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The Chairman of the Parish Council wishes to express heartfelt condolences on behalf of Southwater Parish Council and the Residents of Southwater Parish, to the Royal Family on hearing the announcement of the death of HMTQ Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom. The Union Flag is being flown at half-mast and will continue to be flown as such for the recommended period. ​ There will be a Proclamation Ceremony at 2:00pm Sunday 11th September 2022 . The Chairman will read the Proclamation outside the Parish Office, Beeson House, 26 Lintot Square, Fairbank Road, Southwater, RH13 9LA. Note, the Flag will be flown full-mast at 11:00am Saturday 10th September 2022 and will be returned to half-mast after the Proclamation Ceremony on Sunday 11th September 2022. Residents of Southwater Parish are welcome to attend. The Parish Council Chamber will hold a book of condolences for all those wishing to pay their respects. The Chamber will be opened at 9am until 12 noon by appointment only from Monday to Friday. There is also an online book of condolence on the Royal Family website. Cllr Derek Moore Chairman of Southwater Parish Council

At its Full Council meeting on 21 January 2026, Southwater Parish Council approved its budget and precept for 2026–27. This includes an increase in the Parish Council’s share of council tax, which for a Band D household is 58p per week. Where your council tax goes Most of the council tax you pay does not go to the Parish Council . Around 76% is paid to West Sussex County Council , with the remainder split between Sussex Police, Horsham District Council, and Southwater Parish Council. Southwater’s share funds local priorities and services . What does the increase mean? The Parish Council’s portion of council tax has increased by 26.9%. For a Band D household , this is around 58p per week . Even with this increase, the Parish Council’s council tax rate is 6% lower than it was five years ago , despite the Council now delivering more services and to a higher standard, evidenced by that Southwater Parish Council has also achieved the Gold Award , the only town or parish council in Sussex to do so. Key drivers of the Council's approved budget for 2026-27 and precept increase are as follows. 1. Neighbourhood Plan: Full Council has resolved to progress a new Neighbourhood Plan, in response to speculative development, planning pressures and the need to maintain a robust local policy framework. The provision for this work contributes approximately 52% of the overall increase in the precept requirement for 2026-27 (£75,000 budgeted). 2. Staffing capacity including apprenticeship provision: The budget makes provision to strengthen organisational capacity, including the development of an apprenticeship opportunity for local career development. This supports business continuity, delivery of the Council’s adopted Business Plan, and the increasing workload associated with statutory processes and governance demands. 3. Youth services support: The budget includes increased grant funding to Southwater Youth Project CIO to support recruitment of an additional youth worker and maintain local youth provision. 4. Elections and by-election risk: Provision is included to replenish the Elections earmarked reserve in view of the by-election scheduled for 12 March 2026 and to ensure the Council is adequately provisioned for future election cycles (both further by election risk and ordinary elections in May 2027). 5. Use of General Reserves in prior years: Over the last three financial years, the Council has deliberately used surplus General Reserves to offset precept increases. That headroom has now been fully utilised with the latest year end projection for 2025-26 shows General Reserves reducing to around the Council’s adopted minimum level and proper practices guidelines, therefore it is no longer sustainable or prudent to fund recurring expenditure through further reserve drawdown to keep the precept artificially lower. 6. Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution readiness: The budget includes provision for professional advice to support the Council’s preparedness for local government reorganisation, including potential changes in responsibilities, service delivery, or asset management. The Annual Budget is available to view here . A responsible financial decision In recent years, the Council has used its surplus General Reserves to keep council tax lower. That surplus has now been fully utilised, and further reliance on reserves would be unsustainable and against proper financial practices. The 2026–27 budget takes a responsible, long-term approach, ensuring Southwater Parish Council can continue to protect local interests, deliver valued services at a high standard, and remain financially resilient for the future. To ensure everyone is informed, flyers will be delivered to every household in the parish  explaining the parish precept increase in clear, straightforward terms. This will help make the information accessible to all residents, including those who may not use online channels.

The January Report has been published and is now available to read on our website, please click here: Southwater Neighbourhood Warden's Monthly Reports 202 6

Horsham District Council has announced an election for one Parish Councillor in the Southwater South Ward. Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at Albery House, Springfield Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 2GB on weekdays between 10am and 4pm, from the date of the notice until the deadline of 4pm on Friday 13 February 2026 . Papers can be obtained from the same office during those times, and candidates are encouraged, but not required, to book an appointment by calling 01403 215126 or emailing elections@horsham.gov.uk . If the election is contested, voting will take place on Thursday 12 March 2026 . Residents must be registered to vote by midnight on 24 February , and there are several deadlines for postal, proxy and voter ID applications through late February and early March. Voters who need a postal vote must apply or make changes by 5pm on 25 February , while applications to vote by proxy and for a Voter Authority Certificate must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on 4 March . Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5 pm on Thursday, 12th March. The notice of election issued by Horsham District Council can be viewed or downloaded in a PDF format here.

Southwater Parish Council is a Gold Award Council dedicated to serving our vibrant and growing community. We are committed to delivering high quality services and projects that enhance the lives of our residents. To support this, we are looking to expand our office team with the addition of an Apprentice Business Support Officer, providing valuable administrative support while developing their own skills and experience in local government. We are recruiting for a new Apprentice Business Support Officer based at Beeson House. This is a full-time apprenticeship role that combines practical work experience with study towards the Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship standard. The apprenticeship is expected to run for approximately 18 months, including time for final assessment, with training delivered during paid working hours. The role is ideal for someone who is organised, willing to learn and interested in how a Parish Council operates. You will support the Executive Officer and the wider office team with a range of day-to-day tasks, including customer service, bookings administration, basic finance support, website updates and general office work. In return, you will gain a recognised qualification, structured training during paid working hours and a solid foundation for a future career in business administration and or local government. The Council’s intention is to retain and develop the successful apprentice where possible. Subject to satisfactory performance, funding and business need, the post is expected to convert to a permanent Business Support Officer role following successful completion of the apprenticeship and end point assessment. Final decisions would be confirmed nearer the completion date. For more details and to access the job description, specification and the application form, please visit the Job Listings & Vacancies section of our website, here.

West Sussex County Council will shortly begin pedestrian improvement works in Southwater, focusing on Nutham Lane, Cedar Drive and Cripplegate Lane. Running from 23rd February – 6th March 2026  (weather permitting), the project aims to make local walking routes safer and more accessible. The main element of the scheme is upgrading the existing woodchip path on Cedar Drive  to a durable all‑weather asphalt footway , improving the connection between Nutham Lane and Cripplegate Lane. Several new uncontrolled crossing points  will also be introduced, with enhancements made to some existing crossings to improve safety and access, including routes to local bus stops. No road closures are planned, but temporary traffic lights may be used, so residents should allow extra travel time. Works will take place between 07:30am and 17:30pm , with advance warning signs placed locally. For further enquiries, please contact : PlannedHighwayMaintenance@westsussex.gov.uk . Further updates can be found on one.network  or by following @WSHighways on X.

Have you got questions or concerns? Are you interested in any of the upcoming Southwater events? Or is  there something else you wish to talk about? Why not come along to our February councillor surgery? It is taking place face to face on Saturday 7th February 2026 from 10:00AM in the Parish Chamber at Beeson House. This is a great opportunity for you to speak with your Parish, District and County Councillors and raise any queries/concerns and share ideas you may have, or just to have a chat. See you at 10AM on Saturday!

Please see the current and upcoming road works for the next few weeks: Cripplegate Lane 27 - 29 January Utility asset works by Openreach Ltd. Some carriageway incursion expected. Worthing Road 26 - 28 January Works: Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Southern Water. Horsham Bypass Northbound Exact location: A24 Pollards Hill roundabout to Robin Hood Roundabout, north and south bound. 26 January 9:30AM - 29 January 4:00 PM Works: Litter pick verges on lane 1 using mobile TM on behalf of Horsham District Council. Lane closure is expected. Church Lane 26 - 30 January Works: Works to repair/install drainage, and highway improvement works, by West Sussex County Council. Traffic control (two-way signals) will be installed. Andrews Road 27 - 29 January Works: Utility repair and maintenance works by Southern Water. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Eversfield 28 - 29 January Remedial works by Openreach Ltd. No carriageway incursion is expected. Worthing Road 26 January 8:30AM - 28 January 11:59PM Works: Utility repair and maintenance works by Southern Water. No carriageway incursion is expected. Millfield 28 - 30 January Utility repair and maintenance works by Community Fibre Limited. No carriageway incursion is expected. Quarry Way 26 January 8:00AM - 28 January 6:00PM New service connection by Community Fibre Limited. No carriageway incursion is expected. Pollards Way Southbound on Pollards Way from Hop Oast Roundabout to Pollards Hill Roundabout from 27 January (for up to 21 days) The emergency temporary closure commenced on 27th January 2026 and expected to be completed within 24 hours, but permitted for a maximum of 21 days. It is anticipated that works will be completed by 3rd February 2026. The road closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while Volker Highways undertakes Emergency Road Closure due to flooding. The restriction will be in place 24hrs a day. An alternative route will be sign-posted during the closure. Access maintained for emergency services, residents and pedestrians within the closed area.

To view the Planning Committee Meeting Agenda, please visit our website here: Planning Committee Meeting  or view the agenda on the noticeboard situated outside Beeson House.

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, and using a defibrillator within the first few minutes can increase survival chances from around 9% to over 50%. That’s why knowing where your nearest defibrillator is really matters. Southwater now has 14 public-access defibrillators, looked after by the Southwater Community Responders , and we’ve just updated our defibrillator page on the website to make them easier to find. We’ve created a new interactive map  showing each location, with photos and what3words  references, so you can familiarise yourself with them in advance. Defibrillators are safe, simple to use, and give clear voice instructions, you don’t need training to use one. Taking a few minutes to get familiar with their locations could one day help save a life. Visit our dedicated Defibrillators page to explore the map and be prepared, minutes matter .

Your Councils are Changing – Potential Assets for Southwater Parish Council to take over – Survey summary Southwater Parish Council has run a survey to gather residents’ views on proposed major changes to local government in West Sussex. Central Government is progressing Local Government Reorganisation, which will replace the current county, district, and borough councils’ structure with new unitary authorities. Ahead of this, Southwater Parish Council sought residents’ views on whether it should take on the ownership and management of certain local assets (e.g. play areas, open spaces and woodlands) currently overseen and managed by Horsham District Council. If taken on, these assets would be managed more locally by Southwater Parish Council, subject to strict legal provisions under Horsham District Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy to ensure long term stewardship and no change of use. This may in the future require an increase in the parish precept to cover maintenance and management costs. However, local ownership can also bring benefits, including greater local accountability, improvement or continuity of maintenance standards and decision making focused solely on Southwater. For more information, please see our FAQs about Local Government Reorganisation and Asset Transfers . The survey invited responses via a flyer distributed to every household or via an online version by 31 October 2025. The responses and survey summary are shared in the document accessible here.

To view the Full Council Meeting Agenda, please visit our website here: Full Council Meetings  or view the agenda on the noticeboard situated outside Beeson House.

The first edition of Southwater Parish Council’s monthly newsletter for 2026 is now available to view in the Newsletter  section of our website. Would you like to be among the first to receive updates on all things Southwater? Simply scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe.

Thank you to those members of the public that attended our Councillor Surgery on Saturday 10th January 2026.   A number of issues were discussed and as promised please see below an update on those items. 1.  Goals on the Nutham Lane Village Green  - as residents know the goals left on the field were removed by Horsham DC. As I discussed on Saturday through the suggestion of Cllr John Potts and Cllr Graham Watkins we have secured new goals courtesy of Southwater Royals FC. Our Executive Officer and his team are trying to find somewhere these can be stored so that they do not have to go in a residents garden and once we have this confirmed then we will be able to deliver the goals to Nutham Lane Village Green and nearby residents to use. 2.  By-Election - A by-election has been called to fill the current Southwater South vacancy and it is scheduled to take place on Thursday 12 March 2026. This by-election is for this single seat only, for the remainder of the current term. The next ordinary parish elections are due in May 2027, when all councillors’ terms end and every seat is up for election again, so anyone who wishes to continue must stand for election. This means the successful candidate in March 2026 will be in post for just over a year before the May 2027 elections. The by-election is administered by Horsham District Council and charged to the Parish Council where the cost is met from a combination of either earmarked reserves specifically held for election costs, general reserves and if used, will need to be replenished through future budgeting decisions. In simple terms, if reserves are drawn down now, they need to be replenished through the 2026-27 budget so the Council remains properly provided for any future by-election risk and the May 2027 ordinary elections. It is correct that we have not had an election for some time and this has been because we have in the past struggled to get applications for the vacancies therefore no election has needed to be called. It’s great that we now have people wanting to become Councillors. In 2025, when we had vacancies, we had 7 applications and from that we co-opted three new Councillors – Cllr John Potts, Cllr Phillipa French and Cllr Malcom Brierley.  All three have been a real asset to the Council since they joined. 2. Easteds Barn  - we were asked what the plan was with the funds should the sale go ahead and what the update is on the proposed purchase. At this moment in time all we know is that Solicitors for both sides are in discussions and we have no further update on a likely completion date. As has been explained, the funds from any sale can only be used on Capital Expenditure not to reduce the precept or be used for general funds. With this in mind there will need to be thought given to what this is used for and so initially the funds will be invested and these will accrue interest in a 12-month fixed term account. No decision has been taken at the moment on what the funds will be used for.     3. Potholes  - as always we have areas of Southwater Roads with some bad pot holes - Cripplegate Lane and Station Lane were mentioned as being very bad in places Roads are dealt with by West Sussex Highways and while the SPC officers can raise issues of Pot Holes reported, it is aided greatly if local residents contact West Sussex Highways directly. Therefore please reach out to your West Sussex County Councillor Nigel Jupp with any concerns and ask him to chase Highways up. We are aware the Central Government have given extra funds to get potholes sorted. In the latest Government report West Sussex are showing as yellow which means they have made some inroads to clear the potholes but not enough so we need to work together to get these areas resolved.    Our Surgeries are held the first Saturday of every month and it’s a great opportunity to come along and discuss issues. We often have HDC Councillors attend and sometimes our County Councillor too. We look forward to seeing you at our next Surgery in Feb 2026. With regards   Cllr Nikki Knott Vice Chair of Southwater Parish Council

All West Sussex libraries, including Southwater Library will be closed on Monday 19, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 January 2026 to enable staff to change over to a new system. Please note that no items will be due back during the closure period of the library and no overdue charges will be incurred. We will not be able to take any telephone renewals during the closure period. All libraries will re-open at their usual times on Thursday 22 January, when we look forward to welcoming you back for book borrowing, placing reservations, using public computers and attending our regular activities. Library Reservations All book reservations will be paused from Monday 12 January until Thursday 22 January. Don't forget to pick up any reservations you have awaiting collection before the temporary closures begin. Visit West Sussex Libraries page for more information.

The December Report has been published and is now available to read on our website, please click here: Southwater Neighbourhood Warden's Monthly Reports 2025

Please see the current and upcoming road works for the next few weeks: Cripplegate Lane 1 Dec ember 2025 - 9 January 2026 Works to remove a layer of the footway surface and then creation of a layer of new material, organised by West Sussex County Council. One way traffic-control system will be installed. Blakes Farm Road 7 - 9 January 12 -14 January Works: Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Southern Water. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Charlock Way 7 - 9 January Works: Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Southern Water. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Cripplegate Lane to Andrews Lane 6 - 8 January Works: Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Southern Water. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Crookhorn Lane 7 - 9 January Works: Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Southern Water. No carriageway incursion is expected. Rascals Close 7 - 9 January Utility Repair and Maintenance works by Openreach. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Worthing Road , Roundstone caravan park 5 - 16 January Works: gullies, pedestrian cross over, new line markings, Knee rail installation, Footway to be resurfaced. Pedestrian walkway to be through the site. Company name: Clark's Groundworks and Landscaping Arranged by West Sussex County Council Highway Repair and Maintenance. Worthing Road Roundabout 9 January Works to repair a part of the carriageway surface by cutting around the damaged area and replacing with new material, by West Sussex County Council. Road closure expected. Kerves Lane 5 - 8 January Road Closure from Blakesfarm Road through to Sedgwick Lane and Kerves Lane to junction with Brighton Road. which is required due to black ice and water run off from fields. Millfield 9 - 13 January Utility Asset works by Openreach. No carriageway incursion is expected.

Southwater Parish Council has received the resignation of Councillor Graham Turnwell. Graham has lived in Southwater for over 30 years and joined the Parish Council in 2022 to take a more active role in local matters. During his time on the Council, he served on the Finance & General Purposes Committee  and the Planning Committee , drawing on his professional background as a financial advisor. He was also a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Group , with an interest in development and planning issues affecting the parish. On behalf of Southwater Parish Council, we thank Graham for his time and contribution during his service and wish him well for the future. There is now a vacancy at Southwater Parish Council to be filled. What happens next? By-election and co-option When a councillor vacancy occurs, Horsham District Council (as the elections authority) publishes a Notice of Vacancy (assisted by the Parish or Town Council) and sets out the legal process and deadline for requesting an election.   By-election is for this single vacancy only A parish council by-election is not a full Council election. It is held only to fill the one councillor seat that has become vacant , for the remainder of the current term i.e. until May 2027. All other councillors remain in office, and the Council continues its work as normal.   Requesting a By-election (electors’ right) A by-election for the vacancy will only be held if ten eligible and registered local government electors make a request within 14 working days of the Notice of Vacancy being published. The Notice explains exactly how to make a request and the deadline date.   If a by-election is called, it is administered by Horsham District Council and the cost is charged to Southwater Parish Council . Based on indicative estimates provided by Horsham District Council, the cost is expected to be in excess of £18,000 . This is funded from by SPC and would need to be met from the Council’s budgets or reserves, or provided for in a future budget which could affect the parish precept (council tax) if additional funding is required.   If no by-election is requested, Co-option happens If no valid request is received by the deadline, the Parish Council may fill the vacancy by co-option. This means the Council may invite expressions of interest from eligible residents and then vote on an appointment at a Council meeting open to the public.   A councillor elected at a by-election, or appointed by co-option, would serve until the next ordinary elections.   Next Ordinary Parish Elections The next ordinary parish elections in Horsham District are currently scheduled for May 2027. At that point, all councillor seats are open for election and anyone wishing to continue as a councillor must stand for election again. No-one is automatically re-elected.

Southwater Parish Council is aware of a number of comments and questions on social media about Easteds Barn. This update is intended to share the facts, explain the process, provide reassurance, and outline what happens next. Where things currently stand Easteds Barn is currently leased to Little Barn Owls Limited under a long lease that includes an option for the tenant to purchase the freehold.  Little Barn Owls have notified the Council that they intend to exercise this purchase option before it expires in March 2026.  In line with the lease, the Council has obtained an updated independent valuation from Crickmay Chartered Surveyors to inform the purchase price.  The Council has instructed its solicitors, Surrey Hills Solicitors, to advise and support the legal process. The update given by the Executive Officer in open session at Full Council (19 th November 2025) was to ensure not only the Council and its councillors were informed at an early stage but for transparency, residents are also aware that the tenant intends to use the existing purchase option. No transfer of ownership has taken place yet.     Has Easteds Barn been sold yet? No. The freehold of Easteds Barn remains in the ownership of Southwater Parish Council at the time of this statement.  There are several formal contractual steps still to complete.    If and when the sale is completed, this will be reported in public and recorded in the Council’s minutes.     Why can’t we share the valuation figure yet? Some residents have asked for the exact valuation figure and proposed purchase price.  The valuation has been carried out by an independent RICS-registered surveyor in strict accordance with the terms of the lease. Until the legal process has concluded, the valuation and commercial terms are treated as commercially sensitive . This is standard practice for local authorities so that they can protect the public’s financial interests while a transaction is in progress.  However, in the interest of transparency, the Executive Officer has contacted the Council’s solicitor to seek clarification as to whether the figure could be shared publicly. Once the process is complete, the Council will be able to publish more detail about the transaction as part of its normal transparency and accounting requirements.     What can the sale proceeds be used for? If the sale proceeds, the money received will be a “capital receipt”. In simple terms, a capital receipt is money received from selling a long term asset, for example land or buildings.  In accordance with national proper practices for parish and town councils, capital receipts from the sale of any fixed assets cannot be used for day-to-day running costs. They can only be used for capital purposes such as:   Purchasing or building new community facilities, significantly improving or refurbishing existing facilities, buildings or play areas,  investing in long term community infrastructure, for example paths, open spaces, outdoor gyms, play areas or recreational facilities,  making capital grants to support community capital projects run by other organisations,  repaying long term loans.    The Practitioners’ Guide also confirms that councils may hold and invest reserves, including capital receipts, while they decide how best to apply them, provided they are properly recorded and earmarked.  In practical terms this means: The proceeds of any Easteds Barn sale must be ring-fenced for capital projects or other eligible capital uses.  They cannot be used to subsidise day-to-day expenditure or to reduce the precept requirement in the annual budget.  Until the Council decides how to use the capital, the funds are most likely to be held in a fixed term high interest-bearing account in accordance with the Council’s adopted Investment Policy so that the Council and community gains from additional interest income in the meantime. This position is already reflected in the Council’s adopted Business Plan , which notes that interest on any sale proceeds would help offset Easteds Barn rental income in the short term while longer term capital uses are considered.    No decision made yet on how proceeds will be used At this stage no decision has been taken on how any potential capital receipt from Easteds Barn would be used.  There is no approved project or resolution linking the proceeds of any sale to The Ghyll, Laurie Apted Building or to any other facility or specific project.  Any suggestions that the sale has been agreed to fund a particular project are speculative and not based on facts.  Once the outcome of the purchase option is known, the Council will consider options for reinvestment in community assets and capital projects via its Council meetings. Residents will have opportunities to see and comment on any proposals through published agendas, reports, business plan and minutes before any significant decisions on spending are made.    What happens next? Over the coming months the Council will work with its solicitors to complete the legal steps in line with the lease requirements, and will report key milestones and decisions through council meetings and meeting minutes once able to do so. It should be reiterated that the sale process and details of the valuation are considered commercially sensitive and hence further updates will only be provided once there is a clear outcome on whether the purchase completes and, if so, the confirmed net capital receipt. Residents are encouraged to come along to the councillor surgeries , usually held on the first Saturday of every month, except August, when the surgery doesn't run. The councillor surgeries provide an opportunity to anyone who wish to speak with their parish, district and county councillors. The next one will be held on the Saturday 10th January 2026 (due to the Christmas break), from 10AM in Beeson House.

Have you got questions or concerns? Are you interested in any of the upcoming Southwater events? Or is  there something else you wish to talk about? Why not come along to our first councillor surgery of 2026? It is taking place face to face on Saturday 10th January 2026 from 10:00AM in the Parish Chamber at Beeson House. This is a great opportunity for you to speak with your Parish, District and County Councillors and raise any queries/concerns and share ideas you may have, or just to have a chat. See you at 10AM on Saturday!

To view the Planning Committee Meeting Agenda, please visit our website here: Planning Committee Meeting  or view the agenda on the noticeboard situated outside Beeson House.

Please see the current and upcoming road works for the next few weeks: Rascals Close 15 - 17 Dec ember 2025 Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Openreach. Some carriageway incursion is expected, but pedestrian walkway will be maintained. Robin Hood Lane 15 - 16 December Robin Hood Lane, A24 Robin Hood Roundabout to Broadbridge Heath Road Works: Carriageway Retexturing by West Sussex County Council. Traffic control (two-way signals) will be in place. The Fieldings 15 December - 9 January The Fieldings, Junction of Mill Straight Works: Tactile dropped crossing point by West Sussex County Council. Alternative route during the sidewalk closure will be provided. Tower Hill 16 - 18 December Works: Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Southern Water. Traffic control (two-way signals) will be in place. Bluecoat Pond 16 - 19 December Utility Asset works by Openreach. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Crawley Road Westbound 22 December 8:00 PM - 23 December 6:30 AM Overnight Westbound carriageway closure, required to allow VolkerHighways to undertake carriageway patching. Road closed between Bewbush Manor Roundabout and Crawley Road Roundabout. Eastbound carriageway to remain open. Andrews Road 15 December - 17 December Utility Asset Works by Openreach. Sidewalk closure expected. Woodlands Way and College Road 2 November - 23 December These areas have extended, ongoing works by SGN. Colstaple Lane 19 December 09:30 - 16:00 Road closure for tree and vegetation management.

At an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 17 December 2025 , Southwater Parish Council resolved to proceed with a “Full Review” of the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan , including housing allocations.   Why a Full Review? A full review gives Southwater the strongest platform to shape where growth goes, what it looks like, and how supporting infrastructure is delivered. It is the route most likely to restore protection under paragraph 14 once made, at a time when national and local changes are reducing opportunities to refer planning applications to committee. This increases the importance of having an up-to-date neighbourhood plan that carries weight at officer level.   What is Paragraph 14 and why is it important? Paragraph 14 is a key part of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as it sets out the principle known as the “ presumption in favour of sustainable development” . This means that planning decisions should generally support development that meet local needs – unless there is a strong reason not to, such as harm to protected areas or heritage. For Neighbourhood Plans, paragraph 14 is especially important as an up-to-date plan which includes housing allocation and is made within the last five years, carries extra weight when deciding planning applications. This protection helps ensure that new developments respect the vision your community has set out, even when wider policies are under pressure. That’s why a full review matters: it keeps your neighbourhood plan current and ensures it continues to influence where growth happens, what it looks like and how infrastructure is delivered.   Working with neighbouring parishes As part of the resolution, the Council will approach and engage with the neighbouring parishes of Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, Itchingfield, Nuthurst, and Shipley  to ask whether they wish to partner with Southwater and be included in the Neighbourhood Plan Area. Partnership would be welcomed and could enable stronger joint working on shared issues. It could also provide extra protections to speculative development occurring on the Southwater Parish boundary but outside the Parish of Southwater – i.e. Southwater feeling the impact but not receiving contributions of Community Infrastructure Levy and contribution to the precept via Council tax. The Council will proceed with the Full Review regardless of whether other parishes join.   What residents can expect Subject to formal scoping, the programme includes eight stages which include: scoping and confirmation of approach; review of evidence; a call for sites; drafting and policy development; Regulation 14 consultation; Submission; examination; and referendum. Under the current outline programme, completion is expected around May 2027 . Detailed dates and opportunities to take part will be publicised at each stage.   Costs and budgeting of the Neighbourhood Plan Full Review There are currently no central government grants available for neighbourhood plan reviews. The indicative cost to complete the Full Review is £75,000 to £115,000 ex VAT, which covers the full process from scoping through to referendum. The Council will reflect the required provision in its 2026–27 budget and precept. Final costs will be refined after Stage 1 scoping and engagement with neighbouring parishes. Participation by neighbouring parishes will likely increase the overall estimated cost of the Full Review if the plan area is expanded, but the associated costs for the respective parishes and their proportion of costs would be met by that Parish.   Why are we doing this now? The current Southwater Neighbourhood Plan was made in June 2021   and benefits from paragraph 14 protection until   23 June 2026 . Without a comprehensive review, protection will lapse, leaving the parish more exposed to speculative development while the district’s supply remains constrained. Our planning consultants were asked to carry out a full review of the options available including exploring the most robust approach for Southwater. Read the “Working Draft” report and update , dated 30 October 2025. A reviewed Neighbourhood Plan would provide the most up-to-date, locally specific planning policies that carry statutory weight when planning applications and appeals are considered, addressing for example, the policy gaps highlighted by the recent Horsham Golf Club appea l . By clearly setting out Southwater priorities, settlement boundaries, development principles, and more, it would give decision-makers stronger grounds to resist speculative development proposals that can conflict with local community expectations. This would place the Parish Council and the community of Southwater in a more robust position when responding to appeals and unplanned development pressures.   Have your say Your voice matters in shaping Southwater’s future. The Full Review will include multiple opportunities for community input – how to comment on draft policies, site options and more. Residents, local groups, businesses, and landowners will be invited to participate during the call for sites, the Regulation 14 consultation, and later stages. For background information, you can read the Council’s briefing note and the Squires Planning update that informed this decision. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish Office .

Merry Christmas Southwater!   In partnership with Santa and Southwater Parish Council, our Neighbourhood Wardens Bettina and Dom have once again coordinated a special delivery of surprise gifts for a number of well-deserving children from Southwater Junior & Infant Academies and Castlewood Primary School. Operation Jingle Bells has now been running for several years, continuing a valued tradition of spreading festive cheer within the community. Each gift is shared with their warmest seasonal wishes. Sincere thanks are extended to Southwater Parish Council and the Chairman’s Discretionary Fund for their generous support in making this heartwarming project possible year after year. The Neighbourhood Wardens and SPC hope this ongoing initiative will bring an extra touch of Christmas magic to local children in December 2025. We would also like to thank the Neighbourhood Wardens and Cllr Derek Moore for their continued leadership and commitment to supporting families who may find this time of year particularly challenging, while also helping to spread festive joy across Southwater.

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.

The Extraordinary Full Council Meeting Agenda for 17th December 2025 is available to view on our website and on the noticeboard outside Beeson House.

The Parish Council would like to wish all residents a peaceful and enjoyable festive season, and to thank everyone for their support throughout the year. Please note that the Parish Council office will be closed during the Christmas period, from Monday, 22nd December 2025 , and will reopen on Monday, 5th January 2026 as usual. During this period, the office will not be staffed and responses to enquiries may be delayed. Normal service will resume when we reopen. For urgent matters, please call 01403 733202  and leave a message, or email enquiry@southwater-pc.gov.uk  with URGENT  in the subject line. These will be monitored regularly and a member of staff will respond when possible. All other enquiries will be dealt with when the office reopens on 5th January 2026 . We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to working with the community again in 2026.

West Sussex County Council has issued a temporary daytime road closure for Two Mile Ash Road, Itchingfield , to allow essential tree and vegetation management near electricity infrastructure. The closure is being carried out under Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Date:  17th December 2025 Duration:  Up to 1 day (within a 5-day permitted window) Times:   9:30am – 3:00pm Location:  Two Mile Ash Road outside the Allotment Gardens Closed Section:  Between the junction with Sycamore Rise  and the junction with Trout Lane Works:  Scottish and Southern Power Distribution will be undertaking important tree and vegetation management work near electricity assets. A clearly signed diversion route will be in place. Please note: Access will NOT be maintained for pedestrians or residents during the works. Emergency services access will be maintained. For full diversion and closure details, search reference GB146133023  on the one.network  map. For enquiries about the works, please contact Traffic Smiths Ltd  on behalf of Scottish and Southern Power Distribution.