Surgeries/Consultation

Councillors Surgeries for - Lancing and Sompting

Your local Councillors are pleased to announce that monthly surgeries for the above wards will be held at Adur District Council Housing Office, North Road, Lancing, 10 a.m. until 12 noon on the second Saturday of each month.   There is no need to book an appointment, just turn up with your concerns and discuss them with local Councillors. Any issues affecting other wards will also be recorded and passed on to the appropriate Councillor or Council Office

While the Councillors in attendance are primarily from Peveril and Cokeham wards (Sompting) we take issues from right across Adur and will get back to those enquiring to let them know the progress of their complaint.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DAY TO THIRD SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH!

The next surgery will be held on Saturday 19th June 2010 from 10.00 a.m. to 12 noon at the Lancing Housing Office, North Road, Lancing.  Two of your Local Councillors  will be present. We look forward to meeting you, so why not call in for a chat?

Councillor David Simmons

Councillors Brian Boggis and David Simmons with

Member of Parliament, Tim Loughton

at the first surgery on 8th September 2007

 

Feedback from Surgeries

 

Despite the fact that our surgeries are primarily for Cokeham and Peveril Wards, we take details of any issues in other wards, and pass them on to your local Councillors. I am pleased to be able to inform you that many of the issues raised at the surgeries by local people have since been resolved or action has been taken to assess the situation with a view to dealing with the problem. 

 

Subjects raised by you and being dealt with on your behalf include:

  • Decoration of council owned property occupied by elderly people

  • People suffering domestic violence and abuse

  • Possible deposit of contaminated waste (Adur D.C.)

  • Clearance of rubbish in alleyways across Mashbarn Estate (Adur D.C.)

  • Urgent repairs to Council accomodation (Adur D.C.)

  • Clearance of drains on Mashbarn estate (Adur D.C.)

  • Clearance of culverts from Downs (West Sussex C.C.)

  • Traffic census of rat-runs down First Avenue, Lancing (West Sussex C.C.)

  • An update on future public conveniences in the Lancing town centre (Adur D.C. and West Sussex C.C.)

  • Review of street lighting and clearance of the footpaths leading to the Doctors Surgery and Library (West Sussex C.C.)

  • Lack of public conveniences in the Lancing Town Centre (closure of Monks Recreation Ground Toilets) (Adur D.C.)

  • Concern about the new bidding system for vacant Council properties (Adur D.C.)

  • Boy racers in Lancing (SusPol)

  • Uncontrolled cyclists on the promenade (Adur D.C. and Lancing Parish)

  • Pavement damage requiring repair (West Sussex C.C.)

  • Defective Traffic lights (West Sussex C.C.)

  • Motor cycling on the Downs (SusPol)

  • Further repair required to council property in Lancing (Adur D.C.)

  • Oil on the road due to abandoned vehicles (West Sussex C.C.)

  • Dog fouling in garage compound

  • Businesses being carried out from private homes

  • Grass cutting and verge maintenance

  • Dumped rubbish

  • Police liaison regarding action taken

  • Clearance of alleyways by (West Sussex C. C.)

  • Housing issues (Adur D.C.)

  • Obstruction of the highway in residential areas by heavy vehicles (SusPol)

  • Housing problems regarding grants for downsizing and associated matters

  • Speeding traffic in Grinstead Lane

  • Defective local telephone boxes in Sompting area

  • Incomplete or unsuccessful repairs to council accommodation

  • Serious roof leaks in private accommodation rented by Adur District Council

  • Condition of the pavements in Grinstead Lane (West Sussex C.C.)

  • Pavement conditions in Freshbrook Road, Lancing

  • Parking on verges

  • Potholes in many local roads

  • Airgun issues and use on private land

  • Planning issues

  • Assistance for older and disabled people

  • Noise pollution

  • Debris in garage compounds
FEEDBACK on ACTION TAKEN!

 

Rat Running:  Following a concern about rat running along First Avenue, Lancing, tour local Councillors raised the matter with the Highways Department of West Sussex County Council. As a consequence, a traffic survey was taken in First Avenue, which revealed that there was not enough traffic to consider rat running as an issue in this road, and as a by product, the vast majority of drivers were driving within the speed limit.

Council Housing Repairs:  Repairs were carried out to the Council accommodation mentioned above, shortly after your Councillors raised the issue with the housing department. We are grateful for the occupier letting us know the result.

Town Centre Toilets:  While Monks Recreation Ground toilets are currently closed due to vandalism, Council Officers have informed your local Councillors that efforts are being made to make alternative arrangements in the town centre. Negotiations are currently underway, and we will inform local people as soon as progress is assured.

Update on Public Toilets in Monks Recreation Ground.  Your Councillors have recommended to Adur D.C. that the toilets should be re-opened, as the alternatives are not imminent.  It was also recommended that the Sussex Police Architect Liaison Officers be asked to survey the existing toilets to see what can be done to prevent further vandalism, which was the cause of the toilets being closed in the first place.

Update September 2009.  The renovated Monks Recreation Ground Toilets are now open, and will be open from, 9.30 a.m. daily. However, in the longer term, it is anticipated that the will be replace by new toilets which will be constructed within the developments at the adjacent football ground.  We hope that the new arrangements will be satisfactory for all those who have raised this important issue with us.

Unfortunately, finance is not always available immediately to do repairs on other toilets, but pressure from your Councillors has resulted in renovation of the toilets at Beach Green being included in the capital programme for 2010 - 2011 when they will be renovated to enable access by disabled people and opened on a regular basis.

Bidding System for Vacant Council Properties:  The concern of a number of residents about how the new system is being operated was raised with Paul Spedding, Head of Housing. Council Officers are well aware of the difficulties caused by the current pressure on a limited amount of property, but see this system, adopted with a number of other local councils, as being preferable to the old system where there was a clear lack of choice on offer to prospective tenants.  As the new system beds down and more property becomes available locally, it is anticipated that pressure for different types of accommodation may ease.  Anyone with any concerns can contact their local Councillors, who will examine the situation and bring them to the notice of officers on your behalf.

Housing Issues A number of housing issues have been successfully taken up with Adur DC Housing Department. This has resulted in the freeing up of much required larger accommodation to assist the waiting list of families, and relocation of residents at their own request to a home more suitable for their needs. Recently two people who have disability were helped to downsize and relocate into more appropriate accommodation.

Update: If you are moving accommodation under the transfer scheme which makes grants available, check the facts first, as if you are moving to a bungalow, you may not be entitled to a grant! Ask the housing base for full information.

The state of pavements has also been brought to the notice of West Sussex C.C. in a number of locations, and measures put in hand to assess the need for immediate repair.

Re-Decoration of Council property occupied by elderly residents  This arose where work was completed some years ago and the residents were then removed from what is known as the "green list" for those qualifying for the homes to be decorated internally by the Council.  Those applying all met the criteria and have now been re-instated to the list to ensure that there homes are brought back to a satisfactory standard.

Domestic Violence  During the surgeries, a number of callers have raised their experiences of suffering domestic violence, and on each occasion, they have been given advice and referred on to other agencies who can support them through their difficulties. Where housing or re-housing has been an issue, they have been put in touch with the relevant departments in Adur District Council or Councillors have taken up their individual needs and made contact on their behalf.

Flooding in Grand Avenue This has been set in motion, and Highways have already included it in their programme to clear the culverts.