Welcome to the March edition of your
Parish Council Newsletter!

With Easter approaching and spring colour appearing across the parish, we’re sharing important local updates, community news, and practical information for residents.

There are also plenty of ways to get involved this month - from our community litter pick to local volunteering initiatives like Toad Patrols. And with spring on the way, Aldingbourne in Bloom will be returning again this year, launching on 1 April. Keep an eye on our website and social media for more details.

We hope you find something of interest inside.

Thank you for reading!

Message from the Chair, Cllr Sue Foott

I’m the Chair of Aldingbourne Parish Council and write to thank all residents who regularly attend  our Parish Council meetings and act as our eyes and ears in the community. Without your assistance the Parish Council would be unable to represent your interests in those matters over which we have influence.

The A29 has experienced closures due to flooding. The Parish Council continues to make representations to the relevant parties for a long-term solution, as we appreciate the inconvenience and frustration repeated disruptions cause to residents.

However, I would say that the biggest challenge we face in the Parish is housing development. The Parish Council doesn’t make the decisions on housing applications, that is done by Arun District Council, but we DO get consulted about them. We research and debate each and every application at our monthly Planning Committee meeting, and then have a vote. If we’re objecting to an application, we write a careful submission to Arun saying exactly why we don’t agree with it, referencing our Neighbourhood Plan which was prepared with community participation.

At the moment, as you may know, the two biggest applications hanging over us are one at the rear of Meadow Way, and one on the fields adjacent to Pine Close.

We objected strongly to the one for 89 houses behind Meadow Way, and Arun turned it down in 2023 - but sadly that was overruled by a Government Planning Inspector in December 2024, meaning that the development could go ahead. The developers, Barratt Redrow, are now seeking to bring forward their detailed proposals for the development of the estate (the design of the houses, where they are positioned, how many will be affordable, etc), and have seen two sets of plans already turned down by Arun.

I was delighted to see over 50 people attend our Planning Committee earlier this year when Barratt Redrow presented their new draft plans - it was a great opportunity for residents to question their staff and make their feelings known. We are currently awaiting the final version of the plans, but were very pleased to see in the draft we were presented with that the three-storey block of flats in the middle of the development has now been removed, thanks in part to our repeated objections.

You may also be wondering what’s happening about the application to build 400 houses on land adjacent to Pine Close. This application remains outstanding with no decision as to the date it will come before the Arun Planning Committee. We put in a lengthy objection to that application on numerous different grounds - lack of infrastructure for that many houses, no proper way into or out of it without the new A29, the huge increase in traffic that will result and the terrible harm to biodiversity on the fields, to name but a few. As soon as we get any news about it, we will put the information on our social media channels and website.

More cheerfully, the Parish Council supported from the start the application by the Co-op to open the store on the site of the old Shop Around the Clock on Westergate Street - I know there are occasional difficulties with parking, but we have been very pleased with the shop so far, and its helpful, friendly staff.

We also hope everyone is enjoying all the daffodils we’ve planted around the Parish - we think they make a really cheerful display!

A reminder that all our meetings are open to the public - our full Council is always on the first Tuesday of the month, and our Planning Committee the second Tuesday.

Breakfast rolls and hot drinks will be available from 9.30am, with further refreshments provided afterwards, kindly supported by the RRT.

Meet at Aldingbourne Community Sports Centre, Olivers Meadow

Saturday 21 March 2026, 9:30am

Whether you’re a regular volunteer, new to the area, or just fancy giving it a go, everyone is welcome.

Come along, meet your neighbours, and help keep our parish clean and tidy.

For more details or to sign up, please contact Michelle at m.harbord@aldingbourne-pc.gov.uk.

What patrols do is help toads, frogs and newts across roads in their breeding season (now!) to save them from being killed by vehicles. All amphibians have an incredibly strong instinct at this time of year to return to the pond where they were born in order to  breed - and sadly, if that pond is located on the other side of a busy road, this instinct overrides their natural caution, leading to huge numbers being inadvertently killed by motorists each year. The charity Froglife co-ordinates the patrols, which are all run by volunteers - people like you and me!

I first joined a group in Sullington, the other side of Storrington, which was only set up in January. We all received training from experts in how to handle amphibians, how to tell the difference between frogs, toads and the various types of newt in order to send data to Froglife, and how to keep safe in traffic after dark (answer - with lots of hi-vis clothing and torches!).

I went out with the group a couple of times and we rescued several toads and newts, but the leader suggested I look for a patrol a bit closer to Aldingbourne as it was quite a long round trip to Sullington in the evenings (the toads only start to move at dusk).

Fortunately the Froglife website revealed that there is actually a small patrol in Barnham, i.e. much closer to our parish! At the time of writing, I have been out with them twice so far.

It’s incredibly rewarding, as well as heart-warming, to pick up a small creature like a toad or newt, carry it across a road in a bucket and let it carry on with its important journey. You don’t have to touch them with your bare hands if you don’t want to, you can wear latex-free gloves instead which any DIY store sells (because amphibians breathe through their skins, any chemicals on your hands or gloves can kill them). Last year at Charlcombe, over 50 volunteers rescued 3,995 toads, frogs and newts!

So if you’d like to help wildlife in the area, why not consider joining a patrol?

Cllr Katherine Jarman

Previously used for cattle to drink from on their way to market, and as a stopping place for horse-drawn caravans and the drivers of steam rollers and traction engines, the pond has served the local community for centuries.

It has survived two Second World War bombs (two dropped on Church Road and one on Limmer Pond Nurseries). A British bomber even crash-landed safely in the adjacent field, and a wartime radio station once stood in the centre of the field, while the pond became an assembly point for a British Army platoon.

The pond has been looked after by previous Parish Councillors, and it is time again for the Council to pollard the willow trees surrounding it. This traditional practice keeps the trees healthy, and allows light into the pond for any potential wildlife. The trees on the north side of the pond are due to be pollarded during the week of 23 March.

Unfortunately, pollarding can look quite drastic, but as the trees have previously been pollarded, it reinvigorates the plants and keeps them healthy. The remaining trees on the southern side will be done next year.

Many thanks to Tony Wheatley for the social history provided for this article.

If you have any more information about the history of Limmer Pond, we would love to hear from you.

This change is designed to help reduce food waste and increase recycling, keeping Arun cleaner and greener.

Here’s what to expect:

✅ Weekly food waste collections

✅ Fortnightly general waste and recycling collections

✅ New 180-litre general waste bins for most homes

✅ New food waste caddies (indoor and outdoor) provided free of charge

The new system will mean 104 total collections a year, compared to 78 now - so waste will still be collected regularly, just in a more sustainable way.

These changes are expected to begin shortly after Easter 2026.

Maybe you haven’t been there for a while - or perhaps you’ve never been! - but the Centre is a fantastic resource for us all.

• Are you looking for somewhere to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary? The main hall can take up to 200 people and has a big stage for a band or DJ

   

• Have you got a charity or group that needs somewhere to meet, or a venue for speaker meetings? They’ve got a spacious warm lounge which can seat 60+ people, either in rows or around tables

   

• Or have you got a children’s party to organise? There’s loads of space for running around in the main hall!

   

• Do you need somewhere to hold a fitness or exercise class for up to 20 people? Some evening availability in the main hall

   

• They can even accommodate wedding receptions!

Very reasonable rates, kitchen attached to the hall, bar facilities possible, tea and coffee-making facilities in the lounge.

Tamryn’s also set up two free Warm Hubs this winter, where people can come and keep warm, have hot drinks, read magazines and do puzzles, use the free WiFi for remote working, or just have a chat. No need to book, just turn up - Tuesdays 10am - 1pm, Thursdays 12 noon to 3pm.

For all enquiries, drop Tamryn a line at manager@acsc.co.uk, she’ll be very pleased to hear from you!

Or to make a booking, please email bookings@acsc.org.uk.

Abandoned vehicles can cause safety concerns and environmental issues, so it’s important they are reported through the correct channel.

You’ll need to provide some key details, including:

• The vehicle’s registration number (number plate), if present

   

• The exact location of the vehicle

   

• The type, make, model, and colour (if known)

   

• How long it has been there

   

• Whether it appears damaged, vandalised, or in poor condition

You’ll also be asked whether the vehicle is on a public road and whether you know who owns it.

The online reporting form takes around five minutes to complete.

Please note this service is for abandoned vehicles only. Parking issues (such as inconsiderate parking or obstruction) should be reported separately via Arun District Council’s parking enforcement service.

To report an abandoned vehicle, visit: https://www1.arun.gov.uk/report-abandoned-vehicle

Providing as much detail as possible helps officers investigate more quickly.

Forthcoming Parish Council Meetings

Thur 19 Mar, 7pm | APC/ACSC

Tue 7 Apr, 7pm | Full Council

Tue 14 Apr, 7pm | Planning

Tue 21 Apr, 7pm | Finance

Useful Links

Check Road Closures

See an up-to-date map of current and planned roadworks across West Sussex via the West Sussex roadworks map.

Report a Pothole

Use the West Sussex County Council website to report potholes or road damage. Reports are assessed and, if they meet repair criteria, scheduled for work.

For potholes posing an immediate safety risk, call 01243 642105 (lines open 24/7).

Sussex Police

• Call 999 if a crime is in progress, someone is in immediate danger, property is at serious risk, or there’s likely to be major disruption.

• Call 101 or report online at sussex.police.uk for non-emergencies where the crime has already happened or there is no immediate danger.

• Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report anonymously at crimestoppers-uk.org

Arun District Council - Anti Social Behaviour

Report ongoing antisocial behaviour or repeated public nuisance to Arun’s ASB Team on 0808 141 2800 (24-hour answerphone) or email asb@arun.gov.uk.