The Villager April 2019 Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Villager Piddinghoe, East Sussex April 2019 The Villager • April 2019 • Issue 136 EDITORIAL We often start our editorials with references to the weather. Hardly surprising really since in the space of just over six months we have been through sweltering heat, the most icy conditions, and recently, tremendously high winds. Fences faltered and blew down; flower pots were flung to the ground and smashed; and our homes were seemingly invaded by the sound of whistling kettles as the wind forced itself between tiny cracks in door frames. Pictures of Newhaven Harbour, with massive waves crashing over the breakwater, have featured on the front of national newspapers. Otherwise, does anyone ever give much thought to Newhaven Harbour apart from it being the place where Lord Lucan abandoned his car when he made his escape to the Continent? At last, however, there is more of a hint of Spring on its way. Piddinghoe is particularly lovely in the Spring: the daffodils, everywhere, dazzled, and blossom is following in abundance. We progress, and the Hole in the Village is becoming a house at last. It is not often that one can watch a building rising day by day, but now at last we can see the outline of rooms and of Mansard roofs. History is being made in a way, as this is possibly the very last piece of ground in the Village on which a new building can stand. You can, however, purchase another piece of history because some copies of Valerie Mellors’s Portrait of Piddinghoe, 1900-2000 have been found. Valerie, who lived in the Old Post Office, was devoted to the Village and captured its history with enthusiasm and love. Many of you will have bought your copies when the book first appeared, but if you didn’t, or are a relative newcomer to the Village, and would like to know much, much more about Piddinghoe, see page 28 for details of how to purchase it. The Piddinghoe Players have been hard at it again! After ‘War and Peace’ they presented us with ‘Le Hoe de Pidding’. One cannot fault them for eye-catching titles. Anyone making their way towards The Hoe, and catching a glimpse through the windows of the Village Hall of the rehearsals taking place, would 1 The Villager • April 2019 • Issue 136 have wondered what on earth they were up to. Most intriguing. The word must have been spread, as it was a sell-out weeks before the performance. See page 13 for our review. In May, we have local elections. Do spare the candidates questions about Brexit. We have suffered enough, although as you will see from the review of ‘Le Hoe de Pidding’, there is some light relief to be squeezed out of this uncommon predicament. Battle hardened (completely cynical?) we may have become thanks to countless votes in the Commons and threats of Referenda and General Elections, nevertheless, our votes must count. No governments (national, local of parochial) are perfect, but this is the best way to try to ensure that our representatives do speak for us. The team: Sheila Redman, Gill Davies, Bill Pierce, Sue Massey, David Aicken. 2 The Villager • April 2019 • Issue 136 PiddiNGHOE PariSH COUNcil 2019 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Village Hall, Piddinghoe, on Tuesday 26 March 2018 at 7.30pm (DRAFT) Present: Councillors, David Aicken, Nick Woolger, Debbie Mills, Angela Ridge. Julian Peterson (Clerk). 1 Member of the public. Apologies for Absence: None. Minutes: The minutes of the Parish meeting of 8 January and 2019 were AGREED by Council and signed by the Chairman. Disclosure of Interests: None Public Participation: 1. None 2. The Chairman introduced an Emergency Item. Reporting Agricultural Smells Smells from agricultural activities are common causes of complaints to local councils. Councils investigate all complaints and can treat the smell as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA). It is often difficult to determine whether a smell constitutes a statutory nuisance. That depends on intensity, frequency, whether it is injurious to health and whether it lingers long enough to affect the reasonable enjoyment of property. Report online link: www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/ environmental-problems/odours-and-smells Councillors reported there had been a foul and noxious odour emanating from around the new barns on the west side of the C7. It was reported that the odour was similar to that of rotting 3 The Villager • April 2019 • Issue 136 corpses. Many people had complained of headaches and nausea. The clerk was asked to report the situation to Environmental Health. AGENDA 1. Council accepted the accounts as up to the date of the meeting as prepared by the RFO Cllr Debbie Mills. Current Account: ................. £4,898.57 V. Mellor’s Bequest: ........... £25,539.81 Reserve Account: .................£3,008.53 Total ..................................... £33,446.41 2. The Chairman is waiting for a reply soon from the contractor when the tree survey can start. 3. Report a pot hole: Villagers are encouraged to use East Sussex highways website to report a pot hole. It is a quick and efficient way of reporting potholes. The details will be posted on the village website and the Villager magazine. 4. Neighbourhood first: Council recommends villagers to report minor problems like litter and persistent dog fouling and many other village issues to the Neighbourhood First team at Lewes District Council. The details will be posted on the village website and the Villager magazine. Contact: Colin. [email protected]. 5. The Chairman reported that the lamppost has been taken away to be repaired and restored. It should be returned and placed by approximately the 21st April. As the matter was considered by Council as a severe health and safety matter this meeting confirmed its determination. It appears that a vehicle hit the lamppost dislodging and cracking the concrete base (apron). The lamppost was being held vertical by an internal pipe protecting the electrics. The lamp was also filled with rainwater. It was agreed to pay the quote of £817.44 6. There were no outstanding planning applications to consider. 4 The Villager • April 2019 • Issue 136 7. The rat run and speeding research group has nothing to report until the meeting on Wednesday 27th March when it is meeting with the Speedwatch coordinator 8. SLR: Cllr Ridge reported the success of the Report a Pot Hole scheme. 9. Polo: There was nothing substantial to report. PROGRESS REPORTS 1. Councillors met Peter Dunsby of Ecomatters which specialises in heat pumps. Heat pumps are non-polluting and provide a renewable and sustainable energy source. Peter Dunsby is going to write an article for the Villager and is offering to arrange a grant funded feasibility study into heat pump possibilities for individuals or communities. The Village Hall could be used as a test bed. This is in the initial fact-finding stage and Council will report back. 2. Exclusion of the Public and Press. Was discussed after item 3. To consider, under section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), excluding the public and press from the meeting during discussion of the above, on this Agenda. Due to the disclosure of sensitive commercial interests of the Council and the persons that have tendered is not in the public interest. Council went into Private session to discuss NALC’s recommended salary for the clerk. The recommendation was accepted. 3. Date of the next meeting: Due to the electoral cycle the Parish meeting has been postponed. PPC meeting 28th May. Future meetings will be arranged by the New Council Julian Peterson, Parish Clerk, Piddinghoe 5 The Villager • April 2019 • Issue 136 USEFUL coNtactS Report a Pothole Villagers are encouraged to use East Sussex highways website for a quick and efficient way of reporting potholes: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/roads/ maintenance/potholes Neighbourhood First The Parish Council recommends villagers to report minor problems like litter, fly tipping and persistent dog fouling etc. to the Neighbourhood First team at Lewes District Council: www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/environmental-problems/ neighbourhood-first Reporting Agricultural Smells Smells from agricultural activities are common causes of complaints to local councils and may be treated as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA), depending on intensity, frequency, whether it is injurious to health and whether it lingers long enough to affect the reasonable enjoyment of property. Report online link: www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/environmental-problems/ odours-and-smells Some residents have experienced problems with the website failing. If you have similar problems don’t give up; you can submit your complaint by phoning Lewes District Council on 01273 471600. 6 7 The Villager • April 2019•Issue136 Villager • The This is a picture postcard sent to the Parish Council recently. It appears to be a school class but no other information came with the card/letter. Does anyone recognise anyone or like to guess as to when the picture may have been taken? Please contact [email protected] The Villager • April 2019 • Issue 136 GRASS ROOTS Concerning Wildlife Verges and The Broadwater Road verges cover a large area, amounting to 212,000 hectares in Britain. Road verges link habitats and act as vital corridors for wildlife. They represent a remnant of our native grassland which has suffered catastrophic losses over the last century. Since World War 2, 97 per cent of our wildflower meadows have been lost. Traditionally verges were cut for hay, grazed or scythed by Parish Lengthmen. This sympathetic management encouraged a wealth of wildlife. East Sussex County Council maintains a schedule of Wildlife Verges,* and where possible, these are managed to protect the wildlife interest and are marked with wildflower markers.