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HDC have informed SPC that on Monday 20th February 2023 a contractor will be working in Dinosaur Island Play Area in Southwater Country Park. The aim of the project is to fix the 3 bridges in this play area as sections of these bridges can become unsafe. HDC’s contractor will be closing one bridge at a time so they can work on them. The play area will NOT be closed and the site will be accessible using the other 2 bridges available at all times. HDC expect for this work to take approximately 2 weeks. Should you have any further queries please contact HDC.

How to Take Part: Please make sure you are familiar with the current Neighbourhood Plan (available on our website), then complete the consultation response form. To help you respond, we are running in person sessions as well as making the response form available online and as a printed document. Ways to get in touch: Come to a drop in session to discuss the plan with the volunteers and Councilors undertaking the review. These are taking place at Beeson House at: 19:00 – 21:00 Wed 1 st March 2023 10:00 – 14:00 Sat 4 th March 2023* Complete the online form ( click here ) to submit your consultation response. Complete the online form at southwater-pc.gov.uk to submit your consultation response. Alternatively, collect a hard copy of the response form from the Parish Council office at Beeson House, complete it and return it by hand/post. *Please note the extended drop-in time which may differ from those provided on the leaflet.

A concerned resident contacted the Council in relation to their concerns for vulnerable road users requesting the Council’s support for an application to change the speed limit on Two Mile Ash Road. The resident highlighted the safety concerns and issues of no lighting, no pedestrian path and the highway being narrow. The resident also observed a precedent was already set by the speed limit change of 60mph to 30mph on Tower Hill Road. Similarly, the application would change the Speed limit from 60mph to 40mph on Two Mile Ash Road from the junction with Marlpost Road to the junction with Christs Hospital Road and Tower Hill Road. Following the Planning Committee meeting on the 1st February 2023, the Council voted in favour of supporting the resident’s proposition. This follows from the recent press release by WSCC explaining the importance of a new speed limit policy. The applicant’s proposal is also supported by District Cllr C. Vickers and County Cllr N.Jupp.

This concerns the use of Christs Hospital, from junction with Two Mile Ash to junction with Bluecoat Pond is temporarily prohibited from 15/02/23 - 22/02/23. It is anticipated the works will be completed by 22/02/23. Restrictions will be in place for 24hrs.

SPC Budget, Precept and Band D for 2023-24 Southwater Parish Council approved the budget for financial year 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 at the Full Council Meeting of 18th January 2023. This represented a total precept requirement of £485,772, resulting in a Band D Council Tax of £101.77, signifying a decrease of 11.9% from 2022/23. To view the approved budget please visit Annual Budget | Southwater Parish (southwater-pc.gov.uk) Who collects Council Tax and who does it go to? Council Tax is collected by the billing authority, Horsham District Council (HDC) who collects on behalf of West Sussex County Council (WSCC), itself (HDC), Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, and Parish (or Town) Councils. Unlike County and District Councils, Parish Councils do not typically receive any direct funding from Central Government and so the Council Tax precept forms the majority of a Parish (or Town) Council’s income, which is spent on a wide range of services in the community. The percentage of your Council Tax precept that the Parish Council receives is typically the smallest proportion of the Council Tax paid to (collected by) the District (or Borough) Authority with the County Council Tax comprising the largest proportion collected by the District (or Borough) Authority. For example, in 2022-23, a Band D property in Southwater would pay a total charge of £2,058.24. Of this amount £1,555.74 is due to West Sussex County Council, £224.91 goes to the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, £162.90 goes to Horsham District Council and the Parish Council retains £115.50.

Recently, our Neighbourhood Wardens were out on a routine foot patrol in the village when they met with an older resident struggling to carry their shopping. Naturally, they stopped to help and following a conversation, realised that the resident could really benefit from some additional support. Being an older resident, living alone without a car and trying to remain entirely independent whilst managing a number of medical conditions can be a real challenge. The Wardens were invited in to the resident’s home and were able to talk about their role in the community and other agencies that would be able to provide help. By agreement with the resident, our Wardens contacted West Sussex Fire and Rescue and invited them to undertake a Safe & Well visit enabling them to give advice on Health & Safety issues and fit smoke alarms. Supported by volunteers from the Southwater Neighbour Network ( https://southwaterneighbournetwork.org/about-us ) who can help our residents with mobility issues or feelings of social isolation and the provision of contact details for various other support agencies including Age UK ( https://www.ageuk.org.uk/westsussexbrightonhove/activities-and-events/horsham-district/ ) and Citizens Advice Bureau ( https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ ) we are confident that a holistic wrap around package of support can be put in place for this resident. The Wardens made an application to the Southwater Parish Council Chairman’s Discretionary Fund to purchase a wheeled shopping trolley to help carry the shopping. This was promptly agreed by SPC who ordered the product which was delivered on the 9th of February 2023. We know that small interventions of this kind can make all the difference to residents and this is just one example of the value of our Neighbourhood Wardens being in the community as they are out interacting with residents each day, looking to offer help and guidance where they can and bringing a multi-agency approach to problem solving.

Notice from WSCC regarding a temporary traffic regulation affecting Bonfire Hill, Southwater from junction with Marlpost Road to Church Lane. Temporarily prohibited use from 13/02/2023 09:30 to 15:00 hrs.

To view the Finance & General Purpose Committee 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.

Southwater Neighbourhood Wardens have been running a Road Safety campaign involving all our local schools. It started with a poster competition where pupils designed awareness posters highlighting the hazards that they face from anti-social driving and inconsiderate parking. A winner from each of the three schools was presented with their prize by two of our Parish Councillors and the first signs were put up today outside Castlewood Primary School. Watch out for the new signs at Southwater Junior and Southwater Infant Academies later this week and we hope they will have a positive impact on drivers and all road users in general. The Wardens, accompanied by Sussex Police PCSO Cecil, were invited to attend Southwater Infant Academy to deliver a presentation about staying safe and the slogan “Stop, Look, Listen, Think” was reinforced at the end with an interactive film from the government’s THINK! Road Safety programme. All the pupils were brilliant with lots of great interaction.

The parents and children of Castlewood school can celebrate as the improvements to the running track have now been completed. This follows as a grant application to improve their running track was approved by Southwater Parish Council in October 2022. Credit: Photos provided by Supporters of Castlewood School The track has been installed to “encourage students at Castlewood School to run, jog or walk” a mile every day. The track is in constant use by students daily. It has been pivotal to the health and welfare of students during difficult periods, particularly during exam season. The track was first installed five years ago. Unfortunately, it had recently fallen into disrepair. Nevertheless, the Supporters of Castlewood School, a local charity, had been fundraising to repair and sustain the track. The organisation is made up of parents and other members of the local community to encourage a thriving relationship between Castlewood School and the wider community. On Wednesday 19th October 2022, the Council approved a grant of £1,500 to improve the running track. This brought the charity one step closer to their goal. The Council is pleased to see the project’s completion. At Southwater Parish Council we are happy to support local charitable or non-profit making organisations, providing services or carrying out activities or projects that directly benefit the community of Southwater. Further information on this is available in our Grant Policy. If your organisation falls within our Grants Policy, please do not hesitate to apply. Our Grant Policy and application form is available here. If you have any questions, please contact us.

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

The Neighbourhood Warden Report for January 2023 is now available: 2023 Monthly Reports (southwater-pc.gov.uk)

An opportunity to chat and discuss matters with your Councillors

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.

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.

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL (BROADBRIDGE HEATH: A24 SOUTHBOUND SLIP & A24 ENTRY SLIP(SOUTHBOUND)) (TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION) ORDER 2023 NOTICE is hereby given that West Sussex County Council made an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to: (i) prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along the A24 Southbound slip road from the A264 roundabout junction to the A24; and (ii) prohibit any vehicle from travelling at a speed exceeding 30mph southbound on the A24 Entry Slip (Southbound) from the A24 to the A264 roundabout junction. The Order is necessary to protect public safety whilst traffic signalling works and resurfacing works are undertaken. This Order will come into effect on 16 January 2023 and will last for 18 months or until the proposed works are completed, whichever is earlier. The works are expected to start on or after 16 January 2023 and the temporary speed restriction will be in place on the A24 Entry Slip (Southbound) or the entire 8 weeks duration. It is expected that the A24 Southbound Slip will be closed for 3 nights from 22 February 2023 between 2000 hours and 0500 hours to allow high friction surfacing works to be undertaken. Any queries about the works to take place should be directed to Hobart Paving telephone number 01732 783980. Any queries about the effect of the Order on vehicles using the highway should be directed to WSCC, telephone number 01243 642105 Dated this 12th day of January 2023 Director of Law & Assurance County Hall, Chichester.

Southwater Parish Council has received a card from His Majesty The King. He expresses his gratitude to the residents of Southwater for their kind messages and the letter of condolence from SPC during the time of mourning.

The Neighbourhood Warden Report for December 2022 is now available: 2022 Monthly Reports (southwater-pc.gov.uk)

An opportunity to chat and discuss matters with your Councillors. #councillorsurgery #southwater #southwaterparishcouncil

There will be a Bike Marking Event at 10:00am to 12:00pm on Wednesday 28th December 2022 at Beeson House, 26 Lintot Square, Southwater with the Neighbourhood Wardens. All welcome to attend. #Southwater#BikeMarking#NeighbourhoodWardens#NeighbourhoodWatch#SussexPolice

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL SOUTHWATER RESIDENTS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎅🎄🎉 The Parish Office will be closed from Wednesday 21st December 2022 and will reopen and staff will return to the office on Tuesday 3rd January 2023. In the case of urgent matters , please call the office number 01403 733202 or send an email to enquiry@southwater-pc.gov.uk (with URGENT in subject heading) which will be monitored on a regular basis. If the query is of an urgent nature or an emergency a staff member will respond or return your call when possible. All other non-emergency matters will be dealt with when the office re-opens on 3rd January 2023.

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.

We bring your attention to Parking Awareness on behalf of Horsham District Council having received various correspondence from concerned residents in particular to some of the parking issues in and around the schools...

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

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.