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HOUSING AND
ENVIRONMENT
Parish Plan Objectives: To extend the Conservation Area;
to improve tree and hedge management; to remove unnecessary street
furniture; to develop policy proposals for future housing; to achieve good
communication on all planning matters to all residents; to provide
enhanced recycling services.
Other
Responsibilities: Consider
planning applications and make recommendations to the Council
Our report covers two main
activities, weekly planning applications and the Local Development
Framework.
Weekly Planning Applications: Each week we review any planning applications
in the Parish, sending our views to Mid Sussex District Council. Although
we have no decision making powers sometimes we add information the
planning officer may have missed or add weight to public opinion or
neighbours’ concerns. For example at Buttercup Barn Nursery School we were
able to work with the council and owners to change last years application,
go against current Rural policy, save the view across the valley and in
fact come up with a better solution for the school.
In addition to viewing plans at
MSDC planning office and at the home of the Parish Clerk, this autumn MSDC
has started adding plans and correspondence for new applications to their
web based public access system. It is now a very useful tool and can be
accessed on the web by anyone at www.midsussex.gov.uk.
Local Development Framework: We are awaiting the inspector’s decision on
this spring’s appeals hearings into the alternative sites for inclusion in
the 2015 LDF, due mid November. As
reported previously MSDC has not included any Balcombe sites in its
strategy document but two sites have gone into the appeals process: land
at the Rectory, and at the Station. We will know by mid November if any of
these sites are recommended for inclusion in the final Framework.
However, just as we all thought it
was safe to go back into the water MSDC has now started its consultation
into the 2015-2026 LDF……. So we can expect to go through the whole process
again for this later time period.
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TRAFFIC
Parish Plan Objectives: To reduce the speed of traffic on
Haywards Heath and London Roads; to reduce the amount of on-street parking
in the centre of the village; to reduce the amount of parking by commuters
in Newlands and Bramble Hill; to improve safety at the crossroads in the
centre of the village; to improve safety at other road junctions to
improve pedestrian safety in the area around Balcombe CE Primary School;
to improve pedestrian safety throughout the village.
Other
Responsibilities: To
support the Speedwatch team
The Traffic Working Group is very
aware that the speed of traffic on the B2036, Haywards Heath and London
Roads is a major concern. The
recent tragic accident on the B2036 north of Balcombe reinforces our
determination to press for the introduction of more speed limits on
approaches to the village. Finding
and implementing solutions cannot be a quick process. Any scheme must comply with current
legislation and regulations, have the support of Balcombe residents, be
approved by the relevant local authorities, and be affordable.
The Council has recently received
guidance from the local West Sussex County Council Highways Manager on
what might be possible. The next
step is to engage road traffic consultants to propose a scheme for the
Council’s consideration. We will
then consult Balcombe residents before seeking the approval of the
relevant local authorities.
The other major concern is the
parking of vehicles around the crossroads at the centre of the village, on
Newlands, on Bramble Hill and elsewhere in the village. This is probably an even more
intractable problem than the speed of vehicles, and we are conscious of
various factors that affect the problem, including the view that double
yellow lines are unsightly in a rural environment, the need to enforce any
method of controlling parking, the fact that if you stop someone parking
in one place they will inevitably try to park somewhere else, and reducing
on-street parking may increase the speed of through traffic.
One solution to parking in the
village centre would be a car park, and we are considering whether there
are any locations in which one could be built, were funding to be
available.
The Traffic Working Group is in
regular contact with the Speedwatch team under its new co-ordinator, Iain
Brown, and will continue to provide it with support.
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FACILITIES AND AMENITIES
Parish Plan Objectives: To improve the bus service; to
improve the train service; to make it easier for those whose mobility is
impaired to move around Balcombe; to retain the existing and much valued
services and facilities; to help improve the standards of local shops; to
eliminate dog waste in public places; to promote locally grown produce.
Other
Responsibilities: To support the ‘Balcombe First’ column in the Parish magazine
The
Facilities and Amenities group is currently working on a number of
projects in direct correlation with the outcomes of the Parish Plan.
Reducing
dog fouling in our public areas is our top priority and our team are
currently investigating the possibility of increasing the number of dog litter
bins in the village. Free Pooper scoopers are also on offer to residents
via the Parish Clerk.
Improving
pedestrian movement around the village is also important to residents and
a footpath survey is also underway with a view to improving footpaths in
need of repair.
The
local bus companies such as the Metro bus, the Post Bus and the Handcross
Community bus are all being investigated in an effort to improve services.
We are also looking at improving services for the elderly in the village
through assisted shopping trips and improved access to day care centres
Additions
to the Balcombe Village Welcome Pack are being considered to enable new
members of our community to integrate more easily into village life. Please let our Parish Clerk know of any
newcomers so that we can make sure they get their Pack.
Keep
Balcombe Tidy Week took place in the week of 29th October. Our team coordinated a number of
activities for the young people in the village, raising awareness of
rubbish and the need to recycle.
Longer
term projects for the team will include looking into the possibility of a
quarterly table top sale in the Victory Hall , and a regular farmers
market.
Finally,
we are delighted to have had official confirmation that our Post Office is
to remain open.
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PRINCESS ROYAL
HOSPITAL
The
Council organised a public meeting on 2 November on the future of the
Princess Royal Hospital. Over 80
residents heard speakers from the Primary Health Care Trust and the Save
the PRH campaign, followed by lively questions from what the PCT speaker
said was a well informed and polite audience. The formal PCT consultation ended on 14
November, and we wrote to the PCT expressing our concern with the current
options. We are hopeful that based
on recent statements from the Brighton
and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, A&E at the PRH will remain,
although maternity services are still under threat.
YOUNG PEOPLE
Parish Plan
Objectives: To
provide young people with the facilities and activities that they would
like.
Other Responsibilities: To maintain liaison with the Primary School through the Community
Governor; to develop the Playground in association with MSDC; to monitor
the use of the Pavilion by young people; to establish and support a Youth
Group
One of
our main immediate objectives is to ascertain the need for a youth club in
the village. We have not had a
youth club for two years and although there are many clubs and groups
which young people can participate in, having a regular facility for youth
to meet in a safe & inviting environment needs investigating.
We are
also currently looking at holding some youth events, initially to get some
feedback from young people on what facilities and amenities they would
like to see in Balcombe, which may or may not include a youth club and
also to raise awareness of what is already out there for kids to get
involved in. In addition, we are
considering the possibility of staging a musical event for teenagers in
the village.
The
other main priority is continuing to improve the playground
facilities. The changes that have
been made in the last couple of years have been a huge hit with the
children and parents but there is still more that we would like to
do. The playground still has room
for new equipment and we are looking at creating a space for young
children/toddlers on the site of the old playground by the pavilion, so
watch this space! In the meantime,
if you have any suggestions for improving or developing the playground,
please e-mail them to balcombeyouth@hotmail.co.uk
for consideration.
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Introduction..…………..…..p1
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Housing
& Environment….p3
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Precept..…………………....p1
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Traffic
Matters…………….p4
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Princess Royal Hospital.…....p2
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Facilities
& Amenities……..p5
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Young People.....……….…..p2
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Local
Organisations……….p6
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Safety
& Security…………..p6
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INTRODUCTION
This is the first Newsletter from
the Parish Council that took office in May this year. The outgoing Council saw the completion
of our Parish Plan, launched in March.
At our inaugural meeting our first action was to agree unanimously
“that the contents of the Parish Plan represent the views of Balcombe
village and that the Parish Council will strive to fulfil those that are
within its power.” In order to
meet our goals we have organised ourselves into working groups, based on
the main sections of the Plan, and this Newsletter contains brief reports
outlining the progress each group is making.
The names and contact details of
members of the Council are on the back page. Please get to know us and get in touch
if you have any issues that you would like us to consider. We are sorry to
lose Richard Turner, who has resigned as he will be moving overseas. We will be co-opting a replacement
member of the Council at our December meeting.
PRECEPT
The main source of funds at the Council’s
disposal is the annual precept, the amount that we are granted from the
Council Tax raised by Mid Sussex District Council. The precept was raised to its present
level of £32,000 pa in April 2001, when the increase was sufficient to
generate a surplus to fund traffic calming measures. We expect some £10,000 from this fund to
remain available in our budget for next year, and you will see from the
Traffic Group report that we have plans for further traffic calming
measures for which this fund is set aside.
Since 2001, however, inflation has affected our regular costs, and
achieving some of the Parish Plan objectives will incur further
expenditure. The Council is looking
carefully at the implications of this, and when we meet in December we
will have to decide on the amount to be set for the financial year
starting in April 2008. At the time
of going to press the decision has not been made, but is likely to involve
a modest increase on the current figure.
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LOCAL VOLUNTARY
ORGANISATIONS
Parish Plan
Objectives: To
obtain funding to expand activities.
Other Responsibilities: To establish links with all village organisations
Balcombe
is fortunate to have such a large number of societies and clubs for all
ages. Over the last few months the
Local Organisations group has produced a list of all the societies in Balcombe,
including a short society description, where and when they meet and a
contact name and number. It is to be updated quarterly. This list of Balcombe societies will be
included in the Balcombe Village Welcome Pack to enable newcomers to get
involved in village life.
Since
the closure of the Rainbow, Brownie and Guide packs, girls can now join
the Beaver, Cub and Scout groups.
SAFETY AND
SECURITY
Parish Plan Objectives: To create an effective police
presence in Balcombe; to increase support for Neighbourhood Watch in
Balcombe.
Other
Responsibilities: to
maintain links with the local Police Authority
Parish Plan: Our group is reviewing the detailed responses received during
the work on the parish plan to set
our priorities. A preliminary
review shows that these include: theft from
houses; theft from vehicles; petty vandalism; unruly behaviour. Other issues such as unsafe parking, speeding, and road
crossing points are being considered by the Traffic group.
Neighbourhood Watch: After many years service Jim Cooke retired
from his position as the area representative, and we thank him for his
great contribution. We are
grateful to Carolyn Robertson for taking on this responsibility, and we
will continue to support this important work.
Police Presence in and Around the Village: We liaise with the Police
Community Service Officers about events within their jurisdiction, and to
ensure we have a visible presence within the village as far as
possible. We are also planning to
hold a regular surgery in the village with the police, open to all – more
details will appear in the Parish Magazine.
Security Measures: We are concerned about vandalism –
in particular with several recent incidents at the pavilion. Measures are under consideration for
protective measures.
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Balcombe
Parish Council
Neville Ashcroft – 811125
Young People and Safety & Security
Groups
Susan Barker Danby – 811018
Leader, Local Organisations Group
Simon Greenwood - 811371
& 020 7370 6830
Safety & Security Group
Carol Jarvest – 811081
Leader, Young People Group
Robin Lindsay-Stewart – 811405
Responsible Financial Officer
Gary Marsh - 811320
Mid Sussex District Councillor
Rodney Saunders – 811598
Leader, Traffic Group
Sarah Moore-Williams – 811045
Leader, Facilities & Amenities
Group
Alison Stevenson – 811676
Vice Chairman and
Leader, Housing & Environment Group
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Balcombe
Parish Council
Newsletter
November 2007
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