Rodmell and Southease

PARISH COUNCIL: The parish council meeting took place in Rodmell Village Hall on Monday, January 4, at 8pm. It was a horrible, wet evening but a few stalwart members of the public turned up, mainly because they had an interest in the planning application from Mr R Dean for change of use from Forge (B2) to dwelling house (C3) with associated internal and external works, including works to the annexe. Location: The Forge, Mill Lane, Rodmell. The case reference is SDNP/15/06145/FUL, in case you are interested. The Forge has always been one of the central points of interest in the village and as many old timers remember , it was also where we used to get our petrol, as when I first came to Rodmell many years ago it was a busy petrol station and the little blue kiosk was where you went to pay. The Dean family ran the forge for over 100 years and I can remember the time before they used mobile forges and went out to customers. There would be horses waiting outside or in the pub car park, in their horse boxes, waiting their turn. The building is very old and one hopes it will be sympathetically brought up to standard for living accommodation and will lose the areas of unkemptness surrounding it. As traffic and parking are a bit of a problem on the C7, it will probably be a bit chaotic whist work goes on, but hopefully in the end all will be well.

GARDENS: I do hope all the daffodils that I planted, with the help of Bill Dartnell many years ago now, on the bank outside our house manage to get through the entanglement of long grass and baby trees growing up. I usually pay our gardener to cut it and keep it in shape, although it belongs to the council and they have at times cut it. However, this year they didn’t cut it and the weather did not help us to get it under control so I hope we still get the wonderful display of daffodils that people always comment on as being a lovely entrance to Lower Rodmell. Heaven knows how we are all going to cope with our lawns in the following weeks as they are long and sodden and no doubt if the weather changes for the better the noise of lawnmowers will be very evident around the village.

FLOODS: I feel so sorry for the people who are suffering such severe floods and I went into my bank to see if there was a fund I could pay a donation into. No luck. Surely we should look after our own people in a better way, before sending so much money abroad. Before anyone picks me up on this, I support many charities, but I feel I would like to help our own people in times of distress.

WALKERS: One of my B&B walkers decided to give up walking the South Downs Way in January, can’t say I blame him.

FEEL LIKE DANCING?: Here is a plea from Andrew Buxton: Rodmell Scottish Dancers held their Christmas Dance party on December 18. As well as dancing several old favourites they learned a new dance, the Fisherman’s Reel. The group meets monthly in the village hall, usually on the last Friday evening of the month. New members are always welcome and you don’t need a partner or any special clothes. For further information contact Andrew Buxton on 01273 477997.

WI: Do come along to Rodmell and Southease WI meeting at 8pm on Tuesday for the interesting talk on Secrets of Brighton Pavilion. Visitors are very welcome and you don’t have to be in the WI.

RODMELL PANTO: Opening night is planned for Friday January 22 in Rodmell Village Hall. See www.rodmell.net and village notice boards for details.

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