Dear Residents,
As we enter the wetter, darker and colder period of the year, Gareth and I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year. However you are spending the festive period we hope it is a happy one for you and your loved ones. Below are a few updates from what we have been involved with across the Ward and wider District recently: .
Local Updates:
Blind Lane, Northchapel: Following the Council obtaining a High Court injunction against the owners of the land, which required them to remove all caravans, vehicles, hardstanding etc. from the land, the date of compliance has now passed. Planning Officers inspected the site on 21st October and, as no work has commenced to return the site to its original state, the Council will now proceed to consider further action against the landowners for contempt of court.
Lagoon 3, Crouchlands Farm: Spreading of the contents of the digestate lagoon began in October and, in line with the Environment Agency permit, has now finished as the season has ended. Spreading is expected to resume in the first quarter of 2026 and subsequent spreading permits will then be applied for over the coming years.
Local Shops: We are incredibly lucky to have many excellent Local Shops in our villages. Gareth and I encourage everyone to support these local businesses that are a real lifeline for some of our residents.
Water Neutrality: On 8th October DEFRA made an announcement that affects how we deal with Water Neutrality requirements in planning in the North of Chichester District. Southern Water have agreed to reduce the amount of water that they extract from the below ground aquifer at Hardham and a series of ecological enhancements will also be undertaken by the Environment Agency. The full impact of this announcement has yet to be analysed by Council Officers, but ultimately, upon withdrawal of the position statement by Natural England, applicants will no longer need to demonstrate water neutrality as part of their planning applications. Any changes to information required to be submitted with planning applications, and the wider impact of this announcement will be shared as soon as possible.
CDC Wide Updates
Food waste collections are coming soon! Preparations are well underway for the introduction of weekly food waste collections across the District, which are scheduled to begin in Spring 2026 for residential households. Communal properties that share bins will follow later in the year.
The winter edition of Initiatives magazine will feature a double page food waste article, providing detailed information about how the service operates, what can be recycled, and the environmental benefits of separating food waste. FAQs will be included to address common queries and support positive engagement, along with
regular updates on our dedicated web page: www.chichester.gov.uk/food-waste Additional pre-launch communications will be issued to all households from early next year, ahead of the phased delivery of containers.
Former Grange Site, Midhurst: The Estates service are now actively marketing the former Grange Leisure Centre site in Midhurst. Offers are invited from developers and registered providers for a mixed-use scheme that includes a 100% affordable housing element. Details can be found on the Council website.
Meeting your District Councillors
Cllr. Gareth Evans is available to meet residents face to face via one of his regular surgeries. Gareth will be available at the advertised venues from 12pm-2pm: The next series of surgery dates will be published shortly. Please check Gareth’s Facebook page for updates If these dates and times do not suit it is also possible to arrange home visits, telephone calls or zoom meetings.
Our contact details:
Cllr. Gareth Evans, email: gbevans@chichester.gov.uk or telephone 07958 918056
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GarethEvansLoxwood
Cllr. Charles Todhunter, email ctodhunter@chichester.gov.uk or telephone 07500 577777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Charles4Loxwood