‘Let’s Talk: Housing’ — Have your say on new Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for the Chichester District
Chichester District Council is asking for people’s views on the aims and actions proposed for its new Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, as part of a public consultation that will run until Monday 3 March.
The new strategy, which covers the period 2025 to 2030, looks at how the council will work with partners to prevent people from becoming homeless; create and retain affordable housing for young people and families; address the housing needs of older people; and improve housing standards for all of its residents.
To have your say, take part in the quick online survey at: https://letstalk.chichester.gov.uk/housing/participate. For more information, including a range of frequently asked questions and to view the draft strategy, visit: https://letstalk.chichester.gov.uk/housing. Anyone that needs a paper copy of the survey can contact letstalk@chichester.gov.uk
Midhurst Green Volunteers – Dates for Working Parties to March 2025
Midhurst Green Volunteers have finalised dates for working parties around the Parish for the first quarter of 2025.
More volunteers are always needed and welcome, please email parishclerk@easebourne.org if you are available on any of the proposed dates and we can put you in touch with them.
| Date | Location | Meeting Point |
|---|---|---|
| 14th January | North Bridge Plus Dodley Lane to Medical Centre | South side of bridge |
| 18th January | Dodsley Lane | Corner of Dodsley Lane & Wheelbarrow Castle |
| 8th February | Easebourne Lane | Corner of Easebourne Lane & Wheelbarrow Castle |
| 22nd February | High Path | High Path by football pitch |
| 1st March | A286 from Hollist Lane North | Corner of Hollist Lane & Dodsley Lane |
| 8th March | Wheelbarrow Castle | Corner of Wheelbarrow Castle & Cowdray Road |
New Website for Friends of Easebourne Parish
Friends of Easebourne Parish have launched their new website this week, with lots of information about how to get involved. Please visit www.friendsofeasebourneparish.co.uk to see how you can help to keep our lovely Parish looking beautiful.
Pest Control Advice for Easebourne Residents
There have been increased reports of pest activity in the Parish in the last few months and as a result the Council has received the following form Chichester District Council to help advise concerned Parishioners.
Owners and property occupiers have a legal responsibility under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to keep land free of rats and mice, or if rats or mice are present in substantial numbers, to report infestations to the local authority.
Chichester District Council no longer provides a pest control service, so we recommend contact is made with a private pest control company to deal with any pest infestations. Further information is available on our website – Pest control – Chichester District Council
In order to control rats, further information is available at the following link – Pest Advice for Controlling Brown Rats
To prevent rat infestations, the following measures are recommended:
- Pest treatments are available through High Street outlets, should a household choose to conduct their own baiting. However, the benefit from using an accredited contractor includes the stronger bait they are able to safely use and also the experience they bring.
- Rats require three basic elements to exist; harbourage, water and food. Keeping gardens clear from rubbish and overgrown areas reduces harbourage. The removal of bird feeding and open, unsecure, compost bin cuts down the availability of a food source. If you have your own animals, it is essential that areas are kept clean and all food sources are secure. Food should not be left out unattended.
- Eliminate any harbourage points such as sealing gaps around pipes and under sheds; rats only need a gap of 15mm to gain entry.
- Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, by cutting back overgrown areas and clearing any piles of wood/debris.
- Ensure that drain inspection covers are in a good state of repair.
- Cover any household waste where Brown Rats can get access to it, close dustbin lids and cover compost heaps.
- If you feed garden birds, do not do this to excess and use a bird table or feeder basket if possible.
Diary date – Annual Village Meeting 2024
Annual Village Meeting
This years Annual Village Meeting will take place in
Easebourne Primary School, Wheelbarrow Castle
7pm to 8.30pm
Wednesday 29th May 2024
Join your Councillors and Clerk to talk about what’s important to you.
Cowdray Estate will also give a short presentation on their farming strategy and we will joined by some of the Parish volunteer organisations
Refreshments will be available
Donations for Easebourne Park
Did you know you can now very easily make a small donation for the maintenance and future development of our award-winning village Park?
We know how much Easebourne Park is loved and enjoyed by people, with it’s open space, play equipment, stunning Roundhouse and now it’s award-winning eco loos. But what you might not appreciate is how much the Park now costs to keep it looking it’s best.
We budget for essential costs and collect our annual precept from Chichester District Council, but any extra funds that we can raise will mean we can do even more things and create an even better environment for our residents.
If you enjoy visiting the Park and feel like making a small extra donation for its upkeep, you can do so online or by scanning the QR code that will soon be appearing at the entrances to the Park.
You can make a donation here
Woolbeding Re-imagined
The National Trust are running a drop-in session at the SDNP Memorial Hall in Midhurst on 20th March to enable people to find out about the Woolbeding Reimagined project and talk to the project team.
The event is open to everyone so please feel free to go along to find out more about what’s happening in your local area.
Changes when you visit Midhurst Recycling Centre
From today, 12th February 2024 everyone will be required to book a slot in order to enter the Recycling Centre in Midhurst. This is a system currently used in other centres around West Sussex and from the this date will be rolled to all Centres in the County.
You can find out more here:
Recycling Centres – West Sussex County Council
The following points have been taken from the WSCC website:
Booking an appointment
- Appointments are available at least 14 days in advance.
- Same day appointments are available at all sites in the booking scheme.
- There are a limited number of appointments per day, booked on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
- Demand for appointments is likely to be high over certain periods so please cancel unrequired appointments to free up space for other visitors.
- You need to provide the registration number of the vehicle you will be attending the centre in. If you are hiring a vehicle and this is unknown, you will be asked to show the hire paperwork at the centre.
- You cannot change the registration number, so ensure this is entered correctly. If you need to change it, you will have to cancel and rebook the appointment.
- You need to provide your email address so we can send you confirmation of your booking.
- You need to have checked the vehicle restrictions at your chosen site.
What to do when you arrive
- Please be patient if there is a queue.
- Follow instructions from staff to ensure safe use of the centre.
Entry to the centre
You do not need to be at the centre at the exact start time of your appointment – you can arrive at any time within your allotted slot.
Appointments are 15 minutes long for Bognor Regis, Midhurst and Shoreham-By-Sea, or 30 minutes at all other centres. See your confirmation email for more information.
There may be circumstances where refusal of entry to a centre will occur. Staff will turn you away if you:
- do not have a booking – staff check your vehicle registration number to verify that you have an appointment
- do not have proof of address when you attend
- are too early for your appointment – staff may ask you to re-join the queue or return at your appointment time
- are late for your appointment
- do not have confirmation of the booking reference number (for on-the-day bookings only), either displayed on a smartphone, a printed copy or, for appointments made by phone, written
- are abusive, as antisocial behaviour is not tolerated.
Brand new Defibrillator outside the Village Shop
We’re delighted to say that there is now another Defibrillator installed in the village, the 4th lifesaving piece of equipment that we have throughout our community.
This one was made possible by a generous donation from a resident and Parish Councillor, David Pack, in memory of his mother Elsie, who died last year aged 97 having lived in the village for 73 years.
St Mary’s Church and the Parish Council also contributed to the overall cost and Cowdray Estate generously donated the installation.