Cooksbridge, Offham & Hamsey

GOOD NEWS: About Hamsey Church which has secured a grant from the Government’s Church Roof Repair Fund as well as several generous donations (well done Friends of Hamsey Church). Repairs to the roof will start after Christmas.

MONDAY AFTERNOON CLUB: Much missed members. Judith reported recently how they were sad to hear that Les Mundy had passed away earlier in the summer. He was a very frequent member of the club and although he lived in Chailey for many years, his early years had been spent in Cooksbridge. He always had a fund of stories and lots of photographs of people and places in our villages. He is much missed. They also miss Daisy Maile who, following her hospital stay, has happily settled into a residential home in Ridgewood, outside Uckfield. It is very good to still see Charlie at Monday Club, who keeps them up to date with news of his mother.

VANDALISM: The South Downs Park’s display panel that had been erected above the Chalk Pit, went missing. But I am happy to say that it was found. It had been thrown over the edge of the chalk pit and had landed on a ledge about five metres down and was found by the South Downs Park Rangers. Fortunately one of their colleagues is a trained climber and had all the ropes and harness. They attached him to the Landrover and lowered him over the edge to retrieve the panel which was repaired and replaced. It was put there so that walkers and visitors could enjoy it. What kind of people do we have in our midst who want to go around the countryside causing destruction and also putting lives in danger by then throwing it over the very steep chalk pit for someone to retrieve? Obviously thoughtless idiots who should know better.

YOUTH SHELTER: At the recreation ground in Cooksbridge looks very smart and is being well used and much enjoyed by young and old and appreciated by all. It is hoped that it’s more sturdy construction will ensure that benefit is enjoyed for a very long time. It should be mentioned that Jim Edwards was responsible for putting some very nice finishing touches to the shelter.

PARISH COUNCIL: When East Chiltington PC met recently it was noted with regret that Simon Clarke has resigned from the parish council and asked the clerk to advertise the vacancy. A resident had complained to ESCC that the verges are not cut to full width. She was told they would be done this autumn, but have not been done so far, and she has now been informed that they will only be cut to the standard one metre. Cllr Funnel offered to follow it up. Another resident was concerned about cutting of the wild flower verge in Novington Lane. It was noted that there have been several renewals of the ‘temporary’ application for the siting of the mobile home at Wootton Farm, Novington Lane. Retrospective application for residential use by livery manager. The applicant had been advised of the need to seek a permanent solution to the issue of the accommodation for the livery manager. The applicant has made a firm undertaking that, in the next six months, a planning application would be lodged in order to do this. The chairman had received an email from a resident concerned about drainage from the mobile home and the possibility of run-off to the bridleway. Council adjourned the meeting to ask the applicant whether he was aware of any problem with run-off from the septic tank and he agreed to check this and advise the PC within one week. Council stressed that temporary should in fact mean temporary and that the last application granted by LDC was said to be the last. A vote was taken and all Cllrs, except one, voted for a response of no objection, though with wording that noted the problem of repeated temporary applications. Wording would be sent to LDC.

Decisions made by LDC. SDNP/16/02212/FUL Unit 1 Wootton Farm. Demolition of existing agricultural building and surrender of open storage yard (B8 use) and erection of four holiday let units – withdrawn. LW/16/0695 land south of Chiltington House, Chiltington Lane. Creation of ponds, provision of buildings and a supervisory dwelling to service a fish farm was considered by LDC Planning Committee on November 23. A representative from the parish council was to speak at the meeting with the views of ECPC.

COMMUNITY USE OF EC CHURCH: Rev Godfrey Broster and churchwarden Antonia Price kindly attended and gave an update at the start of the meeting. The Rev said the diocese had asked an architect to look at repairs and an asbestos test and test of electrics. A report includes repairs needed to the tower, the south and north faces. The interior plaster from 1890 is now falling off. Plans are to remove the pews between the door and the tower on the south side and to reposition the font near the door to leave a larger space in the tower. This will be paid for with Heritage Lottery Funds. No water or drainage is available so there will be no kitchen. It is hoped to start work next summer. The car park has planning permission but there is a problem with restrictions to this. The PC have offered to investigate this. At present there is no funding available for the car park. Rv Broster reported that a tree has recently been removed from the churchyard but that in the process this has damaged two gravestones and caused distress to the concerned families. He stressed that in future, he should be consulted before any similar work is carried out.

ADVANCE NOTICES: The Monday Afternoon Club meet for their annual Christmas Lunch on December 12 (note earlier time) at Offham Church Hall at 12.30pm. Please book your place as soon as possible. Ring Judith on 01273 474356.

NEW YEARS EVE LUNCH: December 31 in Offham Church Hall, 12.30pm. Details and tickets from Judith 01273 474356.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.sussexexpress.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/

3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.