Charity & community news

18 Charity & Community

Sussex Snippets Local charity, West Sussex Mediation Service, are celebrating their 20th anniversary. The charity helps people suffering conflicts in their lives find lasting solutions to their problems and specialises in resolving neighbour disputes and conflicts within families. Most services are free of charge, so fundraising is important. This year they are holding an ‘Auction of Promises’. This is where individuals, or businesses can make a pledge of an item of value, an experience, or their skill or talent for an hour or two. 0300 200 0025 or email info@wsms.org.uk West Sussex Connect to Support have updated their website bringing together lots of information about • ways to remain independent at home • equipment to help you around your home • advice on improving your health and wellbeing • ideas for things to do locally • support for carers www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org. For help using the website, call Adults’ CarePoint on 01243 642121 or email socialcare@westsussex.gov.uk Sussex Police & Crime Panel members have backed the decision to increase the police precept by £10 per year (for an average Band D property). 66% of snap poll respondents supported the increase. New group for HGV action

Dear Editor. According to the Office of National Statistics and the British Lung Foundation, air pollution causes 64000 deaths a year in England and Wales; more than 12% of the total due to all causes. About 10% of the population currently receive treatment for long-term respiratory illness and, although air pollution is not the sole cause, it is the major and increasing one. It is estimated that the cost to the NHS is £500 per year on average for every inhabitant of the UK. Storrington has the worst air pollution in the Southeast of England. Even if the NOx emissions at Manley’s Hill and School Hill are brought below the 40microgram per cubic metre target, politicians may be satisfied, but Storrington will probably still hold that terrible record. EU and national target levels for pollutants were devised many years ago and are significantly higher than W.H.O. 2005 target levels. In recent times the effect of PM2.5 on health has been of steadily increasing concern. There are no completely safe levels of pollution, other than zero, and target levels should be revised downward to reflect new medical knowledge. 25 to 30% of the pollution in the village is caused by transits of HGVs. As long ago as 2008 WSCC consulted with the Road Traffic Association and published a map of Advisory Lorry Routes (map can be viewed online at: www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/1980/ alr_map_web.pdf). None of those routes pass through Storrington. Large numbers of HGVs are using the Storrington rat-run between Fontwell and Washington in preference to the A27, A280 and A24. A significant proportion of these vehicles are owned by only a few haulage companies. The cost-saving to those companies is tiny, compared to the negative effects of their policy on the health of residents and workers in Storrington and the ongoing costs they are imposing on the NHS and Social Services. Central and local government have failed us by not providing effective solutions. We cannot waste another decade. I propose setting up a group, tentatively called STAG (Storrington Traffic Action Group), with the sole purpose of encouraging the worst of these polluters to use the advisory routes and to publicly commit to that policy. If they persist in using the Storrington rat-run then STAG will apply an escalating campaign to shame them into compliance, using strictly legal means, including roadside demonstrations. Planning of this strategy is well-advanced. If you wish to join this group and are available for a few hours on occasional weekdays please send a brief email to stag20@protonmail.com. If you have relevant knowledge or skills please mention them. Dave Angel, by email.

through the door

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ALL FIVE SERVICES INSPECTED BY CQC GOOD! I could tell you all about Woodlands House and its facilities as if I was describing a hotel, for example the beautiful individual rooms, the designer bathrooms, wi-fi, HD TV, telephones, spacious gardens, etc all of which Woodlands has!!!! However when I was searching for a room for my own Mother all those years ago I do not remember any of these concerns being uppermost in my mind. What I do remember is the fear of making the wrong decision, whether I was "doing the right thing...” remembering "Don't ever put me in an old peoples home"; but knowing in my heart and head that this was the very best decision I could make. What was so heart-breaking was the role reversal of taking and accepting the responsibility of making such a life changing choice on behalf of a loved one, and it was the hardest decision I had ever had to make. Finding the type of care available within the many different homes is daunting in itself. Do I want a new large modern home with all the "facilities" bright walls, all new staff.. or do I want the home that offers the nearest possible likeness to a home? With familiar staff, many who have been at the same home for years and years with the maximum experience and ongoing training within that same home with a Manager who is in daily contact with every residents and staff? Do I want to see every certificate for every course and pictures of member of staff because there are so many, or do I want to be greeted by the same team week in week out? These same staff knowing my loved one not only during the day but also at night, when they are alone and feeling lost? Knowing - without referring to records - that it's Horlicks and not chocolate that she will appreciate at 2am? If you are thinking along these lines come and visit Woodlands House for a chat and feel the homely atmosphere for yourself. 5* GOOD AT EVERY LEVEL {CQC Inspection} Reviews on www.carehome.co.uk Oonagh Manager/Proprietor: email: house.woodlands@gmail.com or telephone: 01903 725458 or 07815 762623 5* GOOD AT EVERY LEVEL

20 Charity & Community

Thakeham Village Hall birthday January saw the fabulous Thakeham Village Hall celebrate its first birthday with an open day which showcasing some of the things on offer Yoga, table tennis and Morris dancing just some of the activities on show. Sussex Local was just in time for the birthday cake, which was delicious, thank you. Happy Birthday!

Rotary cheque for Scouts 1st Storrington and Sullington Scouts Group, have been presented with a £1000 cheque from the Rotary Club from proceeds collected at last year’s Storrington Village Day. The presentation was made at the Apache Cub Scout Section evening recently by Tony Vaughan from Rotary. The Group is facing financial challenges as, due to changes in health and

safety law, they need a a new fire exit in the scout hut, a new staircase to the upper level which also needs refurbishing. The Group caters for s o m e 1 6 0 -1 7 0 young people every week, and is looking to raise funds in order to make this happen and to maintain their services. More air pollution comments Dean and Gaynor Newton copied us their letter to Ray Dawe, leader of Horsham District Council, suggesting “as an immediate step, put a 7.5 W limit on Houghton Bridge and police it with a Bus Lane style cameras linked to DVLA which holds data on vehicles weight.. simple solutions should be put in place now.” Meanwhile Heinz Frick thought the best thing was to keep the traffic moving through the village as “the odd person wishing to cross the road causes dozens of cars to stop.” He continued “Could we not give the traffic say 3 minutes of free flow and then give the pedestrians 30 seconds to cross on a regular basis ?” Many thanks for all your correspondence - please do keep them coming. info@sussexlocal.net

through the door

Charity & Community 21

Horsham DC Local plan Horsham District Council (HDC) is reviewing its Local Plan which will set out planning policies and proposals for new development in Horsham District up to 2036. The Government requires all local planning authorities to review the Local Plan every five years. It has set a minimum target for the District of at least 965 new houses each year to 2036. HDC is also obliged to see if it can meet the housing needs from surrounding areas such as Crawley. This is a legal requirement. This could mean our housing number will rise to over 1,200 per year. This is an unprecedented challenge for the Council. The aim of the Local Plan is to allocate specific sites where it believes the new homes can be built over a long period so that everyone knows what is happening and for the council to be able to resist any inappropriate development. The Plan will set out how developments can be delivered in a sustainable way and support the delivery of community infrastructures, transport links and opportunities for local jobs. The Council is now consulting on the first complete draft of the Horsham District Local Plan 2019-2036. Your involvement in this process is very important to us. Please see the advertisement on page 29. The Draft Local Plan is available to read on the Council’s website and a copy is also available to view in local libraries and at the Council offices in Horsham.

Find out more and be ready to have your say by registering online at www.horsham.gov.uk/localplanreview Tel. 01403 215100 Group organiser needed The Washington Parkinson’s support group will be looking for a new organiser in the near future. This is a two hour group on the first Saturday of the month, and with an average of 30 members. If you think you would like to take over and make a difference please phone Maureen Johnson on 07568 522278. New traffic light “insanity” Dear Editor. Having just read all the letters about pollution in Storrington, I am amazed nobody has mentioned the insanity of putting traffic lights at the good visibility junction of Water Lane and Thakeham Road, a junction which for 95% of the day has light traffic, only needing a slowing of your car to check access before proceeding. The safety of the schoolchildren in the morning and afternoon is managed very well by our lovely traffic warden, better than any lights I would say. The point is the lights will greatly increase pollution in this area,the exact opposite of what the council should be doing.In fact,why are councils not taken to task for doing nothing meaningful about the illegal levels of pollution in the centre of Storrington for example. P.D.Mace, by email info@sussexlocal.net.