THE PARISH FLYER - 29 Ferring Parish Council – Spring 2013

Village News & Views from your Council

CHAIRMAN CAROLE ROBERTSON WRITES – The news on the planning front is regrettably almost as gloomy as the weather. The planning inquiry for Greenyers Field found in favour of the applicant and shortly after the High Court review of the second Jenkins Yard appeal also went against Arun District Council. The result is that we shall have around 80 new dwellings built in the strategic gap between Langbury Lane and Asda. Both decisions are deeply disappointing but almost inevitable after Asda was built. That decision destroyed the integrity of the eastern end of the gap and has led to these locally unpopular decisions. Hopefully concerted local opposition can prevent the same thing happening to the western end of the Ferring /East Preston gap with Chandlers current application.

Carole Robertson SAVE OUR GAP – As mentioned above and in the last Parish Flyer, Chandler’s BMW are proposing to move their showrooms to the East Preston roundabout, within the strategic gap. Arun District Council has now received a planning application for a workshop, MOT facility, car valeting and car storage covering 6.5 acres just south of the A259 road and within the Ferring/East Preston Strategic Gap. It is felt that the proposed site will destroy 6.5 acres of farmland and the additional vehicles will add to the current intolerable congestion on the A259. It is also acknowledged that an alternative site in Rustington has planning permission already approved for such a site. Objections should have been received by the 21st February 2013.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – The Neighbourhood Plan is now in draft form and will be going out to local consultation shortly, prior to being submitted to Arun District Council for scrutiny. The Steering Group has tried to take on board as many of the wishes and preferences of local residents as possible while still making sure the plan is broadly compliant with Arun’s housing policies.

PRECEPT – The Parish Council have just notified Arun of the precept we require for this year. It was a complex calculation as the Government have introduced a whole new regime of funding which has reduced the grant available to Arun, indeed to all councils. After much deliberation we agreed to ask for a 6% rise in the precept. With this and the rise in council tax occasioned by the reduction in the support grant to Arun, there will be a rise of around £2.40 per year, or 20p a month in Band D council tax in Ferring. Last year we went for a zero increase but the constantly rising cost of goods and services, including those we buy in from Arun, have meant this small rise was necessary to balance our budget. A259 IMPROVEMENTS – A study has been prepared for West Sussex County Council to consider improvements to the A259 between the Northbrook College roundabout and the Bridge Road roundabout in Littlehampton to meet expected increased traffic resulting from new and possible future developments. Interim results have been prepared and discussed at the JEAAC Highways advisory group. It is planned to include changes that have been recommended in order to present to the JEAAC committee, Arun District and West Sussex Councils. SPEEDING IN THE VILLAGE – The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for Ferring is expected to be implemented in the near future. This will allow most private roads in Ferring to be covered by a 20 mph enforceable speed limit. WAR MEMORIAL – We have now received quotations for the cleaning of the war memorial and are awaiting the outcome of the next Full Council Meeting when the company will be appointed for the work. RIFE WEED SCREEN – The Environment Agency, just prior to Christmas completed the installation of the lowered weed screen cleaner on Ferring Rife. The electrical installation has been finalised and willow hurdle fencing has been installed. The final part of the project is to plant around the perimeter of the site in the spring. We are starting to make contact with specialists for advice. VILLAGE MAINTENANCE – The partnership programme between the Parish Council and the Ferring Roads Scheme Association to maintain the village's small public spaces and important footpaths will continue in 2013. This remains an important contribution to keeping Ferring the way we would all wish it to be. In addition, it has also been possible, despite increasing financial pressures on the Council, to introduce new arrangements to ensure that important items of street furniture in the village, especially our excellent bus shelters, now receive regular attention to ensure their cleanliness and longer term maintenance. This is a further example of the way in which the Council is seeking to respond to requests arising from within the community. FERRING RETIREMENT CLUB – are looking for new members. They run numerous activities including lunch on a Tuesday & Thursday at 12.30pm at a cost of £5 for each day. Other activities include Bridge, Keep Fit, Bingo, Bowls and much more. For further information please contact The Ferring Retirement Club on either a Tuesday or Thursday morning on 01903 506752.

COMMUNITY MEALS ON WHEELS AVAILABLE ACROSS WEST SUSSEX – Enjoy a range of nutritious hot meals, desserts and salads with West Sussex County Council’s Meals on Wheels. New customers can sample some of the dinners on offer by ordering a five-day Taster Pack for £15. All meals are designed to meet nutritional standards and special dietary needs can be catered for. They can also be delivered frozen. The Meals on Wheels service in West Sussex is available to all residents to order, no referral is needed. For further information, telephone 01903 231341 or visit the County Council website at www.westsussex.gov.uk/countycatering VILLAGE SUMMER FAIR – Preparations have commenced for this year’s Summer Fair and this year it will be held on Saturday 6th July. Further details will be published on Noticeboards, Facebook and in the Parish Flyer nearer the time. NEW COUNCILLORS – We welcome David Crook, Chris Headon and Molly Janes to Ferring Parish Council. Resident Information:

¾ The next Full Council Meeting will be held on Monday 4th March at 7.30 pm in Ferring Village Hall. ¾ Please note that the Parish Office will only be open for visitors from 9.30 am to 12 noon on Monday to Thursday.

On Fridays by appointment only. ¾ Please be aware that grass verges are extremely wet and muddy this time of year, we ask that residents refrain

from parking on them – thank you kindly. CONTACTING YOUR COUNCIL: Visit our website at arun.gov.uk/ferring E-mail your comments regarding any Village matters to: ferring-pc@btconnect.com Follow the Council on Facebook & Twitter – search for Ferring Parish Council (Facebook) @FPC (Twitter) Write to the Council at 1 Elm Park, Ferring, West Sussex BN12 5RN Read the information on the Council’s notice boards Phone the Parish Office on 01903 249449 Call at the Parish Office which is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30 to 12.00 Speak and have your say at a Council meeting

POLICE MATTERS – Is there anyone who would like to volunteer to do two hours in the Police box from 1000hrs to 1200hrs one day a week in Ferring doing various activities? All applicants will need to be vetted by the police. If you are interested please contact PCSO Paul Bryant on his works number 07785 393824.

Arun Police need your help ! Arun Neighbourhood Police teams are keen to provide the community with information on incidents and events within your area. One of the ways to do this is via Community Messaging. By signing up to the scheme you will receive emails if an incident occurs that may affect you or your community. You will also receive regular updates on on-going incidents that have a big community impact, giving you more information about what Sussex Police are doing for you. If you would like to sign up to this messaging scheme please provide your details on the form provided and return to your local Police Station or Parish Council Office. Alternatively you can send it to: Arun Neighbourhood Policing Team - Sergeant Littlehampton Police Station County Buildings East Street Littlehampton BN17 6AR You can also email us your details as below to arunnpt@sussex.pnn.police.uk ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Individual registration Name……………………………………….. Address…………………………………….. ………………………………………………. Post Code 1………………………………… Post Code 2………………………………… Post Code 3………………………………… Email: ………………………………………. The weekly messages are sent via your postcode to enable you to receive information relevant to your area/ward. If you would like messages to cover more than one area please include the relevant postcodes above. We will only use the information that you give for the purpose we describe. We will not pass this information on to anyone else unless we have your permission. Sussex Police is registered under and compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We acknowledge that many residents do not have access to email. We hold meetings which will be advertised around the wards and aim to provide regular updates and information via local publications. For those on email this information can also be viewed via the Sussex Police website.