Southwater Parish Council recognises the hard work of the many local organisations that help improve and enhance the community and we are committed to supporting them. These grants are payments made by the Parish Council to an organisation for a specific purpose to enhance and promote the wellbeing of the local community, either generally or for a specific purpose; and which is not directly controlled or administered by the Parish Council. Organisations are eligible to apply for a Community Grant if they meet the criteria, for more information regarding our grants and how to apply, please visit: https://www.southwater-pc.gov.uk/grants SPC has awarded a grant of £250.00 to Sussex Green Living environmental charity in April, to help supply and install one of their wonderful pollination education stations at Castlewood School.   Regarding the installation of their PES stations, Carrie Cort, Sussex Green Living’s CEO said: “This is a priority project for our charity, urgent action for nature is required as pollinators such as bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and bats are increasingly under threat from human activities”. She continues “Every third mouthful of food that we each is thanks to pollinators. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity”   For more information about the work of this charity, please visit:  https://www.sussexgreenliving.org.uk

Supported Lodgings - what is it? Supported Lodgings is an accommodation scheme for young people who need a secure and supportive environment in which to stay. As a Supported Lodgings carer, you will be giving them a helping hand towards independence. The scheme is open to young people aged 16-21 (or 24 if they are in higher education). You may be supporting a young care leaver or someone who is unable to live at home. Sometimes this can also be a young person from overseas who is claiming asylum. Your role You will play an important role in helping young people develop their skills in cooking, washing, completing job applications and preparing for adult life. They will also need emotional support and encouragement to help them meet their potential. Like fostering, the young person will stay with you and your family while they are in the Supported Lodgings scheme. Unlike fostering however, they will usually be able to get themselves around independently to college and employment – therefore good transport links are essential. Please click here for more information from West Sussex County Council's website.

The July Report has been published and is now available to read on our website, here.

Southwater Skatepark has been a cornerstone of our community, offering a vibrant and safe space for people of all ages, interested in extreme sports to gather, practice, and share their passion. Over the years, it has become much more than just a skatepark; it’s a place where friendships are forged, skills are honed, and creativity is unleashed. However, this vital community hub now needs your help to keep it rolling! The Heart of the Community Located near the heart of Southwater, our skatepark has always been about more than just skating. It’s a sanctuary for people of all ages to express themselves, stay active, focus on their mental and physical health and be part of a supportive community. From early morning practice sessions to evening meet-ups, the skatepark buzzes with life and energy, fostering a sense of belonging among its users. Why We Need Your Help Unfortunately, maintaining such a dynamic facility comes with significant costs. Repairs, upgrades, and regular maintenance are essential to ensure the skatepark remains a safe and enjoyable place for everyone. Our Fundraising Goal We have launched a fundraising campaign on Crowdfunder with the goal of raising £10,000. This amount will cover essential repairs, safety upgrades, and help establish a fund for future maintenance and exciting events, such as skate jams. By reaching this goal, we can secure the skatepark’s future and continue to provide a space where young people can thrive. How You Can Make a Difference Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant impact. Here are a few ways you can help: Donate: Visit our Crowdfunder page and make a donation. Every pound brings us closer to our goal. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-keep-southwater-skatepark-rolling Spread the Word:  Share our campaign on social media, with friends, and within your community. The more people who know about our cause, the better. Thank you for your support!

New Job Vacancy and Employment Opportunity with Southwater Parish Council. Join Our Lovely Team! We are recruiting for the new position of Assistant Executive Officer, presenting an exciting opportunity for those eager to progress a career in business administration and local government. For more information on how to apply please visit our Job Vacancies  section of the website.

The councillor surgery will not operate in August as is customary. We are looking forward to see you again in September, on the first Saturday of the month. Would you like to stay up to date with the latest news of Southwater? Subscribe to our newsletter on the bottom of the page.

Wishing all the amazing kids and students in Southwater fantastic summer holidays! Enjoy every moment, make wonderful memories, and have lots of fun! 🌻✨🤸☀ Did you know? There's a lot to do in the village too, explore the places, groups and activities below: Community groups Our Skateparks for a bit of extreme sports Play Areas Open Spaces Southwater Country Park Check out the Youth Project in the village Search for events at Southwater Library Things to do at The Ghyll Scout groups Is there anything you wish your kids could do in the village? Let us know!

Staying informed about local affairs is easier than ever with Southwater Parish Council's digital newsletter. By subscribing, residents can receive timely updates on community events, council meetings, and important announcements directly to their inbox. This newsletter ensures that you never miss out on local initiatives, public consultations, or opportunities to get involved. It also provides valuable information on services, resources, and activities available in the area. Signing up for the digital newsletter is a simple and effective way to stay connected and engaged with your community. Simply scroll to the bottom of any page on our website and fill out the form with your first name and email address. :)

To view the Full Council Meeting Agenda, please visit our website Full Council Meeting| Southwater Parish Council ( southwater-pc.gov.uk )   or view the agenda via the noticeboard outside Beeson House.

The Co-op store in Lintot Square, Southwater, will close for four weeks from August. When? The shop will close at 5pm on Saturday 3rd of Aug 2024 and reopen on Friday 6th of September 2024. The planned temporary closure is to enable the store to undertake a major makeover to transform the store with a fresh new-look to better serve the Co-op’s member-owners and customers in the community.

Did you know? Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. That’s one out of every three bites of food you eat. Pollinators are a priority for the UK government and a key part of delivering the Environmental Improvement Plan. We know that bees, and other pollinating insects, are an essential part of our environment and play a crucial role in food production. Bees’ Needs Week is an annual event coordinated by Defra, working alongside a host of organisations such as conservation groups, businesses, and charities. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, and share ideas, actions and activities that highlight the ways in which everyone can help bees and other pollinators to thrive. 5 simple actions There are 5 simple actions that anyone can take to help pollinators: Grow more nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees. Using window or balcony boxes are good options if you don’t have a garden. Let patches of garden and land grow wild. Cut grass less often. Do not disturb insect nests and hibernation spots. Think carefully about whether to use pesticides. Visit https://shorturl.at/EZrHe  for more information about "Bees' Needs Week"

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that from the date specified below, West Sussex County Council has temporarily closed to all traffic, Kerves Lane, Horsham , in the Horsham District under Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, on Kerves Lane approximately 85 metres North of Amiesmill Farm. The temporary closure is scheduled to commence on 30th July 2024 for up to 5 days (it is estimated to be completed on 30th July 2024) and is required for the safety of the public and workforce while West Sussex County Council undertakes gully repair work. The restriction will be in place day-time only from 09:30 until 15:30. An alternative route will be signed on site but please visit: https://one.network/?tm=138950969 for more details. Access maintained for emergency services, residents and pedestrians. For information regarding this closure please contact: West Sussex County Council on 01243 642105 who will able to assist with scope of these works.

Southwater Youth Project CIO has lost key funders that have helped to fund the organisation in providing its youth services. Southwater Parish Council continues to be the largest contributor currently providing circa £40,000 of funds annually for provision of youth services via Southwater Youth Project CIO, which equates to £8.26 per Band D Household in Council Tax (annually). Southwater Youth Project CIO have requested the Council provide an additional £10,000 per annum in grant funding from 1st April 2025 to ensure their project's financial sustainability. Please help us by answering 3 questions via this consultation form. The consultation deadline is 12:00, 8th July 2024. Hard copies of the consultation flyers are being delivered to every household in the Parish. If you prefer giving us a feedback via those, please drop them in our letterbox or return it to our office at Beeson House. There is also a dedicated feedback form box next to our office door. Q1. Do you believe that Southwater Parish Council should continue to provide grant funding for the next 5 years for the purpose of a universal youth facility aimed at youth aged 8-19 from 1st April 2025 (currently provided by Southwater Youth Project CIO)? Q2. Would you support an increase of £2.07 per year to your Council Tax (Band D) to continue to fund Southwater Youth Project CIO and the current services they provide Southwater? Q3. Are you satisfied with the youth services provided in Southwater as funded by Southwater Parish Council? All personal information provided will be kept in line with Southwater Parish Council's Privacy Policy which is available here .

Councillor Surgery focused on climate change. Our next councillor surgery on Saturday the 6th of July will be dedicated to climate change. Join us to learn about our developing climate action plan, raise any concerns you have and share your ideas, and ask questions. We will be there to listen. When? Saturday, 6th July 2024 10AM Where? SPC Chamber, Beeson House Fairbank Road, Southwater Code to get up the stairs to the Parish Chamber: 8118 See you there!

Are you in the process of, or looking to start The Duke of Edinburgh Award? Would you like financial support with the participation cost? Do you need equipment? Please read on... #DukeofEdinburghAward #DoE #DofE #Southwater #TheLivingLegacyFund

For the 2024 summer holidays, the decision has been taken NOT TO implement the summer booking system for the paddling beach by Horsham District Council. The paddling beach area will be open throughout and HDC will be monitoring how well the park runs and any feedback they receive. All visitors should be aware that dogs, BBQs and inflatables are not allowed on the shingle area and that the beach is for paddling only. It is unsafe to swim or go outside of the designated roped area as the lake is very deep and there is a risk of collision with watersports crafts. For more information, please visit: https://www.horsham.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/southwater-country-park/paddling-beach-trial

Our Neighbourhood Wardens, Dominic and Bettina, will be holding their Warden Drop-in Session at COOP, Lintot Square on Saturday 22 June 2024 at 1300 – 1430 hrs. They will be joined by the team of the Southwater Pet Food Bank. They would welcome the opportunity to talk to residents about any concerns or issues they are experiencing and together find solutions or identify additional support services.

The monthly Newsletter is now available to view: https://www.southwater-pc.gov.uk/newsletters

We understand how frustrated people feel about the exceptional number of defects currently present on some roads in West Sussex and the impact this has on travelling around the county. Councils feel that frustration too and are working hard to make improvements using the resources available. Like many other local councils across the UK, we have deteriorating roads due to a combination of factors: extreme fluctuations in weather, especially the wet spells earlier this year volume and weight of vehicles using the network not enough funding available to carry out all the repair works that need doing. But we are facing the challenge head-on and pumping a multi-million pound package into a series of road repairs and improvements, to provide a road network we can all be proud of. We’d like to thank the teams, suppliers and contractors, who are all working flat out to resolve the issues. Read more on the link below about our challenge and the work our Highways teams are completing across our 4,000kms of roads. For more information, please visit Better Roads' website. To report a pothole, please click here.

To view the Finance & General Purposes meeting agenda, please visit our website Finance & General Purposes | Southwater Parish (southwater-pc.gov.uk) or view the agenda via the noticeboard outside Beeson House.

Do you know your parish community clerk? Do you know what they do? This is the person who works with your councillors to make sure that Southwater Parish Council provides the services you need in your local neighbourhood. They run the council meetings to which you are invited, and are qualified in a range of disciplines to make sure the council runs properly and within the law. They’ll be the ones writing to your local MP, liaising with the district and/or county council about changes to speed limits, car parking charges and potholes, applying for funding grants for local projects, researching complex planning issues, running the council’s finances and managing community buildings and events. Then they roll up their sleeves to lead volunteers to clean rivers, pick litter and fundraise for local projects. They’re good in a crisis too as seen when they helped to coordinate community efforts during the pandemic. Clerks are professionals and serve around 10,000 local councils in England and Wales. These councils emerged in 1894 to give a democratic voice to local people and they’ve changed enormously in that time, particularly during the last 20 – 30 years. They are real place shapers and, today, many manage and maintain parks, sports facilities, skateparks and recreation grounds, play areas, allotments, community and youth centres, car parks, public toilets, cemeteries, street cleaning, run events and much more. Most of all clerks and councillors are advocates, the voice for their communities. Whatever your local council is delivering for your community, your clerk will be at the heart of getting it done. They provide the services that we all notice the most in our neighbourhoods but, disappointingly, they’re often not properly recognised for just how much they do. Clerks are celebrated in other countries and Local Council Clerk Week aims to help raise the profile of this important profession here and explain the the work clerks do on behalf of town, parish and community councils. The video below will explain more. For more information about clerks and the work of your local council, please contact us here or follow one of our social media channels, where you can find up-to date news, educational facts, help and more.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that from the date specified below, West Sussex County Council has temporarily closed to all traffic, Two Mile Ash Road, Itchingfield CP, in the Horsham District, under Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, on Two Mile Ash Road for a distance approx. 48 metres. The temporary closure is scheduled to commence on 24th June 2024 for up to 5 days (it is estimated to be completed on 26th June 2024) and is required for the safety of the public and workforce while Southern Water undertakes 24hr/day road closures o/s Broughton Cottage between the junctions with Sandhills Road and Trout Lane for works to replace a stop-tap. The restriction will be in place 24hrs/day. An alternative route will be signed on site but please visit https://one.network/?tm=138211948 for more details. Access maintained for emergency services, residents and pedestrians. For information regarding this closure, please contact: Clancy Group on behalf of Southern Water on 07807830668, who will able to assist with scope of these works. Dated: 3rd Jun 2024 Report a problem with a road or pavement here. Follow @WSHighways Email: ttro@westsussex.gov.uk

The largest naval, air and land operation in history. The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The Imperial War Museum collected 10 interesting facts about the historical event: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-d-day

The annual Summer grass cut will be carried out on the Downs Link by contractors during June and July 2024. This cut helps keep the path open as well as promoting fresh growth of ground flora. During this time please : Be extra vigilant. Follow instructions on any signage. Follow instructions from the contractors. Enquires should be sent to countryside@westsussex.gov.uk WSCC - https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ Countryside Services - https://www.countrysideservices.com/

To view the Planning Agenda, please visit our website Planning Committee | Southwater Parish (southwater-pc.gov.uk) or view the agenda via the noticeboard outside Beeson House.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that from the date specified below, West Sussex County Council has temporarily closed to all traffic, Timber Mill to The Forge, Southwater, in the Horsham district under Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. As amended, on Timber Mill to The Forge for a distance approx. 30 metres. The temporary closure is scheduled to commence on 5th June 2024 for up to 5 days (it is estimated to be completed on 5th June 2024) and is required for the safety of the public and workforce while Nexfibre undertakes a daytime footpath closure between Timber Mill and The Forge for installation of cable track for new customer connections. The restriction will be in place day-time only from 08:30 until 17:30. An alternative route will be signed on site but please visit https://one.network/?tm=138559622 for more details. Access maintained for emergency services and residents only. For all other access the diversion route should be followed. For information regarding this closure please contact: Nio Comm on behalf of Nexfibre on 01273121958 who will able to assist with scope of these works. Dated: 15th May 2024 Matt Davey Assistant Director of Highways, Transport and Planning West Sussex County Council Report a problem with a road or pavement here. Follow us at @WSHighways Email: ttro@westsussex.gov.uk

An opportunity to chat and discuss matters with your Councillors. See you there!

Have you found a lost dog? Or a stray dog? Came across some dog poo on the street? Here are some links to help with anything dog related: 1. Dogs found roaming free should be reported to HDC’s Environmental Health team. More details here: https://www.horsham.gov.uk/environmental-health/stray-dogs If you can contact the owner of the dog, please do so! 2. If you are concerned about a barking dog, please: Email HDC’s Environmental Health team. Publichealth.licensing@horsham.gov.uk or report online https://www.horsham.gov.uk/environmental.../noisy-neighbours 3. Dog fouling: You can contact Hop Oast to arrange for the fouling to be removed. https://www.horsham.gov.uk/.../litter-and.../dog-fouling Did you know? One in four households in the UK has a pet dog, and they produce 1,000 tonnes of poo a day, or 365,000 tonnes a year. Southwater has several areas perfect for long walks with your dogs, but were you aware that there are 31 dog waste bins around too? 12 which are looked after by Southwater Parish Council. Please be mindful of bags containing dog waste as these must not be left behind on your walk. You can tie it tightly and place it in a dog bin or public refuse bin or take it home. If you have any concerns or questions regarding dog waste bins, you can contact us. 4. Dog attacks or dogs out of control: If there is an immediate threat to human or animal life call 999. Otherwise report to the police on 101 or via the Sussex Police website reporting form. https://www.sussex.police.uk/.../af/how-to-report-a-crime/ Horsham District Council does NOT have a Dog Warden Service and cannot deal with dog attacks or dangerous dogs.