Registered address: Steps, Trotton, GU31 5EP

West County Council Highways Operations Operations Management Centre First Floor, County Hall North Chart Way Horsham RH12 1XH 12th January 2017 Proposed wildflower meadow Dear Sirs We are aware that the county council is keen to devolve responsibility for rural roadside verges to parish councils where possible, and we are also aware that many schools, councils and communities in have started successful projects to cultivate areas of native wildflowers to replace in order to encourage the 97% of wildflower meadows that have been lost due to agriculture and development, and to encourage pockets of the pollinating insects that are now endangered by the loss of their habitats.

We have a group of local volunteers that would like to start a community project to create and maintain a wildflower meadow in the heart of our parish. They would like to do this on two facing corners one of which, for many years, was used as a community facility (eg for our village bonfire and children’s play area) before regulations about its proximity to public roads made this unacceptable. The land now belongs to the Highways Department but is on a junction of three tiny country lanes (see attached plan) and has not been actively maintained for some years. The project group is led by one of our parish council members and has strong local backing to create the project as a memorial to her late father, who was a very popular former chairman of the council, and also contributed to our community in many other ways, so that we have no doubt they can provide the funding and the volunteers needed to make this project a success. The family occupy a house almost opposite this corner.

The project group propose to start with the removal of bracken and other stubborn plants, and then to plough the area and sow it with a native wildflower meadow mix. They will then undertake to keep the meadow mown and raked once the meadow is established. Since the land is not currently used, is (understandably) neglected by your department, and would clearly be better maintained by the local community if this project was allowed to proceed - as well as becoming an attractive and ecological feature of our village in the National Park - we very much hope your department will give us the go-ahead to proceed with this project.

I enclose an application form as instructed by your contact centre and I hope you will contact me if you need any further information

Yours faithfully

A Neil Ryder Clerk to the council

CoveringLetter.docx Page 1 of 1 Application Form for Licence/Consent to Plant in the Highway - Highways Act 1980 (Section 142)

1 Full name of proposed Ms Rosie Hodgson (council member) on behalf of licensee parish council (Including forenames)

2 Is the proposed No licensee the land owner or occupier?

3 Address of property None adjoining the highway in respect of this application.

4 Name of the street or A) Corner of Trotton Road and Dumpford Lane road in which the B) Corner of Mill Lane and Dumpford Lane planting scheme is to be carried out. [these corners opposite each other across Dumpford Lane]

5 Are the trees / shrubs / No - later plants / grass already at the location or are they to be planted at a later date?

6 Full details of the trees Typical wildflower meadow plants - mixture of / shrubs / plants / perennial and annual flowers - as suggested on RHS grass to be planted website. We do not plan to plant any varieties that Or grow above 1m in height Already planted.

7 Date by which planting 1 May 2017 is to be completed.

8 Maximum depth of 0.5 m holes to be dug

P.T.0

Form WI 028 F001 v1.0 Application for Planting 24/02/2014 For Office Use only:-

9 Any special conditions to be inserted for the protection of utility / statutory undertakers’ apparatus?

10 Any other relevant information or requirements.

11 Licence reference number:

Form WI 028 F001 v1.0 Application for Planting 24/02/2014 North

Proposed wildflower areas Area B

Area A “MEMORIAL CORNER” – see map for position

Area A Area A

Area B

Looking East from Dumpford Lane (Mill Lane on left, Trotton Road on right, Terwick Lane ahead)

|

Area B

Area A

Looking South from corner across Dumpford Lane to Mill Lane Looking North from Mill Lane across Dumpford Lane to Trotton Road

Trotton Parish Council Revised May 2013

Trotton with Chithurst Parish

Winter and Emergency Response Plan

Introduction

Following the substantial snowfall and subsequent transport and access difficulties of the winter of 2009/2010, this plan has been written to provide a co-ordinated approach to help alleviate future problems, ease emergency access and support those residents who may be in need of help during periods of bad weather.

Potential Local Hazards and risk assessment

Trotton with Chithurst is an area bisected by the River Rother and the A 272. The largest concentration of housing is to the south of both, around Mill Lane Dumpford. The rest of the parish is characterised by small groups or individual houses, mostly accessed by very narrow lanes. The parish is crossed by a major 400Kv electricity line and has numerous other overhead power lines of varying capacity. There are many road side trees and tall hedgerows which can act as traps for snow.

Inclement weather can cause disruption to inhabitants in the following areas:

• Dangerous road conditions and restricted access as a result of:

• Ice and heavy snow • Fallen trees • Fallen power cables • Flooding

• Electricity failure resulting from: • Fallen trees • High winds • Snow and ice • Lightning • Grid failure

• Telecoms failure (landline and cellular) • Fallen trees • Lightning

• Access by emergency services • Ice and snow

Page 1 of 5 Trotton Parish Council Revised May 2013

• Fallen trees • Flooding

• Risk to frail and elderly residents as a result of any of the above and throughout prolonged cold and inclement conditions.

Current responsibilities

West Sussex County Council is the highway authority and has responsibility for road clearance and gritting on the primary route network. Within the parish, the main responsibility is for the A272 and just outside the parish, the Road between Crossroads and South . Southern Electric Contracting are responsible for overhead power line maintenance. BT Openreach maintain the overhead telephone lines. Three cellphone masts are located at the south end of Gatehouse Lane, on a 400kv mast south of the A272 and at Borden Wood and are the responsibility of the individual operators. There is an ambulance station and Fire station located in approximately 4 miles distant. Flooding risks are dealt with by The Environment Agency. Routine fallen trees are dealt with by the highway depot located in Midhurst.

Local Resources

Trotton and Chithurst is a largely rural parish with farms and forest contracting skills, together with residents of larger houses who to some extent have certain landscaping equipment. However, in the past, any response by local people has largely been uncoordinated, and reservations have been expressed as to the legality and safety of residents acting independently to try to help. The following plan is designed to set out guidelines, co-ordinate help and ensure that vulnerable residents do not suffer in times of extreme weather or other emergency situation.

Emergency Committee

Knowing who to contact in times of emergency or extreme weather is very important. Consequently, it is proposed to establish a small emergency committee from the local community and parish council to act as a point of contact and liaison with other authorities. Membership of the committee will be voluntary and unpaid, but open to people who are able and willing to help in times of difficulty. Having a committee means that if some people are unavailable, there will still be a core of volunteers to undertake any required actions.

Action point: Parish Council to seek volunteers to establish the committee.

Page 2 of 5 Trotton Parish Council Revised May 2013

Emergency Response Plan:

Weather Related Incidents:

Snow and Ice In the event of a heavy snowfall (generally over 100cms/4 inches)and/or heavy and dangerous icing, the priority is to keep the A272 open giving access to facilities in Midhurst and . In addition, Elsted Road gives a relatively level access to the A272, avoiding the hill at Trotton Bridge, so it is important that both this road and the lane between Dumpford and The Elsted Inn are cleared.

In the event of predicted and prolonged snowfall or icy conditions, Hippo Bags containing road salt will be supplied and delivered by WSCC and placed at the following strategic locations:

1) The grass triangle at the A272 junction with Chithurst Lane 2) The junction between the A272 and Dumpford Lane at The Keepers Arms 3) The top of Mill Lane (West) 4) The top of Mill Lane (East) 5) Chithurst Church 6) Junction of Gatehouse Lane with the A272 7) Junction of Rother Lane with the A272

Action point: agree with WSCC the above list of locations. A leaflet detailing the use of salt will be issued to local households.

Snow clearance will be undertaken by those listed below, as formally contracted by WSCC Highways (see map appendix 1). If further clearance is required, this will be undertaken at the request of the emergency committee but will need to be paid for by the Parish Council. The current rate is £35 per hour (NFU agreed rate).

Fallen Trees

Whereas in normal times, the local highway depot deals with individual fallen trees, violent wind can bring down numerous trees, and with it power and telephone lines, as well as blocking roads. A contact number will be identified for such incidents, and appropriately qualified and experienced persons will be contacted to assess the hazards and to clear the obstruction if possible, in consultation with WSCC. In the event of a fallen tree bringing down electricity and/or telephone cables, the appropriate supplier will be contacted by the emergency committee to ensure that there is no risk to operators.

Action Point: A list of appropriately qualified and experience forestry personnel will be established by the emergency committee. Payment will be authorised by the emergency committee at the same rate as snow clearance (£35 per hour)

Page 3 of 5 Trotton Parish Council Revised May 2013

Flooding

Major flooding could affect a small number of properties adjacent to the River Rother. The Environment Agency will be the main point of contact.

Long term electricity failure

The 1987 experience where power was off for many days would be even more difficult now, when people generally have many more electrical items.

Action point: The emergency committee will be a point of contact where people can make offers of alternative cooking facilities.

Risk to the frail and elderly

Most people know their neighbours, and who may be in need of help during periods of bad weather.

Action point: The emergency committee will establish a list of people who may require assistance to ensure that proactive support can be put in place.

Alternative emergency access

Should the roads be impassable, helicopter access can be the only means of getting a patient to hospital. A schedule of suitable landing places will be established with 8 figure grid references and this list will be shared with the emergency services.

Action point: A schedule of suitable landing spots to be drawn up by the committee in association with the Air ambulance service.

Contact Details

Emergency Committee: Details to follow when the committee has been established

Action point: Once the contact details have been listed, the list to be circulated to the emergency services, WSCC and utility providers

Action point: The emergency committee will produce a leaflet for each household detailing agreed procedures as outlined in this document.

Utility Suppliers:

• Southern Water www.southernwater.co.uk 0845 278 0845 • Southern Electric www.south-electric.co.uk 08000 72 72 82 • BT www.bt.com/faults From a landline: 0800 800 151 or from a mobile: 0330 123

Page 4 of 5 Trotton Parish Council Revised May 2013

4151

West Sussex Highways

01243 642105, Midhurst Depot 01730 www.westsussex.gov.uk email: [email protected]

Sussex Police in an emergency always dial 999. Otherwise call:

0845 6070 999

Environment Agency 0800 80 70 60 (Floodline 08708 506506)

Page 5 of 5

Trotton with Chithurst Parish Council, West Sussex

West Sussex County Council can confirm that the Winter Maintenance Plan for Trotton with Chithurst Parish is now agreed. WSCC will deliver 7 bags of grit to Agricultural Contracting Services, Buddington Farm for later distribution as agreed with the Principal Community Officer Trotton with Chithurst Parish agrees this offer

Signed dated

Reminder: West Sussex County Council’s Commitment WSCC undertakes to: WSCC will not:  Monitor the daily forecast provided by  Treat any roads not identified as part our weather forecast provider between of the Precautionary Network. October and April and take appropriate  Hand treat footways / cycleways / actions. Issue a Daily Decision to all precincts as a precautionary exercise. interested parties via Gritter Twitter.  Treat private, 3rd party or non  Treat the Precautionary Salting Network highway land. – approximately 1,600km of the  Refill salt bin or replace Hippo Bags county’s roads. Typically this happens during the winter period 42 times per year.  Deliver salt bins or hippo bags once  Purchase and store at our five depots at winter has started. least 10,000 tons of de-icing road salt  Fund farmers to clear roads that have during the summer months when prices not been identified in the agreed Local are advantageous. Winter Maintenance Plan.  Liaise with the Government’s “Salt Cell”  Undertake, or support, any and actively participate in Mutual aid supplemental proposals that are not with adjacent Highway Authorities. identified in the agreed Local Winter  Maintain a fleet of 24 gritters (bulk Maintenance Plans. spreaders) between October and April.  Consider Local Winter Maintenance  Fill salt bins in pre-winter. Plans submitted after 1st August.  Deliver, pre winter, Bulk Bags to locations identified in Local Winter Maintenance Plans and fund farmers to distribute salt from the bulk bags to locations identified in the agreed Local Winter Maintenance Plans.  Fund farmers to clear local roads identified in the agreed Local Winter Maintenance Plans The Local Parish Council undertakes to:  Use salt provided efficiently and appropriately on routes identified in the plan during severe weather conditions  Clearly identify salt bin locations  Refill salt bins during winter period if a priority for the parish / community  Clearly identify locations to which WSCC should deliver hippo bags that can then allow salt to be distributed by a farmer to the local area during severe weather  Manage the removal of Hippo bags following winter  Manage the treatment of local roads treated by farmers (with appropriate authorisation) or communities

Please return a signed copy of this form to Rural Team, CED in Room 215, East Wing, County Hall, West Street, , PO19 1RQ