District Dispatch

Looking after your health has never been more important, and sometimes, just a few small changes can make a big difference to your overall wellbeing. That’s where the Chichester Wellbeing programme comes in. This free service is available to adults who live or work in the district and is designed to support people in making healthier lifestyle choices. The goal is to help reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer.

At the heart of the programme is a dedicated team of Wellbeing Advisors who offer personalised support in areas such as weight management, healthy eating, smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, falls prevention, and increasing physical activity. These advisors work closely with individuals to help them make manageable lifestyle changes that can lead to lasting improvements in health. Free one-to-one appointments are available for anyone looking to explore healthier habits or make specific changes.

One of the standout services is the Alcohol Wellbeing Service, which is free, confidential, and tailored to support adults aged 18 and over who live or work in West Sussex. Whether someone is looking to cut back on drinking or simply reassess their relationship with alcohol, the service offers flexible one-to-one support via phone, video call, or face-to-face meetings. Many people have already benefited from this compassionate and non-judgemental approach.

For those who want to quit smoking, the programme offers a 12-week, one-to-one confidential service. Research shows that people are three times more likely to quit smoking with professional support than by going it alone. These sessions are available either in person or over the phone, depending on what suits the individual best. More information is available at:www.chichesterwellbeing.org.uk/topics/smoking/chichester-stop-smoking-serviceor by calling 01243 521041.

Physical activity is another key focus. For those who are currently doing less than the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week, the team runs a free 10-week course on walking with poles, led by a qualified Nordic Walking Instructor. In addition, there are various other 10-week programmes aimed at helping inactive adults become more active, which you can find more about at:www.chichesterwellbeing.org.uk/topics/being-active/active-for-life.

The HeartSmart Walks programme also offers volunteer-led guided walks at different locations across the Chichester District. These walks take place two to three times a week throughout the year and are designed to be inclusive for all ages and abilities, offering a great way to stay active and meet new people. You can find out more at:www.chichesterwellbeing.org.uk/topics/being-active/healthy-walks

The Wellbeing team also supports local businesses through its Workplace Health Advisor, who works directly with employers and staff to promote healthier habits in the workplace. Free wellbeing check-ins are offered on-site, followed by tailored advice to address the specific needs of each organisation.

The team also run 12-week weight loss workshops focused on healthy eating, which I have attended myself with positive results and would thoroughly recommend. Other services include one-off falls prevention workshops, and a 24-week course for individuals who are concerned about falling or have experienced a fall in the past. This course aims to help participants feel more confident and steadier on their feet.

In addition to these services, the team also signposts individuals to other helpful resources provided by the council and its partners. Whether someone is feeling lonely and wants to connect with local groups, or is facing financial difficulties and needs further support, the Wellbeing team is there to help.

To learn more about how the Chichester Wellbeing team can support you or a family member, visit:www.chichesterwellbeing.org.uk, call 01243 521041, or email:wellbeing@chichester.gov.uk.

Best wishes,
Councillor Tracie Bangert

Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing
Chichester District Council

Please see attachment below.

Dear Stakeholder,

Please be advised that the below roads are due to be closed on the dates and times specified for carriageway surface dressing, stud replacement or lining works. An alternative route for traffic will be signed on site. Please note that these works are weather dependant, we will endeavour to inform you should there be significant changes to the programme.

This road closure is covered by the 14.1 order made on 11^th January 2025.

You can find more details on surface dressing treatments and the stages involved on our website: Road surface dressing - West Sussex County Council

If you have any questions regarding this specific closure, please reply to this email directly.

Further information can also be found viaone.network

Planned Carriageway & Footway Maintenance Team

Highways, Transport and Planning

Place Services

West Sussex County Council

Location:1^st Floor Northleigh, County Hall, West Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1RH
Contact:External:+44 (0)1243 642105|E-mail:PlannedHighwayMaintenance@westsussex.gov.uk

Report a problem with a road or pavement orraise a highways related enquiry

Follow us at @WSHighways

Please see file attached.

Council starts to prepare for local government reorganisation

To ensure it is at the forefront of preparations for local government reorganisation, Chichester District Council has made some changes to the way its senior management team will work.

Its current Director of Corporate Services, John Ward, has been made Chief Operating Officer. He will take on the day-to-day management of the council to enable the Chief Executive, Diane Shepherd, to focus on preparing the council for local government reorganisation. Diane will continue to be responsible for the strategic overview of the council’s work, including preparing the council for the changes ahead and will remain the Chief Executive of the council.

To coincide with this, Diane will reduce her hours and will work three days a week from June. She will continue with this arrangement until 31 March 2027, when she will retire after 40 years of working in local government. Following this time, John Ward will then become the Head of Paid Service and will lead the council through the shadow year, before it joins the new unitary authority.

The changes will not increase costs and will result in a small saving to the council.

“We are really pleased that Diane will be leading the council through this transitional period. She is an exceptional leader, who is highly respected amongst our communities, and has she has made a significant contribution to the district and its success over the past 34 years,” says Cllr Adrian Moss, Leader of Chichester District Council.

“These changes will allow her to focus on preparing for this huge change, to ensure that we achieve the very best outcomes for our staff and communities.

“We also know that John will play a vital role in making sure that council services and projects continue to be delivered to a high standard, while the local government reorganisation work moves forward.”

“It has been a privilege to lead this council over the past 13 years and so I am really pleased that I have the opportunity to prepare the council for this next chapter,” says Diane Shepherd, Chief Executive at Chichester District Council. “My priority is to achieve the very best options and outcomes for our staff, councillors and communities under the new authority. It’s also fitting that after working at the council for 34 years, I have the opportunity to mark the end of my career here, at a place that has given me so many opportunities and memories.”

The government has stated that it wants all areas of the country to have unitary councils, with each serving an average of 500,000 residents. This is likely to result in the creation of one or two unitary councils within West Sussex. This would mean all of the existing councils moving into the new unitary councils. Each area has until 26 September this year to submit detailed proposals.

In Sussex, the timeline is for the unitary authorities to be ready in shadow form in 2027, and for the new councils to come into effect in 2028. People can find out more about devolution and local government reorganisation by visiting:www.chichester.gov.uk/devolution

Temporary Traffic Lights – Essential Gas Main Upgrade Lavant Road, Chichester

From 28 April for 10 weeks, SGN contractors I&G Contractors Limited will complete a programme of work to reinforce the gas network on Lavant Road in Chichester. These essential works are required to ensure we can continue to meet the increased demand for gas locally and deliver a safe and efficient gas supply.

Our engineers will be working on Lavant Road from the junction of Roman Field to the Junction of The Avenue. Due to the location of the excavations and gas pipes in the road, we will need to have four and three-way traffic lights in operation around our work area. To help maintain traffic flow, these lights will be manned 0630-1830 Monday to Friday

The bus service may incur delays caused by the traffic lights – we’d advise passengers to allow extra time for journeys.

Please can we reassure you; our engineers will be working as quickly and as safely as possible to complete this work without delay.

If you have any questions regarding these works, you can contact our customer service team at customer@sgn.co.uk or alternatively call them on 0800 912 1700, they will direct your enquiry to the team for a response.

We’re sorry for the inconvenience these essential works will cause and thank you for your patience and understanding.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Please see file attached. 

Singleton and Charlton Parish Council

Meeting Dates for 2025

Meetings are held in Singleton Village Hall at 7pm

Annual PC Meeting & Annual Parish Meeting

Held in Singleton Cricket Club at 7pm

Full Parish Council Meeting Monday 20^th January 2025

Full Parish Council Meeting Monday 17th March 2025

Full Annual Parish Council Meeting Monday 19th May 2025

And Annual Parish Meeting Singleton Cricket Club

Full Parish Council Meeting Monday 21st July 2025

Full Parish Council Meeting Monday 15th September 2025

Full Parish Council Meeting Monday 17^th November 2025

Below is the link to a guide for riparian, although it refers to Norfolk rivers, the principle is the same for all rivers. Click on the link - Managing the Margins. Also attached are two other documents - A Survey of the River Lavant and a guide to Garden Riverbank Management.

Norfolk Rivers Trust | Managing the margins: a guide to riparian land

WSRT Film Night - 'Pure Clean Water'

Register Your Attendance!

Date: Tuesday 11th Feb 2025 7:00-9:00pm

Location:Memorial Hall, South Downs Centre, GU29 9DH https://w3w.co/hillsides.looked.torches, 11^th Feb 7-9pm.

Join us for an inspiring evening at WSRT's fourth Film Night - Pure Clean Water! Hear all about the importance and risks of our important Chalk Streams.

For 250 years a chalk stream, diverted into the town centre, provided Cambridge with drinking water. It was a hugely successful public health initiative, supported by both town and university.

Now, pumping from underground chalk aquifers brings potable water at great convenience. But in the process springs are drying up and precious chalk streams are disappearing.

Water companies, regulators, businesses, land owners, consumers and government have overseen a developing groundwater emergency. Can these groups come together to ensure that Cambridge has a reliable water supply without further damaging the environment?

Film Night Schedule

6:45pm- Arrivals

7:00 - 7:40 - 'Chalk Streams' Presentation by Western Sussex Rivers Trusts Chalk Stream Resilience Officer Sarah Hughes

7:40 - 8:40pm Pure Clean Water Film

8:50pm - Q&A with WSRTs Sarah Hughes

Register Your Attendance! - Spaces are limited!

Emergency Plan Contact List – October 2024

Singleton and Charlton Parish Council

Please see attachment below.

Drones

Drone Classes and Subcategories

The UK drone legislation divides drones into three main classes: A1, A2, and A3. Each class has its own set of rules and regulations.

A1 Subcategory: Fly over people, but not over crowds. This subcategory includes drones with a flying weight of less than 250g.

A2 Subcategory: Fly close to people. This subcategory includes drones with a flying weight of 250g to 2kg.

A3 Subcategory: Fly far from people. This subcategory includes drones with a flying weight of less than 25kg.

Registration and Competency

To operate a drone in the UK, you need to register it with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and obtain a Competency Certificate (CofC).

Registration: You need to register your drone if it weighs between 250g and 25kg or has a camera. You can register your drone online through the CAA website.

Competency Certificate: You need to obtain a CofC if you want to fly a drone in the A2 or A3 subcategory. The CofC requires you to pass an online test and demonstrate your understanding of drone safety and regulations.

Operating Areas and Restrictions

There are certain areas where drone flying is restricted or prohibited. These areas include:

Airports: You cannot fly a drone within 5.5 kilometers of an airport or any area designated as a restricted airspace.

National Parks: You need to obtain permission from the park authority before flying a drone in a national park.

Military Areas: You need to obtain permission from the military authority before flying a drone in a military area.

Crowded Areas: You cannot fly a drone over crowded areas, such as sports events or festivals.

Safety Considerations

When flying a drone in the UK, you need to consider the following safety factors:

Height: You cannot fly a drone above 120 meters.

Distance: You need to maintain a minimum distance of 50 meters from people and buildings.

Speed: You cannot fly a drone at a speed greater than 50 knots (93 km/h).

Weather: You cannot fly a drone in bad weather conditions, such as strong winds or low visibility.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

If you fail to comply with the UK drone legislation, you may face penalties, including:

Fine: You may be fined up to £1,000 for flying a drone without permission.

Prison Sentence: You may be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison for flying a drone recklessly or negligently.

Drone Confiscation: Your drone may be confiscated if you are found to be flying it illegally.

The Drone and Model Aircraft Code - Attached below.

Please find attached Southern Water Presentations

Date of Release: 22 May 2024 Ref: 4330

Council agrees funding for vital river restoration projects in Chichester District

Projects aimed at restoring three of the Chichester District’s rare river habitats have received a boost after councillors agreed to help fund them.

At a Chichester District Council meeting on Tuesday 21 May, councillors agreed to invest £180,000 over the next three years, as part of two projects being led by the Western Sussex Rivers Trust (WSRT), formerly known as theArun and Rother Rivers Trust (ARRT), to help restore the River Lavant and also the Ems and the Hambrook.

The money will part-fund two posts. One post will work on furthering a restoration plan for the Ems and the Hambrook. The other will begin work on a similar plan for the Lavant.

“We are delighted to be able to support the Western SussexRivers Trust in their critical work and help fund these key projects,” says Councillor Jonathan Brown, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental Strategy at Chichester District Council. “The trust approached us for help, and we felt that it was crucial to support them in this way because our contribution will in turn help them to unlock further potential funding from other sources.

“Many people may not be aware but the rivers Ems, Hambrook and Lavant are among only 283 chalk streams and rivers in the world. These are globally significant but very rare habitats and are almost exclusively found in the south of England. None of these rivers has official protection but we are seeking to gain better protection for them through the Chichester Local Plan and its Strategic Wildlife Corridors policy.We appreciate that this isn’t enough on its own and that significant recovery work also needs to take place.

“Sadly, these rivers are now suffering from the effects of a number of activities including: pollution; habitat loss; drought; and, interruptions to their natural processes and flow. In addition, the River Ems is also suffering the effects of over-abstraction, a process where water is removed for domestic, industrial uses and agriculture.

“These chalk streams also feed into the internationally protected Chichester Harbour Special Protection Area and so it is absolutely vital that as a council we do all that we are able to do in order to support their protection and restoration for future generations. These projects will safeguard the future of three of the most significant rivers and streamsin our district which will then also have a positive effect on our harbour.

“Working with our partners on projects such as these is key. Our role is to help facilitate other organisations who have the expertise to enable results that the council wouldn’t be able to achieve on its own.”

The projects are catchment-based plans, so not only would they look at the rivers and streams themselves, but also the whole landscape area that feeds into them.

The work will focus on restoring the natural function in the river channels; tackling invasive non-native species; andriver re-meandering. This is work that creates a new meandering course or reconnects cut-off meander. Thiscan slow down river flow and is also known to have a positive impact on sedimentation and biodiversity.

Alongside this work, the project officers will also work with landowners and the local community to carry out citizen science, which would include a range of activities such as monitoring water quality, biodiversity and encouraging people to report incidents.

Getting the public and local community involved is key to gathering good statistics in order to gain good outcomes. The officers will also run public events to build community engagement and understanding of the issues affecting the rivers — this will feed into finding potential solutions.

The Western Sussex Rivers Trust (WSRT) isone of a national network of river trusts that aim to protect and restore our rivers and streams. The Trust’s area covers nearly all of Chichester and Arun Districts. The trust has been working on a series of catchment-based plans for the restoration of rivers and their tributary streams within Chichester District.

As part of the projects the council will meet regularly with WSRT to monitor progress

Please see attachment.

Priority Services Register

Please see attachment below.

Please see attachment below.

See PDF Below

Please see attachment below. Submitted to SDNP on 7/11/23.

Please see attached information.

Please see attached document.