Littlehaven Level Crossing
Network rail are planning to replace the gates at Littlehaven station with modern barriers controlled by CCTV. Once completed the gates will be closed for a much shorter time when a train is passing though, reducing congestion and waiting times.
The works will take around 17 days to complete. It was originally planned to start on 14th January but due to technical difficulties we understand that work may not commence until late March or April. The crossing will be open for pedestrian movements but not vehicles during the work. Your local councillors arranged a public meeting with representatives from network rail at the Millennium Hall during December, which was well attended, lively and informative.
Update on Crawley Road’s Derelict Buildings
As reported in our last newsletter, The Guinness Trust, the owners of the derelict site on the corner of Crawley Road and Littlehaven Lane promised to erect hoardings around the site. This was as a result of the public concerns about its appearance and security expressed at a public meeting in July. You will probably have noticed that the owners of the site erected a hoarding and painted it bright pink. Thanks to the prompt comments from local residents your local councillors requested that it be repainted a more appropriate blue, and there was a swift response from the owners.
Their planning application to redevelop the site and provide about 15 new homes is expected to be submitted shortly.
Unfortunately the Guinness Trust’s original timetable for the redevelopment of the site has slipped a little and the redevelopment is not expected to be completed for another year.
Cold Calling Insulation Schemes
Be warned of bogus home insulation grants. Some parts of the town are being targeted by a few companies claiming to be working in partnership with Horsham District Council, as part of its commitment to energy efficiency. HDC runs two local insulation schemes with HCL Energy (01273 390420) and HeatSeekers (0800 111 4968).
Any resident interested in having insulation installed can obtain a free, no obligation survey from either of these companies. No scheme connected to the council involves cold calling in person or by telephone. Nor do they require any payment before the work is carried out. You can also contact your energy company for insulation grants. If you have any queries you can contact HDC’s Sustainability Team on 01043 215281.
New Fleet of Gritters get Ready to Battle the Elements
We are pleased to let you know that west Sussex County Council and its highway contractor have introduced a brand new fleet of 26 gritters. A real benefit of the new vehicle will be that because they are more efficient they will actually use 20% less salt, meaning our supplies will last for longer and there will be less of an effect on the environment.
The new vehicles are also equipped with a global positional system called “Coldsnap” which makes it possible to monitor the gritting throughout the county on a minute by minute basis. The County Council has a stockpile of 10,000 tonnes of salt.
Street Lighting
Faulty or non working street lights, illuminates signs or bollards can be reported on the WSCC website or to SSE contracting on 0800 048 2435 where they will ask you for the column number and location. Alternatively, just let us know and we will sort it out for you.
Broadband
West Sussex County Council is spending £6.3 million to match the amount West Sussex was awarded by the government in August to improve and extend the county’s broadband network. A good broadband network is vital for businesses, many of which are home based. The aim is to ensure much wider access, for residents and businesses, to a fast Broadband connection.
Horsham Station Refurbishment
Refurbishment work will soon start at Horsham railway station. Over the next year the extensive work at the station will include:
• A new second station entrance to the main station building
• Re-arrangement of the internal station building layout which will give:
- easier access and circulation for passengers, including direct access to the passenger lifts from inside the station
- a better location for the ticket windows which will become height adjustable to make it easier for those in wheelchairs to access the windows
- more retail facilities
• Refurbishment of platform toilets
• Reorganisation and marking of the forecourt, bus/taxi/drop off area and car parks
• Additional car parking spaces
• Additional cycle parking spaces
• Renewal of the platform canopies
The work will take place between August 2011 and June 2012 and is a collaboration between the Department for Transport’s National Station Improvement Programme, Network Rail, Southern and West Sussex County Council. The station will remain open for train services throughout the project with the work phased to help minimise disruption. A temporary ticket office will be available so passengers can continue to buy tickets from the station.
National award for Acorn Plus vehicles
A national award has been given to Horsham District Council for its specialist fleet of Acorn Plus recycling and refuse vehicles.
Horsham District Council, along with Acorn Plus vehicle supplier Dennis Eagle, was awarded Waste Fleet of the Year at the Plant and Waste Recycling Awards, which took place in Torquay, Devon on 8 June. The awards recognise successful projects that are reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill sites.
The Waste Fleet of the Year award recognises that Horsham District Council has invested in its specialist Acorn Plus vehicle fleet to increase efficiency and collection capacity thus ensuring an efficient service to the community.
Cllr Andrew Baldwin, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Horsham District Council, said:
"This prestigious award recognises the investment made by Horsham District Council to ensure recycling and refuse is collected in the most efficient way, whilst retaining a weekly collection of residual (landfill) waste.
"It’s national recognition that innovative solutions backed by sensible investment can deliver excellent results.
"I congratulate everyone involved in winning this award."
Ian Jopling, Head of Operational Services at Horsham District Council, added:
"I was very proud to receive this award, with our vehicle supplier Dennis Eagle, on behalf of Horsham District Council and the whole team which has worked so hard to make Acorn Plus such a resounding success.
"It is gratifying that the residents of the Horsham District have embraced the Acorn Plus scheme making Horsham District Council one of the top recycling authorities in the country."
Foster Carers urgently needed in Horsham
West Sussex County Council urgently needs to recruit more foster carers because of the rising number of children needing foster care. The shortage is particularly acute in Horsham and its surrounding areas.
Local foster carer, Nikki says: “I’ve been a foster carer for the last 7 years doing mainly fostering for newborn babies and short-term foster care for other carers. These types of fostering fit in and work well for my family, and after all these years I really still enjoy doing it.
“My partner and I thought about fostering for quite a while before we made the ‘plunge’ and we did lots of research. One of the best things anyone can do is to talk to existing foster carers. This way you go into fostering with your eyes open so you don’t get any surprises. If anyone in Horsham is thinking about fostering contact us to find out more.”
Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Peter Evans, said: “To provide the highest standard of care, West Sussex County Council does its very best to match West Sussex children needing care to West Sussex foster carers.
“Children thrive on familiarity so our approach also means children and young people who need care stay close to their school, friends, people and places they know.”
West Sussex County Council makes sure a full package of training and support is provided to all its foster carers to meet the needs of the children and young people they care for.
Cash back for clean energy
According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical home solar photovoltaic system can generate around 40% of the electricity a household uses. You can take advantage of the Government feed-in tariffs for solar electricity of 37.8p for every kWh you generate (for new build) or 43.4p (for retro fit). This tariff applies for all new installations of less than 4 kW up to the end of next March. The tariff is guaranteed for 25 years and will rise in line with the Retail Price Index.
Your home-generated electricity is free for you to use. Then any electricity you don’t use is fed back into the grid and you get paid for it. The feed-in tariffs have been set at a level which should enable anyone investing in the installation of renewable energy to make around a 7% return on the investment over its lifetime. Not every house is suitable for solar panels, you need a roof or wall that faces within 90 degrees of south and is not overshadowed by trees or buildings. Solar panels are heavy and so the roof must be strong enough to take their weight. For free impartial advice, please see this website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
Fix My Street- Loose & noisy cover, 24th July, RH13 5AE
- Eroding road, 10th May
- Laughton Road, Horsham, 20th March, RH12 4EL
- Ginormous pothole!, 16th March, RH13 6BY
- Lambs Crescent, 11th March, RH12 4DH
- Breaking up of road surface, 7th March, lambs farm road horsham
- Pothole, 12th February, RH13 6AJ
- Large Pothole, 12th February, Horsham
- Loose & Noisy Drain Cover, 28th October, RH12 4DS
- The Blue Blog
- On this day 200 years ago
- On this day 100 years ago
- Taking Greater London forward
- Project Umubano enters its sixth year
- The Health and Social Care Bill
- Conservative Future National Conference
- Apprenticeships: encouraging growth
- A successful CPF conference
- Bill Cash on John Bright
- Re-energising the UK’s medical science sector