News

We have arranged with Bolnore Village Primary School to site two recycling boxes in their main reception area. These are to be used to collect plastic bottle tops and old pens and correcting fluid bottles.

Whilst it seems a bit odd that bottle tops should not be placed in the recycling bin, I'm sure most of us tend to! It would help if you would retain them at home until you have enough to make a journey to the school door worthwhile and use the new bin - that would be great. There are no restrictions on brand. The same applies to old pens and markers.

Work has already begun on the construction of a new cycle path leading from Bolnore Village (Kingfisher Drive) to the old Rocky Lane bridge. The plans were agreed in 2016 and this will provide new and improved access to Rocky Lane.

The work includes replacing the existing footpath by removing the old block paving stones, widening the existing path, installing new lighting and laying new tarmac.

We have arranged with the contractor that the block paving stones that are being removed are made available to residents who want to collect them. They are to be stored in Rocky Lane and can be collected for FREE, any time from Saturday 22 September. Any that are not collected will be taken away and trashed. It seems a shame to let them go to waste.

If residents want them - help yourself.

As you know the original planning application for The Barn to be converted to a nursery was refused by Mid Sussex District Council last year. During this process more residents objected to the plan than supported it.  These objections were based on various grounds, the main one being the impact it would have on local traffic. Since then Dakar Properties, the nursery operator, lodged an appeal against that decision with the Planning Inspectorate. This is their legal right as part of the planning process.

(You can read more about this  Government body by following the link)

Following that decision, Dakar Properties wrote to every resident outlining a revised plan which included an enlarged car park with a separate entrance and exit. This was aimed at reducing on-the-road parking, general congestion and potentially dangerous “u-turns”. Dakar subsequently held a public consultation to encourage support for the new scheme and met with numerous residents to address their concerns. After this consultation, residents overwhelmingly supported their improved plan which most people saw as being good for Bolnore Village. A second modified application was then submitted which addressed the concerns originally raised by residents.

The local planning authority then made a decision to delay the determination of the outcome of the second application until after the appeal decision was made. Dakar expressed their frustration on this matter as it meant significant delays to their plans.

This week, the Planning Inspector has over-ruled the original MSDC decision and Dakar have now withdrawn their second improved application. The outcome is that the original plan has effectively been granted. Dakar has already been onsite this week reviewing and planning for work that needs to be done to improve the site and the nursery is planned to open in early 2019.

Those are the facts and whilst we are somewhat disappointed with the outcome, we are pleased that the Barn will finally be used for the benefit of the both Bolnore Village and the wider community. In my conversation with Dakar Properties, we have confirmed that the Community Interest Company will continue to work with them and encourage them wherever possible to be the good neighbours that they told us they would be. Dakar have confirmed that they will closely monitor car parking the situation and should it be deemed necessary, a revised application for a larger car park may be submitted in the future.

We look forward to working together for the benefit of the Bolnore Village as a whole.

Although the Bolnore Village CIC does not manage Phases 4 and 5 ofBolnore we attended a meeting with Crest management two weeks ago. The roads on Phases 4 and 5 are still owned by Crest and not likely to be adopted by West Sussex County Council for around 18 months (all at the same time) at which point street lighting, pavements and road surfaces will have to be up to the standard required for the council to take it over. Crest were keen to stress that they have no interest in delaying this as West Sussex County Council are holding £2 million of their money until they complete this work, complete drainage work and reinstate the original narrower junction at the Parkfield Way junction by the Barn.

After many emails, meetings and discussions with Mid-Sussex District Council (MSDC) over the past months, the conclusion is that there isn’t any short-term prospect of having food vans in the Woodside car park. 

As we’d agreed, the Bolnore Village Community Partnership (The Woodside) Trustees and the Community Interest Company approached MSDC’s property team about the possibility of the Woodside car park being used, initially on a trial basis and then permanently if everything went well. We thought such a request would be straightforward given that food vans use council car parks elsewhere in the district. Unfortunately, nothing is straightforward and the BVCP has a very rigid lease agreement with MSDC. MSDC have said that the Woodside would need to pay substantial fees to allow a short-term trial for each food van, fees for permission to allow each van to trade permanently and pay to install outside plugs and even fees for the permission to install them.  The Woodside would have to then pass on these costs to the traders, charge additional fees for the use of electricity, the cost of any time spent opening/closing the Woodside and car park and additional hire fees to MSDC.  

As a charity, the Woodside isn’t in a position to pay such sums on which it would be unlikely to see a return and for what is, in effect, a non-core activity. We also believe that such fees are excessive, especially given that they’d have to be passed on to businesses that have already paid for a street-trading licence that would be hard to use in Bolnore.

Although the Bolnore Village Community Interest Company is not allowing food vans on the square this is a very small part of Bolnore Village.  Food vans in general are not “banned from Bolnore” as some have falsely claimed.  From our understanding of street traders’ licences, for which they pay the council an annual fee, are still allowed to trade on any public highway in Bolnore.  However, the way the Village is designed doesn’t support this and there is no obvious alternative location. The BVCIC had to take action for activities taking place on land that it manages that were causing a nuisance to residents in the immediate vicinity. These activities also risked conflict between residents and traders or damage to vehicles and property.  These areas are maintained at the expense of just 900 homeowners in Bolnore, not the council. For example, the Fish and Chip van intended to run an overhead extension lead from its van to the Co-op across the car park used by tall lorries and through fragile trees. This was impractical on many levels.

The traders may wish to try to convince the council to find some way of making it easier to operate in the Woodside, without the charity having to incur such costs, in which case the BVCP and BVCIC will do what they can to support them. Or they may contact Crest about setting up in Phases 4 and 5 (“New Bolnore”) where Crest still own the roads. Both traders have been informed of the outcome and Fab at Fab’s Pizza’s has asked us to inform residents that he is now located at Wivelsfield Green on Tuesday evenings.

From Bolnore Village Community Partnership and Bolnore Village Community Interest Company

Social media has made it very easy for us to communicate quickly and easily with family, friends and acquaintances, as well as sharing experiences and letting others know of our opinions and beliefs. These opinions and beliefs may be about world events or local affairs, politics or religion, interests, affiliations, organisations, products, people and a wide variety of other topics. Our conversations and comments can be closely targeted or widely broadcast to the point that depending on the subject, they can go viral.

What we say online has consequences and the Community Interest Company is keen that our Facebook Pages are the source of accurate information and portray a positive image of the Village. We have been accused in the past of "censorship" when we have removed particularly inconsiderate posts and we are keen that residents do not engage in heated online discussions! We will continue to do so where appropriate. If you have generic questions about a particular issue try our Frequently Asked Questions page on the website. Alternatively you may email us for further help.

As we have written before, our Facebook sites are not the place to report specific problem. These should be addressed to our property management provider - Pembroke Property Management.

How to protect your children

As parents – or relatives, teachers and other adults responsible to children’s safety – we want our children and those we look after to be healthy and happy … and to develop well both physically and mentally. Above all, it’s also instinctive that we want kids to be safe. Children learn through exploration and natural curiosity and it is part of our job as parents and carers to encourage that. However, as our children grow up, develop and discover new experiences, we have to take more and different steps to ensure their safety.

Until their understanding and instincts catch up with their curiosity, our children need to be protected from everyday dangers – whether crossing the road, in and around the home, trying new foods or talking to new people they meet.

And sooner or later … going online. Follow this link to find out more

All those emails...

Email is both an excellent communication tool and also a way that companies can inform you about their latest products and services. However, email is frequently used to deliver unwanted material which is at best, annoying and at worst, malicious – causing considerable harm to your computer and yourself.

For more information follow this link

Passwords - the key to online safety.

Your passwords are the most common way to prove your identity when using websites, email accounts and your computer itself (via User Accounts). The use of strong passwords is therefore essential in order to protect your security and identity. The best security in the world is useless if a malicious person has a legitimate user name and password.

For a lot more information follow this link

Safer Internet Day 2018 will be celebrated globally on Tuesday 6th February with the slogan 'Create, Connect and Share Respect: a better internet starts with you.'

We will be publishing a series or articles during February supporting this initiative and pointing you in the direction of resources to help you. 

It would be easy to forget the few simple rules about recycling when you are surrounded by all that torn wrapping paper, empty bottles, worn out batteries and the like.

So, here are a few reminders to ensure that what gets thrown away after Christmas always goes in the rights bins.

Dispose of batteries safely

It is crucial not to bin batteries, but at Christmas with new gadgets aplenty, this message is ever more important. All batteries can cause fires, in refuse trucks and at waste plants, but lithium batteries are more prone and these are the ones in phones, laptops, tablets, digital cameras and hand held games. In fact British Airways ban customers from carrying spares in their travel luggage, because of the risk they pose.

So if you get a new gadget this month, you can take old ones, and loose batteries, to a Household Waste Recycling Site; or if you only have loose batteries, there are disposal points all over the place - all supermarkets and DIY stores have them.

In the Village, you may take them to the Co-Op.

Filling up with cardboard at Christmas

The UK is estimated to use 290,000 tonnes of card packaging at Christmas, enough to wrap Big Ben almost 260,000 times. Sadly, it doesn't all make it into a recycling bin.

But what happens to the card that does? First it gets mixed with hot water to turn it into pulp and the ink, staples, plastic and glue are removed. Then the clean fibres are pressed together, dried and wound onto reels ready to be turned into new products such as: office paper, newspapers, books and magazines, jiffy bags, loft insulation, new boxes and packaging, animal bedding ... and even road surfaces!

So there you have it. Don't forget though when it comes to Boxing Day. Please ensure you put it all in the recycling bin.

Don't bin it - take it to a recycling centre

We live in a culture obsessed with 'stuff'. And you can guarantee there will be queues out the door of thousands of retailers on Black Friday (24th November) and products flying off websites on Cyber Monday (27th November).

If you genuinely need a new television or other expensive appliance, because your old one is broken or on its last legs, then go, go, go. You could get a bargain! For everyone else, it should be a no, no, no!

Here's where you can help... the recycling centre wants your old products. The broken ones. The ones you are replacing in the sales frenzy (rather you than us). Televisions, radios, speakers, remote controls, kettles, toasters, hair straighteners, phones, tablets, laptops, clocks, watches, e-readers - all of these can be recycled at a West Sussex County Council Household Waste Recycling Site.

Our nearest site in in Burgess Hill and by following this link you can find out all sort of useful information.

Carrier bags, black sacks and polystyrene

These are the items that continue to be found in the recycling bins that shouldn't be there!

If you place these items in the wrong bin, it will mean that your bin may not get emptied, the collection team will place a big sticker on the bin and you'll be left with a bin that is overflowing. In the event that the collection team "don't notice", then the entire bin load is contaminated and this reduces the value of the remaining materials.

You'd be wrong to think that "this isn't my problem"! There is a cost to everything and in this case it's to your rates. If you scale up your own bin across the entire Village, it all mounts up to a much bigger problem. Your actions will be denying everyone the possibility of a rate reduction or at the very least no increase.

What do you do with old clothes?

Loads of people are having mega clear-outs this month, from their wardrobes, homes and gardens.

If you are bagging up clothes to get rid of, by all means take them to a Household Waste Recycling Site and look for the turquoise coloured textiles containers.

Other options that don't involve a trip to the recycling centre are to be found by following this link.

We've got a dirty big problem that needs your help

Soiled nappies are having to be fished out of our recycling plant - and not just one or two - hundreds every day. It's become a big problem for West Sussex County Council.

The facility is mainly automated and designed to sort through recycling, not nappies. All we can do is beg people to please put nappies in their landfill bin.

UK collects more plastics than ever

For the first time, the UK has collected half a million tonnes of plastics packaging from households in a single year. The survey by Recoup showed two thirds were plastic bottles, one third were pots, tubs and trays.

So we just wanted to say thanks West Sussex. Thanks for your bottles and your pots, tubs and trays. From yoghurt pots to meat trays, and even your empty pill packets, keep them clean, dry and loose and keep them coming.

If you would like to read more about this significant change in behavior follow this link

Carrier bags, black sacks and polystyrene

These are the items found in the recycling bins that shouldn't be there!

If you place these items in the wrong bin, it will mean that your bin may not get emptied, the collection team will place a big sticker on the bin and you'll be left with a bin that is overflowing. In the event that the collection team "don't notice", then the entire bin load is contaminated and this reduces the value of the remaining materials.

You'd be wrong to think that "this isn't my problem"! There is a cost to everything and in this case it's to your rates. If you scale up your own bin across the entire Village, it all mounts up to a much bigger problem. Your actions will be denying everyone the possibility of a rate reduction or at the very least no increase.

Rubbish - where does it all end up?

If you are at all interested in knowing what happens to all the black bins collected from West Sussex,  we are arranging a visit to the West Sussex County Council plant at Warnham (nr Horsham).

The tours start at 1000 or 1400 every weekday. We need a minimum of 10 people and the visit lasts approximately 2 hours. There will be a general presentation followed by a site tour. Car sharing is an option from the Village Square. The dates are to be arranged once we know how many people are interested.

If you'd like to go please email Chris Belton - follow the link. Please specify if you prefer morning or afternoon.

Don't throw clothes in the landfill bin!

In one year alone, the disposal cost for all the clothes thrown into bins by West Sussex households was £1.4 million! By making small changes, all these textiles could have been reused or recycled.

Waste costs – recycling earns

Just make a start – 1 item at a time. Why not try it by starting now? Stop yourself before you throw something in the landfill bin, check it against the list of items that can be recycled and maybe you’ll surprise yourself.

That’s all it takes – 30 seconds of thought and we’ll be on our way to reducing landfill.

Waste costs – recycling earns!

Here is a short list of some of the items that generally get sent to landfill that should be recycled.

Tin foil, aerosols, kitchen and bathroom trigger sprays, glass jars (no excuses for this!!) ice cream tubs, squeezy bottles (ketchup etc) and plastic pill packets. Each house may not think they can make a difference but there are over 800 properties in Bolnore and that does make a difference when scaled to that number.

Visit Think before you throw for more information

Waste costs – recycling earns!

Over 20% of what we send to landfill could be recycled. We know that most individuals are aware that recycling is the right thing to do. It’s the extra stuff that we could “think before we throw” that makes the difference.

So, to give you some idea of what that looks like, it represents approx. 170 wheelie bins for each fortnightly collection. “Think before you throw”

Visit Think before you throw for more information.

If residents would like to discuss any matters with our Property Manager then please come along to the next Pembroke open surgery at the Woodside, 09:00 – 11:00 on Thursday 30th November.

Waste costs – recycling earns!

Here are some positive ways you can make a difference.

Make sure you recycle all of the following items, but don’t put them in a plastic bag before doing so!!

All junk mail, cereal boxes, egg boxes, newspapers, catalogues, magazines, takeaway containers (cleaned first though please), tin foil, wine bottles, beer bottles, jam jars, food cans, drink cans, pet food cans, deodorant aerosols, milk cartons (NO tops), trays for food, fruit and ready meals.

The plastic tops of milk cartons and bottled drinks are too small to be sorted mechanically and tends to degrade the value of material in which it ends up. There is a collection point at the Princess Royal Hospital for these.

Again, you may think it’s not worth it but scale it up to Bolnore and it does make a difference.

Visit Think before you throw for more information.

Each year 32,000 tonnes of your items that could be recycled goes to landfill! This is clearly very damaging to both your wallets and to the environment in which we all live. Each bin lorry that you see going to the landfill site carries approximately 10 tonnes of rubbish and is charged at a rate of £84 per tonne.

This cost is paid by your taxes. Anything saved could be better spent on other public services. Would you like to see more Police Officers on the street? Would you like to see better services for the elderly? “Think before you throw”

Visit Think before you throw for more information

Is this the last word on "Parking"?

Parking continues to be a subject that generates the most conversation! It is always mentioned when I speak to residents and is often the subject of emails received! Let me state once again that Bolnore Village Community Interest Company has NO control over the situation. We will continue to work with all relevant authorities to try to make improvements but make no commitments that anything will get accomplished. There will be no “double yellow lines” painted (as per WSCC), no “parking control zones” and no other formal controls over parking.

The Village was designed in accordance with Government Planning rules which covers such things as housing density per acre, road widths and parking. Crest Nicholson, for all their faults, built according to those regulations. We know that many garages are simply not big enough to accommodate a car. We know that many garages are used for storage of household goods of one sort or another. We know that everyone wants to park outside their own front door. We know that most houses have two vehicles and that they have to “live” somewhere.

If you have to park on the street, I urge you once again, to make sure you park appropriately. Remember that pedestrians are road users too and that they need access to the pavements and to the dropped curbs for their pushchairs and mobility vehicles. Drivers are part of the problem AND part of the solution! I know I go on about it but there really is little the Community Interest Company can do. There is much more that drivers can do though in ensuring that the road is used more appropriately.

It is frustrating to hear and I know that many of you won’t like to hear it. However, it is, what it is.

I came about 5 years late to the social media scene getting involved very reluctantly when I volunteered for a national organisation that wanted to increase its reach to a younger audience.

As the graph shows, the peak usage is the 25 – 34 age range. Of that number, 59% access Facebook once a day or more. Interestingly, over the past few years, the over 65s show a 62% increase in users! Facebook is used almost equally by all socio-economic groups, almost equally by those living in urban or rural environments and almost equally across all income bands. We spend a whopping 21 hours browsing the net each week with over six of those solely using Facebook. It is a force to be reckoned with and it is a platform that simply cannot be ignored.

So, what’s not to like about it? Whilst you may disagree, for me it’s the seeming lack of accountability. Anyone is free to post anything whether it’s fact or fiction. What does follow from that is, with everyone spending so much time online, it quickly becomes a long thread of everyone joining in, sometimes with nothing meaningful to say.

I spent ten days on holiday recently and made a deliberate decision not to access my Facebook pages. I didn’t miss not knowing who was where, what they had for breakfast, who they met and so on. I can tell you – it was quite liberating. Why not give it a try?

Our road safety campaign was highlighted on Facebook and on our website in July. The hope was to raise a few key points about how each one of us can, by being a bit more aware, make a difference. Within the Village, speeding, parking and driving without a seat belt are the key issues. The argument that “I’m just popping to the shop” and therefore won’t wear a seat belt is no excuse in the eyes of the law. Playing the numbers game of thinking “I won’t get caught in the Village” similarly is no excuse for exceeding the 20 mph Village speed limit. What example does it set for young children? And yes, it does matter!

The quick survey at the beginning of the month indicated that of those people who responded, there are two vehicles per household and two allocated parking spaces. If this situation is replicated across the Village, it continues to beg the question of why there are so many cars parked on the street. May I once again, urge those of you with parking spaces to use them?  

A couple of months ago I highlighted the issue of the “cobbles on the corners”. The question is this: if the road was laid out simply as pavement and road, would you park on the corner? Generally the answer is, I hope, no. Why, therefore, is it deemed acceptable to park on the cobbles?

Online resources abound and we have mentioned a few during the month. Here is a list of just some.

www.iamroadsmart.com  

www.brake.org.uk/info-and-resources/resources/guide-to-teaching-road-safety

www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/drivers/speed/top-ten-tips-to-stay-within-the-limit/

www.iamroadsmart.com/media-and-policy/news-and-insights/blog-post-details/advice-and-insights/2017/05/15/the-butterfly-effect

www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk

The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, particularly children, older or disabled people, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. It is important that all road users are aware of The Highway Code and are considerate towards each other. This applies to pedestrians as much as to drivers and riders.

Many of the rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence.

Although failure to comply with the other rules of The Highway Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted, The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see The road user and the law) to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.

Knowing and applying the rules contained in The Highway Code could significantly reduce road casualties. Cutting the number of deaths and injuries that occur on our roads every day is a responsibility we all share. The Highway Code can help us discharge that responsibility. Further information on driving/riding techniques can be found in ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – the essential skills’ and ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Riding – the essential skills’. 

Residents know that parking is a big issue in the Village – as it is in nearly every city, town and village in the country! The Community Interest Company is not, as we have explained before, in a position to fix it. The only way to fix it, to be honest, is for drivers to stop being inconsiderate. Drivers are part of the problem and part of the solution. The Highway Code Rules 238 – 252 covers the topics of parking and waiting.

Use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible. If you have to stop on the roadside:

• do not park facing against the traffic flow
• stop as close as you can to the side
• do not stop too close to a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge: remember, the occupant may need more room to get in or out
• you MUST switch off the engine, headlights and fog lights
• you MUST apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle
• you MUST ensure you do not hit anyone when you open your door. Check for cyclists or other traffic
• it is safer for your passengers (especially children) to get out of the vehicle on the side next to the kerb
• put all valuables out of sight and make sure your vehicle is secure
• lock your vehicle.

You MUST NOT stop or park on:

• the carriageway or the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency (see Rule 270)
• a pedestrian crossing, including the area marked by the zig-zag lines (see Rule 191)
• a clearway (download ‘Traffic signs’)
• taxi bays as indicated by upright signs and markings
• an Urban Clearway within its hours of operation, except to pick up or set down passengers
• a road marked with double white lines, even when a broken white line is on your side of the road, except to pick up or set down passengers, or to load or unload goods
• a tram or cycle lane during its period of operation
• a cycle track
• red lines, in the case of specially designated ‘red routes’, unless otherwise indicated by signs. Any vehicle may enter a bus lane to stop, load or unload where this is not prohibited (see Rule 140).

It is not a “yes / no” answer but in general, older drivers are amongst the safest on our roads today – yes really.

With the number of drivers over the age of 70 set to double over the next 20 years, there is a pressing need for enlightened policies and practical actions to help them keep safe and competently mobile for as long as possible. There are also more than one million drivers over the age of 80.

But what do older drivers think themselves?  Dr. Carol Hawley of the University of Warwick has surveyed more than 2,600 drivers and former drivers to gain fresh insights on their opinions, habits and motoring history.  The report updates a previous AA Foundation Report from 1996 and tracks changing opinions over the last two decades.

Many older drivers are in favour of tightening current regulations but also want to see these ideas extended to all drivers no matter what their age. The report also shows just how significant driving is to an older person’s life. 82% said that driving was very or extremely important to them, a figure that increases for women.

For older people, the need to drive goes way beyond simply going from A to B. It is all about maintaining self-esteem, freedom and meaningful contact with others.  Today’s older drivers have not yet started to think about giving up and that presents a real challenge for organisations trying to provide advice and guidance.

If you are over 60 and would like to have your driving competence checked you can take the IAM RoadSmart “Mature Driver Assessment”.

Visit the IAM RoadSmart website for more details.

Anti-social behaviour has once again caused concern for residents. The Police were called to incidents in the Village which isn’t a good use of their time and neither is it a positive reflection on the village itself. Damage to property, or to Village plants and trees, causes increased costs which is passed on to residents through the service charge. Actions have consequences.

However, I urge you to continue to call the Police if you witness anything that you consider to be anti-social behaviour. This is defined as “behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as the person”.

The Haywards Heath Community Warden will continue to patrol the Village on an ad-hoc basis and will liaise with the Police to help eradicate this nuisance.

The Community Interest Company is determined, one way or another, to make Bolnore a pleasant place for us all.

Scientific research clearly demonstrates that a driver cannot safely control a car and make or take phone calls at the same time.

Deaths and injury caused when a driver is distracted by a mobile phone are completely avoidable and a senseless waste of life.

The number of casualties in crashes where a driver was using a mobile phone is difficult to establish. But, research in simulators has shown drivers who use hands-free phones are up to four times more likely to be involved in a crash. Texting or smartphone use whilst driving increases reaction times by up to 35%.

Using a phone causes physical, visual, mental and auditory distractions, leading to significantly slower reaction times. IAM RoadSmart research shows it can be more distracting than driving with alcohol or cannabis in your system. Conversations on hands-free mobile phones also distract and that is you should “switch off before you drive off”.

What are the penalties?

Your licence will be have six points added.

There will be a minimum fine equivalent to 50% of the driver’s income

Road crashes are the biggest killer of young people in the UK today and yet road safety does not merit the same priority as issues such as knife crime or drugs.

Young people have no incentive to treat driving as a skill for life and often seek to learn as quickly and as cheaply as possible. New drivers are most at risk in their first year of driving and yet the current system abandons them to learn by their own, sometimes fatal, mistakes.

The risk factors are well known; lack of experience (in all traffic conditions but especially rural roads, darkness and poor weather), attitude, distraction (by peer passengers or smartphones) and alcohol and drugs. Choosing effective restrictions to limit the effect of these risk factors should be the key objective of the government in creating a new licensing system that is practical, affordable and works to reduce young driver road deaths and injuries.

If you are under 26 and would like to have your driving competence checked you can take the IAM RoadSmart “Young Driver Assessment”.

Visit the IAM RoadSmart website for more details.

Alternatively, if you are under 30 and would like to take the IAM RoadSmart Advanced Driving Course the local Central Sussex Group is offer a £49 reduction when you pass the test. The full cost is £149. The offer is available between now and 15 March 2018.

Contact Andy Wilson on 01329 483661 or email membership.csamcar@iamgroups.org.uk 

Driver distraction – specifically text messaging and social media use are seen as the biggest issues affecting drivers’ safety

Traffic congestion has seen the biggest short-term rise in terms of a growing problem on the roads There is a recognition that older drivers make up some of the safest drivers but there is support for the over 70s being required to undertake another driving test

There is strong support for increasing the age of licence renewal to 75

Speeding in residential areas is a bigger concern for drivers than speeding on motorways with support for automatic enforcement in 20mph zones and general support for 80mph limits on motorways

There is solid support to restrict the hours new drivers are allowed on the road at night and limiting the number of passengers they can carry

Drink and drug driving is the biggest issue which the police should focus on – with over half of drivers believing it should be their first priority

A majority of drivers consider advanced driving tuition an effective measure in improving driving skills

It’s been a legal requirement for drivers and passengers to wear seat belts since 1983, however, seat belt law itself, isn't that simple.

We all know the reasoning behind the legislation – the safety implications for not wearing one is a no brainer – but do you know what happens if you’re caught driving without a seat belt? Or who's responsibility it is if your passenger refuses to use theirs? And are there any exemptions from the law?

Essentially, if your vehicle has seat belts you legally have to wear them.

It's unlikely your vehicle will not have seat belts unless it's a very old classic as it’s been a legal requirement in the UK for seat belt anchorage points to be fitted in the front of all new cars since 1965, and for front seat belts to be fitted to all cars since 1967.

The law was also changed in 1967, requiring all cars manufactured since 1965 to be retro-fitted with front seat belts.

By 1987, all new cars sold in the UK legally had to have rear seat belts fitted too – but most manufacturers were already fitting them as standard.

The law changed in 1989, making it a legal requirement for children travelling in the back of cars to wear seat belts, followed by another rule change in 1991 which dictated adult passengers must also wear seat belts in the back of cars.

What are the penalties?

The driver is responsible for children aged up to 14 and you could be fined for each child passenger without a belt. Those over 14 are responsible for their own actions - so if you’re caught not wearing a belt as a passenger, you could be hit with a minimum £100 fine.

Not wearing a seat belt isn’t an endorsable offence, so you won’t be given penalty points on your licence if you’re caught without a belt. This means it won’t affect your insurance at renewal time, either, as you don’t need to inform the insurance company.

If the case goes to court, the fine could increase to £500.

When driving, the same outcomes occur for drugs and to taking alcohol. The research proves that driving skills are seriously impaired.

What are the penalties?

An immediate 12 month disqualification rising to 36 months if convicted twice within 10 years.

The prospect of a custodial sentence cannot be overstated. Depending on the aggravating circumstances and an increase in the seriousness of the offence, a custodial sentence up to 36 months is likely. What are some of the aggravating circumstances? Carrying passengers or if the offence took place near a school! Those factors that increase the seriousness include driving for hire (e.g. a taxi) or driving a Heavy Goods Vehicle or a Public Service Vehicle.

The debate on the maximum permitted blood alcohol limit for drivers has been reignited following the Scottish Government’s decision to lower the limit north of the border and by the recent flat lining in drink related deaths.

Surveys of the public also show a consistently high degree of support for a lower limit.

The UK legal limit was set in 1967 at a level where impairment was undeniable - 80 milligrams of alcohol for 100 millilitres of blood (0.8). Recent research suggests that impairment begins at 0.5 and lowering the limit could save at least 40 lives a year on Britain’s roads. We are now out of step with the rest of Europe where most countries have adopted the lower limit of 0.5. In 2013 260 people were killed in drink drive accidents, an increase of 30 (13%) compared with 2012 and more recently the figures have been flat lining.

Research shows that drink driving is most common amongst young drivers and that police still caught nearly five thousand drivers over the limit across England last year. However, most were stopped by routine patrols rather than as the result of a crash.

What are the penalties?

A minimum of 12 months disqualification.

At the higher levels of alcohol in the blood, a 12 week custodial sentence may be appropriate if there are aggravating circumstances.

The penalties increase if you are convicted twice within a 10 year period.

Speed kills, there’s no two ways about it. The Village speed limit is 20mph for a reason. It is an area of high density and a large number of children. In addition, the roads are narrower than normal in an attempt to control speed.

It is still evident that a number of drivers disregard this limit and they do so with no regard for other road users. Speeding through the Village will save you no time, will cost you extra in fuel and wear and tear. It may well result in a serious accident.

Why Do People Speed? 

1. Impatience – just want to get places quickly
2. Enjoy the experience of driving fast
3. Racing to get to an appointment – running red lights
4. Believe they own the highway and do as they please
5. Distracted or daydreaming
6. Thrill seeking- Showing off for friends – taking video
7. Curious about going really fast
8. Road rage – racing someone else
9. Just doing what everybody else is doing
10. Poor judgement after drinking or taking drugs

Motorways are our safest roads because they are designed for high speeds and the vehicles using them today have never been safer.

Speed surveys show that on uncongested motorways, 57 per cent of car drivers exceed the 70mph speed limit, and 20 per cent exceed 80 mph. The most serious concern is that legalising today’s unofficial and tolerated 80 mph speed limit could create tomorrow’s unofficial 90 mph limit.

Average traffic speeds would increase, as would accidents and their severity and more people could be killed and seriously injured.

This is the start of a month long campaign to raise awareness of some of the key issues that today's drivers face. I make no excuses for promoting the work of IAM RoadSmart in the work that it does to improve driving and riding and the research they provide to the UK Government.

First though, some key numbers to put things into perspective.

For the year ended 2015 there was a 2% increase vs. 2014 in the number of people killed on the roads. A total of 1732 people lost their lives.

There were:

• 409 pedestrians killed,
• 100 cyclists 
• 365 motorcyclists.

This last group, motorcyclists, saw an 8% rise in the number killed vs. 2014.

Human factors continue to significantly outweigh other reasons for crashes on British roads. People must accept responsibility for enhancing their own skills and recognising their limitations. Like so many other areas of life extra coaching pays dividends – and for a driver or rider, that means keeping their skills fresh by continuous improvement and learning.

Facebook has a number of references to Bolnore related groups. Some are active and others, not so much! I have found at least nine references to different groups. Are you a member of a Bolnore Group, the book club for example? Are you trying to establish or re-energise a group? The Community Interest Company can help.

We would be more than happy use our communications channels to promote your group to a wider audience and to publicise your activities. Contact chris@bolnore.org.uk for more information and help.

It is a little disappointing to see, that after a weekend cleanup campaign a couple of months ago, parts of the Village are still blighted by litter. I know that it's not just a Bolnore Village issue but we really need to get to grips with why individuals believe it is acceptable to drop their litter. Is it adults or children, is it residents or visitors, is it a lack of litter bins?

Whatever the answer, it's a bit like parking - the answer lies with each one of us to do the right thing and not to assume it's someone else's problem. If we aim to make Bolnore the best place to live in Sussex this is one issue that needs to get resolved.

Personally speaking I try to do my bit for recycling. It's not easy though to fully understand what can be recycled and what must be sent to landfill. If you live in an apartment block, the "can and cannot" will be posted inside the bin store. House occupiers will know if they get it wrong when the bin doesn't get emptied and a helpful little label gets attached!

Even the most obvious things I sometimes get wrong! Only recently I found out that plastic milk bottles need to be put in the recycle bin without their tops on! Apparently if the top is left on, it causes a bit of a problem when it gets crushed! Who knew?

Reports continue to surface of damage or destruction to trees in and around the Village. Most reports refer to children or young adults as being responsible. So is it simply over excited young people or a more deliberate action to destroy stuff. I'd like to think it is the former, in which case I would ask parents to please talk to their children and ask them to be more careful. Knowing where they are at all times is a good place to start! Personally, I fail to understand why anyone would deliberately destroy or damage trees, flowers or our woodland - but it happens nonetheless.

There is a significant financial cost associated with such damage, a cost that is paid by residents.  Parents have a responsibility for the actions of their children and it is parents who will eventually pay, through increases in the service charge, for the damage caused.  Children must be made aware that their actions have consequences. Damage to trees is socially irresponsible and it is something that the Community Interest Company takes very seriously. We are determined to ensure that the Village is, and remains, a safe place to live and work. 

I do accept that it may well be individuals who do not live in the Village but equally I have to accept that it may well be! I would ask all residents not to hesitate to report to the non- emergency number (101) if you see anyone damaging trees or property. If you should know and can prove, who is responsible then please email me at chris@bolnore.org.uk 

Street lights not working? Roads not properly maintained? Hedges not trimmed? Rubbish not collected?

Our website has a list of places to help - visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you are in any doubt report an issue to Pembroke - simply call (0333 3442 100) or email (support@pembrokepm.co.uk). They will ensure that if they are not responsible for fixing it, they will pass it on to someone who can.

Once issues are sent to Pembroke, they are acknowledged, logged and progressed to completion. Because everything can’t be done at once it may be that your particular issue may not get actioned for some time. Pembroke may also decline to act in some circumstances where they feel it is appropriate and we would ask that you please respect their decisions.

Everything is online these days and without such a presence, places, people and products simply don’t get a look in. Simply having such an online presence doesn’t guarantee that you will get noticed. In order to improve our visibility on the internet we have taken a number of key decisions this year. It is pretty much taken for granted these days that most users never get to any search result that isn’t on the first page presented to them. As you are aware we completely upgraded our website to make it more appealing and the Community Interest Company is committed to making and keeping the Bolnore website number one in the search engine results.

To do this we have created a new Bolnore Community Interest Company Facebook Page which is supported by a new Twitter account. We are posting items on a regular basis that both inform or educate. We believe that by doing all of this and linking it all together, we will ensure that what people read and understand about the Village is relevant and factual. It is using all the available resources to actively promote the Village.

You can help use to achieve this objective by "Liking" our Facebook posts, by "Following" us on Twitter (@BolnoreCIC) or by clicking any links that take you to our website.

View our website for the latest news, getting answers to those “Frequently Asked Questions” or getting access to our Property Management Company – Pembroke.

I am sure that by now you have all read that the culprits have been arrested and charged following the armed robberies here and elsewhere in the county. A great relief to all those concerned I’m certain.

A presentation of gift certificates was made to the staff on behalf of residents, the Community Partnership and Community Interest Company.

Following feedback that the Pembroke Surgeries have been scheduled during the daytime, we have cancelled the meeting on 29 June 2017. 

Instead, there will be an opportunity to raise individual concerns with Pembroke at the general Residents meeting on 28 June starting at 19:00 at The Woodside.

As you are aware, The Woodside is currently undergoing resurfacing work in its car park. We met with them this week to discuss timeframes for this work and when we are able to be back using their facilities for our “Park and Stride” scheme. We are fully anticipating this being back up and running at the beginning of June and we want to encourage you to use this as an option moving forward. Traffic and parking remains an issue for us as a School and we are trying our best to alleviate this, both from a safety perspective, as well as to ensure relationships with our neighbours are retained. Thank you for supporting this. (from BVPS)

MSDC has received a Planning Application for the empty shop in the Village Square, Ref: DM/17/1574

The Community Interest Company is very keen to see the empty shop in the Village Square, that was once Lloyds Pharmacy, used for something that will further enhance the Village. The site has been empty now for such a long time despite a number of prospective occupiers showing an interest. There are a number of restrictions on what type of businesses can use the site and these preclude anything that might conflict with the Co-Op. As long as any prospective occupier conforms to these restrictions, we see no issues with any business using this site as any increase in traffic flow will be minimal and there is adequate onsite parking. The final date for MSDC to decide is 7th July 2017. It will be nice to see the shutters rise on a new business in the Village.

It seems inconceivable that an armed robbery has happened on our own doorstep. I cannot begin to imagine the trauma that the Co-Op staff experienced on that day and almost certainly still endure. Our thoughts are with them. I will however reiterate the request that has already gone out – if anyone saw anything or recognises the perpetrator you have to tell the Police.

It may seem to you that parts of the village are still not being maintained – and in some cases you’d be right! At this point our issue is to identify those parts of the village that fall within our responsibility and to maintain those and those alone. In parallel, we will work with other authorities to ensure that they either take responsibility for what is theirs or to arrange to fund the Village to take on the work involved. We want to fix the cause not just the symptoms. To this end we had a positive meeting with WSCC to talk through some of those “who does what” questions. It will take some time to organise but it is now very much “work in progress”.

The decision on this application has now been delayed until sometime in June. Everyone who submitted a comment to MSDC will be advised of the next steps.

I’d also like to thank all residents who took the time to respond to this planning application. There were over 100 comments from people throughout the Village both in support and against the proposals.

We met with Perfect Start Nurseries to find ways to arrive at an outcome that was beneficial to everyone. They too have arranged further meetings with Crest and they have also spoken at length to MSDC. All we can say at this time is "watch this space"

Please remember that the Community Interest Company did NOT object to the nursery in and of itself. We objected to the outcome of increased traffic, increased noise and the loss of the garden as a local amenity. It is interesting to note that West Sussex County Council (WSCC) also objected on the grounds of traffic impact. It is clear that the Barn needs to be used for something that supports the needs of the Village and a Nursery would seem to meet that need.

The Directors of the Community Interest Company meet with Pembroke once a month to discuss all issues both current and on-going. If you would like any issue raised there are several opportunities to do so. You may email Pembroke if you have specific property related issues, or you may attend the surgeries, the notifications for which are emailed to residents.

Pembroke held two residents’ surgeries. I am pleased that many residents attended and that they were able to get resolutions to their issues. Many also commented positively on progress to date. The more people who attend can only make the situation better. It is clear that the Village is looking better and that with more attention over the coming months it will continue to improve.

If residents would like to discuss any matters with our Property Manager then please come along to the Pembroke open surgery at the Woodside on the following dates:

• Thursday 25th May 2017 between 09:00 and 11:00
• Thursday 29th June 2017 between 14:00 and 16:00 CANCELLED
• Thursday 27th July 2017 between 09:00 and 11:00
• Thursday 31st August 2016 between 14:00 and 16:00