Dear Residents,
I hope that everyone has had a successful start to the new school year. The nights are drawing in, but our communities continue to be busy with wonderful events across our villages! Below is an update on what we have been working on as your District Councillors.
Local Updates:
Crouchlands Farm Lagoon 3: We are very pleased to be able to share that the Environment Agency have recently authorised that the top layer of liquid waste from ‘Lagoon 3’ at Crouchlands can be spread on nearby fields for the benefit of agriculture. The permit is for 1 year and the local Parish Councils have received a presentation on how the work will be carried out. It will take several years before the contents have been fully removed. This is, however, a positive first step in ensuring the lagoon is emptied and removed and the Council will continue to use its powers to ensure the Enforcement Notice is complied with.
Loxwood Budgens: We are also delighted that the Budgens Shop at Nursery Green in Loxwood is now open for business. Please do pay a visit to this much-requested local facility which has received very positive feedback so far!
Land at Loxwood Place: An outline application has been lodged by Martin Grant homes for 223 homes, a children’s Nursery and Café at land behind the Old Post Office / Loxwood Farm Place in Loxwood. As Chair of the CDC Planning Committee, Cllr. Charles Todhunter is unable to comment on the application publicly at this time, but Cllr. Gareth Evans has joined locals in objecting to the proposals. Whilst it is recognised that Loxwood has been allocated additional housing in the new Local Plan, the Parish Council has not yet finished updating their Neighbourhood Plan which will allocate the site and the number of homes applied for in this case is far in excess of the village’s allocation.
Local Plan: The Local Plan was formally adopted at an Extraordinary Full Council Meeting on 19th August and now sets out the vision for the District’s economy, transport and housing needs, environmental and historic protection, community health and wellbeing and cultural development. Officers at the Council are currently working through the implications of the new Local Plan on existing planning applications and we will share any updates when we can.
CDC Wide Updates
Local Government Reorganisation: The Council will meet on 23rd September to vote on its preference for the structure of what our local government will look like in future, once a Sussex Mayor is in place. Following a survey earlier in the year, there look to be two options emerging: a single Unitary Authority that covers all of West Sussex or two smaller Unitary Authorities. Each Council in West Sussex will vote on their preferences in September and then letters will be written to the Government who will decide the next steps. We will update you next month on the outcome of these meetings.
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 surgeries are as follows:
Saturday 18th October – Old Mill Café, Wisborough Green
Saturday 1st November – Northchapel Club, Northchapel (1pm-3pm)
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