Angmering Village Life - News August 2005

Angmering Village Life

News Archive

August 2005

Santa Maria Restaurant

Further to our article on 13 July advising that the Santa Maria had introduced a Tapas menu on Tuesdays to Fridays, the restaurant has now extended the Tapas menu to Saturdays. This means that both the Tapas menu and the A la Carte menu are now available from Tuesday through to Saturday from 6.30 pm onwards. It is understood the Tapas menu has been a great success. We're not surprised - we thoroughly enjoyed our meal there last month.

(31 August 2005)

Parish Council Surgery

The next Angmering Parish Council "surgery" will be on Saturday 3 September when Councillors Mike Hill-Smith and Anne-Louise Kearney-Pateman will be in the office in The Square from 10.00am to 12.00 noon to answer your questions and queries.

(31 August 2005)

Juliet Pannett (1911 - 2005)

We regret to learn that Julia Pannett, the portrait painter and artist died Juliet Pannett - a self-portrait in her later years recently at the age of 94. Hove born Mrs Pannett moved to the Pound House in Roundstone Lane, Angmering with her husband in 1964 and it was her home and studio until last September when it was put on the market due to her ill health. During her long career she painted the Queen (twice), Sir Winston Churchill, Princess Marina, Prince Andrew, Viscount Alanbrooke, Viscount Slim, Ralph Vaughn Williams, and many others. She also had an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Following study at Brighton College of Art in the 1920s, she was first employed by Sussex County Magazine for whom she travelled around the county drawing interesting local characters. Later in her career, she worked for The Illustrated London News and was the first artist to draw from her own seat in the House of Commons. Her drawings of prime ministers, musicians, soldiers, doctors and lawyers were featured in The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Radio Times. Her most renowned local drawing was a reconstruction of Older's Charity School, now the Library.

She was elected a member of The Society of Graphic Artists and Pastel Society and became a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts and an honorary freeman of The Worshipful Company of Painter Stainers, which awarded her a gold medal in 1995. She was made an MBE in 1991.

She married Captain Maurice Pannett of the Devonshire Regiment in 1938 who died a number of years ago. They had two children, Denis and Elizabeth who are both well-known artists in their own right.

(30 August 2005)

Angmering Planning Applications (List 34)

A/103/05/TC - Surgery to 1 no. Cherry tree within the Angmering Conservation Area at Aberdeen House, Arundel Road. For Mrs Kristina Yates.

A/105/05 - Application under Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992 for the proposed construction of a single storey pitched roof extension to provide additional science teaching accommodation at The Angmering School, Station Road. For West Sussex County Council. (This application will be determined by WSCC)

Observations on these Applications must be received by The Head of Planning Services, Arun District Council, The Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5LF by 22 September 2005

(30 August 2005)

The Angmering Building Study Group

The Angmering Building Study Group was formed by The Angmering Society last year but, for operational reasons, it became independent of it in February. Since the Group's formation, a lot of foundation work has been performed in developing its technical and historical approach, and systems built to document and retrieve the information discovered. Recently, an experienced technical team from the Group undertook its first survey - a house in the High Street, plus a visual buildings' survey of the same road. This has been quite exciting as new information has already resulted from these surveys.

The Group is now ready to undertake surveys of other listed and old buildings in the parish of Angmering. If your house falls into this category and you would like to know more about its history, please contact Neil Rogers-Davis (Tel: 01903-771935). There is no charge for these surveys and all information found would be treated with complete confidentiality.

(26 August 2005)

Angmering Planning Applications (List 33)

A/93/05 - Construction of a new building, Angmering Doctors Surgery, with car parking on site to include pharmacy (re-submission following planning application A/166/03/). Land to the west of road junction at Station Road and The Thatchway For General Practice Inv.Corp Ltd.

A/101/05 - Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of 3 no. chalet bungalows (Resubmission following A/50/05) at Nima Dappers Lane. For Dearden Homes Ltd.

* NB Re A/101/05, the developers still have not given up hope of constructing 5 terraced houses on the site and are appealing against the refusal by ADC to grant planning permission against Planning Application A/50/05/ - see article dated 9 August below.

(23 August 2005)

Snippets from recent Parish Council Meetings Minutes

Surgery - Councillor Mike Hill-Smith confirmed that the actual drive width was in fact 4.5 metres and would allow 2 cars to pass. (PC Mtg 8.8.05)

St Margaret’s CE Primary School - Agreed to award £200 towards new May King and Queen cups. (Policy & Resources Cttee Mtg 12.8.05)

The Angmering School - Agreed to award £100 to support the Arts Council application for funds.(Policy & Resources Cttee Mtg 12.8.05)

Angmering Twinning Association - Agreed in principle to support financially the 30th Anniversary visit in 2006. It was felt that the celebrations could be expanded to include a French weekend and French market. (Policy & Resources Cttee Mtg 12.8.05)

Parish Council Newsletter - It is hoped to issue a Newsletter to all houses in the parish in September and periodically thereafter. The proposed size will be 4 x A4 pages. (Policy & Resources Cttee Mtg 12.8.05)

Vacancy for Parish Councillor - It was agreed to recommend to Full Council in September that Mr. M Edwards be co-opted as a Parish Councillor following receipt of his application. (Policy & Resources Cttee Mtg 12.8.05)

Oval Race Club - No objection is being raised by the Parish Council to allow use of land for a mini-motorcycle facility (practice training & racing). (Planning & Conservation Cttee Mtg 9.8.05)

Bramley Green - The Parish Council has sent a letter to the developers concerning lack of progress on open spaces on Bramley Green. A letter has also been sent to Arun District Council regarding footpath access from Bramley Green to Station Road. (Planning & Conservation Cttee Mtg 9.8.05)

(22 August 2005)

Fletcher's Field Plaque

The Angmering Society has very recently placed a cast bronze plaque on the northern entrance of Fletcher's Field. A stone plaque in the flint wall facing Arundel Road is rapidly weathering and may be illegible within the next few years. The original stone plaque and the field itself were given by Sir Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher in 1916 in memory of Lady Agnes Aubrey-Fletcher, his sister-in-law, who with her husband Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher supported the village and the church in many ways.

Sir Henry and Lady Agnes never had any children and on his death, the baronacy passed to Sir Henry's younger brother, Sir Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher. Sir Henry died in 1910 and so well respected was he that thousands attended his funeral to pay their respects. His widow, Lady Agnes, died in 1915.

(21 August 2005)

Surgery latest

The builders of the new surgery are making very good progress and most of the footings and cast concrete stilted sub-frame of the west wing have now been completed. Planning permission for the water tanks (underneath part of the car park on the west side of the site) needs to be obtained. It appears that a completely new submission covering the whole site will be necessary. This will appear in this coming week's planning applications.

(21 August 2005

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Angmering Planning Applications (List 32)

A/95/05 - Extension to existing porch, garage, kitchen and rear dormer at 7 Garden Close. For Mr & Mrs A Hedges.

A/96/05 - Extension at 8 Chantryfield road . For Mr & Mrs D Gibb.

A/98/05/T - Fell one Ginkgo Biloba Tree at Mulberry House, Mulberry Hollow (Ham Manor). For Mr T S Lance.

(17 August 2005)

Visit to Squerryes Court and Wakehurst Place

The Angmering Society still has available spaces (for members or non-members) on its interesting two-centre visit to Squerryes Court and Wakehurst Place on Thursday 15 September, leaving the Lamb Inn at 9.00 a.m. Frances Farrer-Brown, a Blue Badge Guide, be the guide throughout the day. The first port of call will be Squerryes Court near Westerham, Kent where there will be a guided tour of the house with coffee and biscuits, and then to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Wakehurst Place, near Ardingly, East Sussex in time for lunch. At Wakehurst Place there is a licensed restaurant and a coffee shop, or one may take a picnic to be enjoyed in the grounds - there are a number of picnic tables available.

Squerryes Court is a privately owned 17th century manor house still lived in by the descendants of John Warde who bought the property in 1731. It is surrounded by 20 acres of attractive and historic gardens which include a lake, restored parterres and an 18th century dovecote. It has been used in filming the WW2 based TV detective series "Foyle's War". In the house is a fine collection of Old Master paintings from the Italian, 17th century Dutch and 18th century English schools, furniture, porcelain and tapestries all acquired or commissioned by the family in the 18th century. General Wolfe of Quebec was a friend of the family and there are items connected with him in the Wolfe Room.

Wakehurst Place covers 500 acres with woodland and water gardens, lakes and ponds, rare and exotic plants and the Millenium Seed Bank. Entry to Wakehurst Place is free to members of the National Trust and to Friends of Kew, so the cost for this outing does NOT include entry to Wakehurst Place - non-members of the NT and Friends of Kew will need to pay on the day, a sum of £7.

The cost of the outing, to cover coach fare, entry to Squerryes Court and gratuity for the driver will be £20 each. If you are interested on going on this trip please contact Mrs Pauline Ridges, 4 Weavers Ring, Angmering, BN16 4AJ on 01903-783330 as soon as possible. You do not have to be a member of The Angmering Society.

(16 August 2005)

Syon House - Premises License Application

The Chapman Group, owners of Syon House in the High Street, which earlier this year received permission to turn the premises into a country hotel, has now applied for a premises license under the new Licensing Act 2003. Categories of license applied for include: sale of alcohol by retail, live music indoors, recorded music indoors, dancing, outside live and recorded music, drinks promotion, and portable heaters. All bar the the last two items are applied for with certain time restrictions. If you are interested in viewing the application in detail or wish to express concerns, contact Arun District Council, Licensing Unit, Civic Centre, Littlehampton, BN17 5LF (Tel: 01903-737500). Your views must be lodged with ADC by 31 August 2005.

The Licensing Act 2003 established a single integrated scheme for licensing premises, which are used for the supply of alcohol, to provide regulated entertainment or to provide late night refreshment. Permission to carry on some or all of these licensable activities will now be contained in a single licence – the Premises Licence. Angmering Village Hall also is currently applying for a license for their particular activies. Other traders/organisations in the village have already done so.

(15 August 2005)

Angmering Murder Trial Verdict

Further to our News item of 21 July, the jury at Lewes Crown Court unanimously found Alison Walder (22) guilty of the murder of Adrian Ede at Parsons Close, Bramley Green, last September. She was jailed for life with the requirement to serve a minimum of 12 years. Judge Anthony Scott-Gall told her "You deliberately armed yourself with a knife to go to the assistance of Martindale (her boyfriend) who was fighting with the deceased. Despite warnings to drop the knife, you continued and joined in. You deliberately stabbed Adrian Ede - not once but twice. This was a deliberate and cold-blooded stabbing in order to cause the deceased serious bodily harm".

(11 August 2005)

New history pages

New pages have now been added to the site to explain the origin of Road Names in Angmering, and a page containing an abbreviated history of the Baptist Chapel and Church together with a transcription of the few gravestones in its former small burial ground.

(10 August 2005)

Angmering Planning Applications (List 31)

A/92/05 - Rear extension at 4 Mill Road. For Mr & Mrs R Stoneham.

A/94/05 - 2 storey side extension plus front porch (re-submission following planning application A/53/05/). At 186 Swillage Lane (Patching). For Mrs S Stanley.

(10 August 2005)

Harrow Hill

Below is a photo taken of Harrow Hill this week on a warm and sunny morning. The hill is situated in the northern part of Angmering's parish, close to Lee Farm - Angmering village centre is nearly 3½ miles to the south. What a fabulous setting it is - the beautiful green rolling Sussex Downs which hide their dark and ancient secrets, the clean air, the ripening wheat, the chalk and flint paths, the sea down on the coast, the skylarks singing and hovering above in the warm and gentle breeze, the solitude................. There can be few better places in this world to be alone with one's thoughts.

Harrow Hill, August 2005

Rudyard Kipling has come closer than most to expressing Sussex people's feelings for our county:

God gives all men all Earth to love,

But since man's heart is small -
Ordains for each one spot, shall prove,
Beloved over all.
Each to his own choice, and I rejoice
the lot has fallen to me.
In a fair ground, in a fair ground,
Yea, Sussex by the Sea.!

Click here to read more about Harrow Hill

(9 August 2005)

Dappers Lane Development

As predicted in our news item of 15 July, the applicant of Planning Application No. A/50/05/ is appealing to the Planning Inspectorate against Arun District Council's refusal of the development of the "Nima" site in Dappers Lane. ADC refused the development because "The site by virtue of its size and shape, is considered unsuitable to accommodate 5 dwellings and private amenity space satisfactorily without damaging the character of this established residential area. The proposal would therefore result in an unduly cramped and unneighbourly form of development which would be detrimental to the character and amenities of the surrounding residential area". We fully support ADC's decision.

Within the last three years, we have seen the many beautiful areas of Angmering destroyed by development. Roundstone Lane as a rural road is now lost. So is the east end of the High Street near The Spotted Cow where the by-pass and equestrian bridge have been constructed. The traditional Sussex twitten near The Lamb will shortly be destroyed when housing is built on either side. How much more of this are we to endure? Allowing the demolition of a perfectly good bungalow and replacing it with a terraced block of 5 houses in Dappers Lane and its associated car parking arrangements will destroy the verge and hedging and introduce building totally inappropriate to this rural road. This will create a precedent and it will be difficult to stop unscrupulous developers finally destroying the character of Dappers Lane.

Readers are therefore urged to fight this development and make their views known by writing to the Planning Inspectorate before 12 September 2005. The address is: The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/20 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay Bristol, BS1 6PN. You will need to send them three copies of your letter which must also quote their Appeal Reference: APP/C3810/A/05/1185818. Don't delay sending your letter - write NOW.

(9 August 2005)

New Angmering Brewery

Angmering now has a brewery! Close to our boundary with Poling at The Vinery (off the A27), Hammerpot Brewery Ltd has been established. Lee Mitchell, one of the directors of the brewery, told Angmering Village Life that their first beer, named Meteor, should be ready for sale within the next couple of weeks. Meteor is a Real Ale made from a blend of English malts and hops which the brewery believes gives a distinctive refreshing taste - it has an ABV of 3.8%. The name Meteor is in tribute to the aircraft and the men who flew them who were based at the now disused Tangmere RAF station. These aircraft were not only the first Allied jet fighters but also set a number of world air speed records in the air over Worthing and Littlehampton.

We wish Hammerpot Brewery every success with their enterprise. If you would like to know more about them, you can visit their website at www.hammerpot-brewery.co.uk Here you can see pictures of the installation of their new brewing equipment over the last few months. From little acorns........

(6 August 2005)

Planning Decision - The Square

Arun District Council's Development Control Committee have this week approved controversial Planning Application No. A/54/05 which will allow Blaber House (Bygones Antiques) in The Square to change use of part of the ground floor from retail (A1) into a restaurant (A3) including single storey extension for new toilet facilities and an extraction system from kitchen. The principal conditions that will apply to the change are that: (a) The restaurant shall only be open for the serving of meals during the evenings on Mondays to Sunday inclusive between the hours of 6.00pm and 11.00pm, (b) The materials and finishes of the external walls and roof of the permitted extension shall match in colour and texture those of the existing building, and (c) The ventilation shall be constructed so as to provide sound insulation against internally generated noise of not less than 30 dBLAeq5min when measured at the side boundary.

(5 August 2005)

Syon House, High Street

Got a large family or heavily into entertaining? If so, you may be interested to know that Worthing estate agents Michael Jones and Company are advertising Syon House to rent at £3000 per month. The property includes 7 en-suite bedrooms, 3 dining rooms and a heated indoor swimming pool.

(5 August 2005)

WSCC claims traffic reductions in Angmering

Damaged yet again! Mill Road build-out still unrepaired after two weeks. An article in the Littlehampton Gazette this week indicates that a recent West Sussex County Council's (WSCC) report states: "The Angmering bypass and traffic management scheme are operating satisfactorily in tandem, encouraging through traffic away from Angmering village and noticeably improving the environment". The report also smugly mentions that there have been no injury accidents but acknowledges there have been numerous minor accidents.

Numerous minor accidents? They must have literally increased by about 1000% since the build-outs were put in place? Does this make the scheme a success? The majority of village traders revenues are down (more than national averages in some cases). Are WSCC proud of creating situations which strangle the lifeblood of the village? If the traders die then so does the village as we know it! Has the environment improved? Well, the number of lorries coming through the village has reduced but this is all countered by unsightly build-outs and many additional warning signs where there were none beforehand. An environmental success by WSCC? I don't think so.

Further reports state that the average traffic speeds in through the village have reduced by one or two miles per hour. As a regular observer of the traffic from the village centre along Station Road, I accept that overall this may be correct. However, bearing in mind that speed limits were reduced by 10mph through much of the village, should this not be an admission of failure by the WSCC and not a claim of success? What the statistics also do not show is that vehicles have to rapidly accelerate when trying to get by the build-outs and, going north past the Mill Road "obstruction", many are still doing 40mph by the time they enter the 20mph zone by the new surgery site. In fact probably 90% of the cars exceed the speed limit in 20mph zone. Does the WSCC highlight this aspect? No, because it means admitting that this part of the scheme is also an abject failure! This does not bode well for traffic entering and exiting from the new surgery next year.

Stand by any build-out in the village and you will observe a near miss every 15 - 20 minutes. Did this near miss rate occur before WSCC's "successful" traffic calming scheme was put into place? Of course it didn't. Significantly increasing the risk means that it is just a matter of time before there is an accident causing severe injury or death.

Many people in the village, myself included, initially guardedly accepted the introduction of traffic calming although the Mill Road pinch point somehow got through without most people's knowledge. It was missed off the official notification of the scheme, and illegally put in place. I phoned WSCC and pointed this out to them on the day the notification was issued. They accepted there had been an error yet did nothing. Parking restrictions in the village centre have exacerbated the problems. All these months on, to my knowledge, the vast majority of Angmering residents are now opposed to the traffic "calming" scheme in the form it now exists. The WSCC are aware of villagers' feelings but take absolutely no notice and no action. They claim to be a democratic body representing West Sussex residents and strongly oppose the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) which they state is an un-elected and un-democratic body. But as WSCC constantly refuse to listen to the electorate, what effectively is the difference between them and SEERA?

If you are concerned about WSCC's boasts of their success in managing Angmering's traffic and environment, why not write to County Hall at Chichester and let them know your views!

(4 August 2005)

New PCSO for Angmering

We are sad that PCSO Emma Orpin leaves her Angmering patch today when she transfers her duties to Rustington. However, we extend a very warm welcome to her replacement, PCSO Andrea Oakley, who comes with some knowledge of the parish, having worked in the northern part of the parish for a number of years.

(4 August 2005)

More sporting successes

Following last week's report of Angmering sporting successes, we would like to congratulate The Angmering School's Under 14 cricket team for winning the inaugural Twenty20 school's competition. They beat Peacehaven in the final.

(4 August 2005)

Firearm arrest

A police helicopter with armed officers was mobilised on Sunday evening after there were reports of a man carrying a gun in Angmering. Later police arrested a 16 year old who was found carrying a ball bearing firing pistol.

(3 August 2005)

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Angmering Planning Applications (List 30)

A/84/05 - Outline application for the erection of 2 no. semi-detached cottages & new vehicular crossing in part of Garden Land north of Cherry Tree Cottage, Station Road. For P Byrne.

A/85/05/TC - Lopping of 1 no. Holly Oak tree within the Angmering Conservation Area at Syon House, High Street. For Mr & Mrs Chapman.

A/86/05 - Single storey side extension to enlarge kitchen and to form study and cloakroom. Demolish existing timber garage and replace with brick garage - at Penview, High Street. For Mr A Breese.

A/88/05 - Conservatory to be added to the rear of the propertyat 68 Arundel Road. For Mr D Bowyer.

A/89/05 - Outline application for lightweight full span glazed building to cover existing sales/display area at Roundstone Farm Shop, Littlehampton Road, (Ferring). For Ham Manor Farms Ltd.