Steyning Parish Council News - December 2016

CHAIRMANS MESSAGE:
As we approach the Christmas season I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been an interesting year for us as a parish council. There have of course been some challenges for us along the way, but it has been rewarding to see the care and commitment that many of our councillors, our staff and our residents have again been willing to dedicate to the benefit of our community, as a result of which I certainly feel that we are finishing the year stronger than we started it.
One of the highlights of the year was undoubtedly the Steyning Festival, which has again reached new heights with a wide a varied programme offering something for everyone. We were delighted to be able to support the event again, and our thanks go to the many volunteers who helped to deliver a festival of which a town of our size can be justifiably proud.
In January this year, we held a number of very successful 'drop-in' sessions to update residents on the selection of development and green space sites to be proposed under the developing Steyning, Wiston, Ashurst and Bramber (SWAB) Neighbourhood Plan. Progress has unfortunately been slower that we would have liked since then for various reasons, although this does now mean that we have a valuable opportunity to learn from some of the difficulties faced by other Neighbourhood Planning teams in the Horsham District; and I hope this will help us deliver a plan that allows us to both preserve the valuable character of our unique part of Sussex and deliver affordable housing for local people.
Our Highways and Lighting committee have been successful in delivering much needed improvements to street lighting for which we are extremely grateful to the Wilson Memorial Trust for their assistance and for planned improvements to the high street toilets the subject of a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund. Our Playing Fields committee has made valuable progress, in the face of opposition from some quarters, towards providing new fencing to the allotments for improved security and animal protection. We hope that this project will come to fruition early in the new year and we are grateful to the community group who have championed this cause and to Tesco plc for grant funding.
We were of course deeply saddened by the loss of former councillor George Cockman and of councillor Gill Ness-Collins this year, both of whom served their community for many years and whom we will remember for a long time to come I am sure.
There are of course also a number of important challenges ahead of us. The plans to establish a quarry at Ham Farm to the east of the A283 that many of us are deeply concerned about; the need to retain a vibrant high street economy following the recent closure of our local banks; the possible introduction by Horsham District Council of charges in rural car parks throughout the district, and of course the delivery of a sound Neighbourhood Plan to protect our town for the years to come. We cannot say what success we will have in meeting these challenges, but I am sure that working together in a spirit of cooperation will give us the best chance.
Finally, and on behalf of my fellow councillors, our parish council staff and myself, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year.
Steve Northam - Chairman, Steyning Parish Council

STEYNING CENTRE:
Along with the Parish Clerk, as the Steyning Centre Manager, the Steyning Centre Committee has, during the year, ensured the continued maintenance and efficient management of the Steyning Community Centre for the optimum enjoyment of the users.
All decisions made by the Committee are, of course, constrained by the current financial position.  Nevertheless, the floors, toilets, gardens, fences, Health & Safety requirements and many other matters, as shown in the published Committee minutes, have been dealt with satisfactorily by the small and effective committee, clerked by the Deputy Parish Clerk.
The Committee is greatly thankful to all the staff, helpers and users that keep the Steyning Centre running as successfully as it does to the actual and potential benefit of everyone.
Michael Willett  - Chairman of Steyning Centre Committee

PLAYING FIELDS:
The Playing Field Committee have two major projects on at the moment. Firstly there is the proposal to fence in the Rublees allotments to make the site more secure from animals invading the plots, vandalism and theft. The money for the first phase, the Western side and Northern End, has been secured by the Allotment Association, and our thanks particularly to Charles Ashby who has been responsible for the fund raising through Tesco and is seeking funding for phase 2. During November it is hoped to finalise the details so that an order can be placed and the work completed by the end of January. There are some legal issues still to be agreed. One of the issues is landlords permission on the Northern End as the council has yet to determine if it owns this piece of land. If there is a dispute, the committee has agreed a contingency plan and will fence in the Southern end in the first phase. The council has contributed funds from its reserves, built up from the allotment charges over the years, to provide the clearing of the hedgerow undergrowth creep to enable the fence to be installed. The committee would also like to thank the allotment holders for their patience while it has been preparing the installation of the fencing as there have been many obstacles it has had to overcome on a very complex project.

The second project is to commence a tree maintenance programme in the MPF. The committee employed a local contractor to prepare a detailed analysis of the trees and their state of health. Following this report the committee is moving forward to ensure that all the trees are maintained in good order. We are also grateful to the Steyning Community Orchard Group who have planted many new fruit trees on the old orchard site on the South Western end of the MPF. They have also planted daffodils in this area ready for Spring
Tim Lloyd - Chairman of Playing Fields Committee

HIGHWAYS AND LIGHTING:
Following the successful bid to the Awards for All Lottery Grant Scheme an order has been placed for the conversion of the existing storeroom on the far side of the High Street toilet block into a smaller store and gents urinal. The urinal will contain two individual urinal bowls and hand washing facilities, and the works which are being undertaken by local contractor S. T. Cowley should be completed by Christmas.
This will mean Steyning has separate ladies' and gents' facilities as well as a large disabled unisex toilet which also contains baby changing facilities. A Radar lock is being installed on the disabled toilet. To improve hygiene new flooring made of Silikal is being installed in all 3 toilets. This is a resin which is poured and thus has no joints or grout where odours can be absorbed. It will have non-slip and acti-bacterial qualities and will hopefully go a long way towards keeping the facilities pleasant to use. Steyning Parish Council keeps the toilets free of charge to use as a service to residents and visitors and also to encourage trade in the High Street.
Highways and Lighting members have also been working on the annual winter maintenance plan. As well as ensuring the existing grit in the black bins is sufficient and ready for use, we have 9 additional bags of grit which will be dropped in the following locations once the County Council announce that conditions warrant it;

Corner of Jarvis Lane and Holland Road,
Corner of Coxham Lane and Horsham Road,
Shooting field on grass corner of Middle mead,
Newham Lane, between junctions with Hills Rd and Godstalls Lane,
Grass island at end of Laines Road/Coombe Road,
Andrew Close, Penlands Way/Ingram Road junction,
Junction of Church Lane and Tanyard Lane, and Mouse Lane.
Snow shovels for clearing pavements and roads are available on loan from the Parish Council office.
Gill Muncey - Chairman of Highways and Lighting Committee

NEXT MEETINGS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL:
Parish Council                    7.30pm  12th December 16th January, 20th February
Finance and Community    7.45pm  6th Deceber ,10th January, 14th February
Highways and Lighting       7.45pm  24th January and 7th March
Steyning Centre                  7.30pm  3rd January and 7.45pm  28th February
Planning  -                           7pm  6th & 20th December, 10th & 24th January, 14th & 28th February .

Please see the Parish Council noticeboard or website - www.steyningpc.gov.uk for agendas, minutes and times of meetings.  Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings.
E-mail: spcclerk@btconnect.com    Phone: 01903 812042

DATES FOR BLOOD DONER SESSIONS:
Saturday 24th December  9.30am to 2pm.
Monday 24th February    1.30pm to 8pm
Monday 3rd April     1.30pm to 8pm.

Phone Number and Website address for Street Lighting issues.
West Sussex Street Lighting Service www.lightsoninwestsussex.co.uk/public/reportfault.aspx
Phone Number  0800 048 2435

Phone Number , Website and Email address for Road and Pavement Issues including potholes and flooding.
West Sussex County Council website:
www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-a-problem-with-a-road-or-pavement
Email address: highways@westsussex.gov.uk
Phone number: 01243 642105