2017 FVRA ANNUAL NEWSLETTER

www.findonvalley.org Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us

Come along to our Annual General Meeting on Friday, 7 April, A registered charity in 7.15pm for 7.30pm at Findon Valley Free Church, England and Wales Lime Tree Avenue, Findon Valley BN14 0DT Reg. No. 267009 TO ALL FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS 31/3/2017 difficult if not impossible. Also thanks to Helen Higgins, although no longer a committee member, who Chairman – Maggie Winter stepped in to collect subscriptions on the 9 roads we I would like to extend an invitation to all who live and currently do not have street collectors for. Lastly I work in the Valley to attend our AGM on Friday 7th would also like to thank all the members who paid April (details above). This is your opportunity to meet either at the Findon Valley Post Office or directly into and discuss with committee members the issues which the FVRA bank account. Approximately 50% of the concern you so that we can best represent your 2016 subscriptions were paid this way easing the work interests and keep the Valley the lovely area which load on our small band of street collectors. Please we all enjoy. I must thank the committee for their consider paying your 2017 subscriptions this way. For unfailing support throughout the year and especially those of you who like stats, as at 31 December 2016 offer a warm welcome to new members, Clive we had 1230 residences on our membership Sanders, Treasurer, Jeff Swann, Highways Environment database showing an increase of 95 on 2015 despite Officer and Ruth Whiddon, Vale School Liaison Officer. 62 members leaving due to ill health or moving out of It is only by volunteering their time and skills that our the Valley. Finally I would ask anyone who has a few committee can fulfil your expectations which is why I hours to spare once a year to consider volunteering appeal to those of you who have a little time to give as a street collector, if you are interested please call to step forward and join our happy band. We really 07757 703127 or email [email protected]. do need extra hands to spread the workload and to inject new blood into our future. You will all be aware Website/Publicity – Alex Clouter that there is less funding from local authorities for Last year saw an amazing growth in people using our maintenance and new innovations which puts the website, accessing info like FVRA activities, local onus on local communities to take the initiative to events and news, scams updates reported by improve their environment. Our future is in your hands. Neighbourhood Watch and the police, Vale School The building of 2 new bus shelters in the Valley is such newsletters, the photo archives and useful web links to an example and volunteers are needed to maintain key councils’ departments. 2016 was the first year to them. Finally I would like to say a big thank you to have a regular FVRA feature in the monthly ‘Sussex Rene Hardman who is stepping down from the Local’ magazine, ensuring everyone is aware of us as committee but is continuing as an FVRA volunteer. a Residents’ Association and what we do to benefit Valley residents. There were two local competitions Treasurer – Clive Sanders during 2016 to involve local residents with the intention This is my first year as Treasurer and I am indebted to of building community spirit. We had a front garden Jim Booth and his team of road collectors who have competition sponsored by Michael Jones and a ensured that we remain financially solvent. The monthly photo competition sponsored by Jacobs membership fees collected through the Post Office Steel. There was also a successful Charity Fun Dog and bank account standing orders has increased Show held in June, thanks to dog owners Pat Eves, significantly this year, which is great news as it reduces Geoff & Lynn Raynsford and some friends who the burden on the street collectors. The fee (currently organised it, with FVRA support. As a result of all these £1/£2) is the prime source of income for the initiatives, and promoting our other achievements, association and has remained the same since well we’ve had extensive publicity in the local media and before 2001, so I do hope that the membership will Street Life. We’re looking to carry on with these events support the proposal for a small increase at the AGM, for 2017 so look out for updates via our website or if to enable the committee to continue their sterling you have not registered to sign up to the regular FVRA work on behalf of the community. The 2016 Dog Show enewsletter please email [email protected]. was a great success again, which enabled the organisers and the FVRA to make a donation of Vale School – Ruth Whiddon £1,001 to PAWS Animal Sanctuary. Our final year-end In September last year I took on the post of FVRA accounts statement will be audited and presented at School Liaison Officer for Vale School. Since then I the 2017 AGM. have had meetings with the Headteacher Martin Garrett and the Business Manager Hilary Carpenter. I Membership – Jim Booth have now gained my DBS certificate so that I can I have now completed my first year as your help out within the school. Mr Russell, the School membership secretary and would like to take this Bursar, had the responsibility for assisting me and opportunity to say a big thanks to the membership helping me with the paperwork. It is early days for me subscription road collectors, without whom this job is but I feel it is important to bring Findon Valley residents 1

and the Vale School together with various initiatives A27 Working Group - Throughout the last year I have over the school year. If you have anything that you continued to represent the FVRA on the A27 Working would like me to discuss with the school please email Group. Minutes from these meetings are available to [email protected]. view either by clicking onto the link on the FVRA website or by going directly to www.timloughton.com Arts & Crafts – Maureen Denton In November 2016, our 2 MPs and Working Group We continued to support Link to Hope’s shoebox Chairman Tom Wye were due to meet with Highways appeal last year with the Crafts Group knitting and England (HE) to demand answers to the plethora of crocheting a huge amount of scarves, hats and mitts unanswered questions posed by the group since and sewing needlework cases. This continues in 2017 February 2016 and at the Open Meeting held at the alongside a new charity: Worthing Churches Homeless Pavilion in October 2016. A report back is due at the Projects so if you have any clothes or homeware March meeting. We currently await HE report on their goods to donate for WCHP please call me on 01903 feasibility study which was due for completion in Nov 872004 or email [email protected]. The same 2016 followed by public consultation in spring 2017 but applies to our need for any wool, cottons, needles, this timing now seems unlikely. In the meantime the pins or materials to help us make useful gifts to help FVRA view is that we would support a road that allows the needy. Our Arts Group is a broad mix of people through traffic to avoid Worthing, improvements of using all kinds of paint to produce some beautiful the key pinch points, press for measures to reduce artwork who love to share their skills and experiences congestion and pollution on the A24 through the to newcomers! They take part in exhibitions that valley and seek guarantees to ensure safe passage occasionally happen in the local library. Our groups for all users across and along the A27. These are the are held in FV Free Church on Mondays and key points but we need HE to declare their hand in Saturdays, 2-4pm, entry is £2 per session. I extend my order to challenge or support their recommendations. thanks to everyone who has supported us so far and I would urge you all to attend the public consultation we always like to welcome new like-minded people! exercise when it is announced.

Environment – Rene Hardman Highways Environment – Jeff Swann Once again 2016 saw our efforts to improve and After last year's AGM and a subsequent discussion enhance the natural beauty of the Gallops and Bost with the committee I decided to apply for the position Hill areas continue. We have developed a good of Environmental Officer. With my transport working relationship with Worthing Council Parks and background it was decided that my responsibilities Open Spaces department and both their officers and would be for safety on and upkeep of highways, a small group of resident volunteers have sown wild pavements, byways and transport within the Valley. flower seeds and cut and raked the beginnings of a I am currently in contact with the local and county new meadow at Bost Hill. There were more trees council and our councillors and Sussex Police on a planted including our 80th Anniversary Oak which range of issues including: road safety, refreshing road seems to be flourishing. This is just beyond the Bost Hill markings/signs and inconsiderate parking as well as car park so do have a look at it. We thank Kenny vehicles offered for sale on the highway, repairs to Malley for arranging to dig the hole for the tree and footpaths, shared footpath safety and extending the carpentry department at the Camelia Botnar cycle routes to Findon Village and the Downs and Foundation for making and carving the plaque. Each byways access and safety. I am also in in discussion year we do a walk-round of the Gallops with Worthing with the police concerning reductions in speed limits Council to review the area so that we can flag up on the A24 and excessive speeding in other roads. maintenance issues and suggest improvements. Hopefully there will be some positive outcomes to Finally, the new children's playground was opened. some if not all of these issues in due course. We hope that 2017 will see the installation of an outdoor gym so there will be no excuse for not being Proposed Executive Committee for 2017 fit! Although I will be stepping down from the Chairman Maggie Winter committee this year, I will still be an FVRA volunteer so Vice Chairman Alex Clouter please do come and join The Valley Moles to help us Treasurer Clive Sanders with all things horticultural. Please email me at Secretary VACANCY [email protected]. Membership Secretary Jim Booth General Committee members Planning/A27 Working Group – Maggie Winter Arts and Crafts Maureen Denton Planning - In July 2016, I represented residents at Highways Environment Jeff Swann County Hall in respect of plans for the installation of a Nature and Conservation VACANCY new sports pitch at the Vale School. Concerns had Planning and A27 Maggie Winter been raised by neighbours living adjacent to the Publicity Alex Clouter school over the extensive hours/days of use with loss Community Events VACANCY of privacy and increased disturbance. Ultimately a Vale School Liaison Ruth Whiddon compromise was reached and work is now nearing Website Jim Booth completion. As usual there have been various planning applications relating to individual residents where we have been able to offer both advice and support as appropriate. 2

2016 FVRA ANNUAL NEWSLETTER

Come along to our Annual General Meeting on Friday, 8 April, 7.15pm for 7.30pm at Findon Valley Free Church, Lime Tree Avenue, Findon Valley BN14 0DT

TO ALL FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS

31 March 2016

Chairman’s Report – Ron Merriman Once again we are coming to the end of another hope to be involved in more activities of this nature. year in the FVRA calendar and unfortunately my third I would like to take the opportunity of advising you and last year as your Chairman. During the last year that I have to step down from my position on the Rene Hardman has joined us and many of you will FVRA committee. It is unfortunate as I love the work I have noticed new trees have been planted on The do but I will be glad to help the person who comes Gallops thanks to Barrie and Rene. A welcome forward to be the new School Liaison Officer in any addition to the committee is Jim Booth who has been way I can. I will be continuing to help with the road working most of the year helping Helen Higgins collections as I am an advocate of the FVRA and modernise our membership information database. I what they voluntarily do to help everyone for the sake have no doubt that without Helen’s hard work to of the Valley community spirit and our beautiful ensure our income, via membership subscriptions, surroundings. remained constant year after year, the FVRA’s future would be bleak. On behalf of all of us, thank you Highways/Planning Report – Maggie Winter Helen for all your efforts. Finally, I would like to thank all A27 The big issue looming on the near horizon is the the committee members for their total support during planned upgrading of the A27 by Highways England. my time as Chairman; I will always treasure your £100million has been allocated for A27 improvements friendship. On behalf of all the committee I wish you from Cote Street in the west to the Lancing/Shoreham all a happy and prosperous 2016 airport junction in the east. This includes all compulsory purchase orders for homes and businesses and Treasury Report – Ron Merriman construction work. Work is expected to start in March This has been my third and last year as acting 2020. Options are firstly, the type of carriageway i.e. a Treasurer and I am pleased that Clive Sanders will be 70mph expressway (unlikely) or a 50mph dual road, standing for election as Treasurer. Once again I am with limited access points, followed by options to indebted to Helen and her team of road collectors consider what type of junctions at the main ‘pinch who have ensured that we remain financially solvent. points’ would be most effective. The impact of such a Unfortunately my fears in my report at last year’s AGM road will be widely felt by us all in one way or another. materialised and because of a shortage of volunteers I represent the FVRA on the A27 Working Group and coming forward to help, we were unable to hold our will do my best to ensure that we get the best deal for Christmas event in 2015 thus we were unable to make residents and businesses in the Valley, but I do need our usual donation to the Chestnut Tree Children’s to hear your thoughts on this subject. The FVRA have Hospice. Our final year-end accounts statement has joined with other residents' groups to form the Adur been audited and will be presented at the 2016 AGM. and Worthing Residents' Alliance with the intention of holding a public meeting so that we can best inform Vale School Report – Karen Fullwood you and you can voice your views on this very Last summer saw The Vale School actually reduce in important matter. Bus Shelters As WBC no longer have the number of pupils attending following a change to funding for new bus shelters, an application to WSCC bring Worthing schools in line with the vast majority of Community Initiative Fund has been made for the schools throughout the country with the age of cost of materials to build 2 new shelters. Building will transfer being reduced to 11. The reduction of be carried out by volunteers if we are successful. The approximately 70 students has meant that the school shelters, to be located opposite Downside Ave and at has been able to re-evaluate the use of its space and the bottom of Central Ave, will then belong to the they are currently undergoing some building work that FVRA which means we will be responsible for will improve the access for people with disabilities. The maintaining them. So more volunteers for this please. school continues to support the FVRA where possible This is a similar arrangement to one we have with and a great example of this is when the school WSCC for the gritting bins in the Valley. The Gallops I gardening club took up the challenge of assisting the have been advised that work on the children’s new FVRA to plant sapling trees donated by The play area will begin in spring 2016, and the path from Woodland Trust on The Gallops. Considering the rotten The Gallops to the Quarry will be upgraded as soon as weather conditions on the day the gardening club the ground dries out. Contact details for me: enjoyed their afternoon of tree planting and they [email protected] / 01903 263038

Membership Report – Helen Higgins locality or have not got around to sign up please Hello all, well it's time for me to hand in my badge and email [email protected] now! We’ve had superb to thank you all for your support in my work as FVRA publicity in Worthing Herald, The Argus and Sussex Membership Secretary these past few years. I Local last year and this will continue in 2016. We have particularly thank you for the support of our also used FVRA posters on community notice boards committee and of the membership subscription road throughout all Worthing libraries plus those in garden collectors, without whom this job is just impossible. centres, superstores, community centres and However, time moves on and we are trying to get you churches to promote our activities. Online we have an to pay your subs at the post office or by bank FVRA page on Street Life community forum set up last standing order/bank transfer by the 31 March each year. STOP PRESS… our Charity Fun Dog Show takes year. Hopefully then the road collections will be place on Sunday, 26 June at The Gallops; more up to much lighter as with such a healthy membership it date info via www.findonvalley.org nearer the time. was proving rather a difficult task to cover all the houses by door-to-door collection. Last year Jim Booth Arts & Crafts Report – Maureen Denton joined me as Database Officer and has been helping During 2015 we have been supporting Link to Hope me with my tasks. Jim is a bit of a whiz kid with and their shoebox appeal by sewing, crocheting and computers and has already made a significant knitting items like hats, scarves, mittens, soft toys, etc. positive change for our reports. Just so that you know, to fill these shoeboxes. We will be continuing this for as at 31 December 2015 we had 1135 residents on our Link to Hope this year and in addition we will be membership database and 78 new members joined supporting the homeless ex-service people (‘Where the FVRA during last year. Finally I would like to let you do I belong?’ homeless veterans) by supplying good know that Jim is going to stand for election for second-hand clothes that have been donated from Membership Secretary at this AGM. If anyone would local residents alongside woollen accessories the like to help Jim in sorting out the street packs issued to crafts group make. Also in 2015 we had the our collectors please call Jim on 07757 703127 or email opportunity for the art group to display their pictures [email protected] for a coffee morning at Findon Valley Free Church as part of an art exhibition for local parishioners after a Environment Report – Barrie Compton Sunday service. This went down very well and we are 2015 was the year when our plans to improve the look keen to do this again in 2016. Our groups are held in and surroundings of Findon Valley started happening! two function rooms of the Free Church, Saturdays and In autumn last year we initiated our campaign to Mondays, 2-4pm at £2 per session for Saturday and £3 bring colour and new growth of plants to The Gallops per session on Monday. So if you have any type of by contacting Worthing Council of our plans and as a wool (small or large amounts), sewing accessories, result we were able to have an area dedicated to a materials of any kind and good second-hand clothing wide range of wild flowers. We have also liaised with you wish to donate for us to help others, please call The Woodland Trust in obtaining a variety of young me on 01903 872004 or email [email protected]. trees and had the help of Vale School’s Gardening Now that you know where and when, please feel free Club to plant them once myself and Rene Hardman, to just come along and see what we’re all about, who’s part of the FVRA team, had dug all the holes! whether you want to see fine artists painting away or There are many photos on the FVRA website for you to keen enthusiasts working on their latest craft projects! see what we have achieved for the benefit of everyone. In addition we also have an ongoing Election of 2016 FVRA Committee review of The Gallops and Bost Hill with the Council to The people below are to be proposed for re-election ensure the area and its amenities – paths, benches, in 2016 at the forthcoming AGM: litter bins and the playground – are well looked after. Chairman – Maggie Winter We are planning more trees for The Gallops during the Vice Chair – Alex Clouter spring of 2016 as well as a special oak tree to Treasurer – Clive Sanders celebrate the FVRA’s 80th anniversary. Reluctantly I Secretary – Vacancy have decided to step down from my position as Membership Secretary – Jim Booth Environment Officer, due to a change of personal Assistant Membership Officer – Vacancy circumstances. However I am happy to help with any Planning/Highways Liaison Officer – Maggie Winter handover with the person who decides to come Environmental Officer – Vacancy forward to take on this role. Assistant Environmental Officer – Rene Hardman Vale School Liaison Officer – Vacancy Website/Publicity Report – Alex Clouter Website/Publicity Officer – Alex Clouter The ‘traffic’ of people visiting and using our website Arts & Crafts Group Officer – Maureen Denton last year is an all-time high since we started recording Social/Events Liaison Officer – Vacancy this information in 2009. Last year we had 36, 501 visits from people, 22% higher than 2014 and 8% more than our previous record of 33,793 in 2013. We have managed to add more pages like Findon Valley History, Interesting F.V. People, the Photo Archive and Beauty of the Valley, all adding new perspectives to your website. There is our regular newsletter emailed to 693 people across the Valley so if you’re new to our

2015 FVRA ANNUAL NEWSLETTER

www.findonvalley.org Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us A registered charity in England and Wales – reg. no. 267009

TO ALL FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS 28/2/2015 work we do both for you the residents and the charities we support would happen. I express my We welcome all residents to come to our Annual sincere thanks to all of you road collectors. General Meeting taking place on Friday, 20 March , Once again I was pleased to serve as Treasurer of the 7.15 for a prompt 7.30pm start , at Vale School, Vale Spirit of Christmas event under the skilful Chairmanship Avenue, Findon Valley, BN14 0DB . What follows are of Maggie Winter, and once again in partnership with individual reports from FVRA Committee members on the Vale School we raised the fantastic sum of the voluntary work they have done during 2014. £2507.79 for the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. It never ceases to amaze me how so few Election of 2015 FVRA Committee people on her committee can do so much, but like The people below are to be proposed for re-election the main committee, without an injection of new in 2015 at the forthcoming AGM: energetic people all this is at risk. Chairman – Ron Merriman The accounts for the year will soon be ready to be Secretary – Vacancy/Alex & Maggie* audited and will be presented at the AGM Vice Chair – Alex Clouter & Maggie Winter In closing may I on behalf of the FVRA committee, Treasurer – Vacancy/Ron Merriman* wish you all a very happy and prosperous year. Membership Secretary – Helen Higgins Planning Liaison Officer – Maggie Winter Membership Report – Helen Higgins Vale School Liaison Officer – Karen Fullwood Hi all. Thanks for your continued support of our solid Findon C&FC Liaison Officer – Maureen Denton membership of Findon Valley Residents’ Association. Webmaster/Communications Officer – Alex Clouter At the end of 2014 we have 1,262 FVRA members. I Environment Officer – Barrie Compton believe we are all so lucky to live in this beautiful Neighbourhood Police Panel Rep – Maggie Winter valley and as an organisation we, your elected Arts & Crafts Event Officer – Maureen Denton committee, work hard to maintain and where possible Social & Events Liaison Officer - Vacancy improve our facilities, our ongoing community contact Christmas Event Chairman – Maggie Winter and outside influences. I am shouting loud and clear *Currently caretaking the vacant position. If you are for you all to hear that we need more folks to interested in applying for these positions or the other volunteer their time to collect subscriptions this year. I vacancy please read the last section on page 2 of also need someone who can assist me with the this newsletter. membership job. I am aiming for more hands making lighter work! Please don't be shy! Contact me either at Chairman/Treasury Report – Ron Merriman [email protected] or call 01903 872992! We are now coming to the end of another year in the Also Alex does a great job with emails once a FVRA calendar and my second year as your fortnight to keep our members who have signed up to Chairman. For me it has been an honour to be able to receive our enewsletter, so when you pay your subs work with a fantastic group of people who are on our this year, at the door of your home or the post office, committee. This year we have been very fortunate to please give us your e-mail address and keep up to have two additions join us mid-term. Karen Fullwood date of the latest FVRA news! has been brilliant as Acting School Liaison Officer and Barrie Compton has been making Maggie Winter’s life Website/Communications Report – Alex Clouter a lot easier as Acting Environment Officer. It is I am pleased to report that our website traffic unfortunate we are still very short handed and we are remained very strong throughout 2014: total visits to still urgently in need of a Treasurer and a Secretary. the site = 29,387, total page views = 36,265 and total Both these posts will become very crucial in the ‘hits’ = 81,795. Despite the shortfalls on views/visits on survival of the FVRA in the coming year. 2013, it’s encouraging to see that the number of hits – After a considerably long time trying to persuade the measuring the number of times people click on local councils to put a bench at the north end of documents, links and pictures – shows a healthy King’s Parade the committee decided to do it increase of +16%. This identifies more use of our themselves. We commissioned the Camelia Botnar website by the slightly fewer visitors we have. Since we Foundation to make one to our specification and I have started to report on our web activity (2010), this hope those of you who have used it, approve of it. year’s ‘hits’ figure is an all-time high. Other significant This has been my second year as Treasurer and as years were 2010 (72,049) and 2013 (70,461). The Top 5 usual it has been very busy financially and once again most popular web pages were Community Watch, I am indebted to Helen and her team of shorthanded Local News, FVRA Events, Local/Regional Events and and overworked collectors. Without them, none of the For All The Right Reasons. Our fortnightly enewsletter 1

now goes out to almost 750 households from those and passed to Adur-WBC who finally transferred who have registered their email addresses. If you enforcement in October to NSL on street parking have not already signed up, please email me at enforcement. [email protected] as soon as you can. If you have I hope that you now find the 3 disabled bays are recently changed email address, do let me know and useful and that the loading bay has in some small kindly advise your old one as a reference please. measure helped to improve road safety on the A24. Our publicity behind the recent Spirit of Christmas We continue to request repainting of road markings event as well as the Fun Dog Show in the early on the A24 and continue to press for a 30mph summer certainly added higher FVRA profile in the restriction on the A24. local press, regional magazines as well as on local An application has been made for a bus shelter radio! Our latest press release sent out to the local opposite Downside Ave and we are “on the waiting media highlights what the FVRA achieved for the list”. local community last year; this can also be seen on Following the annual inspection of The Gallops, with the website. We also strive to keep a regular spot in officers from Adur-WBC Parks Department, a report Sussex Local magazine with FVRA news updates. was submitted for agreed maintenance and Alongside our noticeboard outside the library, we improvements. Due to reduced funding and staff continue to keep everyone in the Valley regularly reductions it was apparent that not all required work informed about what we are doing and advance could be carried out unless the local community notice of things coming up in every way we can, would like to have some input. Are there any online as well as printed for those not on Internet! volunteers willing to help us? An area has also been identified as a potential wild Vale School Report – Karen Fullwood flower meadow which is well away from the general I would like to take this opportunity to introduce walking area. myself, my name is Karen and I have lived in the The children's play area is due for a complete Valley for 7 years. I decided to join the FVRA in order upgrade in 2015 therefore we agreed that basic to give something back to my local community and maintenance should be carried out in the interim. help influence some of the key local issues. I am really pleased that we now have on the With a child at the local school I felt that the position committee Barrie Compton, an environmental as The Vale School Liaison Officer was something I enthusiast, who will be taking on this role for the FVRA. could take on. In the few months I have been Finally we continue to represent residents with regard involved with the FVRA I have really enjoyed working to planning applications and we have made a with the team at The Vale to identify ways that the submission in respect of the application for change of FVRA and school can work more closely together and use at Vale House/Findon Court in response to make a real difference to the local community. concerns of some residents. If you have anything that you would like me to discuss In my capacity organising ‘Spirit of Christmas’ we with the school please contact me by email at raised an amazing £2,507.79 which, when added to [email protected] Thank you. previous years’ fundraising, totals over £10,000 for the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. A big thank Arts & Crafts Report – Maureen Denton you to the hardworking committee who helped make We are gradually getting more craft people coming this happen along to the Monday group. We used to have around You can contact me on [email protected] or 15-16 ‘arts’ people attending but during last year this telephone 01903 263038. has dropped to 10-12. I am now encouraging more ‘crafts’ people to come on Mondays, as this is held in Forthcoming FVRA Events in 2015 the church hall, and so far we have 2-3 ‘crafty’ ladies. Charity Quiz Night: April/May – date TBA So if you want to share or learn a new craft and Fun Dog Show: 14 June, The Gallops you’re busy on Saturday, you are most welcome on ‘Live Music!’ Event: Sept/Oct – date TBA Monday and we do have a few men! Our Saturday Spirit of Christmas: 4 December, King’s Parade group has grown during the year and we average 12- Check out www.findonvalley.org for new updates! 16 each week. The venue is Findon Valley Free Church, every Saturday/Monday from 2-4pm, £2/£3 Vacancies on the FVRA Committee respectively per session. Treasurer * A shoe box appeal for Blythswood Care and Link to Secretary* Hope… we need wool, any amount, thick or thin yarn, Social & Events Liaison Secretary so that we can knit many gift items to fill shoe boxes Membership Database Records Officer for these 2 charities. I am happy to collect, so please Committee Members call me on 01903 872004 or come along to one of our *Nominations for these positions on our Committee groups on Mondays or Saturdays. must be supported by another person seconding the nomination, and be received by the FVRA Secretary Planning/Environment Report – Maggie Winter by Friday, 6 March 2015. This can be done either by My optimism regarding the TRO's reported on in the post to 5 Vale Drive, Findon Valley BN14 0DD or by 2013 newsletter was short lived as although the traffic email to [email protected] regulation order was approved by the WSCC County People interested in the other positions need to Local Committee in December 2013 it took until contact Ron Merriman on 01903 872251 or by email to September 2014 before Highways signed off the order [email protected] 2

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Findon Valley Residents’ Association at All Saints’ Church Hall on Friday 4 April, 7.15 for 7.30pm

A registered charity in England and www.findonvalley.org Wales – reg. no. 267009 Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us

TO ALL FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS 28/2/2014 and as a result we smashed last year’s record and raised £2453.21 for the Chestnut Tree House Children’s 2013 was my first year in being the duly elected Hospice. Chairman of the FVRA and what follows are the The accounts for the year will soon be ready to be reports from our committee members who voluntarily audited and will be presented at the AGM work for the interests of you, our local residents. I am appreciative of all they do and each person will be Vale School/C&FC Report – Iona Harte present at our forthcoming AGM for you to have the It has been one long year for the Vale School with the chance to meet and talk to them. It would be great building work that finished on time for the start of the to see new faces come forward and assist in reducing new school year in September 2013. The FVRA the dual roles some committee members have, committee amongst other distinguished guests were because the fact is, we do not have the luxury of any invited to the official opening of the school and tours backup for the required positions in our association of the school were offered by very polite and very and if we lose one of those important committee knowledgeable Year 7's. members, all the good work of the past years would The FVRA Spirit of Christmas event was again very be wasted and the FVRA would cease to exist. popular with the school children and there was a Although we are already a few months into 2014, we fantastic performance from the Vale School Year 2 all wish you a happy, healthy and successful new Choir. The children in Years 3 and 4 had a stall and this year. was full of wonderful button and puzzle Christmas decorations which were sold and raised £368.06 for Ron Merriman, Chairman Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. There was also a WSCC consultation in which all Election of 2014 FVRA Committee parents of all schools could have a say. This was The people below are to be proposed for re-election about all primary schools in the Worthing Area in 2014 at the AGM: teaching only up to Year 6 and children would go to Chairman – Ron Merriman High School for Year 7. The results of this consultation Secretary – Iona Harte have not yet been published. Vice Chair – Alex Clouter & Maggie Winter Treasurer – Vacancy/Ron Merriman* Membership Report – Helen Higgins Membership Secretary – Helen Higgins Hello All! Helen Higgins your membership secretary Planning/Environment Liaison Officer – Maggie Winter here to give you the low down on the last year. First of School/C&FC Liaison Officer – Vacancy/Iona Harte* all, a great big thank you to all the door to door street Webmaster/Communications Officer – Alex Clouter collectors who make the whole of this association Neighbourhood Police Panel Rep – Maggie Winter possible, I trust that the free exercise did you good, Arts & Crafts Event Officer – Maureen Denton and that you enjoyed the chatter with the *These people are caretaking the vacant position householders of our lovely valley. That’s what it is all and if you are interested in applying for either post about! Our lovely Findon Valley! Keeping the valley please refer to the last section on page 2 of this delightful is not a done deal, we have to work to keep newsletter. it that way and that is what FVRA is all about! 2013 The FVRA is very keen to encourage other interested saw our membership grow to 1,285, slightly higher people who may wish to be more involved by than our reported 1,243 at the end of 2012. attending Committee meetings in a general We gained 42 new members this year and Alex's fine capacity. If you want to come along or find out more work on the web keeps more and more of you in please contact Ron on 01903 872251. touch with the current events and issues. Our charity events during the year have all been enjoyed and Treasury Report – Ron Merriman beneficial to the nominated local charities. What This year has been a very busy year financially and more can I say? We are always looking for more once again I am indebted to Helen and our people to be actively involved in the FVRA and wonderful team of collectors. Although the always need more collectors for as little or more time committee is seen to be at the helm, without the you can enjoy giving. Thanks for reading! Please email collectors we could not exist. Thank you all. [email protected] or speak to me after the AGM to sign up. Once again I was honoured to be able to serve as treasurer with the Spirit of Christmas sub committee. How I wish we could persuade some of them to join us Planning/Environment Report – Maggie Winter on the main committee. Their enthusiasm under the At long last WSCC Highways have finally processed skilful chairmanship of Maggie Winter was so infectious the TROs (Traffic Regulation Orders) that we have 1 been pressing for to improve King's Parade and the The FVRA enewsletter is now emailed out to 530 two slip roads at the bottom of Vale Drive. households across Findon Valley, a record high! It is You may have seen the splodges of yellow paint despatched fortnightly until the end of March and which by the time you read this report should have then will become weekly throughout the April – become reality. It is hard to believe that we first September period. If you are a new or existing FVRA requested this 7 years ago. member and not yet receiving our enewsletter, There will be 3 disabled parking bays along the please email [email protected] to sign up – it’s Parade, located outside the PO/Tesco/Curtis and a part of your FVRA membership package (if you have part of the A24 lay-by opposite Tesco will become a an email address and access to the Internet) when loading bay thus helping to alleviate the danger to you pay the annual subscription! southbound traffic having to negotiate delivery vehicles parked on the road. Arts & Crafts Group – Maureen Denton The parking restrictions at the bottom of Vale Drive will Thanks to the FVRA Committee we opened the door be brought into line with those on King's Parade to our Arts & Crafts Group last June and our members allowing customers easier access to the businesses have steadily increased to between 10-15 members and safer deliveries to Shaz restaurant. each week. We are now at the consultation stage regarding Also in September we stepped in to save the Monday proposals to improve the traffic problems around the Art Group from closing. Now under the FVRA name, Vale School and are hopeful that by the time of the their numbers are around 16-18 each week. AGM we will have some positive news on this front. We look forward to continuously expanding the group We continue to lobby for repainting of road markings with new members as we now have publicity in all along the A24 online Sussex event diaries. We are very friendly and Following discussions with the Parks Department a list supportive in both groups and our policy is to learn of repairs and maintenance was drawn up for The and share art and craft skills with each other. Gallops. Although some work was done in the early However, because we are self-funding and non-profit autumn there are still outstanding tasks on the list such making we have been able to raise sufficient funds to as replacement seats and repair and maintenance of enable us to develop both groups in the future and the play area. Please do advise me if you notice finance demonstrations of new crafts. anything that needs attention, be it on the Gallops or You are welcome to come along on Mondays and elsewhere in the Valley. Saturdays, between 2-4pm at FV Free Church to see This last year several residents approached us what we are all about. For more information you can disappointed about the state of the two ornamental call me on 01903 872004. planters on King's Parade. Early in 2013 we reached an agreement with WSCC and WBC that the FRVA FVRA Events can have ownership of these planters and a contract During 2013 we ran a number of social events after was agreed with Ferring Nurseries that they will plant the March AGM. Helen successfully ran a Quiz Night and maintain them on a seasonal basis. Similarly we at the Valley Bar to raise money for WADARS. Ron and are hoping to take over the maintenance and Alex organised the Valley Variety Showstoppers at All planting of the bed between the Library and the bus Saints’ Church Hall to help support St. Barnabas stop, so we will be looking for a few willing helpers if Hospice with a raffle ticket entry and the kind help of this is comes to fruition. Southern Co-operative Funeralcare donating a We continue to help and advise residents on food/wine hamper as the top prize. Then along King’s individual matters relating to planning applications, Parade on 6 December we had the FVRA Spirit of environmental health matters, damage to the street Christmas late night shopping and community event, scene fixtures and fittings and any issues that are of with all proceeds going to the Chestnut Tree House concern which affect you and the general ambiance Children’s Hospice. All these events in total raised of the Valley. £2600 for the supported charities. Look out for some Please e-mail me on [email protected] or new social events for 2014 alongside our popular Quiz telephone 01903 263038. Night and our traditional Christmas event! Visit our noticeboard outside the library or see our website Website/Communications Report – Alex Clouter www.findonvalley.org for new updates. 2013 proved to be a highly active and record year for the level of traffic to the FVRA website as the following Vacancies on the FVRA Committee figures show: Treasurer * - Total number of visits by people: 33,793 School/Children & Family Centre Liaison Officer - Total page views by visitors: 40,914 Assistant Secretary - Total hits (clicking activity): 70,461 Membership Database Records Officer The 2013 Top Five web pages were Community Committee Members Watch, Local News, Local Public Events, FVRA Social *Nominations for this position on our Committee must Events and Charity Events/Petitions. During the year be supported by another person seconding the new web pages were created for the popular Arts & nomination, and be received by the FVRA Secretary Crafts Group and our two charity events that took by 25 March 2014. This can be done either by post to 2 place: our Variety Show and ‘Spirit of Christmas’ plus a Hurston Close, Findon Valley BN14 0AX or by email to new look to other pages like the Sussex Walks, history/ [email protected] photographic archive and ‘Today’s Findon Valley’, a People interested in the other positions need to photo album of the shops/businesses and people contact Ron Merriman on 01903 872251 or by email to along our ‘hub’ King’s Parade. [email protected]

2

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Findon Valley Residents’ Association at All Saints’ Church Hall on Friday 15 March 2013, 7.15 for 7.30pm

Designed by Anna Campbell, www.findonvalley.org aged 11, from Vale School. Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us

TO ALL FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS 19/2/2013 Membership Report – Helen Higgins 2012 was a successful year bringing our year-end We look forward to meeting you at our AGM, the membership to a new total of 1,243. This is 43% higher details of which are at the top of this newsletter. This than 2011 when we reported a figure of 870. During meeting gives you the opportunity to hear of the the year we saw a high number of new members FVRA activities that took place during 2013 and then joining the FVRA, which is always great to see. We had the chance to ask questions or raise any ‘burning’ a wide range of social events for the Valley to enjoy issues to the FVRA as well as to Tim Loughton, our local during 2012, raising funds for local charities… what a MP, and the councillors. grand community we are! With Doug Jull having stepped down, I have come We propose that 2013 membership subscriptions forward to take on the role as Acting Chairman until remain unchanged at £2 per household and £1 for myself and the rest of the FVRA Executive Committee single occupancy. We will start visiting people asking are voted and endorsed at this year’s AGM. I look for subscriptions soon after the AGM, where road forward to meeting as many of you as possible if not collector packs will be available and subscriptions for there, then at other FVRA gatherings during 2013. 2013 may be paid. We still need more collectors to I would like to convey, on behalf of my colleagues, help us with some roads that will be outlined during our appreciation of your continued support and wish the AGM. you a sincerely happy and healthy New Year. Big thanks to our current collectors who have been brilliant. Please, if you able… step forward! Many Ron Merriman, Acting Chairman hands make light work. Thank you for all your support, continued and new FVRA members alike, and in so Election of 2013 FVRA Executive Committee doing helping to keep this Valley of ours as lovely as it The people below are to be proposed for re-election always is. in 2013 at the AGM: Please email [email protected] or speak Chairman – Ron Merriman to me after the AGM to sign up. Secretary – Iona Harte Vice Chair – Alex Clouter & Maggie Winter Website Report – Alex Clouter Treasurer – Vacancy/Ron Merriman* Our website continued to evolve during 2012 with Membership Secretary – Helen Higgins more information than ever before alerting everyone Planning/Environment Liaison Officer – Maggie Winter about travellers, local news, public notices, police School/C&FC Liaison Officer – Vacancy/Iona Harte* and Neighbourhood Watch communications, public Webmaster/Communications Officer – Alex Clouter events, links to planning and other council-related Neighbourhood Police Panel Rep – Maggie Winter matters plus much more. All this has led to a ‘mine of * Indicates current holders who will be stepping down activity’ on the website as the following figures show: This proposal will need to be seconded by a person - Total number of visits in 2012: 14,168 during the AGM. - Total page views in 2012: 21,341 The FVRA wants to encourage other interested - Total hits in 2012: 46,996 (clicking activity) people who may wish to be more involved by The most popular pages seen and used were Local attending Committee meetings in a general News, Events, Planning, School News, Links, capacity. If you want to come along or find out more Community Watch, FVRA Newsletter and ‘For All The information, please contact Ron by telephone on Right Reasons’, a special charity/online petition page. 01903 872 251 or email [email protected] The history and photographic archive also continues to build interest and we are grateful to some people Treasury Report – Ron Merriman who have provided us with more interesting articles Once again I have to thank Helen and our wonderful and pictures for everyone to share. Please email group of collectors for exceeding the previous year’s [email protected] or call 01903 267 770 if you membership income with a wonderful £1660.00. It is a want to add anything new to our ‘All about the fact that without them we would not exist. Valley’ pages. This year has been a busy year with several social The FVRA enewsletter is now sent out to 437 charity events organised by the committee ending households across Findon Valley, a record high! It is with our very special ‘Spirit of Christmas’ evening in currently despatched fortnightly until the end of King’s Parade, raising £2028.00 for the Chestnut Tree March and then will become weekly throughout the House Children’s Hospice. I class it as an honour to be April – September period. If you are a new or existing allowed to be part of that wonderful venture. FVRA member and not yet receiving our enewsletter, The 2012 accounts are currently being audited and please email [email protected] to sign up – it’s will be presented at the AGM. part of your FVRA membership package (if you have

1 The FVRA is a registered charity in England and Wales, Reg. No. 267009. an email address and access to the Internet) when seriously and of course the welfare of the children is of you pay the annual subscription! the utmost priority. The children are very excited to have a bigger hall, a new library and a soundproofed Planning Report – Maggie Winter music room. The 2 planning applications by WSCC/Vale School for The children are also being encouraged to scooter improvements to the playground and upgrading of and/or cycle responsibly and to be mindful of the school building to accommodate in excess of 700 residents when they go to and from the school. children were approved and passed by WSCC on The Friends of the Vale (FOV) who arrange fund 31/08/2012. raising events for the Vale School have been very Whilst acknowledging that the school desperately active this year and the Christmas Fayre and the need improved facilities this does have a serious school discos are always very well attended by the impact on residents. children and they have a great time at these events Although we raised issues concerning drainage and which take a lot of planning. The FVRA donated £124 run-off in regard to the playground development and to the FOV from the FVRA antiques valuation day held traffic issues as a result of the increase in numbers of last year. users, WSCC did not respond to any of our concerns The Vale School choir sung their hearts out at the very and work commenced on 29 th October 2012. cold FVRA ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ event, which was a Regrettably the contractors did not adhere to the great treat for the children who loved the treasure agreed working hours and residents were subjected hunt organised by the events committee. The school to excavation work under floodlight during weekday also had a stall where the children handmade evenings and to weekend working. Following everything to sell on the night. The children were also complaints and negotiations this unacceptable invited to create the poster for the event and the practice ceased. However it is still very noisy and dirty winner and runners up were given Amazon tokens. and residents in Vale Drive continue to suffer The Vale School/FVRA relationship remains strong as disturbance from heavy construction vehicles and all ever, including the monthly meetings with the adjacent roads are subjected to the inconvenience Headteacher, the open evenings for the planned of all day parking due to the loss of parking facilities development and ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ evening. on the school campus. FVRA have been pushing for a Traffic Survey in the FVRA Constitution area and are in the process of preparing a submission Our new constitution is available to read online or in to WSCC Highways to discuss the traffic issues in Vale the local library. As a registered charity we have to be Drive/Vale Ave/Hillview Rd. If you have views on this seen with a document outlining how we operate so please let me know (contact details below). we have updated and added to the existing one, The requested parking restrictions on the slip roads at which goes back a number of years. This year’s AGM the bottom of Vale Drive have been approved. We will be the forum for voting on this as it was presented await WSCC contractors to carry out the work subject and handed out to everyone in the 2012 AGM. If you to funding. have not read it yet, there are a few available at the Through our representation on the Neighbourhood library and we have one on www.findonvalley.org Management Panel we are continuing to press for the repainting of road markings on the A24 from Central SPECIAL OFFER TO FVRA MEMBERS Ave to the A27 junction. Similarly we are involved with Discounts are now available for FVRA members at the Sussex Police in monitoring the traffic speed on the Ardington Hotel Worthing on their Special Events A24 with the ultimate aim of reducing the speed limit nights. Please see details on our website or on the to 30mph. notice board outside the library. Despite my optimism yet again in June unwelcome visitors occupied the Gallops and caused both untold Vacancies on the FVRA Committee damage to this precious amenity and discomfort to Treasurer * residents. I met with our MP Tim Loughton when we School/Children & Family Centre Liaison Officer* agreed a forward policy on this issue and WBC leader Assistant Secretary Paul Yallop convened a meeting to address concerns Membership Database Records Officer As a result we now have a 6-year injunction on the Committee Members Gallops. Also WBC have built up the bunds and Nominations for the above positions on our Executive installed a new high level barrier. Dare I hope that this Committee, shown by *, must be supported by will be the final deterrent? another person seconding the nomination, and be Some of you will have noticed that recently WSCC submitted to the FVRA Secretary by 1 March 2013. This have replanted many of our “missing” road side trees. can be done by post to 2 Hurston Close, Findon Valley Please do report any lost trees. They are a vital green BN14 0AX or by email: [email protected] ‘lung’ and enhance the aesthetic value of our Valley. Should any of you reading this report feel that you could help to share the work load relating to the sort of issues we address please do contact me. Please email [email protected] or call me on 01903 263 038.

Vale School/C&FC Report – Iona Harte September 2012 was the start for building work at the Vale School. This will continue for the next school year. Health and safety on the site is being taken very 2 The FVRA is a registered charity in England and Wales, Reg. No. 267009. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Findon Valley Residents’ Association at The Vale School on Friday 16 March 2012, 7.15 for 7.30pm

Designed by Anna Campbell, www.findonvalley.org aged 11, from Vale School. Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us.

It’s time once again for our annual pre AGM by attending these regular meetings in a general newsletter. Details of the meeting are shown above capacity. If you want to attend these meetings as a and all Findon Valley residents, members and non- committee member, please contact Doug Jull on members alike, are invited to attend. This is your email [email protected] or telephone 01903 chance to meet your committee together with your 872 241. local councillors and other guests and to seek answers to any questions you may wish to ask. Treasury Report – Ron Merriman As usual our team of wonderful collectors have been Our thanks to all the committee members both out collecting annual membership subscriptions from elected and co-opted for their often unnoticed efforts residents and have collected £1,574. Their help is on behalf of the Valley residents. They have worked really appreciated. hard throughout the year to make Findon Valley a pleasant and safer place to live. 2011 was a very quiet year as far as campaigns to fight were concerned, which has seen our fund rise to We are planning to hold a number of social events a healthy £3,819.19. The FVRA accounts for 2011 are during 2012, perhaps something to celebrate the now ready to be audited. Diamond Jubilee of HM The Queen. If any member feels they can assist in organising any such events Membership Report – Helen Higgins please come forward at the double. You will be more Last year was successful bringing in around 90 new than welcome. members to the FVRA. Our total membership currently stands at 870 households across the Valley. It was with great sadness that we heard of the recent sudden death of our local councillor Reg. Green. An 2012 membership fees will remain unchanged at £2 honorary member of our association, he has been a per household or £1 for a single occupant. great friend and asset to us all and he will be sadly missed. Your President and Chairman represented the This year we would like to start our road collections as association at the funeral and our thoughts are with early as possible to allow collectors more time to visit his family at this sad time. We have also just heard of homes and re-visit where necessary. We hope to have the death, aged 102, of Zoë Goddard. Zoë was a the collection packs for road collectors ready at the founder member of the FVRA back in the 1930's and AGM. There are more collectors needed to help on was our oldest member in both senses of the word. certain roads: Our condolences to her family. - Allendale Avenue - Ashfold Avenue Leroy W. Bryan, FVRA President - Cissbury Avenue Douglas A Jull, FVRA Chairman - Coombe Rise - Findon Road (4 helpers for 4 sections) Election of 2012 Executive Committee - Marshall Avenue The people below are to be proposed for election in - Prince William Close 2012 at the AGM: - Sullington Gardens Any offer of support would be greatly appreciated. Chairman – Doug Jull Please email [email protected] or speak Secretary – Maureen Wells* to me after the AGM to sign up. Treasurer – Ron Merriman Membership Secretary – Helen Higgins Findon Valley is a special place to live and the FVRA Planning/Environment Liaison Officer – Maggie Winter helps to keep it that way. Thank you all for your School/C&FC Liaison Officer – Iona Harte continued support by staying with us as FVRA Webmaster – Alex Clouter members and welcome to all those who joined us for Neighbourhood Police Panel Rep – Maggie Winter the first time last year! * Maureen has come forward to take on this role and needs to be proposed and seconded at the AGM. Website Report – Alex Clouter 2011 was a very busy year with more people visiting These people volunteer their services freely to our website, viewing more pages than ever before continue working in their designated roles and attend and therefore staying online for longer! Please keep it the monthly committee meetings. going!!

It is proposed that we want to encourage other Total visits in 2011: 15,556 interested people who may wish to be more involved Total views in 2011: 25,033 1 The FVRA is a registered charity in England and Wales, Reg. No. 267009. Total hits in 2011: 46,996 (this measures activity) panel. Please email [email protected] or call me on 01903 263 038. The most popular pages seen more frequently were Local News, Events, Planning, School News, Links, Vale School/C&FC Report – Iona Harte Community Watch (which was a new page The main issue with The Vale School since September introduced during the year) and ‘For All The Right has been parent parking at school drop off and Reasons’, a special charity/online petition page. school pick up times. Support was offered to the school and David Morgan, FVRA member, was We are continuing to build the online photographic drafted in to help the FVRA with this issue. archive with people sending us photos as well as our Photographs of inconsiderate parking were taken and new ‘Walk the Walks’ guide in/around the Valley with the police have sent letters to the most prolific interesting web links. We hope these pages help to offenders. Photos and registration numbers of the enrich everyone’s knowledge/experience of the offenders’ cars are welcome by the school. Details beauty and interest around us. can be entered via www.operationcrackdown.org or you can contact PCSO Shauna Bowen or telephone Our FVRA enewsletter is now sent out to 326 residents. 101. If someone is caught parking illegally or across It is currently despatched fortnightly to the end of driveways more than three times they will receive a March and then will become weekly throughout the warning. April – September period. If you are a new or existing FVRA member and not yet receiving our news update Planning permission from West Sussex County Council please email me on [email protected] to sign up – has been sought by The Vale School to build a new it’s part of your FVRA membership package (if you wall and to dig down to create a terrace of grass and have an email address and access to the Internet) asphalt. The adventure playground is currently out of when you pay the annual subscription! use as it is dangerous for the children to play there and is therefore limited to the playground. There will Planning Report – Maggie Winter also be a high fence backing onto residents’ gardens I am pleased to say that, thanks to the efforts of to stop balls from being thrown or kicked over. Letters Worthing Borough Council (WBC) implementing the have been sent to the residents who may be affected protective measures we had requested at Bost Hill, by this. Plans can be seen on the West Sussex County the Gallops and Storrington Rise car park, we can Council website, ref. P/1015/04 as well as at the consider ourselves fortunate that we escaped the school and will be discussed at the AGM. invasion of travellers last year. However there were problems with unauthorised weekend camping and The FVRA continues to maintain the good relationship anti-social behaviour in the fields opposite Shepherd's built up with The Vale School and the Findon Children Mead and Long Meadow, which were dealt with by and Family Centre and we look forward to continued referral to the police. Similarly more campers caused cooperation for the benefit of the community as a a nuisance in the old quarry at the end of the Gallops whole. You can email me on [email protected] but a request to WBC to erect appropriate signs, which was done very promptly, deterred further Vacancies on the FVRA Committee activity. Vice Chairman Event Committee Chairman Improved HGV signage on King’s Parade and the Event Committee Members restrictions to prevent 24-hours parking outside the Committee Members businesses on the slip roads at the bottom of Vale Avenue are awaited. We are also pending the Nominations for the above positions, supported by improvements to the shrubs and tree beds between another person seconding the nomination, must be the library and bus stop. Delays have resulted from the made in writing and submitted to the FVRA Secretary huge restructuring process within West Sussex County by 6 March 2012 . This can be done by post to 2 Council Highways during the last year, Hurston Close, Findon Valley BN14 0AX or by email: [email protected] Both a planning and environmental issue was an application by Worthing Homes to remove most of FVRA Constitution the trees and shrubs from within the grounds of the We have been bringing our constitution up to date, in Fontwell Drive flats by the Offington roundabout. line with new standards and the way we now work. These trees provide an important screen against noise We plan to send this to all residents later this year, for and pollution for the residents and help to enhance people to read and provide essential feedback The quality of life. We worked closely with residents on this 2013 AGM will be the forum for voting on this. issue, which resulted in our objections being upheld by WBC The application was referred for resubmission Our new trustees are: Leroy Bryan, Doreen Tickner, after consultation with residents to the satisfaction of Carol Oliver and Barry Winter. We have submitted all sides. their names to the Charity Commission.

There are always a plethora of small issues too numerous to mention here but please do contact me if you have any concerns. As I am your FVRA representative on the Neighbourhood Police Panel so again, let me know if there are issues in the Valley that you would wish me to bring to the attention of the 2 The FVRA is a registered charity in England and Wales, Reg. No. 267009. Findon Valley Residents’ Association Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us. www.findonvalley.org

Designed by Anna Campbell, SUMMER NEWSLETTER aged 11, from Vale School.

Following on from our successful AGM in March, this is you can call Doug Jull on 01903 872241 or email him the first newsletter under the name of our new on [email protected] Chairman, Doug Jull, and myself as President. Welcome from the previous Chairman We are pleased to inform you that 2011 is our 75 th The meeting began at 19.30. David Goncalves Anniversary! The FVRA was formed in 1936 as a result welcomed everyone and introduced all the guests of 36 Valley people coming together to successfully who were present: Tim Loughton MP. , Martin Garratt, stop the building of a factory. A lot has happened Headteacher at the Vale First and Middle School, since then as the Findon Valley community grew and Carole Beatty, Manager of the Findon Children & brought in both retired and younger families with the Family Centre (C&FC), PCSO Shauna Bowen, Cllr wider variety of houses and bungalows built on both Clem Stevens, Cllr Reg Green, Cllr Elizabeth Sparkes & the east and west side of Findon Road! Fred Weller, Chairman of the High Salvington Residents’ Association. More can be read about the history of Findon Valley and its local people via www.findonvalley.org Let’s There was a one-minute silence out of respect for Mrs swiftly time travel to the present day and let you read Betty Quinell, lifelong member of FVRA, who passed a summary of our recent AGM Minutes. away early this year.

Election of Committee Leroy W. Bryan F.I.B.B., FVRA President The people below were proposed by Reg Green, Doug Jull, FVRA Chairman seconded by Barry Winter, representing the general public, and were therefore unanimously and duly Special thanks elected: Firstly we would like to say a big thank you to some members of the FVRA committee who have made a President – Leroy Bryan significant contribution in the work they have done Chairman – Doug Jull and have now stepped down from their Acting Secretary – Iona Harte responsibilities: David Goncalves as Chairman, Tony Treasurer – David Goncalves Wray as Treasurer, Pam Pilbury as Events Committee Membership Secretary – Helen Higgins Secretary, Brian Oliver as Events Committee Member, Planning/Environment Liaison Officer – Maggie Winter Alex Clouter as Membership Secretary, Doreen Tickner School/C&FC Liaison Officer – Verity Cullingford as Assistant to Membership, Susan Smith as Committee Webmaster – Alex Clouter Member. Iona Harte is now Acting FVRA Secretary Neighbourhood Police Panel Rep – Maggie Winter until we find another person to take this role on. We Friends of FVRA – Doreen Tickner/David Morgan appreciate everything they have done in their roles for the benefit of everyone. Chairman’s Report The Chairman reported that, with the support of the We also want to convey our thanks to the rest of the committee, he had been instrumental in many committee and our team of road collectors in their achievements for the FVRA. Membership is at an all dedication and hard work over the past 12 months time high and records are maintained confidentially on a computerised database. The web site has been Secondly we welcome Helen Higgins who has come extensively developed to its current state and enables forward to be the new Membership Secretary. She is residents with email to receive a regular e-newsletter. now having a handover of work from Alex to prepare A strong working relationship between FVRA and Vale everything for collecting 2011 subscriptions from First and Middle School is developing as well as Findon Valley residents, during the summer. ongoing contact with councillors and special interest groups to ensure local harmony and tackle local Your help please issues together. Also the FVRA accounts have been successfully moved to an IT-based system. We always like to see ‘new blood’ in our team and we have decided to encourage interested people who The FVRA mounted a huge campaign against HSBC would like to attend our monthly committee meeting closing the King’s Parade sub- branch and although to find out what we do and possibly play a more unsuccessful, there is now a well-used cash point active role. installed at the Findon Valley Post Office also offering other banking services. If you are keen to be part of our FVRA committee or indeed help us with the Late Night Christmas Shopping Evening or be on our road collector team, 1 The FVRA also helped to promote the ‘Save Findon example is a museum that has been started at the Fire Station’ campaign but West Sussex County school with a Second World War themed exhibition - Council decided to go ahead with the closure at the the school doors are open to whoever would like to end of March due to local government cutbacks. see this. Mr Garratt also expressed his interest to invite local people who have the time to become readers, Another campaign was the ‘Use it or Lose it’ initiative listening as school children are reading aloud. CRB for Findon Valley Library. Opening hours have been checks would have to be carried out. If anyone is cut back and usage is being monitored. The FVRA interested please contact the school via urges all residents to use the library facilities to ensure [email protected] or on 01903 872 322. its future. Q&A FVRA Treasury Report Parking is still an issue. Could the school contact the The team of 28 road collectors were out and about local Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator if there is an collecting annual membership subscriptions last year after-school event or Sports Day for example? Yes, ask and collected £1573 from residents. the coordinator to contact the school office.

£3032 is the healthy year-end balance considering the A proposal of thanks for help with the FVRA logo (this number of campaigns fought. can be seen p.1) was given from Alex Clouter, which is now in use on all FVRA printed and online Over £1000 was donated to Chestnut Tree House due communications. to the success of the 2010 Late Night Christmas Shopping Evening and a special thanks must be given Children & Family Centre Report – Carole Beatty to the FVRA Events committee for their hard work in Carole Beatty has worked in Early Years during her making it a highly successful occasion. working life and is passionate about learning. Services at the C&FC are developing all the time and now The FVRA accounts are in the process of being have around 250 visits per week. There are audited. partnerships with Maternity Services, Health Visitors, Physiotherapy, NCT/Childminding, help with speech 2010 AGM Minutes/Matters Arising and language. There is an open door policy and any Minutes were proposed as correct by Alex Clouter ideas will be gratefully received. and seconded by Reg Green. Q&A Allotments: No suitable land in Findon Valley has been Is the success of the Findon C&FC dependant upon found. the number of people through the door? Yes, it is funded by WSCC and has OFSTED evaluations with Membership: Total paid members were 901 as of the aim of working more closely with the Vale First and 31/01/2011, 76 were new members and total unpaid Middle school and Findon Valley library. The C&FC is members were 193. also offering informal support for the pre-schools.

Travellers: There were various meetings between Will there be any celebration to mark the first year Worthing Borough Council (WBC) and the FVRA; there anniversary of the opening of the centre? Yes, at the are now bunds at the car park in Bost Hill and new end of May. gate locks. Costs have been approved for high-rise barriers at Storrington Rise. Shepherds Mead is What about special needs? Once a month on a tenanted land and we still need to keep an eye on Saturday, they support families with additional needs this. like autism, ADHD and mobility issues.

For residents whose gardens back onto the Gallops, What is the catchment area for the C&FC? A24 and their privacy has been affected by the removal of A27, High Salvington, Clapham and Patching. hedgerows; the Russian vine has been removed and new saplings have been planted. The only complaint Police Report – PCSO Shauna Bowen now is that WBC are still cutting this hedgerow back at Residents are very lucky that our area is a low crime the wrong time of year and should look to do this in ward. the Autumn to avoid the season when birds are nesting and local wildlife are raising their young. Q&A Where can we find crime figures for our ward? Visit A24/A27 issues: David Morgan does not believe there website www.police.co.uk and enter in your is anything worthwhile to do as there are many postcode. The information archive goes back on a government cutbacks but will help out as and when rolling 12-month basis. required. What has happened with the reported trespasser Vale School Headteacher’s Report – Martin Garratt seen walking around on the Gallops? There has been The Vale First and Middle School is a great school with no further incidents or activity. great children and staff. Mr Garratt is keen to form a stronger link with the FVRA. Last year the school had a Report from Tim Loughton, MP successful Carol Concert at the Late Night Christmas The Late Night Christmas Shopping Evening was very Shopping event. The school wants to continue to successful and was bigger and better than in previous develop the children and to include them working in years. the wider community as part of this development. An 2 A delegation of local people including MPs Tim Leroy Bryan also welcomed Doug Jull as new Loughton and Peter Bottomley, a representative from Chairman of FVRA and thanked the FVRA committee the Chamber of Commerce and individuals from for all their help in the voluntary work undertaken over local businesses went to Westminster to meet with the last 12 months. Philip Hammond, Transport Minister, to discuss the impact of A27 heavy traffic on local businesses. Philip He also expressed his appreciation to Tim Loughton, Hammond indicated that improvements around Reg Green, Clem Stevens, Fred Weller and the guests, Chichester would be first, followed by work on the Martin Garratt, Carole Beatty and Shauna Bowen in Arundel by-pass, thereby giving the A27 stretch attending the AGM. A special thank you was given to through Worthing a stronger case. He also mentioned residents in coming along to the AGM. that rather than a through pass, a tunnel could be considered alongside the cost implications and its The meeting closed at 20:50. likelihood. Philip Hammond subsequently came down to Worthing to see, firsthand, the A27 traffic flow from Advertised vacancies on the FVRA Committee Shoreham to Chichester. It was unfortunate he chose an exceptionally traffic-free day to drive along this Vice Chairman part of A27 and did not encounter the issues we all Secretary encounter on a daily basis. Treasurer Press/Publicity Officer There is a consultation over the future of Southlands Event Committee Chairman Hospital, to transfer the operating capacity and beds Event Committee Members over to Worthing Hospital. Ophthalmology could be Road Collectors moved to Southlands. Worthing Blind Society is not happy about this and will oppose any move of the If you want to know more and/or interested in unit to Southlands. A public meeting took place on applying for these positions or would just like to sit on Tuesday 15 March regarding this and we are awaiting the committee in a general capacity, please contact the outcome. Doug Jull: telephone no. 01903 872241 or by email [email protected] With regard to the 134 Warren Road development one of the conditions is to have a clear view of the FVRA e-newsletter service A27. This can only be achieved if the developers Receive our fortnightly e-newsletter giving you the could buy a strip of land owned by Worthing Homes. latest information update from the FVRA web site. Worthing Homes have categorically said that it will not Just send your name, postal address and email sell and therefore the development is unlikely to go address to [email protected] All personal ahead. information is securely stored on Microsoft Access database and the FVRA is registered in accordance Q&A Forum with the FVRA with the Data Protection Act. It is our policy not to No questions were asked pass personal information onto any third party outside of the FVRA. Q&A Forum with the MP and Local Councillors What is happening with the development at Teville If you have recently changed your email address, Gate? There is no further development at present. A please email [email protected] to enable us to multiplex cinema, a supermarket and underground amend your records. parking are planned and the plans can be seen at Portland House. There are issues with the roads and Promote your business or interest on our web site access and this is being reviewed at WSCC. Our ‘useful links’ section is the 4 th most popular page on the FVRA web site. There have been complaints about the new cycle path on the east side of Findon Road: there is concern We try to cover all local businesses, clubs and other that the path is a ‘free for all’ and the new tarmac voluntary groups promoting special interests in charity, surfacing reduces tyre noise meaning that those with sports, walking, craft, scouts, guides etc. Do take a hard hearing are unaware of cyclists coming from look at ‘useful links’ and if we do not feature your behind pedestrians. These issues were passed to Clem organisation please email [email protected] Stevens to investigate. All we ask in return is to reciprocate by including our Both East and West Sussex Fire Brigades are to merge web site in your links section. following the lead of the current Police structure.

The mortuary task force are looking at 5 possibilities to ======site a mortuary in West Sussex, however 2 have been closed. Investigations will continue. EVERYONE AT THE FVRA WISHES YOU A VERY Any Other Business Leroy Bryan proposed a vote of thanks to David ENJOYABLE SUMMER Goncalves for all his hard work as Chairman and congratulated him and his wife, Donna, on the ======imminent birth of their baby.

3

FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION www.findonvalley.org

WINTER 2010 NEWSLETTER

Welcome to our bi-annual Newsletter. We apologise Membership for the delay. Autumn seems to have rushed away During the summer our team of road collectors called and Christmas is just around the corner. on all households across Findon Valley to collect 2010 membership subscriptions. This newsletter brings you up to speed on our current Our ‘paid’ FVRA membership size as at 30 September work, achievements and activities to date. We both 2010 stood at 779 households. would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to What with summer holidays and the fact that the the FVRA committee members in everything they FVRA team was unable to reach all roads, a second have done for the benefit of all residents. With so collection took place in November. We will report much going on during the autumn we have not had back on year-end statistics at next year’s AGM. time to organise an AOM. However, we have booked We had two adverts in different Sussex Local next year’s AGM for Friday 11 March 2011. magazines with the result of 35 people either renewing or staring a new subscription. That was great We fought hard to get HSBC to keep their presence in news! King’s Parade, using as much pressure we could with We also like to say a special welcome to 58 new FVRA our Campaign walk, publicity, a special website and members who joined us this summer! online feedback from the public. It was not to be and All your support is warmly appreciated. at least we have had the support from the local newsagent (thank you Andy & Clare!) to manage to Alex Clouter - Membership Secretary secure an ATM (cash point), which is great news for everyone. Website Here’s a brief explanation to help you understand We have also supported Findon Valley Library with a how we analyze our website traffic. ‘Use it, don’t lose it’ publicity campaign to encourage A visit: a person comes to our website and looks more people to sign up and for all local people to use around for a while, either one page or a few pages… the library’s facilities on a more regular basis. Our this is one visit. A view: one page viewed during that other campaign was to help maximize awareness of visit. Therefore visits and views represent people the planned closure of Findon Fire Station, again with coming to a website and the number of web page a special website and publicity materials. they saw. The following is a summary of activity on our website With a new baby to come for the Goncalves family in during this year. early 2011, David will be stepping down from his position as FVRA Chairman at the AGM in March 2011. Jan–Sep 2010 Jul–Sep 2010 Jul–Sep2009 % inc Visits: 19,769 8,537 6,103 +40% We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and Views: 29,950 14,043 7,986 +76% your families an enjoyable Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year. Do come along to our Our campaign behind the HSBC closure, with a Christmas Late Night Shopping on 10 th December! dedicated web address, significantly accounted for the huge year-on-year increase during the July – Leroy W. Bryan F.I.B.B., FVRA President September period. We also set up pages for our ‘Use David Goncalves, FVRA Chairman it, don’t lose it’ initiative to encourage more people to use the Valley library and our support to Findon Christmas Late Night Shopping Village’s campaign to save the local fire station. This year, the Late Night Shopping evening will take Other busy pages include the planning applications, place on Friday 10 th December from 5.00 – 7.30 pm at events across the county, local news stories, Valley King’s Parade. history/people/photos and the comprehensive links Please come along and enjoy yourselves, and help us page. to make the event bigger and better than ever. The Join our e-News service! Almost 200 Valley residents event is to have a pantomime theme, and will include have already signed up to use our e-Newsletter the Children’s Treasure Hunt competition and many service, covering the very latest web updates straight attractions. to their computer or laptop by email. Please remember that proceeds go to a worthy local To get onto this circulation list, just email cause – the Chestnut Tree House Hospice for Children [email protected] with your name, home address Appeal. and email address. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, members’ contact information is Pam Pilbury - Events Committee Secretary securely kept on file and will not be passed onto any by clicking on the link for the Children and Family external party. Centre. The grand official opening that was due on 25 th Alex Clouter - Webmaster September was cancelled due to WSCC expenditure cuts. Planning The school and parents were pleased to welcome a As with my previous reports most planning new Head Teacher, Martin Garratt, on 19th April after applications have been granted for improvements or Tony Lovatt's retirement. He has lots of extensions to residential dwellings. Exceptionally there exciting new plans for the school, and we are all have been objections to some developments where looking forward to seeing the school's progression. planning permission was perceived to be not The flooding issue at the entrance to the school, in required, but this is not usually the case and it is Vale Avenue, was becoming a real nightmare for always advisable to seek guidance before starting parents and residents alike earlier in the work. year. After many complaints to the West Sussex PDH Garage - there has been no progress on this Highways department by myself, numerous other application to develop the site for residential use. The parents, the school, and indeed, Tim Loughton MP, Planning dept and Economic Development dept are the work took place to repair the drainage system awaiting a viability report from the applicant. during the school's summer holidays. Cemetery Lodge - this has been unoccupied for some We are now all keeping our fingers crossed that when time and it may become the HQ of the animal rescue the wet season is really upon us, we will no longer organisation WADARS. The outcome of an application need a boat to get all our children to/ from the is awaited. school! The FVRA ran a competition for the children at the Travellers Vale School to design a new logo for our association’s The long promised meeting with WBC/NCP finally took stationery and website. We were pleased to place on Friday 3 September. announce that the winner was Anna Campbell, aged The full report of this meeting will soon be available to 11, winning a £25 WH Smiths voucher. Her design can see on our website. be seen on our website. Anna and her family were The main points were: delighted. BOST HILL AND NO MAN'S LAND Bost Hill car park and the bunds around this are on Verity Cullingford - School/C&FC Liaison Officer WBC land. It was agreed that the bunds should be extended and raised between the car park east Vacant Positions on the FVRA Committee entrance and the adjacent land to prevent access from the road onto NO MAN'S land. This work is to be Chairman undertaken during the autumn/winter 2010. Vice Chairman STORRINGTON RISE CAR PARK Membership Secretary This is owned by WBC but contracted to NCP as the managing agents - WBC/NCP agreed to set the If you are interested in any of the above positions, or wheels in motion to put in place a fixed high level indeed would like to have more information please barrier which would/should deter vans/caravans from contact the chairman David Goncalves on 01273 930 gaining access. There are planning and costing 098 or [email protected]. implications before work can start but the impression You can also write to the FVRA: 2 Hurston Close, was that there were no insurmountable obstacles. Findon Valley, West Sussex BN14 0AX. COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK The deadline to receive applications for any of these There is an agreement that a communication network positions to the above email/postal addresses is 28 is to be set up as an advance warning system, with February 2011. residents to participate. An emergency telephone number to report to WBC is: 01903 821992. A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR DETERRING TRAVELLERS TO YOU ALL FROM THE FVRA COMMITTEE! The Residents' Associations/Police need to raise awareness re. cold calling for casual cash-in-hand work. Travellers won't generally come into an area if there isn't enough lucrative pre -arranged work, so it is important that we all play our part in not falling prey to such offers of work.

Maggie Winter - Planning Liaison Officer

Children and Family Centre The Children and Family Centre, based at the Vale School, opened its doors on Tuesday 25 th May. It has to be said it is very quiet there at the moment; it is slowly being used more, but the uptake is certainly not as was initially expected. The Centre has now been officially named the Findon Children and Family Centre, and the manager is Carole Beatty, who can be contacted on 01903 270455. Their website with info regarding what they are currently doing can be accessed via the school's main web site at www.vale.w-sussex.sch.uk and then FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Established in 1936. Website: www.findonvalley.org

Annual General Meeting 2010

All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Findon Valley Residents’ Association at the Free Church Hall on Friday 23 rd April 2010, 7.15 for 7.30 pm

It’s that time of the year where we sum up the last six A lot of work has gone into building up the website months onto a double-sided newsletter. Please read content giving useful information on social events, the individual reports and come ready to our AGM on planning applications, local issues and various public Friday 23 rd April to find out more and ask questions to campaigns as well as adding more interest with a us. FVRA members and non-members are most growing number of photos in our online albums, the welcome. history of Findon Valley, information about the FVRA, a huge ‘useful links’ directory of businesses, clubs and We would like to thank the entire Committee for their associations plus an up-to-the-minute local news outstanding work during 2009 and congratulate Brian page and archive. Oliver in particular for another successful Christmas Late Night Shopping event last year. We are pleased Join our e-News service! Some Valley residents have to report that over £1000 was raised for Chestnut Tree already signed up to use our e-News service, able to House Children’s Hospice and Make-a-Wish get new website updates straight to their computer or Foundation UK. laptop by email.

Our special congratulations go to one of our founder To get onto the list, just email [email protected] members Mrs Zoë Goddard who celebrated her 100 th with your name, home address and email address. In birthday on 6 th March. accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, members’ contact information is securely kept on file Leroy W. Bryan – President and will not be passed onto anyone within and David Goncalves - Chairman outside the FVRA.

Membership Report Alex Clouter - Webmaster We welcome around 80 households who became new FVRA members during 2009. This brings us to a Planning Report total membership size of 1065 as at 31 st December 1. Children and Family Centre 2009. Annual membership fees for this year remain As you will know it was a busy start to the early part of unchanged at £2 per household and £1 for single the year with the submission by WSCC of plans for a occupancy. We will start door-to-door collections for Children and Family Centre at the Vale School, which 2010 membership during late May/June this year. If was passed in June with building commencing in you prefer to pay directly, you can go to either the August. It is regrettable that despite assurances from Findon Valley Post Office or PC Help, in King’s Parade. County Hall that disruption would be kept to a minimum, residents living in nearby roads have had to More road collectors needed for Allendale Road, endure the inconvenience caused by construction Ashfold Avenue, Downside Avenue, Fontwell Close vehicles arriving at unauthorised times and an and Kearsley Drive! If you can spare no more than increase in on-street parking from vehicles which 2/3 days and live in or near to the roads as normally ought to be parked within the school mentioned, your help would be really appreciated. campus. We also need someone to help another road collector for the ‘even’ numbers (east side) of Findon On 9 th December, after much lobbying, Tim Loughton Road, from King’s Parade down to the Offington MP and Clem Stevens, West Sussex County Councillor, Roundabout. If you are interested to assist or want to were given leave to address the Children and Young know more, you are most welcome to come along to People's Select Committee at County Hall. a special light buffet on Saturday, 8 th May where you can meet other road collectors. Please call 262746. Tim Loughton left the Committee in no doubt that the planning process had been handled appallingly and Doreen Tickner – Membership Secretary Clem Stevens re-iterated the lack of a traffic survey. The Centre is due to open at the end of March under Website Report the name of Findon Children and Family Centre! For the first time we can monitor the level of traffic to our website. The following is a summary of web activity during July – December 2009. We will be able 2. Planning Applications to make more meaningful analyses during this year. Throughout the year there have been the usual planning applications that seem to be an established Monthly average part of the ‘scenescape’ in the Valley, especially No. of web pages viewed: 13,740 2,290 since the easement in domestic planning regulations. No. of times people visited: 9,865 1,644 No. of hits (clicks made): 22,753 3,792 Outline planning permission is being sought for a 3- storey block of 12 flats to replace the PDH Garage, which anticipates moving to larger premises in Lancing. The plans are designed to accommodate roundabout. Indeed, Highways Agency (HA) has to sufficient parking places or barn garages for all the move the crossing to accommodate the flats. The proposal should alleviate traffic movement development. Nine new dwellings are proposed for and parking problems in the immediate vicinity the development and this notwithstanding that HA is associated with the garage business. Based on the on record as saying that the crossing “is in its optimum available information your Committee will not be location.” Road safety and congestion implications opposing these plans but will keep a watchful eye on are horrendous. Just picture the scene as vehicles the development. If you need any advice please entering and leaving these nine dwellings are email [email protected] attempting to turn right off or onto Warren Road. There are also safety hazards for “vulnerable road 3. Stop Cissbury Sell Off Campaign users” on the crossing and stalled traffic in both Your Committee supported this campaign that was directions as well as back up Findon Road, whilst successful in persuading Worthing Borough Council entering and emerging vehicles wait to gain entry into from selling off Downland into private ownership or their respective traffic flows. Unbelievably, our long-term leases. You will find a link on our website Worthing Borough Council “planning” committee has giving more information. passed this outrage. Well, they don’t live around here, do they? However there is still time to lodge your 4. Police matters objection. Please just let me know. If you have a view As I am the FVRA representative sitting on the on any of the above, please contact me by email on Neighbourhood Police Panel, please do let me know [email protected] if you have any concerns about issues in the Valley that you would wish me to bring to the attention of David Morgan - A24/27 Liaison Officer the Panel – please email [email protected] Proposed Executive Committee for 2010 Maggie Winter - Planning Liaison Officer and Neighbourhood Police Panel Rep

Position Name

A24/A27 Issues Leroy. W 1. Findon Road speed limit President Bryan Last autumn, we drew to your attention the fact that David Broadwater Street West had (just) had its speed limit Chairman Goncalves reduced from 40 to 30mph and whilst we were still Vice Chairman Alex Clouter waiting for County Highways (CH) to “look at” that on Findon Road, we asked them: “Why them, and not Secretary Iona Harte us?” The answer, when we eventually received it, Pamela boiled down to: “Well, this is a long outstanding issue.” Asst. Secretary Pilbury “Longer than our ongoing concern at eleven years?” Treasurer Tony Wray we asked. No answer to our second question has yet Membership been received. However we did learn that this “tidied Secretary Alex Clouter up the Borough boundary’s speed limits.” So, once Social Secretary/ again, paperwork has triumphed over road safety. Asst. Membership Doreen Secretary Tickner

Environment/Local Meanwhile, “CH are currently assessing all A and B Affairs Officer Joel Ferreira class roads in the County by 2011” as they have been Planning Liaison Maggie required to do by a Home Office directive. “Where is Officer Winter Findon Road amongst all this?” we most recently A24/A27 Officer David asked. We’re still waiting for that answer. Morgan School/C&FC Verity 2. HGVs unloading in the carriageway Liaison Officer Cullingford Absolutely huge trucks continue unloading in the Neighbourhood Maggie main carriageway alongside King’s Parade (and as Police Panel Rep. Winter they have done since CH foolishly blocked off their Webmaster Alex Clouter unloading space with those ugly concrete flower pots, Publicity/Press about 25 years ago). All drivers who try and exit King’s Officer Susan Smith Parade will be aware of the problem. We held a site meeting with “Team Leader, Speed Management The Executive Committee is happy to volunteer their Safety Engineering Group” in March 2009 to convey services in their individual areas of responsibility during our concerns. We have now asked again, “Where 2010 as outlined above, to be voted on at the AGM. are we on this hazardous issue?” The answer: “Nothing has been decided. We have to get it into a If you are interested to become more involved please budget.” contact David Goncalves on telephone 01273 930 098 or by email: [email protected] - thank you in 3. Invalid Parking Bays, King’s Parade advance. It was agreed “in principle” last March that four or six bays would be provided by CH. This issue, very urgent for some of you, is still awaiting a “budget allocation.” We favour two at Tesco’s (either side of the adjoining driveway) and two as near to the Post Office as can be managed.

4. New development at 134 Warren Road/A27 The entry/exit to this will be right on the “new” pedestrian crossing close to the Offington FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Established in 1936. Web site: www.findonvalley.org

Autumn Open Meeting 2009 All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the

Autumn Open Meeting of the Findon Valley Residents’ Association at the Free Church Hall on Friday 4th December 2009, 7.15 for 7.30 pm

We are once more delighted to feedback on the many arose, there has been an ongoing battle with WSCC to re- achievements of YOUR residents’ association since our think the siting of the centre to a more suitable location. last report at the AGM earlier this year. Each report in this The FVRA has given full support to residents who objected newsletter clearly shows the Committee’s time consuming to the plans. Unfortunately County Hall was determined to actions, enthusiasm and commitment to support Findon forge ahead with their plans. This was despite FVRA Valley residents and most importantly the part they played written submissions of objections to WSCC planning; in your association’s achievements over the past six speaking three times at Planning Committee meetings; months. leaflet drops to every household in the Valley and beyond; We are also looking forward to yet another record Late lobbying parents at the school gates; writing to the school’s Night Shopping Celebration this Christmas – more details Head Teacher and Chairman of the Governors forcing the below. On your behalf we offer our very sincere thanks to school to arrange a public meeting; calling a public meeting Brian Oliver and his team for the terrific amount of work ourselves; parents’ petition to the school; numerous letters involved. We are looking forward to your support and to WSCC seeking answers to questions and following the meeting most of you at this very special event. Bring your complaints procedures so that residents can refer their family and friends along to make a truly enjoyable evening! concerns to the Ombudsman; local press coverage and air Also on your behalf we wish to thank each and every one time on Splash FM and, finally, hours spent talking to of our committee members for their dedication to serving residents encouraging them on their best course of action, the FVRA and the Community. because it is only the individual objection that counts in We would like to invite you all, member and non-member these instances. There were over 260 written objections alike, to attend our Annual Open Meeting on Friday 4th from residents all supported by the FVRA; we also had the December at Findon Valley Free Church. We are expecting full support of our MP, our County Councillor and our WBC our MP Tim Loughton to be in attendance amongst other Councillors but when we got to the final Planning Council representatives. Committee stage on 30 th June 2009, none of this counted Leroy W. Bryan F.I.B.B., FVRA President for anything and it was as though what we had to say was David Goncalves, FVRA Chairman treated as of no significance. The plans were approved and building work began on 18 th August. FVRA Events The application to build a small 2-storey dwelling in place of a garage at 1a Hillview Rise - to which neighbours, The Association’s Events Committee are once again Worthing Borough Council (WBC) and the FVRA all organising a Christmas late night shopping evening on strongly objected - was granted on appeal by the Planning King’s Parade. The Event is to take place from 5.00 pm to Inspectorate. This was very disappointing news since it 8.00 pm on Friday 11 th December and King’s Parade will could set a precedent for in-fill building within the Valley. It be closed from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm. beholds us all to be vigilant. The 2008 Event was a success despite the cold weather An application to extend 228 Findon Road, at the north and we were able to donate £600 to Chestnut Tree House end of King’s Parade by building additional residential Hospice for Children. The evening also allowed other accommodation, is supported by the FVRA Committee and charitable organisations such as Sussex Air Ambulance, neighbours. The construction will be in-keeping with the RSPCA and PAWS to raise funds. This year we will adjoining architectural style and will clear up a derelict plot continue to support the Children’s Hospice and will be of land that has been an eyesore for a long time. joined by “Make a Wish” for terminally ill children. Consternation and confusion reigned when a “Land for Our aim is to promote King’s Parade as a local shopping Sale” sign was erected in the field (previously invaded by centre. Last year’s raffle stall, supported by gifts from the travellers) adjacent to Coombe Rise car park. However, the shops and local businesses, played a major part in land in question is higher up the hill known as Mount reaching our superb donation. We therefore propose to Carvey. The fields which run parallel with Shepherd’s Mead repeat this arrangement together with a fun fair, music, and Long Meadow are those that were gifted as Open refreshments and various stalls. The Event will be “A Access Land, and we must ensure remain as such. Victorian Christmas”. We will again be asking the children at Vale School to produce posters for the shop windows Travellers and run a Treasure Hunt to identify items of interest in those shops participating in the evening. Prizes will be Once again, travellers descended on the Valley, first given for the most inventive posters and for the efforts in camping on The Gallops, then moving to “No Man’s Land” the Treasure Hunt. Expenses are to be funded by the adjacent to Bost Hill car park and finally to Shepherd’s FVRA to enable all donations to be given to charity. Mead, leaving indescribable filth in their wake. Both WBC Please make a note in your diaries. We look forward to and the Police have specific and limited powers in dealing seeing you and families for an enjoyable evening and hope with travellers and must follow the relevant legislation. This with your help we can beat last year’s achievement. was complicated when Shepherd’s Mead was occupied, Brian Oliver – Vice Chairman because the Tenant Farmer has to apply for the eviction order and to bear the cost of clearing up the aftermath and Planning making good. As a result of pressure from both the FVRA and High Salvington Residents’ Association, an initial Since the AGM in April when the prospect of a Children liaison meeting has taken place with WBC representatives and Family Centre being built on the Vale School site and the Police to evaluate best practices and to seek effective ways to deter future traveller visits. The Police can confirm that as a result of this year’s invasion, there was no If your collector has not yet called, we would like to increase in crime in the Valley. remind you that payment can be made at either the Post As the FVRA representative on the NEIGHBOURHOOD Office or PC Help. POLICE PANEL please do let me know if you have any Doreen Tickner - Membership Secretary concerns about issues in the Valley that you would wish me to bring to the attention of the panel - call 263038 Website Maggie Winter - Planning Officer/Police Panel and Traveller Liaison Visit www.findonvalley.org and you will see the dramatic new look that went ‘live’ during late September, featuring A24/Findon Road Speed Limit. all aspects of what the FVRA is all about alongside other interesting information for residents to read. Of special After ten years of sporadic efforts to get this reduced to 30 interest is the ongoing news area, giving links to local and mph, this objective has now risen to equal first on our regional news media coverage of FVRA activities as well priorities list. The limit was recently reduced to 30mph on as other Findon Valley news. Broadwater Street West so we have asked West Sussex We are keen to develop the Findon Valley Photo Archive, County Highways to explain the criteria used, because:- which can be located in the ‘About Findon’ area. Take a 1. Findon Road is a two-lane single carriageway. look and if you have any photos you would like to feature in 2. The Valley has 5000 residents, with an unusually high the archive, either in the historic or contemporary folders, proportion of “vulnerable road users.” there’s instruction how to send them to us. The more we 3. The School is situated on one side of the Valley; all other have, the better for all residents! In fact we are looking for facilities are located on the other side. photos taken at our own Late Night Christmas Shopping 4. There are six buses an hour and ten bus stops. Every events in 2006/7/8. If you have any then please let us have passenger has to cross the road for one leg of the journey, them – and do remember to bring and use your camera for and off-peak, most of these are “vulnerable road users.” this year’s event on King’s Parade. 5. There are 27 intersections, entailing 54 right-turns, with Under development is a dedicated FVRA Members’ Area stalled traffic frequently evident at several of them. – one element will be an email service, enabling us to send 6. There are uncounted (60+?) “cross-overs.” you electronic news updates. If you want to be included in 7. There is also the noise factor attributed to HGVs this please email [email protected] with your full accelerating to 40mph uphill at four or more points between name, home address and email address. We will verify Offington Corner and the Cissbury bus stop. your details with our current membership files and if you are a fully paid-up member, you will be included. In the None of these hazards/environmental issues applies interests of Data Protection, your contact details will not be on Broadwater Street West. passed onto any external party. Some interesting statistics on the usage of our website HGV’s Unloading In The Carriageway. over the period 1 st July – 30 th September 2009:

Lest you haven’t observed for yourself, far too frequently July Aug. Sept. ABSOLUTELY HUGE trucks are unloading in the main No. of web pages viewed : 2271 3130 2585 carriageway alongside King’s Parade. That then requires Average: 324 447 369 southbound drivers to cross over into the northbound lane, No. of times people visited: 1884 2270 1949 on a left-handed curve, and with (authorised) collision Average: 269 324 278 speeds of 80mph. This potentially fatal hazard could be No. of hits (clicks made): 3696 5620 4368 corrected with some inexpensive road engineering. Six Average: 528 802 624 months ago we held a site meeting with the “Team Leader, Speed Management Safety Engineering Group” to convey August looks to be a pretty active month with the our concerns. Wearily, and six months on, nothing has incredible increase in the average scores of page views, been decided. We have asked “why not?” visits and hits compared to July’s figures. Although September averages went down slightly compared to Road Surfacing In The Valley August, they remain higher than the July averages. We can only assume that this is due to the high interest amongst Some road surfaces have been reduced to “way below the local residents wanting to know more about the acceptable.” Marshall Avenue is in hand, and will be development of the Children and Family Centre at Vale corrected “in a few weeks” or so we have been told, after School. five phone chasers. If your road surface is also in a poor Alec Clouter - Webmaster state, you can contact me on 877288. David Morgan - A24/27 Liaison

FVRA Membership

In spite of the late start for membership collections (for which we apologise), the 2009 collections are going very well and we are pleased to welcome many new members. We are still short of a collector for Ashfold Avenue and we would like to lighten the load for some collectors whom we feel are doing more than their fair share. They themselves have not complained – bless them!

FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Established in 1936. Web site: findonvalley.org

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2009 All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend our Annual General Meeting Free Church Hall. th Friday 24 April 2009, 7.15 for 7.30 pm start.

STOP! Are you a paid up member? Only £2 per household, pa! If not please read on and decide that you really should be – and call (local) 262746 or 263038.

Chairman’s Report Garden Club I would like to invite all residents, whether members or not, to our imminent AGM. at the Free Church Hall Thank you too for all the good wishes Donna and I have (opposite the Library & S urgery). Our MP Tim Loughton received for our forthcoming wedding. Not long now! will be attending, will address issues which affect us, and I look forward to seeing you at our AGM. take questions. David Goncalves, Chairman Welcome once again to our Spring Newsletter. I trust you are all well and have noticed some significant I very much hope that everyone enjoyed the Late Night improvements to the Valley in the last six months. T hese Shopping Evening, Christmas 2008. I know you will be certainly include the Surgery Crossing (2 nd Crossing), the pleased to learn that we were able to donate £ 600 to change of priority at the junction of All Saints and, of Chestnut Tree House. All credit to Br ian Oliver, our Vice course, the dropped kerbs that ke ep appearing around the Chairman, for driving the event forward so determinedly , Valley. All of this is a credit to your Committee who I and to all others involved in its success. We hope that would like to thank publicly for all their hard work. Christmas 2009 will see an equally enjoyable and After last years misunderstanding, I need to clari fy the successful occasion. process for the election of officers on to the Committee. I On another note, I also would like to acknowledge th e have spent a lot of time reading and comprehending our work that David Goncalves, our Chairman, has put in to constitution. It is over 70 years old! I can now confirm the Association. With the help and support of the that the entire Committee can stand again without Committee, he has actively pursued action on nomination prior to AGM, but must then be re-elected at improvements to the Valley and was the instigator of the the AGM by members. Officers proposed to the first Late Night Shopping Evening. He, and you r Executive Committee are subject to the following, as Committee, is always willing to take up any matters of stipulated in the Constitution: “Nominations for the concern on your behalf. election of officers shall be made in writing at least ten Pam Pilbury Asst to Chair days before the A nnual General Meeting. Such nominations shall be seconded in writing and the consent Findon Road of the proposed nominee must have been obtained first.” Recent Achievements Furthermore, there exist in the constitution peculiarities The New “2 nd Protected Crossing” is a direct which do not meet our current needs. I shall therefore consequence of your Committee’s commitment to propose at the AGM that the following paragraph be pursuance of “A Safer Valley”. Four years’ pressure upon removed. “Item 6. Officers.” County Highways (“CH”) has resulted in this additional “All of whom shall relinquish their office every year & yet essential safe crossing of their wretched “A24 Speed shall be eligible for re-election at the An nual General Route”. Installed a few months now, (and a year ahead of Meeting. A member who has been elected Chairman for its initial budget) first indications are that it is pr oving four success ive years shall not be eligible to hold the more popular than the “1st crossing”. Some more office for a fifth consecutive year. A President and Vice “making good” by the contractors is awaited, and will President may also be elected at a General Meeting of happen, be assured. the Society, for periods to be decided at such a meeting” . Proposed Cycle Route. Following a site meeting, CH This proposal is in line with item 12 of the constitution has now dropped part of their published concept. (The bit regarding amendments. which would have re sulted in young cyclists riding Membership . I am pleased to report that despite the through groups of elderly residents waiting to board credit crunch, membership will remain at £2 per buses at Cissbury Court, and where the pavement is about household and £1 for single occupancy for 2009. four feet wide). The “Vale School” element of the plan Payments can be made at Findon Valley Post Office and (Findon Road, west side from the “New Crossing” to PC Help, wheth er renewing or a new member. All those Vale Avenue) has been “postponed”. who make payment at PC Help in April will also receive a 10% discount card off ink.

The Cycle Route will now be installed on the east side If you haven’t, but would like to, please contact Doreen (only) up along Findon Road from Offington Corner to the Tickner on 262746 or Maggie Winter on 263038 . southern end of Kings Parade. Despite incontrovertible and And make new friends! unanswered evidence, CH persists that “The Route” should Remember, it doesn’t have to be just for “your road”. be installed on the west side. “Never mind the unanimous Doreen Tickner Membership Secretary vote at your AGM last year, and whatever else you locals may know or say, we at CH are going to put it on the east President’s Report side. And it matters not what you say about potentially ten- I’d like to make a few “mentions in dispatches”. fold cyclist/pedestrian “incidents” (as we call t hem), we Brian Oliver , for his prodigious work on Late Night know better.” So now you know. Shopping, includin g the new tables and the raffle He’s also the guy who’s been driving the newly installed Offington Corner. “Keep Clear” markings. We managed “dropped kerbs” for shoppers, and the new 5-Ways to get Highways Agency to install these a couple of years layout. ago, when CH had done nothing about Findon Road David Morgan , who continues to be ultra-persistent congestion for 30 years. By late last year, the markings h ad with both of the highways’ authorities on all of our worn out, and the old problems started to return. So we A24/A27 projects, and who still returns with a win tapped up HA. “Can you re-paint them, please?” All credit every time. (Latest result, the new “Surgery Crossing”). to them. The job was done that week. CH, please note! David Goncalves , who has learned the art of Immediate & Ongoing Objectives Successful Management whilst still the youngest of us HGV’s unloading in Findon Road. We have long been by decades.– “Surround yourself with capable and concerned by this hazard, which has now reached the top of dedicated people.” We are fortunate indeed to have a our hit-list. (Members will be aware that unloading on A24 leader and team who serve us all so well. at the southern end of the shops requires southbound Last autumn, I referred to the late lamented Rosemary vehicles to cross onto the northbound carriageway at an Hook , who had been such a knowledgeable and authorised collision speed of 80 mph. Peripherally, it also devoted stalwart of The Valley in protecting our causes further congestion.) There is an obvious solution environmental interests. We shall be planting an without impinging on local trade, and CH has agreed to a English hardwood tree in her memory and honour. site meeting to discuss a solution. Betty Quinnell has been a committee member for more years than I can remember and has recently broken her Cissbury Court Bus Stop. This has to be the worst sited hip. Presently Betty is in Worthing Ho spital and sadly bus stop in the County. Next up, w e will be attempting to won’t be offering herself for re-election at the AGM. get it either moved or re-engineered. Doreen, Maggie and their subs collectors. These are 30 mph on Findon Road. CH has now recognised this as the folk without whom we would not survive. an issue, and one on which dialogue has been invited. “No subs ” would eventually lead to “No Association”.

School Safety Zone. CH erected two “20 mph” signs, but Oh, and do please attend our AGM on 24 th April, and without any local consultation. One was so absurdly placed vote for the Constitution amendment. If this isn’t that it has already been removed. The other could have carried, due perhaps to the lack of a quorum, David will been much better located further down Vale Avenue. And not be eligible to stand as Chair next year. would have been if only we locals had been asked! We intend to find out just how much of our “public money” Thank you for reading this far. And wasn't it worth it? was wasted here. Probably enough to have funded a So please join if you haven' t already. We can never Crossing Patrol for years to come. Which is just another have too much funding. And the greater our numbers, project we are or will be working on. the more clout we carry with the various local and David Morgan A24/A27. 877288 regional authorities with w hom we do battle on your Planning Consent. Most planning applications this year behalf have had little impact on The Valley. However, a recent . application to demolish a garage and build a small dwelling Finally, the space below is allocated to our Newsletter at 1A Hillviet Rise does have major implications if sponsors, without whose charitable support our bi- approved on appeal. Your Committee has strongly objected annual reports would not be printed. to that course. Leroy W. Bryan. President. Proposed Front Garden Competition. Gar dens would be judged by a local garden centre, say, in early summer. An annual trophy would be awarded, with gardening vouchers. Interested? Then do please call me.. Ian Hamilton Planning Officer 534405

Membership Report. We’ll start collecting subs a wee k or two after the clocks go forward. Sadly, we still do not have enough collectors by a long way. If you have expressed an interest in becoming involved, we shall be contacting you very soon. FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Established in 1936. Web site: FINDONVALLEY.ORG

AUTUMN OPEN MEETING 2008 All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the Autumn Open Meeting of the Findon Valley Residents’ Association at the Free Church Hall on Friday 12 th November 2008, 7.15 for 7.30 pm start.

Chairman’s Report Late Night Shopping Evening Make a note in your diary – Welcome to our Autumn Newsletter. Before we go any further, it is with great sadness that I have to write that Late Night Shopping Evening this year, in aid of the Rosemary Hook passed away on Sunday 31 st August Chestnut Tree Children’s Hospice, will take place 2008. We were sadd ened to learn she had been suffering on Friday 12 th December from 5.00 – 8.00 pm! from Lung Cancer. She was known to many within Findon Valley and had resided here for many years. Her The theme is “The Christmas Tree”, and the children knowledge of the area past and present was phenomenal. of Vale School are being invited to participate in a As a mark of respect, we are working to raise money to competition. The 5 – 8 year olds are being asked to erec t a bench at Cissbury Ring. This will cost over £500. make a Christmas Decoration for a tree. Some of the If you feel you would like to help in any way, please decorations will be used in the shops for a competition contact Leroy Bryan on 01903 877622. on the evening, and the remainder will be hung on the Since our AGM in April we have been very busy tree which is being erected on Kings Parade as part of “getting things done!” I would like to thank everyone on the event. The 9 – 12 year olds are being asked to the Committee for their support and dedication to the design an A4 poster which must have a Christmas Tree Association. You will read from our individual reports included as a main feature and the best posters will be that our efforts have been very fruitful and beneficial to used to advertise the Late Night Shopping Evening in Findon Valley. I hope you enjoy reading our newsletter the shop windows. There will also be a shop-to-shop and I look forward to seeing you a ll at our Autumn Open competition for the children on the evening, following Meeting (AOM) on Friday 14 th November 7.15 pm for previous years’ tradition. 7.30 pm at the Free Church Hall . Everyone is welcome. Kings Parade will be closed to cars between 4.00 pm As usual we will have our MP Tim Loughton, our and 9.00 pm to make room for Fun Fairs, various stalls, Councillors Colin O’Neal, Reg Green, Elizabeth Sparks, music, with local Associations’ participation, and much Graham Fabes, our PCSO Sauna Bowen, and, in addition, more. Hopefully it will be a great evening for Findon a talk from The Sussex Helicopter Rescue. Valley residents, families and friends, and will enable us to make a sizeable donation to our chosen charity. After our AGM, it was pointed out that the method used to elect officers onto the committee was not inline with Kerbs the constitution. Since then, the committee has studied The Association has been successful this summer and understood the constitution. It states that, working with the Highways and Transport Department “Nominations for election to the Executive Committee to install lowered kerbs at the junctions of Lime Tree shall be made in writing at least 10 days before the Avenue/Cissbury Avenue and at Lime Tree Annual General Meeting. Such nominations shall be Avenue/Coombe Rise. seconded in writing & the consent of the proposed Traffic Priority nominee must have been obtained first. If the Work is in progress to make changes to the junction of nominations exceed the number of vacancies, a ballot Lime Tree Avenue/Cissbury Avenue and Cissbury shall take place in such a manner as shall be Drive. The alterations will make a priority change determined, provided that only those members of the between Cissbury Drive and Cissbury Avenue to create Society as attend the Annual General Meeting shall be a safer junction with improved visibility. entitled to cast a vote. I can confirm that future elections shall be carried out in this manner. Waste Bins Have you noticed we have new “Waste Bins” installed On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone who along Kings Parade? Again down to us! supported me over the last six months. My horse Gabby had a serious accident which took up many hours of my Brian Oliver Vice Chairman time on a dail y basis. I am pleased to report that she has made a full recovery and is back to bouncing me around Sussex Police - Offington Ward the South Downs again at all paces. Maggie Winter, Membership Records, is also the David Goncalves Chairman FVRA’s representative on the Sussex Police Offington Ward Neighbourhood Panel. Residents can contact Maggie on W 263038 if they have any ongoing policing issues which they wish her to put to the panel, that are relevant to the area.

A24/27 Dog Warden Offington Corner. “Keep Clear” markings It’s 18 months since these were installed by the A new dog warden has been appointed to look after the Highways Agency, following an extended campaign area. Mr Russell Akehurst is also a local resident. by your committee as the only available solution to An extra dog waste bin has been made available in the the A24 (southbound) tailbacks misery. (Assisted not Coombe Rise car park and discussions with the Council at a ll by County Highways, it should be noted, who regarding the fouling in the woodland and downland had ignored this problem as “not their problem” for beyond the car park have given rise to laminated notices 20 years.) All will agree that the installation has being agreed to be erected to re mind dog owners of their proved a huge success. Yes? responsibility to clean up after their pets. Anyway, the original markings wore out and were Ian Hamilton Planning Officer becoming “ignored” by A27 tr affic. We approached HA in September, and they’d had them re-painted Membership Report within a week. County Highways, please note! A special thank you to all our collectors for so diligently A Second (“The Surgery”) Protected Crossing. gathering in a large proportion of our subscriptions this We have maintained a constant pressure on CH for year. The June c ollection round, together with the leaflet this installation since 2004. According to the Herald, drop encouraging members to pay at the Post Office or PC this is “now to happen”, although we still await CH’s Help, means that we now have 766 fully paid up confirmation that the budget has been approved. households, of which 91 are new members, to whom we The location is not our first choice. We opted for offer a warm welcome. Findon Road, between Limetree Avenue & Hillview Rise. CH maintains that this is not possible w ithin At the time of writing there are 26 2 unpaid members. If road-engineering parameters, and intends to locate it you are able to pay your subscription at the PO or PC Help well south of Hillview Rise. Since we want this item this would help our collectors before they make their final “got on with”, we have gone along with that visits to round-up the strays during October. proposal, rather than have the installation further Unfortunately we never have enough volunteer collectors to delayed. cover all the roads in the Valley, so if you would be willing Cycle Route. “Findon – Town Centre” to help with house calls to any of the following roads, Yo ur Committee’s view is “Yes. Absolutely. We please contact Doreen on W 262746. You do not need to want one”. As a secondary issue, we much prefer to reside in these roads yourself. have it installed on the west-side pavement. This Allendale Avenue Findon Road (part of) preference was supported unanimously by members Fontwell Close Greatham Road present at the last AGM. Nevertheless, and in spite Hollingbury Gardens (odd numbers) of this and abundant other evidence we have offered The Heights Vale Walk CH (many more houses, intersections and cross-overs Wantley Road on the east, and about ten times as many pedestrians as use the west), CH intend to install it on the east. For people new to the area, being a collector is a good way This not withstanding that the inevitable consequence to meet your neighbours and to find out about your new will be ten times as many “incidents” between neighbourhood. pedestrians and cyclists! If you are not a member or are new to the Va lley and would Oh. And some of what we all have traditionally like to know more about us, please contact our Membership known as “footpaths” will be re-scheduled as “Shared Secretary, Doreen Tickner, on W 262746 or visit our Cycle Routes”! website at www.findonvalley.org . Oh, again, CH has admitted that they thought that “Findon” started at Vale Drive, and had no Doreen Tickner Membership Secretary understanding of the separate identities of the Valley Maggie Winter Membership Records and the Village.

Cissbury Court Bus-Stop. Relocation of this item is next on our “hit-list”. It’s fair to say that this is the worst located bus-stop in the Borough. (A hal ted bus, congestion behind on Findon Road, no visibility for vehicles exiting Vale Drive, pavement too narrow, etc.) And now the “Shared Cycle Route” is to pass through passengers leaving/boarding the buses! We wait to hear of CH’s solution to this last. (Hopefully “re-locate”?) Trouble there is finding any single officer in charge of “moving bus-stops”. You can imagine … … David Morgan A24/A27 FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Established in 1936. Web site: www.findonvalley.org

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008 All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Findon Valley Residents’ Association Free Church Hall on Friday 25th April, 7.15 for 7.30 pm start.

What’s the Residents’ Association For? Is it Just ridiculous sign at Offington Corner northbound, which a Talking Shop? read “A24 Speed Route Management Scheme.” We have also made them get their speed limit signage right a t Read On! Kings Parade. Findon Valley Residents' Association was for med in 1936 Additionally, we were instrumental in getting the Surgery by (only) 23 residents to oppose the erection of a factory to change its inconvenient appointments system. in the Valley, and to protect and promote the interests of residents in the area. We were successful in closing Kings Parade for the Late Night Shopping Event on Friday 14 th December further During its existence the Association has pressed for, and improving on 2006. Many families attending were obtained many improvements to amenities and p ublic appreciative and have encouraged us to work and focus on services, including the scheduling of The Gallops as an this occasion for 2008 and future years. open space, the provision of the Children's Playground, the Zig- Zag Path from Vale Drive to Bost Hill, Public Participating shops were also appreciative. All of this can Toilets, the Branch Library and the Bus Shelters. only encourage a desirable neighbourly environment for all concerned. In 1962, the Association successf ully conducted a campaign halting further development east of Hollingbury The event also supports the local Hospice and KWASH and Sullington Gardens. Subsequently, the Developers through donations – declared objectives of FVRA. were allowed to construct Long Meadow and Shepherds What we are presently working on Mead and build on the west side only. The Association then negotiated the donation of the remainder of the land , • Foremost is a second light-controlled crossing at “The extending those boundaries up to the National Trust land Surgery”. (Incidentally, we have now persuaded and Worthing Golf Club, to Worthing Corporation as an County Highways to stop r eferring to this as “The open space. Library” crossing. All elderly residents on the west side will understand!) This project has now moved Subsequently, The Association secured the dedication of from “nowhere” to “next budget”. the two public footpaths leading to Cissbury Hill , the • More crossovers on the east side for residents with installation of the Pelican Crossing, improved street shop-mobility needs. (See below.) lighting in Findon Road, and in April 1975, after 5 years • More dog-litter bins on the east side. of campaigning, the opening of the Television Relay • Getting the bus stop and shelter moved to somewhere Station on West Hill, thereby improving reception throughout the Valley. less congestive and more safety related. • Continuing with the “Late Night Shopping” initiative In 1987, we successfully pressured WSCC County in December. Highways into installing safety bollards every 200 yards • A “30mph” through the Valley – or at least for the along the Findon Road. Much more recently, we have length of Kings Parade. forced County Highways to stop pretending that these are • Dangers posed by HGV’s unloading in the main “pedestrian refuges”. (They are much too narrow f or that carriageway. purpose.) • Stopping unsociable residents converting their front In the last few years The Association (acting alone) has gardens into builders’ yards. greatly reduced Findon Road south-bound congestion by • Preventing the parking of large boats in the roadway. getting the Highways Agency to install “Keep Clear” “Shop mobility” cross-overs markings at Offington Corner, and in concert with Vale School has had installed the light-controlled crossing on We are in negotiations with County Highways to improve Warren Hill. (We are still badgering the Highways the positioning and gradient of dropped kerbs for the Agency over promised safety improvements here.) benefit of residents in wheelchairs and mobility vehicles.

We have also badgered County Highways into installing safety improvements to “The Pelican” (better light phasing, the sa fety barriers and greatly improved pedestrian “footfall”) and got them to remove their Priorities are:- We are without subscription collectors for 15 roads in the Valley, and have a pressing need to fill these vacancies. 1. The “Fiveways” junction at LTA and the Cissburies. So, how about volunteering? It requires only a couple of hours per year , and is an excellent way of getting to know 2. Also, changes here to traffic priorities via road your neighbours and fellow residents . Especially if you are markings to improve driver visibility and hence “fairly new”. At the AGM, we will announce the date of a pedestrian and mobility safety. “get together” for all existing collectors and anyone else 3. The Surgery and surrounding kerbs. interested o r who just wishes to know more about the Findon Valley Residents Association. County Highways are presently conducting a safety audit in regard to all of this. Thank you to all members and collectors for your continued support. Why we need you Doreen Tickner (Membership Secretary) We aren’t just “a committee”. We a ll have specific jobs, Maggie Winter (Membership Records) which we are expected to get on with. Sadly, presently there are more “jobs” than people to do them. So, if you’d like to contribute, please contact any of the below. If you are not Message from your Chairman already a member, please contact Doreen or Maggie, or call It is with great regret that I have to report that our secretary in at the Post Office and fill in a form to join the Pamela Pilbury will be retiri ng from secretarial work after Association. Subscriptions are merely £2 p.a. per household, the AGM, and our Treasurer Donna Denham will be or £1 for single occupancy. How's that for value? stepping down due to other commitments. Their input, Your Committee Telephone: expertise and professionalism over the last couple years has been a huge asset . I would like to thank them on behalf of President: Leroy W. Bryan 877622 all of us for their hard work and wish them every happiness Chairman: David Goncalves 877649 in the future. I would also like to thank all of your committee for their unstinting contribution over the last Vice Chairman: Brian Oliver 872070 year. I am very much looking forward to working with you Secretary: Pam Pilbury 266279 all over the coming year. Treasurer: Donna Denham. 877649 Costs and Income Membership We have inescapable costs. Printing and distribution, Secretary: Doreen Tickner 262746 insurance, (yes, insurance!) registration fees, etc. We also donate to KWASH and C hestnut Tree House. Our sole Membership income comes from subscriptions. Records: Maggie Winter 262038 To have a future, the FVRA needs to have inco me Social Sec: Betty Quinnell 877440 exceeding expenditure. Last year it didn’t. So, could just a Planning few of you please heed Doreen & Maggie’s appeal, above? Officer: Vacant Our other need is to add some “new blood” to the committee st Traffic to take it forwards through the 21 C entury. As you can see A24/A27: David Morgan 877288 this includes Secretary, Treasurer and Planning Officer. Traffic/ And we also need some fresh lines of thought on the Publicity: Susan Smith 262595 committee. So, and even if you are “new” to the Valley please contact any of us prior to the AGM. I can promise I/T Webmaster: you that you will not be bored! (PC HELP) David Goncalves 877770 David Goncalves South Downs Chairman Representative: Rosemary Hook 877060 Stop Press You will note from the above that we currently have a The Second (Surgery) Crossing. Here's an extract from a vacancy for a Planning Officer. This role is at present bei ng recent e-mail from County Highways. “The scheme has undertaken by our President. Additionally, the T reasurer and been included in next year’s works programme, however Secretary will both be standing down at the AGM. We we are still awaiting confirmation of budget allocation therefore will have three vacancies on our Committee, and if (anticipated by mid to end March).” you are willing to undertake any of these roles and be of service to your community, please contact our Chairman, David Goncalves.

Membership Regrettably, a number of roads were not covered by a collector for 2007. We are exclusively dependent on your subscriptions, so if your address is one of those affected could you please pay it in at Findon Valley Post Office or at PC Help. FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Established in 1936. Web site: FINDONVALLEY.ORG

AUTUMN MEETING 2007 LATE NIGHT SHOPPING EVENING All residents of Findon Valley are invited Following the success of last year’s event, we to attend the Autumn meeting of the are delighted to invite everyone to a Late Findon Valley Residents’ Association at Night Shopping evening in the King’s Parade, the Free Church Hall on Friday 23 rd Findon Valley from 5.30 –8.00 pm on Friday November 2007, 7.15 for 7.30 pm start. 14 th December 2007.

President’s Report

It gives me great pleasure in submitting my report We have launched a second committee to focus on future this Autumn, which will be deliberately short to save events. We meet monthly to discuss the forthcoming Late repetition. Night Shopping on Friday 14 th December along Kings Parade. We have managed to secure the closure of the I am more than personally delighted at the service road, Kings Parade, from 4.00pm till 9.00pm achievements of Y OUR Society since our last report (allowing time for stalls to be set up), to accommodate at the AGM. These, as you will see from our safely the number of children who attended last year, and Chairman’s and each sub-committee report following to provide further activities. Once again, there will be a shows their time-consuming actions and competition with a prize, supplied by the Findon Valley achievements over the past 6 months. As well as the Residen ts Association, for every correct entry. Children Late Night Shopping Celebrations f or us to look will be required to find a Christmas narration displayed forward to in December, I look forward to meeting on a poster in every participating shop and then take their most of you there. completed forms to our stall for checking. We will also have tombolas and various other s talls supplied by local On your behalf I thank each and every one of our clubs and societies. The choirs of All Saints and the Free committee members for their dedication to serving Church will be singing at either end of the parade. And the Community, I congratulate and thank in particular we are hoping to have a number of small fair ground David Goncalves on being a first class Chairman who attractions at designated points on the parade. If you keeps us well in order and on our toes. would like to be involved in any way, please contact me on 877649. Leroy W. Bryan F.I.B.B. President The Findon Valley Residents Association Events Committee will soon be starting work on our 2008 Fete, Chairman’s Report which will hopefully combine the efforts of all local societies and clubs, and take place at the Gallops. The time has come once again for us to issue our bi-annual newsletter and inform all our members I have continued to fight our campaign for extra dog of what we have been up to, and hopefully seek waste bins on the East side of the valley with little new members too. Please come along to our progress. Despite offering to pay for both the bin and its rd Autumn Meeting on Friday 23 November, siting, the Council have refused to arrange for collections 7.15pm for 7.30pm start, at the Findon Valley to be made from an y new bins as they have currently Free Church. A big thanks to Joal Ferreia and his reached full capacity of the number of bins they can team for allowing us the use of the hall free of collect with their existing crew. We suggested moving charge. Your support is most gratefully underused bins from else where in the borough to Findon appreciated. Valley, but apparently we already have enough. Of the 21 do g waste bins in the Valley, it is noted that there are 3 Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings on Findon Road from the Cemetery to the Village, 15 on regardless of membership status. the Gallops and adjoining green, and 3 at the car parks and top of Central Avenue on the East side. I have now We have had a very busy six months since our forwarded the entire case to Cllr Graham Fabes. AGM in April. I hope you all enjoy reading the Hopefully, he can help. In the meantime, we individual reports from our committee.

have some “Poop Scoop Area” signs available which can Speed limit A27 . We are campaigning the Highways be attached to your own fences and walls. These can be Agency for the four miles of single carriageway from obtained from David at PC Help. Goring Castle to Lyons Farm to be restricted to 30 mph. This is an exclusively residential section, with 30 We are st ill seeking a Planning Officer. We have a turnings on to it (which corresponds to 60 right turns, number of planning applications that come our way via none of which have any protection for the drivers) and both the Planning Office and our members for discussion. innumerable private driveways. And reducing the speed Our President is currently undertaking this role, but if you limit will also shorten the tailbacks at Offington Corner, feel you have the time and expertise to be come involved, Grove Lodge and Lyons Farm. please do not hesitate to contact us. New Crossing, Warren Road . FVRA and Safer Routes

to School got this installed, although we were not And finally I would like to thank everyone on the consulted on any aspect of it, including its siting. committee for their support over the last year and also, of Following further pressure from us concerning course, to thank our members who have supported us. I subsequent pedestrian safety here, the Highways Agency hope you find our newsletter of intere st and I look conducted a safety audit late in August (w hen the schools forward to seeing you at our Autumn Meeting. were “out”!), again excluding any local representation

(because of “regulations”). A number of hazards were David Goncalves Chairman confirmed, mainly relating to driver visibility/distractions. Solutions (including high-mast Membership Secretary’s Report signals) are to be installed. We hav e asked for the timetable for this. Local MP Tim Loughton is applying A big thank to all our collectors who have walked the pressure from his end, too. The Highways Agency has, streets of Findon Valley and collected membership however, no solution “permissible within (the) subscriptions on our behalf. And of course, a vote of regulations” to the hazards caused by traffic, and thanks to Clare and her team at the Post Office who especially by large trucks, taili ng back from the receive our membership fees, and to those who have roundabout and barring pedestrian access on to the paid there as well, making the jobs of our collectors crossing entirely. We have pointed out the absurdity of much easier. this. A response from the Highways Agency is awaited. nd It is with great pleasure I announce that we have Proposed “2 Crossing” on Findon Road (at the re ceived membership from 565 households. We also “Surgery Crossing”). We have continued to press County have 81 new members, who I would like to personally Highways for this. The need has been acknowledged. welcome. “Next year’s budget” is the current situation. Bus Stop, Cissbury Court . We are taking up with We still have a number of outstanding payments - in County Highways the poor siting of this stop as it causes fact 394 households! Our collectors are still making obstructions on Findon Road, and the hoarding serves to their way around. Findon Road, which supp orts 136 block the view of drivers emerging from Vale Drive. members, is now in process. Please, where possible, make payment at the Post Office. The following roads Coombe Rise . On behalf of concerned residents, FVRA are still outstanding: has taken up with the authorities the case of the large boat parked on the footpath, and the builders’ yard business Ashfold Avenue Cissbury Court apparently operating from a front garden. The boat has Greatham Road Hazelhurst Crescent now been moved. Hillview Road Hollingbury Gardens Longmeadow Marshall Avenue David Morgan A24/A27 Sullington Gardens Wantley Road

If you are a collector for any of the above roads, please make your collections as soon as possible. If you would like to help us and become a membership collector, please contact Doreen on 262746.

Doreen Tickner Membership Secretary

A24/A27 Developments/Safety & Congestion Improvements

Speed limit A24 . Following three years campaigning for Findon Road to be restricted to 30 mph (at least southwards from Central Avenue) FVRA have managed to convince County Hi ghways of our case. This will be reviewed by County Highways when resources are allocated next year

FINDON VALLEY RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (FINDON VALLEY SOCIETY) Established in 1936. Web site: WWW.FINDONVALLEY.ORG

71 st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: 27 th April 2007 The Dog Warden, Mr. Munro, reminds us that it is law for us to clear up after our dogs and that they will be patrolling the area All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the 71st to catch offenders. He states that “If a dog fouls a public place Annual General Meeting of the Findon Valley Residents’ and there is not a dog bin near to hand, the dog’s owner should Association to be held in the Free Church Hall on Friday either take the faeces home with them or to the nearest park and 27 th April 2007, starting at 7.30 pm prompt. put it into a dog bin. It is unreasonable expectation that the Council locate dog waste bins on every street corner so that dog CHAIRMANS REPORT - MARCH 2007 walker do not have to go too far.” Well, clearly this we have not asked! But certainly a couple more on the east side would ease Firstly I am sad to write that our long standing president John the problem. You can stay up to date on the latest position by Langridge has passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with visiting our website www.findonvalley.org his family and friends, and would like to record our gratitude for the time and commitment he gave to this Society and the We also received concerns relating to the unsightly and friendship he gave to many. inappropriate mobile phone mask they are planning for the junction of Findon Road and Cissbury Avenue. You may have It has been a very busy six months, which seem to have flown read the article in the Herald stipulating our opposition to the by. It only feels like yesterday we were planning our autumn 11.70meter high monopole. Again, we have written to the meeting and already the AGM has arrived. I am pleased to planning officer stating our concerns. announce that this will take place on Friday 27 th April 2007 at the Free Church. Doors open at 7.00pm for 7.30pm start. All Saints Church recently filed for planning approval to cover Everyone is welcome, whether a member or not, with an the use of the hall for all different types of events including opportunity to join at the door if you so wish. Furthermore, we music, martial arts and outdoor events. Please rest assure that will be starting our collections very soon for 2007. Initially we the application was made only to cover the existing clubs and will be asking where possible for payment to be made through societies who rent the hall and grounds. The brownies may use the Post Office on Kings Parade, Findon Valley. We are very it for a pantomime and, due to changes in EU law, they must be grateful to them all for the service they continue to provide for covered for these activities. Similarly, when a Fete is held on us. We will also be happy to renew memberships on the door at their grounds, a Licence is required. Therefore we are our AGM. From June onwards, your road representatives will supporting All Saints and wish them every success in all they begin the task of knocking on the doors of those who have not do. Again, details can be found on our website yet renewed. If you feel that you have the time and the very little (www.findonvalley.org ) energy entailed to be a collector with the added benefit of meeting your neighbours, then please see our list below of roads Finally, as you all know, at the Autumn Meeting our Chairman, not covered; these come complete with details of the numbers of Leroy Bryan, wished to take a back seat and concentrate on houses from which collections are to be made. some of his other commitments. As Vice Chairman, I took on my obligation to act as Chairman. Now the AGM has come, I Aldwick Crescent (29) Ashfold Avenue find myself without any time. Some of you know that I have my Fontwell Close (4) Franklands Close (11) partner Donna, two dogs and a horse, and the show season is starting. Furthermore, Donna and I also support Worthing Life Hillview Road (25) Hillview Rise th Hurston Close (38) Kearsley Drive (11) Saving Corps and run 7 Lancing Brownies. There simply Longmeadow Mayfield Close (17) aren’t enough hours in the day to fit everything in and enjoy Prince William Close (11) Vale Avenue (36) life. I therefore wish to hand some time back to my family and Vale Drive (19) Vale Walk (16) friends, my dogs, and of course, my horse. Therefore as of the AGM, Donna and I will no longer serve on this committee. If you think you can help, and to find out more, please contact Doreen Tickner, Membership Secretary , on 01903 262746 Consequently, we will be looking for nominations for Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Planning Officer. I am A number our members have approached me regarding the lack pleased to announce that Brian Oliver has joined the committee of dog bins on the east side of the Valley. As a multiple dog as a non-voting member. I would like to propose Brian for the owner myself, I sympathise with the problem, especially over position of Vice Chairman. We will be seeking to appoint these the last few months when we have had to walk the streets as the positions at our AGM and hope that they can be filled. Leroy fields have been far to muddy to even entertain the idea of Bryan, as Vice President, will move into the position of exercising dogs there. I wrote to the dog warden requesting President and host the AGM and Chair the meetings until a more dog bins. This was denied due to lack of funds. So we Chairman can be found. offered to pay for them, but they stated they can’t afford to collect the waste. I wrote to them again stating the I wish the committee all the best in everything they do and I will environmental health risk aspect of the problem. Currently there continue to maintain the website as and when required. is only one man employed for the collection of dog waste bins in the Worthing area. Employing a second person would be David Goncalves extremely costly. However, they have agreed to look at other Chairman under used dog waste bins in the Worthing area and possibly relocating them in the Valley.

VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT A24/A27 Developments/Safety & Congestion Improvements.

As your new President, I should like to pay my personal tribute Please note that the first three of the following items have been to our immediate past President John Langridge. John and I had achieved in conjunction with Vale School’s “Safer Routes to many sessions together over the years, and his great knowledge School” campaign of our Association was of so much help to me when I first became involved. John was a stickler for protocol, honour, A27/Warren Road. At Last A Protected Crossing. discipline, and good old-fashioned common sense. I know you Our long-fought campaign is finally yielding perceivable will all join me in sending our sincere condolences to his family. results. You will have seen the work in progress at Offington Corner. This is the installation of a light controlled crossing to On behalf of the Committee and your Association, I extend our enable young pupils of Vale School living south of Warren most sincere thanks to David Goncalves for his Chairmanship of Road, together with all teenage pupils living north, to travel to our Society. David has achieved much on our behalf since he and from school in much greater safety. (It’s been an absolute has been our Chairman. If I were to think of his greatest scandal that previously there had been no such pedestrian achievement, it would be the great Christmas Shopping evening crossing between Swandean and Lyons Farm, a distance of we had. This superb evening was all David’s individual hard some miles, on a 40ph “Trunk Route” through a residential work and what an evening that was! I am well informed that he neighbourhood.) will be repeating it again this year! I am sure you will join me in wishing him every good wish for his future success in his “The Pelican” business and personal life. Work has now started on engineering improvements to the access of this crossing from Kings Parade and Vale Drive. I guess David’s unfortunate resignation puts me, once again, in Again, due exclusively to pressure applied. (We had already the short term driving seat until we have a new Chairman. I do obtained an extension to the timings of the lights for the benefit sincerely hope this will not be too long incoming as I was just of our most vulnerable crossing-users.) beginning to enjoy, once again, my retirement from nearly all business commitments. Having said that, I always accept a The Surgery/Second Crossing. challenge! I will enjoy once again leading what is a first class From not being considered at all, this project has been dedicated Committee until our new Chairman is elected, shoved/pushed/bulldozed to the top of County Highways hopefully at our AGM on FRIDAY the 27 th of APRIL in the “Priority List”. We wait to hear as to where it stands when the FREE CHURCH HALL . I am sure you will not forget the new fiscal year budget figures are released. AGM date; I chose it especially so that you will all remember to join us for the evening, which starts at 7.00 for “30 Through The Valley” 7.30 pm. Another campaign we have been pursuing to the annoyance of County Highways. This, too, has been moved up from a “not Leroy W Bryan FIBB even considered” category to “a real possibility”. (You will have observed the speed measuring devices deployed on Findon Road from time to time.) The residents of Findon Valley soon rallied round to support the FVRA when they knew that we were supporting Keep Worthing Mobility Cross-Overs and Southlands Hospitals (KWASH) . We managed to get our Site meetings have been instigated, and installation priorities members to sign the petition, and organised the meeting at the agreed with the local authority officer responsible. Installation Church Hall, at which Tom Wye (The Mayor of Worthing) will be subject to budget availability and conflicting priorities talked about the problems at the hospital. The Findon Valley elsewhere. Residents’ Association raised a substantial amount of money More later. (£500) to help KWASH. “Keep Clear” At Offington Corner. The Findon Valley Residents’ Association were soon on the Installed last April, and due entirely to your committee’s case when we first knew that the Yobs were at Durrington perseverance with Highways Agency, this measure is now Cemetery pushing over headstones on the graves. The yielding huge benefit to Valley Residents. Except at peak hours, decimation was awful, relatives were visiting to see if their it is now possible to leave your address, and drive into Worthing relatives graves were vandalised. As the gates were not closed without having to allow an extra 20 minutes for tail backs on at nights, we had to do something about it. We contacted Ian Findon Road. It’s worth noting that County Highways have Rudkin, who is in charge of the Cemetery and demanded that been asked several times as to why they did not seek to the gates be closed at dusk. This has happened now and it has negotiate this rather obvious solution to the Valley’s major definitely reduced the decimation. problem. They have never responded.

Susan Smith, Publicity and PR Officer Kings Parade. “30, not 40”, and “No HGV’s” The re-signing of the A24 approach is (again) due solely to your committee’s perseverance.

Kings Parade. Parkabilty Issues We’ve been working on the LA here, too.

Offington Lane Re-surfacing. Deferred until main school holidays. Some road closure north of Burford Close will be entailed.

David Morgan, A24/A27

FINDON VALLEY SOCIETY Established in 1936. Web site: FINDONVALLEY.ORG

70 th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: 17 th May 2006

All residents of Findon Valley are invited to attend the I must admit to being personally disgusted when I heard 70 th Annual General Meeting of the Findon Valley of the deliberate vandalism in Durrington Cemetery. Society to be held in All Saints Church Hall on We will be calling for a public meeting shortly! Wednesday 17 th May, starting at 7.30 pm prompt. As you will read in the following reports, we have had Agenda an exceptional year of achievements from a team who 1. Chairman’s greeting and introductions. dedicate a great deal of their time to looking after the 2. Election of Committee. interests of all who live in the Valley. Please give them 3. Motions as presented (see Notice Board). your full support. 4. Speakers and residents debate. I have had an appeal for volunteers to assist with the We will have representation from County Councillor maintenance and running of the HIGH SALVINGTON Colin O’Neill, and Councillors Reg Green, Graham WINDMILL. If you can assist, please contact John Fabes and Mark McCarthy. Unfortunately, I have Simmonds, 62 Offington Avenue, BN14 9PJ. apologies for non attendance from our MP Tim Leroy W Bryan, Chairman Loughton. I understand he is actually dining on 17th May with Lady Margaret Thatcher. As mentioned above, I have recently taken on the role Chairman’s Message of Secretary to the Findon Valley Society, but I have It gives pleasure in greeting all our new residents of already become aware of the issues that the committee Findon Valley over the past year and I trust you have all has taken up on your behalf. Please support us, and do settled in to our very friendly village environment. not hesitate to contact me with anything that you would Our sincere thanks to the Road Representatives, who like raised at the AGM. are doing a first class job in collecting your The Society is organising an outing to Amberley Chalk subscriptions. More on this later. Pit on Sunday 25 th June. We would be delighted if you I am sure you will all join with me in another THANK could join us – please bring a picnic lunch. Hopefully YOU to Penny Forbes of the FINDON VALLEY the weather will treat us well, and it will be an DIRECTORY . Through Penny we have delivered news enjoyable day. and newsletters to every householder in the Valley. Pam Pilbury, Secretary The Society Committee has had its ups and downs this year, beginning with the most untimely death of our There is a problem with parking at the shop area, most valued Treasurer, Robert Walker. exacerbated by cars, vans and lorries parking on In October, we received the unfortunate resignation of pavement outside Mitzubishi, so that residents are our Secretary, Angela Giles – our very sincere thanks to unable, at times, to get past. FVS is intervening to try Angela, who has done a tremendous amount of work for to solve the difficulties. our Society over the many years. Our thanks also to our FVS have also intervened with WBC in order to sort Vice Chairman, Rebecca Bailey, who, due to business out some of the problems at Durrington Cemetery after commitments, could not take up the office. the vandals’ attack. The good news is that we now have a new Secretary in FVS have taken on board the problem of stopping the Pam Pilbury, and a ne w Treasurer in Donna Denham. WSCC wanting to allow anyone or everyone to use We also have Doreen Tickner taking on the challenge of 4X4s, quad bikes, and motor bikes on all bridleways on Membership Secretary, along with Betty Quinnell as the South Downs. We are busy collecting signatures to assistant. Our thanks and best wishes to them. send to WSCC regarding this appalling state of affairs, You will find all the names and positions of your in an effort to stop this happening. You can add your committee on the Notic e Board outside the Library. signature to either of the clip boards - one is at the P.O. Keep an eye on the Board for up to date information. and the other is at Geoff Dean Saddlery. We will consider requesting that Findon Valley Susan Smith, Publicity becomes a Conservation area to stop the “spoiling” of small bungalows into houses (History of the Valley in retirement). This pleasant valley that we all live in, desperately Findon Valley was very important in growing food needs the continued support of its ‘Guardian Angels’ crops at that time. My family bought Laureldene (the FVS) to ensure that it remains just that. Being Nurseries – seven glasshouses and a packing shed – very much a ‘new girl’ on the committee, I am crops mainly tomatoes and lettuce. My mother ran the constantly surprised at the many and varied issues that Nursery with the manager and two part-time staff. The are taken up on your behalf. first winter was the great snow of 1946/47; only my In order that this work can continue, and indeed grow, mother and I were living in the house at the top of the we need all of the Findon Valley residents to join us Nursery. There were bungalows over the Findon Road, and have their say in the issues that affect our daily but nothing nearby. I don’t know what happened to the lives. staff, but the boiler went out in the only heated Betty Quinnell and I have taken on the task of co- greenhouse and my mother was down in the ordinating our existing Road Representatives and if boilerhouse trying to re-light it. Three months under a possible recruiting new Road Representatives for the blanket of snow and ice! I caught rheumatic fever many roads that are not covered. This, I can assure trying to pack chrysanthemum stalls in a cold and you, is not an onerous task and can be easily draughty packing shed. The seagulls were pecking the incorporated with a pleasant walk on a nice summer linseed oil based putty out of the glasshouses, and the evening. If you feel able to spare a couple of hours herons that flew along the Valley found all the ponds (once a year), please, please contact us. thick with ice, and died. Everything was frozen until Should your road not have a representative, then the end of March. After that, the country had a please do drop your £2 subscription (per household) heatwave in the summer of 1947, and the glasshouses into the Post Office, along with your name and had to be top ventilated every day by me before I address. Our thanks to Clare and Amy for this cycled to Worthing High School. The Nursery and facility. Portersham Nursery next door behind the Q8 garage are Doreen Tickner, Membership Secretary now in the area surrounding Hurston Close. More memories next month. KEEP CLEAR MARKINGS have recently appeared Rosemary Hook, South Downs on the roundabout at Offington Corner, you may have noticed. The intention is to relieve congestion on the Findon Road by allowing south and west bound traffic to escape more easily. If it works, it will be due solely to a sustained effort by your Society over several years. (County Highways, you may be interested to learn, has never done anything to address southbound congestion through the Valley.) OFFINGTON’S “ONE-WAY PLUG” appears to have been abandoned by County Highways. Again, solely due to input from your Society. And the requested second PROTECTED CROSSING at the Surgery has moved up to 6 th on County Highways priorities’ list. David Morgan, A24/A27

HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY We came to the Findon Valley in September 1946, my mother having previously owned and named “The Smugglers”, Sompting. The war was over, but still sniffing at our heels, with rationing of everything from food and clothing to petrol, coal and wood for building. My father had been with the War Agricultural Committee for East and West Sussex based in Lewes, as he was a lecturer at Plumpton College.

Registered Charity No FINDON VALLEY SOCIETY 267009

Newsletter Autumn 2005

Autumn Open Meeting Everyone is invited to attend the Autumn A24 / A27 Traffic Flow Open Meeting on Tuesday 8 th A27 Pedestrian Safety, Warren Road November 2005 at 8.00pm in Findon Highways Agency has confirmed that Valley Free Church Hall, Limetree they are actively evaluating the proposed Avenue. Please note change of venue. siting of a Puffin protected crossing. Agenda Installation will be subject to budget, • Update on Pedestrian Safety & target date late 2006. A24/A27 Congestion Congestion - Offington Corner • Recycling presentation InterRoute has advised us that it intends • Q&A with local Councillor & to install “Keep Clear” markings when representatives A27 is next re-marked. Offington’s Proposed One Way Plug Chairman’s Message Following strong representations leading It is with greatest sadness that we record to a site meeting with the County the death of our Honorary Treasurer and Council’s Cabinet Member, Col. very dear friend Robert Walker MBE on Pemberton has kindly agreed to postpone Sunday 9th October. Our deepest installation of this daft proposal by County sympathy to his wife Norma and their Highways until all implications have been family. properly evaluated. As from the 8th November we will have our new Web Site open. Sincere thanks A24 Findon Road to David Goncalves and his team for Kings Parade – Off-peak traffic speeds undertaking this time consuming job. directly off A24 We continue in partnership with Vale The Local Area Traffic Manager disputes School in voicing our concerns about the that this is a problem. We do not agree. speed of traffic, as well as children and Our request for a 20mph limit has been residents crossing the A24 by the Doctors refused and for a number of invalid Surgery & Library. We congratulate David reasons. We shall be pressing this further Morgan & Susan Smith for their input to and requiring traffic calming of one sort or these initiatives. another. County Highways has agreed to Our heartfelt thanks go to our team of install a “30mph” sign at the entrance. We Road Representatives who are doing a have asked for two, and for the wrongly first class job, also our thanks to those sited “40mph” sign to be moved back who have retired after many years hard onto A24. work on our behalf. We do need a few more Representatives to replace them All of the above, and more, will be please. We have arranged for those of covered at the Autumn Open Meeting, you who do not have Road Reps to pay and on our new website. you subscription of £2 per household to our Post Office (once again many thanks Further details from David Morgan on to Andy & Clare). 877288 or by e-mail on My thanks for the total support of your [email protected] committee. Our thanks also to my Vice Chair, Rebecca Bailey and to Ray Walsh Safer Routes to School & who have both resigned due to other Crossing Count commitments . We are now very hopeful of getting a Leroy W. Bryan Chairman crossing at the Surgery/Library point of the A24. Exactly when we do not know. our coverage of the Valley. Many thanks Your Society did a 12 hour (7am to 7pm) to Eric Moulding for many years sterling headcounts on two separate days where service in collecting in the Parade, and over 200 people per day were counted Mrs Grigg who is unfortunately now to crossing at that point. The Highways busy too continue collecting in Sullington Dept. were so sceptical about the results Gardens. If you are an outgoing friendly they did their own count a few weeks ago person who knows your neighbours well, which sparked the remark that or would like to get to know them better “The crossing is a very high priority”. this could be just the job for you. You The chairman, David Morgan and I have also need to care about local issues and been liasing with the Vale School Safer be prepared to listen to the views of Routes to School scheme, who are very residents and pass these on to the keen for this crossing to go ahead within Committee. If you, or anyone you know the Governments initiative as more and is interested please contact Leroy Bryan more children will hopefully be walking to on 877622 on or Angela Giles on 873934 school. or by e-mail on How long “High Priority” will be we do not [email protected] . Alternatively know. please come & see us at the Autumn Susan Smith. Press & Schools Liaison General Meeting on the 8th.

Website Committee We are delighted to announce the launch We urgently need a new Secretary, of the please volunteer if you can spare the Findon Valley Website time. On Tuesday 8th November There will be pages on COMMITTEE Road Safety Traffic congestion MEMBERS Attainments by The Society John Langridge President Safer Routes To School These pages will be up-dated on an event Leroy Bryan Tel :877622 Chairman Vice Chairman & basis. David Morgan A24/A27 Other pages are planned, and will be published as available. Derek Belcher Planning So, make a diary note to visit Angela Giles Acting Treasurer www.findonvalley.org Dianne Culling Membership Liaison Secretary Canal Trip David Goncalves IT & Website Our boat trip on the Wey & Arun canal Rosemary Hook Environment proved very popular, all had a good time. Betty Quinnell Committee We hope to organise more trips in the Press & School Susan Smith future, especially in the summer. Any Liaison suggestions welcome

Road Reps Many thanks to those who have volunteered to be Road Reps, we warmly welcome Carol Oliver who covers Cissbury Drive & Gardens, David Evans covering Hollingbury Gardens, Andrew Seddon, covering Sullington Gardens, & Liam Garton, covering Coombe Rise. We are still looking for a few more, to replace those who are leaving, and to increase