Marsh Lane Watch
Notices posted advising residents of the application submitted by Langmead Farms to have restriction on time period for the operation of the Walnut Tree Farm composting site lifted in perpetuity. Notice appeared in the June 18 issue of the Chichester Observer.
This is a matter I have brought to the attention of residents of Marsh Lane and of the two parish councils as the site crosses the parish boundary.
The problem as I see it is that while odour is substantially less than in previous years there are still incidents and not just perceived by me, and we need a further trial period to demonstrate that the problem has been solved for good.
For background on the composting please refer to the article I wrote for the Mundham and Runcton Residents Newsletter last March.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Marsh Lane Watch
First evidence of odour from Walnut Tree composting site this week for some time. But a Merston resident has experienced it more often and asked for advice on who to call. I will use the resident's complaint at next week's coordinating meeting. See Calendar.
Meeting of the Policy Development Committee, principal agenda items being neighbourhood policing and draft Chichester car parking strategy. On the whole it was a disappointing meeting. To begin with there were only nine members present out of 15, the worst attendance in my time as chairman. Everyone had good reasons to be absent but it gave a poor impression.
On the two substantive issues we didn't probe deeply enough. The Temporary Chief Inspector spoke at length but conceded little. On two points we should have pressed harder. It was rather disarming to say as he did in answer to the question about lack of local police cover in Selsey after 22:00, that there would be no problem to provide the cover. It would simply be a matter of raising the Council tax to provide more resources.
On the lack of visibility of the neighbourhood management panels, which he didn't accept, he referred us to PCSO blogs on the website. As to the infrequency of their meetings he said that was in response to the wishes of the community. I don't think it is as simple as that. Based on my experience in this ward and the experience of other members, neighbourhood panels are still in their infancy in this district and more needs to be done to publicise both their meetings and the feedback on action plans. This is especially important as PCSOs are discouraged from attending parish council meetings which could have provided a useful forum for informing the community about the panels.
On the scrutiny of the car parking strategy, we again failed to make much progress. The agenda paper was somewhat incoherent and the table showing the scoring of the various alternatives was very unclear and incomplete.
What surprised us was the proposal to undertake further research on the feasibility of increasing car parking capacity by means of major capital outlay. This at a time of recession when we need all the capital we have for existing commitments was frankly baffling.
No one believes Park and Ride would be simple solution but surely more work should have been done by now to assess its feasibility. We recommended they do the necessary investigation as a matter of urgency. But I doubt if the portfolio holder who is by temperament an increased capacity builder and has stated his doubts about P&R will give the work a fair wind.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Marsh Lane Watch
Auditory bird scarers are becoming a nightmare. Langmead's gas guns are generally under control but for the second time fire crackers have gone off after 21:00. Other growers are using early morning (04:40 this morning) shooting to scare off pigeons. Another resident has complained to Langmeads about it but the shooting was not Langmeads. Next week I shall ask the officers to send another letter similar to the one sent two years ago to all growers in the area reminding them of the NFU code and warning them of the potential financial penalties of causing public nuisance.
Meanwhile a tractor has scuffed up the newly laid tar chipping turning the sharp corner (was that really necessary?) on a hot day when the tar was soft at the apex of the Y junction where the two entrances from the A259 converge.
Councillor Andrew Smith, County Council member for Chichester East, was re-elected in the County elections with I think an increased majority. He thoroughly deserved it being an exceptionally diligent member and who worked very hard in the campaign. Overall we lost one division in the district but gained a net five places on the County Council. Conservatives remain in control but we are moving forward again.
North Mundham Parish Council opposes redevelopment of the Wiseman's Cottage site (NM/09/01651/ful) largely on the grounds that the proposals for three x three-bedroom houses and two flats exceed what the site can bear and Councillors were concerned about parking. There is a good deal of local opposition. It took a large part of the meeting. The applicant and an objector had too much air time (25 minutes against 10 stated on the agenda) and their public debate was not appropriate. One day the PC might decide to have separate planning meetings for applications of this kind, but they passed up such a proposal in March.
Again no police presence.
Peninsula Forum. A useful and informative meeting, though again no representative from North Mundham. Several relevant items including emergency planning and permitted development. Lloyd Harris, ex policeman, ex clean neighbourhood officer, has taken over from Robin Moores, now retired, as point man on emergency planning. The essential points made about parish plans is that they should be simple to understand, short, reviewed every year as a routine and tested at a desktop exercise to check they work. While both parishes in this ward have done useful work on emergency plans I am not sure they fully meet Lloyd's criteria. I asked to see him to have a detailed briefing on the state of emergency plans in the district. I am not convinced the District has this fully in hand. An article is to appear in the September issue of Initiatives.
....................................................................................................................
Click here to return to the top of the page.