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In view of the Elections and the Local Government Association Pre-Election Period guidance, the Councillor Surgeries will not be running on 1st April 2023 and 6th May 2023 and will resume on the first Saturday of June (Saturday 10:00am, 3rd June 2023) continuing thereafter as per normal (first Saturday of every month except August). Southwater Parish Council look forward to seeing you there. In the meantime, should you have any queries, please contact us on enquiry@southwater-pc.gov.uk

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

WSCC Footpath Closure Notice Downs link Closure Southwater BW1686 (Stakers Lane) The Downslink will be closed on the 20th March 2023 for approximately 5 days, whislt dragons estate carry out Ashdieback tree works. The section that will be closed is highlight on the map. No alternative route is available. Contact Email: countryside@westsussex.gov.uk

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.

Update from Horsham District Council (HDC) regarding works including a Fence Replacement & Installation of a Disabled Access/Swan Ramp at the Beach. 1) A like-for-like fence replacement alongside the floating jetty below the café. This is being replaced due to health and safety concerns as the Fence has rotten beyond patch up repair. The works are due to start on the 20th March 2023 and last three days . There will be a temporary path closure along this stretch of the circular path which will be clearly signed. 2) An installation of a Swan Ramp/Disabled access at the beach. This is due to start on the 8th March 2023 and will take approximately a week. The ramp is being installed after conversation with the Swan Society and to make the beach more accessible for buggies and disability scooters.

West Sussex County Council has made the decision to close the footbridge that runs over the railway line, as shown by the red circle on the plan below. For information the alternative route is shown by the red line. Unfortunately, a long term path closure is needed to protect the safety of footpath users following recent inspections of the structure. The County Council understands this may cause frustration for people wishing to use this route, however, the safety of residents is paramount. Structural engineering experts have been commissioned to assess the bridge and advise on options. Currently the footbridge is closed until June 2023, however it is likely that a longer closure may be required. Further updates will be provided in the coming months. If you have any further questions please contact WSCC’s Public Rights of Way Team on 01243 777620 or by email on prow@westsussex.gov.uk

West Sussex County Councillor Nigel Jupp expresses his apologies for not being able to attend the Parish Councillor Surgery on Saturday 4th March 2023 at 10:00am. This is due to a longstanding prior engagement.

SPC have pleasure in sharing a brief film commissioned by West Sussex Association of Local Councils (WSALC). For more information on the upcoming District & Parish Elections on 4th May 2023 please click here.

Jeremy Quin MP for Horsham is holding a roundtable discussion with small businesses in Billingshurst and Southwater next Friday (10th March 2023). The meeting will take place in Billingshurst in the morning and exact details of location and time are confirmed by emailing Jeremy.quin.mp@parliament.uk

An opportunity to chat and discuss matters with your Councillors. Please note: The Southwater Neighbourhood Plan Community Consultation will run simultaneously between 10am-2pm in Beeson House. For more information click here.

What is a Neighbourhood Plan? Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood. Subsequently, shaping the development and growth of their local area. This empowers residents to establish: Where new homes, shops and offices are built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and nature of the infrastructure provided, This empowers the community to grant planning permission for the new infrastructure they wish to see go ahead. This provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure the consensual development for their community and neighbourhood alongside the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area. ​ Although Neighbourhood planning is not a legal requirement, it is a right which communities in England can choose to use. It further establishes that Communities and local planning authorities can discuss collectively their ambitions for their neighbourhood. Why is it important to review the plan? There a number of reasons why it is important. Some of these are listed below: We need to refresh it periodically to ensure it is always a recently adopted plan. The plan has been in place since early 2021 and there has been some difficulty applying several policies. This allows us to adjust them based on experience to date. Wider Policy Context: Central government are currently consulting on changes to the planning system and National Planning Policy Framework. If the current proposals are adopted, centrally derived housing requirement figures may be a thing of the past, and speculative housing proposals will likely be harder to progress. In light of this, Horsham District Council have paused the preparation of the new District Plan. Whilst this may be good news to some, there is a risk that if the changes do not come into effect (which is entirely possible), Southwater will be a prime target for unplanned speculative development. The Parish Council is therefore pushing ahead to maintain an up to date neighbourhood plan to counter this risk. Which Parts are being reviewed? To identify the policies to focus on we undertook an initial consultation with local groups and organisations who have an active role in the community, or use the plan daily. This initial consultation identified the following policies as needing particular attention at this time: SNP1 - CORE PRINCIPLES SNP7 - FORMAL / INFORMAL SPORTS AREAS SNP14 - ADEQUATE PROVISION OF CAR PARKING SNP18 – A TREED LANDSCAPE HOW CAN YOU TAKE PART Please ensure you are familiar with the current neighbourhood plan available here . You can complete the consultation response form here. To help you respond, we are running in person consultation sessions . You are invited to attend a drop in session to discuss the plan held by volunteers and Councillors undertaking the review. These are taking place at Beeson House at: 7pm - 9pm Wed 1st March 2023 10am - 2pm Sat 4th March 2023 The response form available online ( click here ). It is also available as a hard copy. Please request a copy of the response form from the Parish Council office, Beeson House. Complete it and return it by hand or post by the 10th of March 2023 . Other ways to get in touch: Tel: 01403 733202 Email: enquiry@southwater-pc.gov.uk Southwater Parish Council, Beeson House, Fairbank Road, Southwater, RH15 9LA

Southwater Parish Council is holding local #elections this year. If you are passionate about your community and want to help #MakeAChange , stand for election as a councillor! We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward for election and #MakeAChange . https://www.nalc.gov.uk/makeachange

The Neighbourhood Wardens were invited by 2nd Southwater Cubs Pack to join them on their visit to the Southwater Youth Project this week. The Cubs are creating maps of local community services and trying to think of a community project as they work on their Community Impact and Our World badges. The Wardens were asked to give a presentation explaining their role within the community and to do a Q&A session afterwards which was very lively and great fun. Thank you for all your ideas on how to improve the village, our natural environment and helping others. We look forward seeing what projects you pick for the future. Thank you all for a brilliant event.

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.

What is a Neighbourhood Plan? Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood. Subsequently, shaping the development and growth of their local area. This empowers residents to establish: Where new homes, shops and offices are built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and nature of the infrastructure provided, This empowers the community to grant planning permission for the new infrastructure they wish to see go ahead. This provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure the consensual development for their community and neighbourhood alongside the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area. ​ Although Neighbourhood planning is not a legal requirement, it is a right which communities in England can choose to use. It further establishes that Communities and local planning authorities can discuss collectively their ambitions for their neighbourhood. Why is it important to review the plan? There a number of reasons why it is important. Some of these are listed below: We need to refresh it periodically to ensure it is always a recently adopted plan. The plan has been in place since early 2021 and there has been some difficulty applying several policies. This allows us to adjust them based on experience to date. Wider Policy Context: Central government are currently consulting on changes to the planning system and National Planning Policy Framework. If the current proposals are adopted, centrally derived housing requirement figures may be a thing of the past, and speculative housing proposals will likely be harder to progress. In light of this, Horsham District Council have paused the preparation of the new District Plan. Whilst this may be good news to some, there is a risk that if the changes do not come into effect (which is entirely possible), Southwater will be a prime target for unplanned speculative development. The Parish Council is therefore pushing ahead to maintain an up to date neighbourhood plan to counter this risk. Which Parts are being reviewed? To identify the policies to focus on we undertook an initial consultation with local groups and organisations who have an active role in the community, or use the plan daily. This initial consultation identified the following policies as needing particular attention at this time: SNP1 - CORE PRINCIPLES SNP7 - FORMAL / INFORMAL SPORTS AREAS SNP14 - ADEQUATE PROVISION OF CAR PARKING SNP18 – A TREED LANDSCAPE HOW CAN YOU TAKE PART Please ensure you are familiar with the current neighbourhood plan available here . You can complete the consultation response form here. To help you respond, we are running in person consultation sessions . You are invited to attend a drop in session to discuss the plan held by volunteers and Councillors undertaking the review. These are taking place at Beeson House at: 7pm - 9pm Wed 1st March 2023 10am - 2pm Sat 4th March 2023 The response form available online ( click here ). It is also available as a hard copy. Please request a copy of the response form from the Parish Council office, Beeson House. Complete it and return it by hand or post by the 10th of March 2023 . Other ways to get in touch: Tel: 01403 733202 Email: enquiry@southwater-pc.gov.uk Southwater Parish Council, Beeson House, Fairbank Road, Southwater, RH15 9LA

Land Northwest of Southwater Residents of Southwater, please note that we have received confirmation via the Local Planning Authority that Berkeley Homes have now withdrawn their planning application for the proposal of 1,500 homes relating to the land Northwest of Worthing Road, Southwater. For more information please visit the Horsham District Council Planning Portal. DC/22/1916 Planning Application: WITHDRAWN

Catalytic converters are devices fitted to vehicle exhausts to reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted. They are often targeted by thieves as they contain valuable metals and can be removed in less than a minute. Catalytic converter theft most frequently occurs in car parks, but they can happen anywhere. Thieves may then sell these converters via scrapyards, online, or ship them out of the country. Hybrid vehicles are most commonly targeted, as their metals are more valuable, but any vehicle can be at risk of catalytic converter theft. Signs a catalytic converter theft is being committed - a vehicle being raised using a car jack in a car park or residential area. - a loud drilling or cutting sound coming from underneath the vehicle. Prevent it Although catalytic converter thefts are increasing, there are steps that you can take to protect your vehicle. To keep your catalytic converter safe, you can ask your car dealer for advice on locks or guards that are approved by the vehicle manufacturer and tested to Sold Secure Gold. Alternatively, try to make sure your vehicle is parked in a garage overnight, or if you have a commercial vehicle, park it in a secure compound. If this isn’t possible, park in an area that’s well-lit and overlooked and try to park so that the converter can’t be easily reached by potential thieves. Vehicles that sit high above the road are particularly vulnerable. You should also register your converter and mark it with a forensic marker, which will make it harder for thieves to dispose of. Report it If the crime is happening now call 999 - if you are unsure, we’d rather hear about it and decide if a theft is occurring If it is safe to do so, take photos of suspects or the number plate of their car (do not approach suspects, as they have been known to use violence) If the crime has already happened then you can report it to us online or at your local police station, call 101 or report it online. Report it online: https://www.sussex.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

Southwater Parish Council is audited by two independent organisations (Mulberry & Co and MOORE UK) and is committed to transparency complying with the relevant legislation, where more information can be found on our website: https://www.southwater-pc.gov.uk/transparency 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 per annum, signifying a decrease of 11.9% from 2022/23. As it currently stands, West Sussex County Council is due to increase its budget by 4.99% (subject to its scrutiny committee and approval) and Horsham District Council by 2.99% (subject to approval). For more information on Council Tax visit Horsham District Council’s website and for Southwater Parish Council see here: https://www.southwater-pc.gov.uk/post/southwater-parish-council-budget-and-precept-for-2023-24 Southwater Parish Council runs monthly Councillor Surgeries on the first Saturday of every month (except August) at 10:00am from Beeson House, 26 Lintot Square, Fairbank Road, Southwater, where residents can discuss any issues, concerns or matters relating to Southwater. The next one is 10:00am Saturday, 4th March 2023 and all residents are welcome to attend.

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.