Peter Lawson
In the
middle of the year, Peter
Lawson decided to step down as Chairman of the Society. His acceptance of the
role at the 2003 & 2004 AGM’s was based on the confident expectation
that his business interests would diminish rapidly; but this has not proved
to
be the case. Against this background he has found it increasingly impossible
to
find the time to discharge the duties of Chairman in the style, content and
manner in which he would have wished. So, after a long period of
consideration,
he felt it timely to handover, especially as the tenure of the current
committee extends to May 2006. Peter has assured me that he will continue to
support the objectives of the Society albeit on an informal basis. I am
pleased
about this as he was one of the leading forces in re-establishing the Society
some three and a half years ago; and on behalf of all of us, I would like to
thank Peter for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the village.
In the meantime, I shall continue as Acting Chairman and Andrew Fox has
agreed to assume the position of Deputy Chairman in addition to his duties as
Treasurer.
Michael Anstey, October 2005
| |  | | |
Closure of public
conveniences in
Mid Sussex Villages
The observant may have noticed that the former
Public Convenience on the Common is no more. The same fate awaits the
toilets
in the Denmans Lane car park unless Lindfield Parish Council agrees to take
them over and pay to run them. So Lindfield people (and those in many other
villages) will suffer a double wammy – we shall all have to go on paying
MSDC for toilet facilities in the towns out of our Council tax – but
additionally we shall now have to pay for ours out of the Parish
Precept.
The Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils representatives from seven
affected villages are working on this and they have appealed to MSDC’s
Cabinet to think again about an arbitrary and inconsistent decision taken
last
December with minimal consultation. Government guidelines say that, if
facilities are transferred from one level of local authority to another,
funding must be transferred with them – but MSDC is apparently refusing
to
contribute to the running costs. A meeting with Cllr Christine Field, Leader
of the MSDC, is scheduled on September 30 to see if progress can be made
–
watch this space!
Rev. Michael Davies, September 2005 | |  | | |
| | | | Events Programme
The Membership & Programme
Sub-Committee meets regularly to plan the talks at King Edward Hall for your
enjoyment on afternoons in January, February and March and on evenings in
April, May, September, October and November. The programme for each year is
printed on your membership cards when you renew your subscriptions in
January.
They are also advertised in the Middy, on our Web site and on the Jubilee
Notice Board opposite the Parish-Office in Denmans Lane. Afternoon meetings
start at 2.30 and evening meetings at 8. We charge £l to members and
guests, this includes tea/coffee and biscuits.
Members are reminded that the Lindfield Preservation Society exists to
look after their interests and to make sure that the village continues to be
a
beautiful place to live in. It provides opportunities through the events it
organizes for members to express their views on any issue. There are always
Committee members present at the talks, who will be pleased to chat with you,
or you may, if preferred write to the Honorary Secretary. If an answer
cannot
be given on the spot the matter will be referred to the next Management
Committee meeting. We like to hear from you and in particular would be
pleased
to have suggestions for talks and speakers. We try to find topics relevant to
Lindfield and Sussex and occasionally include subjects conjuring up times
long
past when Lindfield was very much on the map. Sometimes the meetings deal
with
current issues, such as the long-standing landfill planning
application.
We look forward to your support at the LPS events and hope you will enjoy not
only the talks themselves but also take the opportunity to meet other
residents
in Lindfield.
Please note that annual members subscriptions will become due on 1st
January 2006 and that during that month you will receive a reminder with a
gift
aid form for return to our Membership Secretary with your cheque for either
£5 (Individual) or £10 (Household). Life membership remains
available at £50 per person.
Alison Woodhead 31st August 2005 | | |
| | | | Licensing Act 2003 & Lindfield
Three of the
pubs in Lindfield High Street have been granted more relaxed hours for
drinking
or performing various kinds of entertainment by MSDC despite some 90 letters
of
complaint from nearby residents all of whom claim to have experienced
nuisance
in the past. There is now a period in which residents subject to nuisance
from
any disturbance can appeal. In addition complaints can be made whenever they
arise. These may best be channelled through your local Neighbourhood Watch
Committees with which the police are in touch. However getting a ‘Police
Incident Number’ is always a very good course of action. The
Environmental
Health Division of MSDC issue a Guidance Note to publicans and others who
promote events. This is available from MSDC.
Ask for ‘Guidance on
controlling noise from premises such as pubs, clubs, village halls &
other
community buildings & outdoor events’. Or find it on MSDC web-site
as
Supplementary Guidance Document 6 as an appendix to the MSDC Licensing Policy
December 2004 at:
http://www.midsussex.gov.uk
Alan Gunson, September 2005 | | |
| | | | Open Meeting 16 November
Michael
Anstey will chair
an Open Meeting on “Lindfield & the South East Regional Plan”
at
8pm on Wednesday 16th November in the King Edward Hall to which we have
invited: Margaret Johnson, Chairman of the WSCC, Margaret Nicolle, Chairman
of
Lindfield Urban Parish Council, and Brian Horsley, Chairman of the Civic
Trust
and the Sussex Amenities Society.
Brian Horsley will give an overview
of
the S.E. Regional Plan and then those present will be able to submit their
concerns about it to the panel.
Wine & soft drinks will be served during the
evening.
Admission £1, everyone welcome. | | |
| | | | Planning
If there is one thing that is the essence
of our Society it is the desire to preserve Lindfield and this means keeping
a
close watch on planning applications and planning and housing policies.
Looking at every one of the planning applications that are
registered for the Lindfield Parishes is a substantial part of our task. What
marks out a really good application for us are features that don’t just
improve the property for the owner but which respect its locality, whether it
is High Street or West View or West Common by using materials and finishes
for
walls, windows and roofs in a design that combine to reflect traditional
elements in our village and enhance its surroundings, and will stand the test
of time. The Committee’s representatives try to make sure that our
Parish
Councils and MSDC’s Planning Officers and Planning Committee see things
this way too when they determine local applications.
We can also influence Planning Policy and are currently framing comments on a
supplementary planning document issued by MSDC that deals with funding the
infrastructure improvements that are needed by housing developments. The aim
is
to strengthen planning policies that protect important villages like
Lindfield.
The Preservation Society thinks that Lindfield needs a Village Design
Statement, as well as a Village Plan. If you have views about this and would
like an opportunity to influence the Design Statement then please let our Hon
Secretary or me know and we’ll contact you when we are about to make a
start producing it.
John Jesson, September 2005 | | |
| | | | Provision of Post Office facilities in the
area When the Post Offices in Sunte Avenue and Queens Road were
closed early this year there was a public outcry – but as with the
constant erosion of other services (bank closures, hospital services, etc)
– the powers that be wait till things quieten down and then carry on
regardless. No one seems to listen nowadays. However, quietly in the
background a small group is working on the possibility of re-establishing
Post
Office services on the border of Lindfield & Haywards Heath. Progress is
slow, but the need is great, so don’t give up hoping. Rev. Michael
Davies, September 2005 | | |
| | | | MSDC Proposals for Small Scale Housing
Allocations in Lindfield MSDC are looking for green field sites for
450 houses to meet demands between 2006 and 2016. Sites for 860 houses are
under consideration, including land north of Newton Road for 114 and east of
Gravelye Lane for 65 houses. The next stage is for MSDC to decide which of
these sites, and any reserve ones, go into their plan to be used. The
Society made strong representations in detail against the adoption of either
site in the MSDC plan and we now await details from MSDC of which sites are
to
be included in the first draft of this plan.
Alan Gomme, September 2005 | | |
| | | | Supporting new initiatives in
Lindfield The Management Committee is pleased to report progress in
our programme of supporting new and emerging groups within Lindfield who
share
in our objectives and vision for the village. The committee believe that they
need to be realistic about what the Society alone can achieve and accept that
in some matters it is more appropriate for specially created groups to pursue
a
particular objective. In order to get such groups established, they need both
financial and practical support. The committee has agreed and make the
following grants from the Society’s income. Local Action Team.
This
has been formed by volunteers from within the village at the instigation of
the
Urban Parish Council and the Sussex Police. It has already started work on
some
of the villager’s principal concerns about life in 21st century
Lindfield.
Working parties are already researching Road Safety and Public Nuisance
issues.
Michael Anstey is photographed on Saturday 10th September presenting a cheque
for £250 to Margaret Nicolle (Chairman) and Alison Carter (Secretary)
as
a grant to assist with the LAT’s set-up expenses. Speedwatch.
Richard Bryant is leading the Road Safety review team within the new LAT and
is
investigating the suitability of the Speedwatch scheme for our village. As
you
will be aware the committee has for some time been pressing for this to be
implemented in Lindfield and accordingly made a grant of £250
specifically for the Speedwatch project. Village Plan. The creation of
this vision for Lindfield in the 21st Century is being prepared by a team of
volunteers from the village under the able chairmanship of Rev. Michael
Davies.
The committee is fully in support of this work, as it believes it is vital to
the future of the village and has accordingly made a grant of £250
towards its expenses.
Streetmate. We reported in our last issue on the excellent work being
undertaken by this voluntary organisation with youth in Haywards Heath. It is
the Management Committee’s desire to see such work extended into
Lindfield
and we have offered Streetmate a grant of £250 a year for three years
to
assist with their expenses once they are able to find the resources to
undertake this extended service. Alan Gomme, September 2005 | |  |
| | | | The Lindfield Village Plan – How You Can
Help! Work by fifty volunteers – some members of the Society -
is well underway with the target of completing the plan by late spring 2006.
Lindfield Rural residents living close to the parish boundaries are also
included in the study. It is important that everything the community feels to
be important to Lindfield is covered by the plan.
The Village Plan is the work of the residents of Lindfield. When
completed it will be adopted by Lindfield Parish Council and updated
regularly
so that everyone knows what has to be done to retain what makes Lindfield so
unique. Information from a fully representative cross section of the
residents
is therefore vital to the plan. You can help to achieve this in two
ways: The Lindfield Times is distributed free to over 3,000 homes in
Lindfield and district. In the October edition of there will be a
Questionnaire. Please complete this and return as requested. Information
from
your replies will be vital to the Plan. On 5th November in King Edward
Hall 10am – 12 noon there will be a Village Plan Exhibition when you can
talk to the actual volunteers doing the work as well as see the sort of work
being done by the five Working Groups. Also you can always feed in your
ideas by writing to "Village Plan”, c/o The Parish Office, 6 Denmans
Lane,
Lindfield RH16 2LB - tel: 01444 484115, or e-mail
clerks@lindfieldpc.fsnet.co.uk.
Alan Gunson, September 2005 | | |
| | | | Who's Who? The Management Committee
of the Lindfield Preservation Society is elected by the members at the Annual
General Meeting. If there are vacancies, or resignations, the slots can be
filled by co-opted members. The Committee members are residents of
Lindfield,
with many different backgrounds and areas of expertise and have mostly had
long
associations with the village. They give their time readily on your
behalf. The Acting Chairman is currently Michael Anstey, the Acting
Vice-Chairman and Treasurer is Andrew Fox, the Honorary Secretary is Alan
Gomme
and the Membership Secretary is Graham Campling. Alan Gomme chairs the
Membership and Programme Sub-Committee, Alan Gunson chairs the Environment
and
Traffic Sub-Committee, and John Jesson the Planning Sub-Committee. Other
members of the Management Committee are Michael Davies, Martin Higgins, Chris
Jupp, Anne Marsden and Alison Woodhead. Co-opted members are Mavoreen
Fairweather and David Macmillan. The Committee members represent you
and
it is your prerogative to let them know any suggestions you may have for the
benefit of Lindfield and its residents. They can be contacted through the
Honorary Secretary. Alison Woodhead, 31st August 2005 | | | | | | |
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