Goring News Jan/Mar 2003

Reaction to West Durrington housing exhibition
A survey was conducted during a public exhibition on the proposed West Durrington housing, at West Durrington Community Centre. More than 650 people attended the exhibition and 273 survey forms were completed, with a further 300 residents visiting a web site on the issue.
Looking at the detailed report at www.greenissues.com/westdurrington shows as follows:
29 per cent are against the development, only 9% were for. The rest did not express an opinion and perhaps accept it will go ahead anyway.
85 per cent of people were against the widening of Titnore Lane, favouring traffic calming measures instead.
67 per cent favoured access to the new estate via Titnore Lane and Fulbeck Avenue rather than Fulbeck Avenue and Tasman Way.
There is also a fear that more houses in the area will make crime problems worse and a concern about the loss of ancient woodland.

Spring is Sprung
Now that spring has officially come, we cannot escape having a picture of the Goring daffodils.

And preparing for the summer, contractors have cleared the two boat ramps, and have put the shingle up near the Sea Lane Cafe where there has been considerable erosion.

You need a licence to work on the beach
Southern Water found out at a late stage that the extension of the storm water outfall at Sea Place near the yacht club, was longer than the regulations allowed. They had to apply for planning permission, and also a licence from the Government. Contractor Nuttall Hynes had to stop work in October, just two weeks from finishing the job. They have now taken away their new pipes and valves, and repaired the concrete path. The expectation is that they will come back and finish the job before then end of May.

WSCC website in the top 20
For the second year running the WSCC website has been voted into the top-20 local authoity websites. Mind you, there are some very poor ones out there. There is certainly a lot of good stuff on the WSCC site. http://www.westsussex.gov.uk

Train guards strikes
Friday 28 March, Monday 31, Thursday 17 April. The way I read this is that there will be a London - Brighton service and an hourly shuttle along the coast. http://www.southcentraltrains.co.uk

The 42 year old Commander speaks
Our thoughts are with the Coalition men and women in Iraq. The battle speech of Lt. Colonel Tim Collins are worth saving as one of the great speeches of all time.

Read the Speech

Improved waste collection programme starts June 23
Worthing Borough Council will spend £20,000 to publicise an improved waste collection programme which starts on 23 June. The changes include increased recycling and composting to reduce the use of costly landfill sites. But binmen will only collect rubbish from the front of people's homes, not from alleyways or the sides of houses.

Rubbish Collection Calendar

Cycle Ramps in the Plantation
We have not been jumping up and down about boys using the Plantation near Amberley Drive for digging cycle ramps; it is better that they are there rather than on the streets. But now they have up-rooted the benches from the Goring Hall playing fields, and that is just not on. The authorities are aware and hopefully it will not happen again and on 1st April the contractors filled in the holes. Long may it last.

Goring Gap Litter
WBC men have been clearing litter from roads in the Goring Gap. But it is a big job and sometimes the wind finds new litter to blow onto the area as soon as it is cleared. We are grateful for their efforts, and hope they can keep it up.

Van torched in Alinora Carpark
A van was burnt out in the Alinora Carpark this week. Normally they do these things in the Goring Gap, doing it so close to houses is unusual. The police were examining the chared remains, and it was quickly removed. Apparently the van belonged to a plumber, was stolen from Aldsworth Avenue, and was used in a ram-raid on Freshcos.

Growing Cynicism
Whoever I talk to, I hear the words 'oh, you don't want to believe them!' Not only about advertising, about words from Number 10, but also about statements by our local council. What is getting into us that we should have this attitude?

Sahara sand covers Goring
While the military are troubled by the Iraq sandstorms, Goring has not escaped either. What with salt spray and Sahara sand you have to clean the windows far too often. According to Philip Eden, the weather wiz on the back page of the Saturday Telegraph, we are likely to get fine sand deposits about 20m days a year. It blows several miles into the sky above the Azores and thence to us on a South West wind.

Whitehall want yet more houses in Worthing
Apparently 850 new homes at West Durrington is not enough. The government want to step this up to 1000. The fight continues.
(Argus 20 Mar 03)

How smart is your beach hut?
The site rental notices will soon be coming to beach hut owners along the Goring sea wall. The winter (and the vandals) have not been kind to the beach huts, and if you think the parts facing the path look scruffy, you should see the front. And a batch of five beach huts were badly damaged by vandals on 22 March; the Beech Office contacted the owners. Keith Richardson is a local man who will check your hut, weekly or monthly as you wish, and either fix it to make it secure, or quote for any work that needs to be done - 0770-246-7778

Worthing Lions Charity Shop
Keith Richardson is also involved with Worthing Lions new Charity Shop which is opening soon at 115 George V Avenue.

Worthing Wednesday Market from 2 April
A market in Montague Street will be held every Wednesday starting 2 April until April 1, 2004, replacing the Wednesday market at the NCP car park in Union Place.

Restaurant at Upper Northbrook Farm
Upper Northbrook Farm is the disused farm building on Littlehampton Road just west of the Northbrook roundabout. Now it is to be a Vantage Inns restaurant, and to save you having to drive halfway to Cornwall to get in from Goring, they are having an additional driveway from Titnore Lane.

Plans to rebuild Ferring Country Centre
Ferring Country Centre in Rife Way, Ferring provides meaningful work for 50 adults with learning difficulties. The Centre was opened in 1986, and the premises have been on the site for 40 years. The planned new building will also have better protection against vandalism which has been a problem.
(Worthing Herald 13 Mar 03)

Red Arrows at Worthing Festival
The Red Arrows are likely to be one of the attractions at the Worthing Festival on July 25-27. Together with all the other usual attractions, including helicopter rides from the Goring Gap.
(Argus 13 March 03)

West Park School fireworks success
West Park School in Marlborough Road, Worthing, is 50 this year and teachers and pupils organised a fireworks display on Friday 7 March as the first of many events planned. Next event is the summer fair with a Fifties theme on July 12, and then three evening concerts organised for the children on July 15, 16 and 17.
(Argus 12 Mar 03)

Air Speed Record - 50 years ago
6th September 1953 saw Sqn Ldr Nevill Duke break the air speed record at 727.6mph at sea level along the coast between Littlehampton and Ruistington. This year they will re-enact the attempt in a vintage Hawker Hunter on the anniversary date. If they can get permission in these rule-bound times.
(Advertiser 12 Mar 03)

Beach hut latest
Worthing Borough Council has already rented out its entire stock of rented beach huts, leaving a two-year waiting list. All these are on Worthing seafront. At Goring the beachhuts are all privately owned, paying only a site rent to WBC. There are a number of vacant sites, and a larger number of beach huts which are neglected and may be for sale to new owners.
(Argus 11 Mar 03)

More on Beach Huts

Worthing sea front blocked by car crash
Someone pulled out of his parking space near the Burlington Hotel at 9pm on Thursday night without checking his mirrors. Four cars piled into him one after another. Yes, they must have been going too fast and too close together. Luckily no one was injured, but two fire engines attended and the seafront was blocked for a long time.

Fast-track A & E at Worthing Hospital
Worthing Hospital now deals with small injuries immediately rather than at the end of the whole queue. Good news. But don't go taking all your minor cuts and bruises down there or we shall be be back to long queues again.
And Southlands Hospital which was threatened with closure has been reprieved and has a new role in day care treatment. (Advertiser 6 Mar 03)

Maybridge Local Councillor Sessions
Meet Your Local Councillor sessions in Maybridge will be on the FIRST and THIRD Wednesday of each month at the Golden Lion Public House in The Strand from 7.30pm to 8.00pm. Should you have any local issues you wish to raise you can also contact them on the following numbers County Councillor Robin Rogers 01903-201299 and Borough Councillor Maria Moynan 01903-525947.

Four local mutts at Crufts
Four mongrel rescue dogs from NCDL Shoreham will show off their skills in the special events ring on the Saturday at 3.25 pm and on the Sunday at 1.30pm. The agility section is normally dominated by border collies, but this special demo seeks to show that rescue dogs are fun. Cruft's is being held at Birmingham's NEC from Thursday, March 6, to Sunday, March 9.
(Argus 3 Mar 03)

Does your dog have a chip on his shoulder
Several vets have been running a promotion on micro-chips for dogs. Normally about £25. But the NCDL Shoreham Rehoming Centre will do it for free for OAP owners - turn up on Tuesday 4 March between 10 and 4pm at Petcare, South Street, Lancing. Not an OAP? No problem £9.50 Very quick and painless, and we have had several cases locally where dogs have been broght back because of their chips.
(Guardian 28 Feb 03)

Kite-surfer blown away
Sunday 27 Feb was a day for kite flying. A strong East wind brought dozens of kites of all sizes out onto the greensward, and out to sea on surf boards. Then one surfer lost his balance and was towed out of control by his kite right along to Ferring. Kite shop Dirt and Surf in St John's Parade had a brisk trade in quick-release harness for those that are now worried about being blown away.

SouthernFM Dr Luurve axed again
SouthernFM radio's popular "Dr Luurve", Goring resident DJ Ambrose Harcourt has been axed for the second time - and his bosses insist this time there is no way back. Mr Harcourt's show, on air from 10pm to midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, includes listeners calling in with tales of love. Southern FM dropped him after deciding his music did not fit in with younger music tastes.
(Argus 28 Feb 03)

Another ten Cordylines coming
WBC have no more money for the seafront near the pier, but the Worthing Hospitality Association has stumped up £1500 for 10 more cordyline trees, some to the west, others to Windsor Lawns.
(Sentinel 24 Feb 03)

Windermere Crescent likely to flood
There is a continuing problem with surface water drainage in Windermere Crescent and Coniston Road, right at the north of Goring. It is all clay round there, and the rain from the Palatine playing fields does not drain away, just sits in residents' gardens. There is not a lot the council can do about this. We wonder what the ground is like at West Durrington, and where the rain will end up from there.
(Argus 24 Feb 03)

Ecclesden Mill refurb
Ecclesden Mill clearly seen to the West from Highdown, and just up from the new Angmering bypass, is being refurbished. They hope next to restore the cap to return the windmill at least in part to its former glory. The tower mill was built to replace John Olliver's windmill on Highdown Hill in 1826. Disaster struck less than 60 years later when, in 1880, the cap and sails, known as sweeps, blew into a nearby chalk pit during a storm. The mill was left to the elements until it was used as an observation post during the Second World War after which, it was abandoned once again.
(Argus 26 Feb 03)

Vandals stop trains at Goring
Wednesday evening (19 Feb) the trains were all halted for 50 minutes because some wretched people had placed iron bars across the track at Angmering causing a short circuit. One: they were lucky not to have been electrocuted, and Two: many local breadwinners were late home again.

Dates for Cycle Path announced
June 2004 Lancing to Splash Point.
March 2005 Splash Point to George V Avenue.
June 2006 George V Avenue to Sea Lane, Worthing.
June 2008 Sea lane, Worthing, to Sea Lane, Ferring.
Some work has been done to improve the path along the Goring sea wall near the Plantation. It has been straightened and widened. And some work is being done to trim back the tamarisk bushes.
In the current climate of suspicion about the future of the sea wall, a lot of people have asked whether this is the cycle track. Probably not. If cycles are to be encouraged the track+path would have to be 16 feet wide to comply with the regulations.
(Argus 25 Feb 03)

Tax hike is 18.5%
Homeowners in Worthing will see an overall council tax rise of 18.5 per cent, it has been confirmed.
(Argus 21 Feb 03)

Mayor for 2003/2004 is James Doyle
James Doyle will be the next mayor of Worthing - and at just 38 years old, he will be the youngest first citizen the town has ever had. James is a Lib-Dem councillor representing Selden ward.
Our thanks go to the current Mayor Eric Mardell who has done an excellent job. James has much to live up to.
(Argus 21 Feb 03)

Sanity returns to Recycling
In July 2003 the recycled paper, cans, and plastic collection will return to the previous and more popular system; they will all be collected on the same day as the rubbish collection. As at present, the collection day alters when it slips forward a day at Bank Holidays.

Rubbish Collection Calendar

Loo of the Year Award for Lido
The public loo at the Lido got 5 stars, and the man in charge also got an award. The loos at Buckingham Road, Heene Road, and the Pier got three stars. The loos in Goring were not so good.

Catching and exporting foxes
Hastings apparently have as many foxes as we do. Someone there caught a number of them and shipped them off to the West Country. But the Sunday Times article says that this is not a very good idea. Urban foxes brought up on a diet of fish and chips and hamburgers do not live very long when stuck out in the wilds. It is a tough life in the country.

• there should be no traffic calming or road widening of Titnore Lane,
• no roundabout or access to the development on Titnore Lane,
• all new housing should concentrated to the east of the site rather than the south and west, keeping away from Titnore Lane.
• the new development should be part of Durrington and make a contribution to the amenities of Durrington.

Country Park Objection
Both East and West Sussex County Councils have objected to the plans for the South Downs Country Park and have allocated money towards putting the authoritys' case at a public inquiry. This could take some time and may mean that the Park will take even longer to be established.
(Argus 5 Feb 03)

Eyesore car park may go
Grafton carpark, the worst eyesore on Worthing seafront may be demolished after blighting the town for 30 years. Experts say its condition is giving serious cause for concern. This year, more than £200,000 has been spent on repairs and now borough councillors are considering its demolition and replacement. Conservation watchdogs have long regarded the Grafton multi-storey as a major blot on the landscape.
(Argus 6 Feb 03)

Maybridge Youth and Community Centre progress
The new Maybridge Youth and Community Centre to be built at the Keystone Club, Raleigh Way, took a step forward when a model of the proposed building was unveiled. £1million is the budget, a lot of which has already been raised. Lottery grants have been applied for. If you can contribute, please contact Trevor England 01903-244224
(Worthing Herald 6 Feb 03)

New Speed Camera Map launched
Its not a very clever map, but maybe it will get better, and tell you where the speed cameras are round Goring. Additional cameras are planned at Hammerpot on the way to Arundel where there was a fatal accident last week, Offington Lane, Worthing, and at Dial Post. http://www.sussexsafetycameras.gov.uk/

No immediate panic about Goring Sea Wall Path
Thanks to the high level of concern by Goring residents, they are going to start planning the sea wall cycle route from the Lancing end. It may be a few years before they get round to considering our section. We will keep our ammunition dry, and our eyes on the council minutes.

Proposed cycle path on Goring Seawall

New Angmering Bypass at end of Feb
It looks as though you will be able to use the new Angmering Bypass around the end of February. I gather they have one or two things still to finish, and then they are looking for someone impressive to cut the ribbon

More torched cars in West Sussex
In 2001 there were 985 malicious fires, of which 539 were vehicles, up 69 per cent on 1997. Under new European Union rules, motorists must pay up to £100 to recycle cars, instead of receiving up to £40 for them from a scrap metal dealer. The Government has ruled drivers rather than the motor industry must meet the costs of complying with the End of Life Vehicle directive until 2007. The move has raised fears that more cars will be dumped. We already get our share in Goring.
(Argus 27 Jan 03)

Street Watchers to report rubbish
Brighton has a scheme for volunteers to take responsibility to tell the council when there is a problem with rubbish in their area. This seems logical. We already have a network of Neighbourhood Watch volunteers. Should we have street watchers in Goring?

WSCC want more permanent traveller sites
The word has come down from in high. Somewhere there have got to be more permanent sites for travellers. We do not think there is any suitable space in Goring, or indeed the whole of Worthing.
(Worthing Herald 23 Jan 03)

Prom revamp put on hold
The planned revamp of Worthing promenade has been put on hold. Under the Tories, more than £200,000 was spent on the seafront, paying for a new beach shelter, lighting and cordyline and palm trees. Lib Dems bowed to public pressure and allocated £94,000 left in the budget when they took over to pay for another new shelter and the revamp of vandal-plagued Windsor Lawns in East Worthing. But this year the money will be spent on the leisure centre and Aquarena swimming pool instead.
There is even a plan to close the seafront Tourist Information Centre because of funding constraints.
(Argus 21 Jan 03)

Highdown gardens sewage storm
Hotel boss Chris Chapman is threatening legal action against Worthing Borough Council over a leaking cesspit at the popular Highdown chalkpit garden. A bitter wrangle has gone on for several years about repairs to the cesspit which is apparently not of sufficient capacity for the current use of Highdown Towers as a hotel.
(Argus 20 Jan 03)

New lamps for old at St Mary's
There are some smart new lamp posts along the path through St Mary's churchyard. Not as elegant as the black cast iron standards they replace, but probably more efficient.

Ski jumping over the breakwaters
Local resident Paul Holden reports that in the days when water skiing was popular, the council; got excited about the dangers of skiers jumping the breakwaters at speed. We would love to see this, but it is now forbidden for any boat to travel fast near the beach.
(Sentinel 15 Jan 03)

Cycle Lanes - good or bad
There is a note on the Internet that several countries have reported more accidents to cyclists on roads where there are cycle lanes. There could be different reasons for this, but the reports are still interesting.

Thoughts on traffic calming
Traffic calming is inversely proportional to driver calming (Daily Mail 16 Jan 03). So WBC schemes for traffic calming along the sea front in Worthing are not going to please the car-owning democracy.

Don't put hot water out for the birds
If you try and put hot water on the ice in the birdbath, it is counter-productive; use cold water. The Mpemba Effect is a special phenomenon where hot water freezes faster than cold water. So following this rule, you should put hot water in the freezer for ice cubes.
Chapter and verse on this

Recycling is too complex
Here is how it works. Dustbin rubbish is two days later than it was before Christmas to take account of the two days of holiday. Recycling is on a different schedule, on the same day as it was before Christmas, and then on alternate weeks they collect Newspaper, and Plastic/Tincans; we have a reminder of which on the diary section. Sanity will be restored in the middle of the year when they rethink the whole thing.
Worthing Rubbish Collection