Issue 11: August/September 2012 Q1 Q2 Q3 from Parish Council Q4

Keeping you informed of the work of the Parish Council and the community of Billingshurst

PERMISSION REFUSED greenfield house building (217 at the housing supply is a major factor in Planning Application DC/11/1654 Land last count!) is having on this village. determining applications, but East of Billingshurst for 550 Houses was Even your strategic planning officer said Billingshurst is being asked to make up dramatically refused by she could only support planning a district wide housing supply shortfall. District Council Development Control permission “subject to the comments Council has Committee on 17 July 2012. Cllr. Lesley and views of the relevant specialist succumbed to a number crunching Wilding spoke first in objection to the Council officers”. And let me remind you exercise and to date has failed to listen application in her personal capacity what those specialist officers said. to local parishioners. Is this embracing about the location of the development “Overall the impact of development on the spirit of Localism? site and its impact on the watercourse the setting of the Conservation Area is The Parish Council has been elected to running from the steep Bowling Alley likely to be negative”. “There will be a represent the parishioners of down Little East Street to the High significant adverse landscape character Billingshurst, it has listened to them, it Street and increased flood risk to the and visual impacts”. vehemently objects to this planning economic heart of Billingshurst. It’s said that a decision on this application and urges Horsham District Parish Clerk Beverley Bell spoke on application can’t wait for the outcome of Council to re-commit to the plan-led behalf of the Council and said the core strategy review and quotes approach, to focus strategic growth in ‘Parishioners have overwhelmingly CALA Homes and the Marringdean Road the most sustainable location – the objected to two previous consultations appeals. Yet, the Secretary of State, no Gatwick Diamond – and to stand up to for strategic housing development in less, disagrees. In recent decisions in the developers so keen to destroy our Billingshurst. Nothing in these plans Cornwall and Lincolnshire, he supported countryside’. changes this Council’s fundamental Councils who wanted their emerging The Council’s decision was met with vehement objection to further local plan to decide where strategic loud applause by a packed public expansion of Billingshurst. Come to growth should take place. Billingshurst and see the impact ad-hoc Planning officers have said lack of continued on page 2

1 Billingshurst Parish Council Magazine is produced four times a year by Eyelevel Publishing Stane Street Nurseries, Stane Street, , , RH20 1BQ Telephone: 01798 875525 Email: [email protected] Web: www.eyeleveldesign.co.uk

QUALITY STATUS PRESENTATION BY LORD LYTTON

The Earl of Lytton attended the annual over the last four years, and meeting of the Council in May to present congratulated the Clerk and the whole the Council with the Quality Council of her team and presented the Chairman, certificate. He said that he was awarding Vice Chairman and the Clerk with the the Council Quality Status for the second new certificate. He wished the Council time; and the receiving of this certificate every success. Cllr. Berry also expressed is the bench mark of the organization. his gratitude to the Clerk and said the The Council should be extremely proud Council would not be able to be a continued from page 1 that they have taken the Council forward Quality Council without her. gallery. There was insufficient space for everyone, so Horsham District NEW CODE OF CONDUCT interests relate to employment, office, Council had a live video feed to the trade, profession or vocation, Capitol Theatre next door for 40 more The Localism Act 2011 received Royal sponsorship, contracts, beneficial members of the public to watch the Assent last November and brought interests in land, licences to occupy proceedings. significant changes to the standards land, corporate tenancies and securities. At the time of ongoing to press, the regime that regulates the conduct of Failure to declare these interests is a Parish Council is aware that the Councillors. Billingshurst Parish Council criminal offence liable to a fine of up to developers at have asked adopted a new Code of Conduct on 11 £5,000 and disqualification from public for their planning application for 500 July 2012, having received training from office for up to five years. houses to be held in abeyance whilst the Clerk. The new Code is similar to they await HDC’s Preferred Strategy, the previous Code of Conduct and incorporates the seven Nolan principles and waits to see if the consortium of of public life: selflessness, integrity, developers follow suit, or whether they RECREATION GROUND objectivity, accountability, openness, will appeal HDC’s decision. honesty and leadership. Personal and Following problems with unauthorised Whatever happens, it is so important prejudicial interests remain, but you may access to their driveway and the that parishioners continue to respond have heard about the new disclosable adjacent public rights of way network, to every housing consultation and pecuniary interests (DPIs). A Disclosable the land owner at Five Oaks has forfeited make their views. The refusal of this Pecuniary Interest is an interest that the Parish Council’s lease of the Five application by Horsham District relates to certain interests of a member Oaks recreation ground. This piece of Council has shown that parishioners or a co-opted members or the interests land had been available as public open continued representations have been of his/her spouse or civil partner or space for many years, but is now closed heard and influenced the District person with whom he/she lives as if to the public and will no longer be Council’s decision. spouse or civil partner. The defined maintained by the Parish Council.

2 ACTIVITIES: BILLINGSHURST LEISURE CENTRE

Billingshurst Leisure Centre are pleased to be launching 2 new children’s activities this September to add to their already popular programme. Pre-school gymnastics for 3-5 year olds offers an introduction to gymnastics that improves balance and co-ordination and JUBILEE REPORT runs Saturdays 8.30am-9.15am. The Friday Fun Club is an after school club The Parish Council recorded its for 5-12 year olds and includes activities grateful thanks to Cllr. Barry Barnes, such as arts and crafts, bouncy castle his wife Hazel and Mrs Ann Rodwell and sports. Sessions run Fridays during for organising the Billingshurst term time 4.30pm-5.30pm. Call 01403 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 787500 for more information. celebrations. 300 – 400 people enjoyed the festivities at the Billingshurst Centre, hastily re- EYE PROJECT arranged due to the poor weather. The Eye Project Team attended the July meeting of the Parish Council to ask the The Council would also like to Parish Council to agree to the building of the proposed community facility on the record its thanks to the two one third of the area known as ‘the old football pitch’ and which forms part of the individual donors, the Community Station Road Gardens project. This approval would open the way for a planning Partnership, property developers application to be made and to agree with the Parish Council the appropriate legal and Anderson, Longmore and entity and leasing agreement. Higham for their financial assistance. The Parish Council also The Team played a short film to the Council about the project. The Council debated provided a grant of £491. the Eye Project Team’s request and decided to refer the request to the Council’s solicitor for advice on receipt of information requests from other statutory bodies. RESIDENTS URGED TO KEEP THEIR HOMES SECURE

Horsham District Community Safety 3. Doors and windows should be kept can be found at Partnership urges residents to keep their secure with a good quality lock to www.nhwhorsham.org.uk. homes safe from burglars. Despite being stop it being easily broken. If anyone notices someone acting one of the safest districts in the country, 4. Sheds and garages should also be suspiciously or experiences any with extremely low rates of burglary, kept secure so thieves aren’t able to suspicious callers, they should report some residents are occasionally victims, access tools or ladders to assist with it to Sussex Police – call the non which can be a very distressing a break in. emergency number 101 or call 999 experience. in an emergency. The Horsham District 5. Make sure all keys, including car keys, The vulnerability of houses to burglary Community Safety Partnership advises are hidden out of sight and that keys varies depending upon the actions of the residents to make a note of the person’s to the property aren’t left outside, occupants and residents can make their description or car registration as this such as under a plant pot. Valuables homes significantly more secure by may provide the police with useful such as passports, bank statements following some simple advice. information. and wallets should also Tips from the Horsham District be hidden away. Community Safety Partnership include the following: 6. To help keep the whole of their street safe, 1. Ensuring that the property is lit, residents can get inside and out. Burglars prefer to involved with their local operate in the dark so an outside Neighbourhood Watch automated light can act as a team. Looking out for deterrent. others’ properties means 2. Leaving lights and a radio on a timer burglars will have to in the house can give the illusion that work much harder. More someone is home so burglars are less information about likely to try and break in. Neighbourhood Watch 3 STATION ROAD GARDENS ALLOTMENTS and allocations policy. If you would like to join the waiting list for an allotment, Station Road Gardens will be closed for The Parish Council has now formally please contact the Allotments Society a period of approximately eight weeks appropriated part of the land at Manor either by email: from 01 August 2012 for the installation Fields for allotments under the Local [email protected] or of pathways and landscaping. Access Government Act 1972 s126 (4A) and is telephone: 07814 007731 will be retained to the ball court, youth delegating responsibility for the shelter and Bowling Club via Myrtle management of the Manor Fields Lane. The Friends of Station Road allotments to the Allotments Society FACEBOOK Gardens Limited have received a grant who will allocate plots in accordance of £5,000 from the County Local with the Council’s allocations policy. At The Parish Council Committee, £50,000 from BIFFA the time of going to press, the Council is has a Facebook page. Landfill tax credit. We look forward to awaiting details from the Allotments Like us to receive seeing the improvements opened in the Society of changes they would like Council updates in autumn. made to the management agreement your newsfeed.

4 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT through to find out more about what your help look after Jubilee Fields for us all to Council has been involved in, in the past enjoy, they also do a great deal to I write having being re-elected as year or so. encourage youngsters to partake in Chairman of the Council for the second I am pleased to say that the Memorandum sporting activities. I would like to pass on year. As well as electing the Chairman of of Understanding between the Parish my thanks to all involved. the Council in May each year, Chairmen of Council and Billingshurst Community I would like to offer my thanks to everyone the Councils Committees are elected at Partnership has been reinstated. The two who attended the Horsham District their May meetings too. I would like to groups are looking into working together Council planning meeting on 17th July to thank the following for taking on their to jointly produce the next five year plan speak against the application to build 550 respective roles; Cllr. Doug Rands – Vice for Billingshurst, under the guidance of homes to the east of Billingshurst. This Chairman of Council and Chairman of the Action in Rural Sussex. included our Parish Clerk, Beverley Bell, Finance and General Purposes Committee, You will notice elsewhere in the Cllr. Lesley Wilding and members of the Cllr. Barry Barnes – Chairman of the newsletter a reference to a recent grant public. I would also like to thank our Property Committee, Cllr. Dave Homer – given to the Billingshurst Sports and District Councillors who all spoke strongly Chairman of the Planning Committee and Recreation Association. I would like to against the application. The refusal to Cllr. Lesley Wilding – Chairman of the take the opportunity to congratulate the grant the application shows what can be Working Practices Committee. senior cricket and football teams for their achieved when the community pulls You will notice that the newsletter progression into higher leagues. There is together and fights its corner. includes a synopsis of the Annual Report, a hard working dedicated group of Paul Berry which I would encourage you to look volunteers who run the sports clubs and Chairman

5 RETAIL NEEDS STUDY BILLINGSHURST POLICE OFFICE

Horsham District Council appointed independent consultants POLICE OFFICE VOLUNTEERS G L Hearn and Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners to undertake the Jengers Mead and Billingshurst Retail Offer Open Monday to Friday Could you join a team Study in December 2011. The study provides a vision statement, Telephone: 01403 786881 of volunteers to provide Police Office set of key principles, a framework to guide development and PCSO Adrian Bell an action plan to show how the development objections can cover Monday to Mobile: 0752 7623074 be achieved. The study is now complete and available to view Friday 0930 – 1230 on their website and will form a background document to the Email: [email protected]. and 1430 – 1730? Horsham District Planning Framework. police.uk Please contact PCSO New Non-Emergency Police Bell for more details. GYPSY, TRAVELLER AND Telephone Number – 101 TRAVELLING SHOWPEOPLE JUBILEE FIELDS Horsham District Council are consulting on their policy Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites Preferred Options. The Parish Council has made a donation of £6,000 to the The consultation started on 06 July 2012 and ends on 31 Billingshurst Sports and Recreation Association to enable August 2012. them to purchase a tractor lawn mower to keep Jubilee Fields The consultation has two policies: tidy for all to use. • GTTS1 – Safeguarding existing sites at , Cousins Copse, South View, Five Oaks, Hillside Park, , Overflowing dog bins? Graffiti? Fly tipping? Kingfisher Farm, and The Orchard at Ashington. Dead animals in the road? Please report these by • GTTS2 – The allocation of the following pitches: 4 at telephone 01403 733144 or email: Greenfield Farm, Barns Green, 1 on land adjacent to [email protected] Greenfield Farm, Barns Green, 10 at Rowfold Nurseries, , 3 at Oaklands, , 4 at Southview, Five Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of content. Eyelevel Publishing Oaks, 1 at Oakdene, Pulborough, 1 at Parson’s Field Stables or the Parish Council cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or at Pulborough, 12 at land adjacent to Hillside Park, Small endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine. Production of the magazine relies solely on advertising revenue and is at no cost to the Parish Dole and 5 at Lane Top, Pulborough. Council or its parishioners.

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6 BILLINGSHURST BETTER BROADBAND

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY More than 4,000 of you have already backed the drive by the ‘Better FLOWER SHOW Connected’ partnership to win faster Saturday 18 August 2.30 – 5.30pm at broadband services for West Sussex. the Billingshurst Centre But we need more support especially from smaller communities in rural Classes for horticulture inc. vegetables, areas. fruit, flowers and pot plants. Log on to Most classes open to all, schedules www.westsussex.gov.uk/broadband or ROUNDABOUT TALKING available from Austens. pick up a form from your local Help Please support your local show. Point or Library. NEWSPAPER… JUBILEE FIELDS FISHING LAKE is a free weekly local news and BILLIFEST magazine service for people with visual Please remember that swimming is not impairments in Horsham & District. The Parish Council has agreed to permitted in the fishing lake, and that www.roundabouttalkingnews.co.uk provide a grant of £2,000 for the includes dogs too. Please respect our or by telephone 01403 891306 or 2012 Billifest Christmas festival. wildlife and your own safety. 01403266924.

7 BILLINGSHURST PARISH COUNCIL

Chairman: Mr Paul Berry Clerk: Mrs Beverley Bell Vice-Chairman: Mr Doug Rands Deputy Clerk: Mrs Liz Berry Assistant Clerk: Miss Jo Booth Billingshurst Parish Council Offices: Billingshurst Centre, Roman Way, Billingshurst, RH14 9QW Office Hours: 9.30am-1.00pm Monday-Thursday Other times by special appointment Tel: 01403 782555 Fax: 01403 787699 Email: [email protected] Website: www.billingshurst.gov.uk

MEETINGS 2012 PARISH COUNCILLORS

All meetings start at 7.30pm at Billingshurst Centre. Members Mr Barry Barnes 13 Carpenters, Billingshurst 01403 780660 of the public are welcome to attend. Mr Paul Berry 8 Nightingale Walk, Billingshurst 07881 825517 5th September: Parish 17th October: Trustees Mr Steve Buck 66 Arun Road, Billingshurst01403 782599 Council Meeting – Adversane Meeting Mr Garry Commins 130 Forge Way, Billingshurst 01403 780527 Hall 22nd October: Budget Sub- 6th September: Committee Mr Alan Grant Tanners Cottage, Lordings Lane, Adversane Planning and Environment 24th October: Finance and 01403 784165 Committee General Purposes Mr Roy Grantham 5 Pine Close, Billingshurst 01403 782895 Committee 10th September: Working Miss Lesley Gray Ladymead, Rd, Coneyhurst, Practices 7th November: Parish Billingshurst 07954 249296 19th September: Property Council Meeting Mrs Valerie Gray32 Arun Road, Billingshurst 07926 385715 Committee 8th November: Planning and Mr David Hart 5 Rosier Way, Billingshurst 01403 782533 26th September: Finance Environment Committee and General Purposes 12th November: Working Mr Dave Homer 24 Coombe Hill, Billingshurst 01403 782824 Committee Practices Mr Paul Leaney 11 Rowan Drive, Billingshurst 01403 783812 3rd October: Parish Council 19th November: Budget Sub- Mr Ken Longhurst The Brier Patch, Marringdean Road, Meeting Committee Billingshurst 01403 784039 4th October: Planning and 20th November: Station Mr Roy Margetts 47 Coombe Hill, Billingshurst 01403 784487 Environment Committee Road Gardens Committee 10th October: Property 21st November: Property Mr Doug Rands 62 Arun Road, Billingshurst 01403 783551 Committee Committee Mrs Lesley Wilding 26 Carpenters, Billingshurst 01403 783192 BILL 0812 8