IN THE NEWS PAGE 2 & STILL KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW!Mostly factual, possibly even trivial but at the end of it all we guaranteeyou will know more than you did 10 minuets ago! |
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“Rogate’s Appeal for a Playground” (RAP) On 28th January, as requested by the Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, RAP will present the Business Case for the proposed playground to a joint Parish Council and Village Hall Committee (representing the Trustees) meeting. If anyone would like to read the full 20 page study do email me on dandstayl@aol.com
Following on from that meeting:~ Comments from Stephen Taylor RAP Committee The meeting went very well with great support, apart from the expected Luddites.( LUDDITE (noun) An opponent of technological or industrial change!) Tony Harris produced a wonderful model based on one of the plans produced by a playground company - now to be modified by him following discussion.
The only query unanswered was confusion over VAT liability. As this was not a problem with Lodsworth opened in November 2007, we must check. Meanwhile both the Parish Council and Village Hall Committee are looking at governance at their meetings later in February. We then need to get on with finalising design and tenders. Stephen Taylor. The Homestead, Rogate, GU31 5DJ. 01730 821661. |
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The South Downs Campaign News Update. News Release: Monday, 21 April, 2008 Expert Witness to back CampaignProfessor Robert Tregay will be appearing at the inquiry this weekto back the case for the Western Weald to be in the South Downs National Park |
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![Text Box: The South Downs Campaign (SDC) [1] will be bringing the main body of its evidence on the Western Weald to a close this week at the re-opened South Downs National Park inquiry, showing how the area has the necessary qualities to be included in a National Park. On Tuesday 22nd April, Professor Robert Tregay [2], an expert on nationally designated landscapes, will be appearing on behalf of the SDC. His appearance rounds off a week of presentations to the inquiry in which the SDC provided substantial new evidence for the Inspector to consider [3].
Throughout last week, the SDC showed many times that the advice given to the Inspector by his Landscape Advisor was fundamentally flawed and often without any evidence to substantiate it. The SDC’s work was co-ordinated by Margaret Paren who has worked tirelessly over the past year, in a voluntary capacity, to gather the necessary evidence to create a convincing case as to why the Western Weald should be part of the South Downs National Park. She was supported by many of the SDC’s member organisations, including in particular: CPRE, the Ramblers’ Association, the Council for National Parks, the South Downs Society, Liss Parish Council, The Petersfield Society and the Woolmer Forest Heritage Society. The SDC is also grateful for the support it has received from numerous individuals who have given up their time to gather evidence.
The SDC hopes that Professor Robert Tregay’s appearance will greatly strengthen SDC’s case by convincing the Inspector that there is a substantial body of opinion, including professional opinion, that believes that the South Downs National Park should look forward to the 21st century and include the Western Weald.
Robin Crane, Chairman of the South Downs Campaign, said:
“We were very fortunate in being able to commission Professor Robert Tregay to appear as our expert witness at the re-opened South Downs Public Inquiry. He is regarded as one of the most distinguished landscape consultants in the UK. He has the added advantage of having spent several years studying the area when he worked for the Countryside Agency on the initial South Downs National Park proposals. His knowledge in this area has been a real boon to the Campaign’s case and will help convince the Inspector of the need to revisit his conclusions regarding the Western Weald.”
Margaret Paren, Vice-Chair of the South Downs Campaign, said:
“Last week was an incredibly busy week, presenting evidence on nine different topic areas. It went very well and we put to the Inspector a significant amount of new evidence. We are confident that we have presented a strong case for including the Western Weald and that the Inspector will take it into account when he considers his new recommendations. After the appearance on Tuesday of Professor Robert Tregay, all we can do is to remain vigilant to ensure that if anyone tries to claim that the Western Weald should not be in the National Park, that their evidence is firmly rebutted.” Press Release Ends.
Chris Todd. Campaign Officer. South Downs Campaign. Tel: 01273 563358. Fax: 01273 553044. Mob: 07889 302229.
email: sdownscampaign@btconnect.com Web: www.southdownscampaign.org.uk Postal Address: PO Box 3473. Brighton. BN1 7FZ.
Proofs of Evidence: If you want to see what people have submitted to the inquiry you can access the proofs of evidence on the Planning Inspectorate's website:
http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/southdowns/docs_proofs.htm
It is worth noting that West Sussex County Council have just submitted some more evidence saying that the Western Weald does not meet the national park criteria (but should be an AONB) and so are still persisting with the misapprehension that there are two types of natural beauty. This could come back to haunt them. We aim to get our proofs onto our website too in the near future - in the meantime you can view them on the Planning inspectorate's website.
Petersfield Post Vote: The Petersfield Post is running a poll on how likely people feel it is that Petersfield will be part of the National Park. You have five choices to pick from , from 100% certain it will be in, to absolutely no chance. Please take your pick but it would be good if people could vote as it will help signal to the paper that there is a lot of interest in this. Follow the link: http://www.petersfieldpost.co.uk/news/Battle-over-national-park-not.3771096.jp
Information kindly supplied by: Chris Todd. Campaign Officer. South Downs Campaign.](image1139.gif)
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New Hindhead A3 Tunnel is on target and the tunnelling process has started Regular users of the A3 will by now be familiar with the diversion of the A3 at the north end to allow us to build the Greensand Way and Hindhead Hill underpasses. Now we have finished the tree clearing it is possible to see all the way through Boundless Valley to the northern entrances of the tunnels. At the south end the first half of the Canadian Memorial underpass is nearly complete and so we plan to remove the two-way traffic on the southbound carriageway in time for Christmas. There has been much activity in the Hammer Lane area where we have built a temporary diversion for the A3. We have also started work on the southern entrances to the tunnel in Tyndalls Wood. Key Activities for 2008 February - start tunnelling from the north. A larger image of the cross section is available to view here. March - switch traffic back on to A3 at north end. April - start tunnelling from the south end. May - open Greensand Way underpass.
The tunnel route generally runs within the Hythe beds, which are mainly formed of layers of sands and sandstones which can be highly variable in their nature. Underlying the Hythe beds is the Atherfield clay. The top of the Atherfield clay is marked by a spring-line which can be seen in the Devil's Punch Bowl and within the Boundless Copse areas. Boreholes at the top of Hindhead Common will encounter the full thickness of the Hythe Beds while those within Boundless Copse will encounter the Atherfield Clay near the surface. The Highways Agency Website http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/3832.aspx
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More up-dates, editorials and pictures to follow as the year progresses, so keep checking this website. |
