LINDFIELD RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09
This report attempts to record the important events over the past year.
Housing Development Issues
1) The long awaited proposed planning application to build 65 houses on the Lyoth Lane/ Gravelye Lane corner has now been received in the form of an outline planning proposal. The battle was lost to prevent the area being designated as a site for building domestic dwellings and followed the decision to build 120 homes on the site to the north east of the village. The tally is now nearly 200 houses to be constructed on the periphery of the village of Lindfield.
2) The above were agreed under the small scale housing allocation but we now are in the process of battling to resist the proposal to build up to 740 dwellings on the Gravelye Lane/ Scamps Hill site in Lindfield. In conjunction with Lindfield Parish Council an extraordinary meeting was arranged in April to canvas the views of residents and encourage them to write to MSDC with their observations. The meeting attracted over 100 residents and was very successful in raising many issues. Subsequently, a letter was written to Mr Soames in an attempt to galvanise his active support in preserving our precious villages.
3) The Council has been involved over the past months in meetings with our fellow Parish Councillors in the area around Haywards Heath. It is called 4 Parishes and 3 Tiers – the latter being the combination of Parish, Mid Sussex District and West Sussex County Councillors. The meetings were set up to ensure that the Parish’s view on housing and infrastructure was recognised and that the character and vision of the villages should not be overlooked. The Parish requirements were to be fed into the Vision for the MSDC area and the potential housing sites identified.
4) The Council viewed 63 planning applications most of which we felt were acceptable to the community. There were some notable exceptions including the proposal to build seven large dwellings after removing two long established houses in Gravelye Lane. The District Council rejected the proposal.
Inter – Parish Cooperation
5) We are continuing to develop our relationship with Lindfield Parish Council and are making every effort to source potential areas for cooperation. We are now attempting to canvas the views of the residents in order to establish a greater understanding within the parishes and possibly clear the way to eventual amalgamation.
Other news in brief
6) Allotment Garden – Gravelye Lane – Lindfield – The allotments continue to flourish thanks to the efforts of George Mason, Jason Lainchbury (our new allotment supervisor) and a small band of volunteers. We continue to hold a waiting list for residents wishing to rent lots. The allotment Cup is awarded this year to Neil Kerslake – well done Neil.
7) Scaynes Hill Children’s Playground – The second tranche of improvements was completed in the latter part of last year and brings to an end the installation work in that area. We trust the children of Scaynes Hill and around continue to enjoy the facilities. There was, however, some comment from the parents (on behalf of the children) that the children of age group 3-6 were not being well served. The Parish Council will continue to monitor the situation and rectify any shortfall as funds permit.
8)The replacement for the Verdun Oak plaque has been agreed and will be installed in due course.
9) The new bus Shelter on the A272 has now been installed.
10) Traffic Calming – Two vehicle-activated signs (VAS) have been installed in Scaynes Hill on the A272 and appear to be effective. WSCC has moved the 30 mph speed limit area to embrace more of the urban area of Church Road in Scaynes Hill and installed a 40mph buffer zone. This was initiated by WSCC and not approved by the Parish Council as a priority in the area. A buffer zone of 40mph both ends of the 30mph zone on the A272 in Scaynes Hill and down Town Hill, Lindfield had been requested for some considerable time by the Parish Council and they are still not forthcoming. However, recently we have made further strong representations and are confident that progress will be made in the near future.
11) Walstead Burial Ground – A new notice board has been erected at the entrance and a five bar gate has been installed at the east end of the cemetery. The long overdue replacement of the chain link perimeter fencing has been approved with the agreement to install a wrought iron fence with brick pillars. The construction should be completed in October this year. Part funding is being sought at present.
The Annual Report is an excellent opportunity to thank all Councillors, Clerk (Karin), Assistant to Clerk (Irene), and Margaret Johnson (WSCC) for their substantial assistance and support in another busy year. This is Margaret’s final year with us and we are truly sorry to see her leave us after having performed such sterling work over the years. We wish her well for the future.
SUMMARY OF ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 2008/09
Income
Precept 46,320
Allotment Rents 461
Walstead Cemetery 18,242
Investment & capital receipts 2,751
Lodge Income 8,331
Chapel Income 5,000
WSCC Grants 2,331
Total Income £ 83,436
Expenditure
General Administration 27,186
Subscriptions & Donations 1,076
Walstead Cemetery 17,334
Lodge 2,249
General Expenditure 3,968
Total Expenditure 51,813
Capital Expenditure
Bus Shelter in Scaynes Hill 4,930
Children’s Playground 2,500
Others 799
Total Capital Expenditure 8,229
Total Expenditure £ 60,043
Transfer to Reserves £ 23,393
Balance Sheet
Assets Debtors £ 1,480
Cash at Bank £117,715
Current Assets £119,195
Creditors £ 15,101
Net Assets £ 104,094
Capital & Reserves
General Reserves £ 18,417
Earmarked Funds £ 62,284
Retained Reserves for year £ 23,393
Total Capital £ 104,094
How to contact the Rural Parish Council
The Parish Council Office is in the Millennium Village Centre, Lewes Road, Scaynes Hill, RH17 7PG and is open to the public on Tuesdays 12.30 to 13.30 hrs and Thursdays 10.00 to 11.00 hrs. Members of the public are welcome to come along and look at planning applications for our area, obtain bus passes or just seek advice on issues of concern.
Yours Parish Councillors:
John Dumbleton (Chair)Tel.: 482633 Sheila Hobbs (Vice Chair) Tel. 483396
Brian Bunt Tel.: 831636 Chris Hersey Tel. 482270
Margaret Hersey Tel.: 482270 Jerry Jeremiah Tel. 831437
Ray Jones Tel.: 453868 Christopher Snowling Tel. 482172
Karin Milne (Parish Clerk)Tel.: 831499
You can contact us by e-mail: lindfieldrural.parishcouncil@virgin.net or visit our website at www.lindfieldrural-pc.org.uk
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