Update on the So, Sand Review Process
West Sussex County Council and the South Downs Na6onal Park Authority have prepared a Proposed Submission
Dra? So? Sand Review which will form part of the West Sussex Joint Minerals Local Plan. As men6oned in our
previous NewsleFer, the good news is that the East and West Severals sites have been dropped as proposed sand
extrac6on sites in this review document. The So? Sand Review has now been published, prior to its submission to
the Secretary of State, to allow representa6ons to be made on its ‘soundness’ and legal and procedural
compliance. Members of the public can now make representa6ons up un6l 11.59pm on Monday 2nd March, 2020.
The following link will take you to the So? Sand Review consulta6on process: http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/mwdf.
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
As reported in our last newsleFer, Bepton Parish Council has a small amount of CIL money to spend on
infrastructure and we asked you all for sugges6ons. In 2018 we used some CIL money to restore the war memorial
in St Mary’s churchyard. No sugges6ons were forthcoming but the Council has decided to pursue the possibility of
erec6ng village ‘gates’ at the main entrances/exits of Bepton as a method of traffic calming. Speeding in Bepton is
one of the major concerns always brought to our aFen6on. Gateways have been specified as one form of speed
reducing measure and also have the added benefit of enhancing the environment, par6cularly in rural loca6ons.
The Council would like to erect 3 sets of white village ‘gates’. These will be simple structures with 2 posts, 3 cross
bars and a diagonal. We plan to have one pair at the junc6on of Bell Lane and Bepton Road, one pair near
Frogmore on Bepton Road, and one pair at the beginning/end of the houses on Severals Road. We have the
support of our County Councillor, Kate O’Kelly.
These village gates are part of a longer-term strategy to apply for a Traffic Regula6on Order (TRO) to reduce the
speed from 40mph to 30mph along the Bepton Road (from Frogmore to Meadow View) and Severals Road (from
The Country Inn towards the A272). If we are successful, this will increase road safety. During any TRO online
applica6on, the Council will be asked whether local residents support the idea and we will need their names and
addresses. If you support such an applica6on, please provide your details to beptongatebepton@gmail.com.
Bepton Road Signs
The Parish Council is aware that a number of the village’s road signs have been damaged or knocked down. This has
been reported to West Sussex County Council as well as the Cowdray Estate.
Winter Resilience Plan
The winter is not yet over and the Parish Council would like to remind parishioners that Bepton has a Winter
Resilience Plan in place. The plan is designed to provide a framework for a Parish based approach to deal with
severe winter condi6ons, so that residents can access and con6nue to use the roads in the event of heavy snowfall
or obstruc6on from fallen trees, and to ensure best possible access by emergency services. To see the plan please
visit the parish website: http://www.bepton.org and go to the News From Bepton page.
Annual Parish Assembly
The Annual mee6ngs of the Parish Council will take place on 14th May at the Park House Hotel. Our guest speaker
will be Ms Penny Plant, Cabinet Porgolio holder for the Environment and Contract Services, who will talk to us
about the CDC plans for a Climate Emergency Ac6on Plan which sets out a carbon reduc6on target of 10% year on
year un6l 2025 within the Chichester District.
Bepton Parish Council Website
As you know we have a parish website which keeps residents updated on local issues that might affect you. You can
also contact us with any problems or issues you might have about the parish. Please go to http://www.bepton.org and
send an email to info.beptonparishcouncil@gmail.com. Please ‘follow’ us by clicking on the buFon that appears at
the boFom right-hand corner of your screen.
Bepton VE Day Street Fest 2020
Many of you may remember that in 2012 we celebrated HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with our village’s own
version of a street party.
A group of residents, including members of the Parish Council, have mooted the idea of a Street Fest to
celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day on 8th May this year. We propose a ‘get together’ along the lines of the
previous occasion, which aFracted close to 200 people despite the cold, wet and windy condi6ons.
The event would be very much open to families and friends of residents, and a poten6al site has already been
offered. If you would like to know more or would like to help organise this event, please register your interest on
the Parish website http://www.bepton.org/contacts by sending an email to the Parish Council email address, or contact
Mike Balmforth at balmforths@yahoo.com, Mob: 07979 080120, Old Stocks, Bepton.
Eco Rother Group: Climate Change – Global Issue, Local Response (by Veronica Carter)
Are you interested in mee6ng with others from TroFon and surrounding areas who would like to explore what
we can do (individually, as a household, through your local Parish Council, etc.) to respond to climate change?
We are looking to start a group to share ideas, keep ourselves informed and to help inform decisions being made
at Parish, District and County level. If you would like to know more and maybe become involved please contact:
Veronica Carter veronica@vcarter.co.uk. The next mee6ng will be held on 24th February at Southdowns Manor,
Dumpford Lane, TroFon at 10.30am.
The Blue Bell at Cocking
Now that The Country Inn will be closed for the foreseeable future, one of our nearest pubs is the The Blue Bell
at Cocking. Owned by the local community, the village pub offers freshly prepared home cooked food, real ales
and cra? beers, and B&B rooms. Visit http://www.thebluebellatcocking.co.uk.
News from St Mary’s Church
Carols for Christmas
As we move rapidly into 2020 we should recall our excellent Carol Service on the a?ernoon of 8 December 2019
in the warmth and beauty of our liFle church. The Christmas tree, kindly donated by the Cowdray Estate, had
been secured in its usual posi6on to the right of the altar by Alan Sadler and sparkled with the decora6ons put
on it by Lavinia Milner and Linda Sadler. Red candles on the window ledges with lots of holly and other greenery
added to the fes6ve air created by Lavinia and Linda and all our helpers are warmly thanked. It was lovely to see
several Bepton families with young children joining us for the first 6me and we look forward to seeing them
again. The Chinwala family, who have been coming to the Carol Service since the children were 6ny, contributed
excellent readings (Zubin by himself) and his sister and brother (Zara and Theo) as a duet. They were supported
by Mike Balmforth, Tessa Craddock, Richard Buckler and Duncan Hollowood and we thank them all. A?er the
service trays of sweetmeats and mulled wine or tea disappeared in a flash and the contributors of goodies and
the many helpers with distribu6on also deserve our thanks.
Looking ahead
Easter
With snowdrops in bloom in the churchyard and other signs of spring we look forward to the Church’s principal
Fes6val of Easter. Our main services to which all are welcome will be:
Good Friday, 10th April at 10am – a benefice service of hymns and readings
Easter Sunday, 12th April at 11.15am – Ma6ns followed by a shortened Holy Communion
Summer Fun
Although it is a long way off please note that we will be holding a Jazz concert at the church on Saturday 27th
June at 3pm followed by refreshments outside, weather permiqng. Do not miss this opportunity so enter the
date in your diary now. More informa6on will follow in due course.