Angmering Village Life
News Archive
February 2025
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We regret to learn of the death of Mr Eric Holmes on 14 February, a well known and respected member of our community. His funeral was held today (Thursday 27 February) at Worthing Crematorium. Eric was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, on 19 June 1930 and married Shirley Margaret Hall there in 1961. In the late 1960s, they moved to Angmering where Eric opened his estate agency business which was located in the village centre for nearly 50 years, although run by his son Jonathan in the later years. It closed at the beginning of 2017, having been located at three different shop locations in the centre since its establishment. Shirley, also well known in the village, died in 2006 having been a parish councillor and chair of the Village Hall Committee.
Eric had many interests. He was also at one time an Angmering Parish councillor, becoming its chairman between 1978 and 1980. He was a governor of The Angmering School for more than 46 years, a trustee of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre Trust for many years, and a member of the Angmering Chorale. Further, he was a holding trustee for Angmering Village Hall and later for the Angmering Community Centre when it was opened in 2009. He was also a trustee of the Jack Clavey Fund which provides financial support for village sporting, recreation, and leisure time activities. Additionally, he was a founder member of The Angmering Society, becoming its vice-chairman on its inception in 1973. Later, he became a president of the Society and then a life vice-president. He was a keen gardener and gave a trophy, presented annually, at the Angmering Flower & Produce Show. He was a founding member of the Angmering association twinning the village with the Normandy town of Ouistreham-Riva-Bella. In 2024, Eric was the very deserved recipient of the Parish Council's Fred Rowley Award for his voluntary service to the community of Angmering for over 45 years.
We would like to express our sincere condolences to Eric's family. We recognise the much valued service he gave to this community for more than half a century both in his business and his charitable work.
A further protest gathering against the proposed inappropriate development of prime agricultural land in the fields west of Bewley Road took place this afternoon (Saturday 22 February). Some 150 villagers came to voice their strong objections to the development. The event was organised by the community group "Protect Farmland West of Bewley Road" (PFWBR) who are opposing this development. After an aerial photoshoot by the Worthing Herald, PFWBR organiser, Lucy Todd, addressed the gathering, updating attendees on the latest situation. For those who were unable to attend this afternoon, here is what Lucy had to say:
"Welcome to everybody who has managed to join us today despite the dull February weather! The campaign to save the fields behind us has gone from strength to strength and continues to grow as more and more people realise what they stand to lose if the Gleeson's Planning Application is approved. Over 1300 people have objected to the application and fewer than 100 people have supported it. This is amazing and we would like to thank every single one of you who have submitted your objections. You are the true stars of our Campaign.
It would be very easy for us to rest on our laurels and wait for the Planning Committee in May but PFWBR know that we need to keep our profile up locally so that our voice is heard. The Village of Angmering has seen 22 housing schemes approved by Arun District Council with 1,263 houses built in the last 3 years.
It is now abundantly clear to us that there isn't sufficient infrastructure to support this growth. Our roads are jammed with traffic, our health services are on their knees, our schools are over-subscribed - it is quite simply unsustainable. The 190 new homes proposed by Gleeson on prime agricultural land will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. We cannot stand idly by while those in power make the decisions for us.
Gleeson's Planning Application for Land West of Bewley Road could be decided in May. However, there is a glimmer of hope! On 31 January, the government launched its consultation on the Land Use Framework (or LUF) for England which they say will give " decision makers the data they need to protect our most productive agricultural land, boosting food security in a time of global uncertainty and a changing climate". PFWBR are excited by the LUF, which is likely to be ready this Summer, because we believe it will have significant bearing on the determination of Gleeson's application. The LUF together with devolution, which will create a unified Sussex region, will enable Arun District Council to strengthen its emerging Local Plan by protecting prime agricultural land like the fields behind us. Arun District Council, will also be able to advocate more strongly for a proportion of its housing targets to be achieved in more suitable sites across the wider region.
We have therefore written to the Case Officer, who is also the Head of Planning to respectfully request a meeting to discuss whether the Outline Planning Application can be deferred until the final version of the LUF is published later this year. We hope our request will be viewed favourably, in the light of the vast number of objections that the application has received to date.
Thanks, once again, for all of your brilliant support. We will continue to keep you updated on our Campaign via the Village Facebook page but do feel free to contact us via our email ( pfwbr.angmering@gmail.com ) and website ( https://savelandwestofbewleyroad.co.uk ) if you have any further ideas to promote the Campaign."
Credit: Eddie Mitchell, Worthing Herald
The RNLI are holding a "Saving Lives at Sea - A live experience" evening at The Woodlands Centre, Woodlands Road, Rustington on Friday 28th March at 7pm. Mark Tewksbury from Hastings RNLI will talk the audience through one particularly dramatic rescue during storm Ciara. Nick White will tell us about the RNLI in Littlehampton and some members of our crew will be available for a Q & A session. Tickets costing £10, including a glass of wine/soft drink, are available from the RNLI Shop at Fisherman's Quay, Surrey Street , Littlehampton or by emailing mjcballantyne@gamail.com
The fundraising crew at Littlehampton incorporates the former Angmering Fundraising Branch of the RNLI.
Care UK have said that they would be delighted to welcome Angmering residents to the Grand Launch of Ayton House on Thursday 27th of February at 2pm. Join them for cooking demonstrations and tasting, live music, cocktail making, ceremonial ribbon cutting, and a Grand Launch Afternoon Tea. Please RSVP to caroline.thomas@careuk.com if you would like to attend. Ayton House is located at 2 Shepherds Way (on the corner of Dappers Lane and Water Lane).
A/12/25/T: Removal of overhanging limb from 1 No. Lime. 22 The Groves, Ecclesden Park.
Observations on this/these Application(s) must be received by The Head of Planning Services, Arun District Council, The Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5LF by 7 March 2025.
To see applications, plans, design statements, etc, type the Application Reference Number (such as those above) into Arun District Council's "Application Search Facility ", click on the Search button, and click on the hyperlink reference when selected application is returned - then select "Documents".
A date for your Diary! The next Film Night at Angmering Community Centre will be on Tuesday 11 March at 7.30pm (doors open 7.00pm). Tickets cost £8.00 and are available from the Community Centre office. Refreshments will be available.
The film is the political drama "BRIDGET JONES - MAD ABOUT THE BOY" (2025)(15) starring Renee Zellweger, Leo Woodall, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, and Jim Broadbent. Bridget Jones navigates life as a widow and single mum with the help of her family, friends, and former lover, Daniel. Back to work and on the apps, she's pursued by a younger man and maybe - just maybe - her son's science teacher.
A/12/25/T: Removal of overhanging limb from 1 No. Lime. 28 The Groves, Ecclesden Park.
Observations on this/these Application(s) must be received by The Head of Planning Services, Arun District Council, The Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5LF by 27 February 2025.
To see applications, plans, design statements, etc, type the Application Reference Number (such as those above) into Arun District Council's "Application Search Facility ", click on the Search button, and click on the hyperlink reference when selected application is returned - then select "Documents".