August 16, 2024

 

Welcome to this week's blog. As always, thank you for sparing the time to have a read. In advance of Thursday, we want to wish our GCSE students good luck and hope your results allow you to take the next step in life you are seeking.

This coming week Donna has CDC’s Development Planning and Infrastructure Panel with Val who also has a Licensing Committee Meeting with me. On Wednesday Donna and I are going to Selsey Town Council’s Planning Committee to see Ian, Mick, Ali, Andrew, Gareth and Val in action; we have a liaison meeting on Thursday with STC’s Senior Officers after I pop up to school to greet students as they get their results. I also have, with Ali, Ian and Val, a further meeting of the Warners Yard Task and Finish Group. Watch CDC’s public meetings here, and Full WSCC here. 

This week’s interesting reads are doing nothing might be good for your health, laser technology tests have revealed which navigation app has the most accurate speedo, (I’m pleased it's the one I use) and a technological breakthrough may mean the end of solar panels in favour of something that could go on your phone case. 

Something else that might interest you is a rare Roman gold ‘cuff’ bracelet found by a 12-year-old boy on a dog walk in Pagham has been acquired by The Novium Museum, purchased with support from the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund. The find will be displayed at The Novium Museum in Tower Street, Chichester, from Tuesday 10 September. This type of bracelet — unlike most other jewellery in the Roman period — would probably have belonged to a man rather than woman. They were likelyhelping toa type of military armilla, or ‘battle honour’, likely awarded for bravery. Described as an exceptional piece for its type, the so-called ‘cuff’ bracelet is a type that is relatively rare in Roman Britain, particularly as it is made of gold. The acquisition of the bracelet will enable the museum to improve their narrative of the Roman period in the Chichester/Arun crossover area, as well as ensuring it is accessible for future research.

Don’t forget tomorrow, Saturday, Rich Moorey, Community Warden is conducting free presentations at 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm, 5pm, and 6pm in Selsey Town Hall. They will cover several different, but prominent types of scams. These include courier fraud (fraudulent communications that look like they are from delivery companies); financial and investment scams; romance fraud on dating apps and social media; and websites. Rich will also talk about rogue traders, and detail how residents can spot the signs of when they may be at risk of falling victim to a scam. Rich will use examples from his experience as a Community Warden to demonstrate how people can protect themselves.

Community groups and parish councils are being encouraged to apply for funding to increase the number of community orchards across our District. These are collections of fruit trees grown in public spaces and shared by residents. A total of £9,000 is available, as part of the second round of the Tree Chichester District scheme’s Community Orchard initiative, which is run by CDC. 

The fund is open until Friday 17 January 2025, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. It will help pay for trees and items such as stakes, cages and tree ties and all planting must be completed before the end of March 2025. The initiative is funded through HM Government’s £2.5m Coronation Living Heritage Fund developed to celebrate His Majesty’s coronation and pay tribute to his passion for the environment. 

WSCC is helping to keep otters safe crossing the road by installing a new ‘mammal shelf’ in a culvert under the A272. In collaboration with the National Trust and Arun & Rother Rivers Trust, they are installing the shelf close to one of the county’s only breeding otter populations this Autumn.

At one point there were no otters in West Sussex with road casualties thought to be one of the main issues hampering their return. Rather than swimming under bridges or through culverts, otters will often choose to travel on foot, resulting in them crossing roads to reach breeding grounds. The specially designed mammal shelf will allow otters to run safely under the road on a ledge above the water. 

Finally: - 

• Report potholes to WSCC

• Housing Health & Safety

• Warmer Homes UK

• Suicide in Sussex

• Domestic Abuse

• Supporting You

• WSCC Meetings

• CDC Meetings

As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim