Lindfield Rural Parish Council newsletter - September 24

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Chairman’s Update

Anchor pond regeneration

As you maybe aware Lindfield Rural Parish Council own Anchor pond which is located directly outside the Farmers Public House.

The pond would have originally been created as a dewpond, getting its water mainly from rainfall and also possibly fed from underground spring water. Histoirically the purpose of the pond would have been for animals to take a drink, mainly those used for transport carts and people along the roads up to Scaynes Hill.

Recently we have become aware that the pond has been getting choked with evasive weed and so we took the decision to have the pond cleared. Not withstanding that no guarantees can be given that the weed will not return at sometime in the future.

Whilst the specialist contractor was on site we asked them to provide us with a report regarding the general condition of the pond. The good news is that he told us that the pond was mainly in a good healthy condition however they did report that there is potentially a leak in the pond wall adjacent to the road, which causes the level of the water to drop quicker than expected.

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At our council meeting held on 29th July we agreed to engage the specilalst contractor to repair the leak by digging out part of the effected area and supplying fresh new clay, similar to that used originally when the pond was constructed.

We took the money from our reserves that we have saved up over the years in anticipation of such an issue arising. We will take advice from the specilaist contractor as to when the best time is to do the work ensuring

To read the full newsletter, click the images provided to enlarge them or pick up September’s Lindfield Life today.

Lindfield Rural Parish Council news - March 24

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Chairman’s Update

A guide to how we organise ourselves

Following the parish elections in May, we have updated our Lindfield Rural Parish Council councillors guide. It details the roles we all have overseeing our policies, procedures, activities and managing the assets, both in teams or as individual councillors. We have specific councillors who look after allocated geographic areas, so if you have a query in your area which you think the parish council can help with please let us know.
We have also just agreed our Business Plan for the period 2023 – 2027 – this being the period of office until the next election.
Parish Council budgets are very small so it is very important that we demonstrate where our priorities are and how the money is spent. Both of these documents can be found on the Lindfield Rural Parish Council website. We welcome and would consider any ideas and comments that you have.

Keeping in touch

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Just to remind you that we really appreciate it when residents keep in touch and let us know how we can help. Don’t forget that contact can be made via Facebook or via our website lindfieldrural-pc.gov.uk or email clerk@ lindfieldrural-pc.org.uk or telephone number 01444 831499. Our staff work predominately at home however they are very willing to meet with you on site or at our offices located in the Walstead Burial Ground, they can be contacted using the details above to make an appointment.

To read the council’s full newsletter please click the images provided to enlarge them or turn to page 36 of March’s Lindfield Life.

Greener Lindfield is here to support sustainable gardening practices

In partnership with Lindfield Rural Parish Council and several local organisations including Lindfield Horticultural Society and Fairer World Lindfield, Lindfield Parish Council are pleased to launch Greener Lindfield, an exciting new initiative bringing together groups, individuals and businesses across the village to encourage and support sustainable gardening practices.

The aims of this alliance are to help local residents find ways to reduce garden waste, improve biodiversity, protect wildlife, and promote alternatives to harmful chemicals. We plan to achieve this by bringing people together to share existing knowledge and generate new ideas, and by encouraging everyone to take the initiative and try something new. If we all work together we really can make a difference.

Lindfield Life have kindly invited us to contribute a monthly article with hints, tips and ideas for combining a love of gardening with a love of the environment. But we’re far from experts, so would love to hear from anyone who has suggestions or who has made their own contribution towards greening the village, which we could support and possibly emulate. In addition to these articles, please join our Facebook group or email us on greenerlindfield@gmail.com if you’re interested in becoming involved in this exciting new project and have ideas to share, whether as an individual or part of a group or business.

March is generally considered to be the start of the gardening year, and now is a great time to think about sowing seeds. Even if you haven’t grown flowers or produce from scratch before, why not try sowing a few seeds in a pot on the windowsill? Perhaps some tasty tomatoes, or flowers like marigolds which will not only add a splash of colour, but also encourage pollinators and deter pests.

Our goal is to stimulate a dialogue throughout Lindfield, working as an umbrella organisation to draw together and increase visibility on existing projects and to provide a forum to support and empower everyone to get involved. Just like with the seeds, if we can provide the right conditions for growth, who knows what we might achieve!

Parish Councils work together to object to Golf Course development

Lindfield Rural Parish Council (LRPC) & Lindfield Parish Council has lodged a joint 24-page document setting out their many objections to the development of Haywards Heath Golf Course. The list of objections makes it clear that they believe the development:

• Would be contrary to the  MSDC policy on the Protection & Enhancement of the Countryside, the Mid Sussex District Plan and the Joint Lindfield Neighbourhood Plan. These prevent building housing estates in the Countryside

• Would create unsustainable pressure as result a large population increase (approx. 65% in the Rural Parish area) in the provision of public services and infrastructure, particularly in respect of access to schools and doctors’ surgeries, facilities which are already full

• Would damage the Countryside and the Environment and be harmful to the the biodiversity of the area with the removal of 51% (294 out of 573) of the trees, many of which were planted at the beginning of the last Century, would be lost. There are also Ecology Nature Conversation concerns about the adverse affect on the Ancient woodland sites next to the development

• The Transport Assessment does not acknowledge that the local roads cannot accommodate the significant increase in the volume of traffic generated by the proposed development. It underestimates the travelling time and distances between the site and local facilities or recognises the needs of walkers and cyclists. It is also fails to  acknowledge the need for regular public transport provision to Haywards Heath especially to the station, given parking at Haywards Heath Station and the surrounding area is already very limited

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Five local parish councils all signed this letter of objection

The issue of Community involvement is also included in the LRPC submission to MSDC  where we said: “The Fairfax document on Community Involvement submitted with the application is inadequate and cannot be described in any way as genuine community involvement. In their submission they refer to following the advice in a Code of Good Practice which is highly questionable given they fail to meet the criteria in the Code which states that “The statement (of community involvement) must ensure the active, meaningful and continued involvement of local communities and stakeholders throughout both processes”.

For example, the leaflet circulated to residents regarding the application indicated that the applicants would not respond to any questions arising from this public consultation exercise. This is wholly unsatisfactory.”

Trevor Webster, Chair of Lindfield Rural Parish Council summed up the situation by saying: “We have continued to listen to the local community and gathered their views in best possible way despite the disappointment of not being hold a public meeting because of the Covid-19. Our own submission to MSDC reflect what local people and specialists planning advisors, have told us. It is also in line with what hundreds of residents have been saying on the MSDC planning online Portal. Our intention is to continue to communicate the resident’s views to MSDC Council members, to ensure the planning application is refused."

There is also now agreement between 5 Local Parish Council to issue a joint statement expressing concerns about the development of the Golf Course. The Parish Councils are Ardingly, Balcombe, Cuckfield, Lindfield & Lindfield Rural Parish Council.  All these Councils have lodged objections with MSDC planning Portal.