Adur District Council have recently involved the community in deciding how best to spend £100,000 capital for the benefit of the district and local council.  In addition a further grant budget of £20,000 was made available to fund smaller community projects.  This event, attended by around 70 people, was very successful, with a wide variety of funding applications supported.  These were endorsed at full council on Tuesday 16th February.  Among other grants, Adur Special Needs Project, providing respite care for special needs children in over 300 families, received £1000 to purchase a large TV screen to assist children with limited vision.  Other grants included improved access for disabled people, to the CVS and WRVS premises in South Street Lancing, and repairs to the roof of the Methodist Church hall in Lancing Town Centre, used extensively by community organisations. £5,000 was also granted to Ropetackle Centre for the repeat of the successful Arts to Science programme which will be held later this year, as part of the Adur Festival.

Councillor Simmons said "We are pleased to have been able to make these grants which are about supporting activity across the community.  They are also particularly important in helping our young people discover and develop their talents in Science, the Arts and in Sport and achieve their full potential as well as supporting children with special needs to improve their access to appropriate video and television."

East Worthing Access Road kicked into the long grass!

Proposals have recently been put forward to build an East Worthing Access road, which would have necessitated building it through the strategic gap between Sompting and Worthing.  This would have needed private funding which would have been through building additional houses in the area.

Local councillors objected to the proposals on the basis of the increased traffic flows through Sompting and yet another junction being created on the already overstretched A27.  The matter has now been shelved.

Information point:

The new government has indicated that it will scrap Labour's plans to do away with the strategic gaps, thereby enabling green areas to be maintained between local towns.

Following complaints about the problem of verge parking in Nelson Close, Councillor Simmons had meetings with the newly formed resident's association, County Council Officers and Adur Council staff to assess the importance of the issues. 

As a result, and following negotiations, work will be undertaken by the County Council in 2010-11 to assist in improving the situation and provide additional parking solutions.

A number of complaints have been made about rubbish in the alleyways across the Sompting and North Lancing area to local councillors

Councillor Simmons has arranged for the alleyways to be cleaned and all dumped rubbish removed.

People with information about such matters can report it to the waste disposal department at Commerce Way, Lancing by calling the Adur District Council switchboard on 01273 - 263000 and ask

This is a seasonal problem, but one which causes residents a lot of noise and nuisance value. Although this problem is at its height throughout the summer months, it has already reared its head this year.  Unfortunately motor cyclists come here from the surrounding areas so the problem is not just home grown. Your local Councillors are working with Sussex Police and local residents to deal with the problem.

Residents are asked to record index numbers of vehicles dropping off motorcycles for use on the Downs and pass them to the Sussex Police PCSO's for further action.

The problem of lack of toilet facilities in Lancing has been a regular subject at our monthly surgeries for the past year.  There have been considerable difficulties in putting them back in useable condition, due to regular vandalism, which was the original reason for closure.

Councillor Simmons has raised the issue regularly with officers of the council and finally, an agreement has been reached to put a proposal before the council for them to be re-opened.  The cost is likely to be around £20,000, but should enable them to be built in such a way as to minimise future attempts at vandalism.

Councillor Simmons said "While the council does not have any legal requirement to provide public conveniences, undeniably, they are an essential feature in our community for young and old alike.  I sincerely hope that we can re-open this facility as soon as possible!"

AUTUMN 2009 RENOVATED TOILETS RE-OPENED FOR DAILY USE