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  Those of us worried about the scale of development on the greenbelt might welcome recent reports that a change to the Planning System may be on the way . It would make developers pay a levy for affordable housing to Councils rather than have to include a proportion in each new development. The hope is this will increase the number of affordable homes built but, of course, empowering Councils like CDC in this way might also lead to the redevelopment of more Brownfield sites (which tends to cost more than using undeveloped greenfield ones) depending on who your District Councillors are.  In related news, you may have read that Cala Homes have bought a site near the A27 at Hambrook which already has permission for 118 homes.  My daily commute reminds me that our District is one of the most beautiful places in the country. CDC spends over £1 million keeping it clean and tidy. Their street cleansing team can't be everywhere at once but do travel across it's 303 square mil...

  It i s important we start this week with our thanks for all the messages of support and encouragement you have been giving us. We have refreshed our website, in the hope it is easier for you to navigate. The Easter holidays are over across the country this weekend - I returned to the classroom on Tuesday because Surrey broke up a week earlier than our local schools. I know this has helped our hospitality industry and several independent traders because the holidays have been spread acros s three weeks.  This is a good time of year to help bees and other pollinators, as this advice from RHS explains . You might also be interested to read why Milland and South Harting are now the most expensive villages in Sussex and apparently some personality traits appear to be linked to cognitive impairment . If you like a scenic walk don't forget the woods at Slindon .  Life increasing ly feels like it is getting back to pre-Covid times, even though it has not gone away: l...

  Happy Easter, everyone! We posted particular thanks yesterday for those carers out there, for whom the next four days are literally just another four days. We wanted them to know that we are thinking about them, and recognise all they do. For all the NHS staff, emergency service workers, and our shops, cafes and pubs who also can't just 'disappear,’ we thank you for being there for us as well. (I have two daughters working over the weekend so I know it also affects their families and their plans; meanwhile we have been helping residents this morning as Council Offices are closed over the weekend.) I also want to thank a resident who got in touch during the recent STC by-election campaigns frustrated at the lack of action from a Councillor who represents a national party. I was happy to assist and was delighted when he got in touch again to tell me he had voted for our candidate in Selsey South, Dan Gregory, because he thought he would do something constructive for our communi...

Yesterday was Polling Day and turnout was very low: in Selsey North they now have two Councillor Wellers as Mick joins his wife Val representing the north on Selsey Town Council. In Selsey South, turnout was under 25%. 1202 votes were cast compared to 1547 in the 2019 District-wide elections. Following an increasingly toxic campaign, that sunk to personal insults (including likening one of our team with Jewish heritage to Hitler) and breaches of planning rules for electoral advantage, our candidate Dan Gregory was sadly just defeated.  We are delighted that Mick was elected because he will be an asset to our Town Council. We are saddened by everything that went on in Selsey South and the final result. Dan Gregory has a clear vision, is motivated, and is able to engage young people who might otherwise be marginalised. Our community deserves better. If you like to have your say, WSCC have extended their consultation about cycle routes on the B2144 Oving Road . WSCC have also moved t...