• Enforcement Officer John BACON is leaving the SDNPA and his role as Pondtail Wood liaison will be taken by Jean Chambers, Performance & Technical Manager in our Planning Directorate. Her email address is jean.chambers@southdowns.gov.uk . Please direct any information, enquiries or Weekly Updates to her from this time on.
  

Key dates

• Stop Notice was served on the 13^th June 2016 and took effect immediately.
  
• The Enforcement Notice was served on the 13 June and should have taken effect on 12^th July 2016. This effective date is suspended due to the submission of an Appeal.
  
• An Appeal against the Enforcement Notice had been validated with the Planning Inspectorate on 12 August 2016. However, the appropriate fee has yet to be paid.
  
• Remedial work specified in the Enforcement Notice should be completed by 23^rd August 2016 (42 days from when the notice takes effect). Currently this date is suspended due to the appeal.
  
• Before 30 April 2017 the land must be restocked with trees as per the Forestry Commission Notice. This Notice has also now been appealed.
  
• Owner must pay appeal fee by 2 September 2016
  
• Sale by auction by Barnard Marcus on 12 September 2016.
  

SDNPA Website

SDNPA website has a dedicated webpage with regular updates, which can be accessed from the front screen by clicking on the photo titled ‘Pondtail Wood Update’:

https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/pondtail-wood-update-22-august-2016/

The Great British High Street Awards are back and this time we’d like to see West Sussex go one better. Last year Bognor Regis was named as runner-up in Britain’s best coastal high street category – now it’s your turn to nominate yours!

Run by the DCLG, winning high streets could receive a welcome cheque for £10,000, helping them to fund necessary improvements or go towards upcoming project works.

This year you have the opportunity to nominate a worthy West Sussex village, town or city across 14 different categories, including five new awards recognising regeneration and our own ‘High Street Heroes’.

Whether you’re fond of your village’s network of friendly small business owners, or you love the hustle and bustle of a nearby market town – we encourage you to nominate your favourite and help put West Sussex on the map.

There’s still time to take part – nominations are open to everyone and run until Friday 9^th September before voting begins.

Shout about your town or village pride and nominate them online at www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk

With kind regards

Louise

Louise Goldsmith

Leader, West Sussex County Council

Chichester West Division

A Burgess Hill woman, who has been driven on by seeing her mother suffer with diabetes, has lost over two stone in weight and become much more active after signing up for a Mid Sussex Wellbeing pre-diabetes course.

After a routine visit to the doctor in January 2016 Joanne Hamilton from Burgess Hill was advised that she was at risk of developing diabetes.

“My mum’s diabetic, has suffered with blindness and suffers awfully with her legs, so it was a real spur to do something,” said Joanne. “I was given a leaflet by my GP recommending the pre-diabetes course run by Mid Sussex Wellbeing. It was held at my local GP surgery, so it wasn’t inconvenient at all, and it was packed full of information.

“At the end of the course we were asked if anyone would like to do anything extra or have some one-to-one support. We were told about the 12 week Mid Sussex Wellbeing courses in Burgess Hill, which are local to me an cost just £1 per week, so it was a bit of a no brainer really; if someone was going to help me.

“All I can say from the heart is I know I would be bigger now than when I started if it wasn’t for the Wellbeing courses. I’ve lost 2st 3lbs, which is amazing, and it’s completely changed the way I look at food. I’ve now taken up swimming and I’m going three times a week, where I meet up with some of the other ladies from the group.

“The Wellbeing course has been invaluable. I have yo-yo dieted in the past and joined slimming clubs but personally I don’t think they work. The only way to do it is to change your lifestyle and I would recommend the Wellbeing team.”

The number of people living with diabetes in the UK has tipped over the 4 million mark for the first time, a figure that has increased by over 65% in the last decade. The Mid Sussex Wellbeing team is working hard to try and buck that trend locally and has announced new dates for their successful pre-diabetes programme to help people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes avoid the condition.

The programme is open to anyone who is concerned about their lifestyle or weight. However, some people are more at risk of developing the condition than others so residents with a family history of Type 2 diabetes, a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 25 and adults from ethnic minority backgrounds are being strongly encouraged to sign-up for the prevention programme.

The free course looks at small and manageable steps that individuals can take to avoid developing Type 2 diabetes, such as changes to diet, increasing activity levels and other lifestyle factors.

The free half-day courses will be run at GP surgeries in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath on the following dates:

East Grinstead – Friday 16 September

Haywards Heath – Thursday 13 October    

Burgess Hill – Friday 21 October    

Burgess Hill – Wednesday 2 November    

East Grinstead – Friday 11 November    

Burgess Hill – Friday 2 December    

Haywards Heath – Thursday 8 December    

East Grinstead – Friday 20 January 2017

Burgess Hill – Wednesday 1 February 2017

Haywards Heath – Thursday 9 February    2017

Burgess Hill – Friday 17 February    2017

East Grinstead – Friday 17th March 2017

For more information or to book your space now please call the Wellbeing team on 01444 477191 or email wellbeing@midsussex.gov.uk.

• The SDNPA website was updated and Jo GLYNDE, SDNPA Senior Media Officer responded to a number of enquiries with the following:
  

  “We are aware that a for sale sign went up last week, with an auction due to be held on 12 September. The landowner is legally entitled to sell the property. The notices stay with the land and so will transfer to any new owner. The owner should declare the notices prior to any sale.”
  

  This was covered in the following media:
  

  The Times (content can’t be linked as behind paywall)
  

  BBC Online http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-37158701
  

  The Argus http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14696370.Landowner_tries_to_sell_woodland_he_felled/
  

  Also expected in the West Sussex County Times today.
  

Forestry Commission

Jon HARDING from the Forestry Commission informed that he had been told by their Secretariat an objection to the Restocking Notice had been received by the Secretary of State. This was the morning of this Update and he had no further details at the time.

Key dates

• Stop Notice was served on the 13^th June 2016 and took effect immediately.
  
• The Enforcement Notice was served on the 13 June and should have taken effect on 12^th July 2016. This effective date is suspended due to the submission of an Appeal.
  
• SDNPA were informed by solicitors acting on behalf of the site owners that an Appeal against the Enforcement Notice had been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate on 11 July 2016.
  
• Remedial work specified in the Enforcement Notice should be completed by 23^rd August 2016 (42 days from when the notice takes effect). Currently this date is suspended due to the appeal.
  
• Before 30 April 2017 the land must be restocked with trees as per the Forestry Commission Notice.
  
• Owner must pay appeal fee by 2 September 2016
  
• Sale by auction by Barnard Marcus on 12 September 2016.
  

SDNPA Website

SDNPA website has a dedicated webpage with regular updates, which can be accessed from the front screen by clicking on the photo titled ‘Pondtail Wood Update’:

https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/pondtail-wood-update-22-august-2016/

Was your child born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013? If so then he or she is eligible to start school in September 2017.

The application process for children due to start school in September 2017 will begin on Monday 3 October 2016. West Sussex County Council no longer sends individual letters to parents but is advertising the application arrangements as widely as possible and it is in this connection that I now write to you.

The key points are:

• Apply online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions
  
• Applications can be made between 3 October 2016 and 15 January 2017
• Special rules apply for house movers until 23 March 2017
• The Information for Parents booklet is available on our website
• Further information is available by ringing 03330 142 903

Applications made after the closing date cannot be considered until all on time applications have been processed. This may mean it is not possible to offer a child a place at a local school. We would therefore be grateful if you could help actively encourage all parents to apply by the closing date.

Apply online! It’s simple, convenient and timesaving, plus you get an instant email acknowledgement that your application has been received.

If you would like further advice or information contact:

03330 142 903

Free internet access to apply online is available at all:

1. West Sussex libraries;
2. Children and Family Centres.

   Deadline: Sunday 15 January 2017