, Fishbourne, Funtington, Lavent, Mundham, Nutbourne, Hambrook, Oving, Runcton, Singleton, Stockbridge, Tangmere.
Telephone on the above number between 9.00am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-4.00pm , Monday to Friday.
Available on request.

Welcomes volunteer drivers with their own cars.
www.sammytransport.org.uk

EMS Valley Community Transport
(01243) 371905
Reg. Office:
George & Dragon Surgery
The Square
WESTBOURNE
PO10 8UE
Members of the organisation who have mobility problems or who are unable to use public transport.
Volunteers’ cars.
Westbourne, Chidham, Emsworth, Nutbourne, Hambrook and Southbourne.
Telephone on the above number between 4.30pm-5.30pm Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. 3 days’ notice required if possible. Messages can be left on the answer phone.
Membership fee-£5 (one-off charge).
Minimum £3.00 for local journeys-first 5 miles, thereafter 45p per mile.
Transport to health centres, medical appointments, visiting relatives in hospital or who are unwell, essential local shopping and certain social visits. Welcomes volunteer drivers and administrators.
Information on schemes covering other areas can be found at www.westsussex.gov.uk
 
For copies of the full Directory, contact Julian Hart
(01243) 756603

POLICE IN FORCE AT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The September meeting of the parish council was attended by Inspector Kim Hudson and Community Police Constable Paul Bryant.
P.C. Bryant was introduced, as one half of the P.C.S.O. covering our area, and he sees his roles as,

1 - the visible side of policing (keep an eye out for him on his bike as he moves through the villages)

2 - our 'on the ground' officer dealing with low level crime

3 - a link with the community, via for example the parish council, the web site etc..

4 - the forces eyes and ears in the community

Your parish council raised a number of issues with the officers

Speeding
We are in a low risk area for police speed monitoring
Red are areas where death has occurred
Amber is accident black spots
Green are low risk i.e. Chidham

The onus falls mainly on the community to action speed crime in these areas and the officers endorsed the ‘commitment’ campaign and discussed the ‘speed watch’ programme – we are able to purchase a speed gun and receive training if we feel the need.
 
Anti-social behaviour
The P.C.S.O. was made aware of your concerns regarding a number of sites and P.C. Bryant will continue to monitor them, however he can respond quicker when a prompt complaint is made via the help line 0845 6070999. A number of orders are currently being placed on motor cycle riders, but continued reporting is required if seizure is to occur as a points system is used.

Level of Policing
We are low on the pecking order.
Crime figures are falling, about 26 last year, mainly domestic, with a high conviction rate and the trend is falling. Parish wardens were discussed, and should the need arise the costs of these can be shared with other councils in the area, but are only of use for non-criminal matters such as visiting the elderly, rubbish tipping etc..

The officers assured the community that we are not being overlooked and that they are aware of our issues. We thank them for their attendance and look forward to a return visit soon.

It is hoped the Police will use the web site to communicate and update the community on a regular basis.


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Brakes applied to speeding campaign

This campaign aims to: Encourage drivers to make a personal commitment to keep within the speed limit raise awareness of the dangers of speeding, not only to drivers and their passengers, but to all road users involve the community in speed reduction improve the environment of local communities by reducing danger and nuisance to other road users make speeding as socially unacceptable as drink driving has become. If you would like to sign up please contact a Parish Councillor and a volunteer will be in touch. Alternatively call Steve Clark on 574129.

Such has been the take up to ‘The Commitment’, West Sussex Road Safety Unit have run out of leaflets!

Whilst awaiting a reprint the team of volunteers are having a well earned rest and taking stock. We have had a great response ‘door stepping’, most of Broad Road has been covered with 50+ responses, and Scant Road West produced 30+ signatures.

We are only halfway down Chidham Lane but already have 40+ forms, Cot Lane and the Main Road are also in progress.

Marshalls have handed back an initial 20 completed forms, and we thank them for their efforts. In the near future Chidham School will be using the campaign as part of their traffic plan.

The success of the campaign depends on you. Making ‘The Commitment’ means that you will try to drive within the speed limit at all times.

This campaign aims to:

• Encourage drivers to make a personal commitment to keep within the speed limit
• raise awareness of the dangers of speeding, not only to drivers and their passengers, but to all road users
• involve the community in speed reduction
• improve the environment of local communities by reducing danger and nuisance to other road users
• make speeding as socially unacceptable as drink driving has become.

If you would like to sign up please contact a Parish Councillor and a volunteer will be in touch, alternatively call Steve Clark on 574129.

Thanks for you support, and for TRYING!


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Reporting Problems  

The following are a list of useful contact details that can be used to report potholes, failed street lights, overgrown verges and footpaths, fly tipping, flooding, abandoned cars, etc. If you have any difficulties reporting items or poor response do not hesitate to contact a Parish Councillor.

Southern Crimestoppers
If you have any information about crime, please contact CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111. All calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

Non urgent Police matters- 0845 6070999

Abandoned/unwanted vehicles- 01243 534610

Dog control (strays/mess)-01243 534618

Flooding, Info.line-0645881188

Footpaths -01243777928

Social Services -01243 752999

Childline- 0800 11111

Citizens Advice Bureau -01243 784231

Highways
-Traffic Signal Faults 01489 571422
-Damaged surfaces, uneven or overgrown footpaths/roads 01243 836900

Noise complaints -01243 534601

Pollution -Air, sea water, noise 01243 534601

Pothole repairs -01243 836900

Roads and Pavements -01243 836900

Street Lighting -Faults 0845 7581622

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