Archive for category: News

One of the main aims of our Neighbourhood Plan is to help and encourage the preservation of the beauty of our village.  Indeed, the “Vision for Chailey” reads as follows:

“Chailey will continue to be a thriving community which protects and retains its quiet, rural character and enhances its built and natural heritage.   Sustainable development that respects its countryside setting will be supported and infrastructure improvements will be encouraged.  The most highly valued countryside areas in the Parish will be recognized and conserved. Job opportunities within the village will be actively encouraged to provide improved prospects for local people. The sense of community spirit and cohesion will be fostered and increased.”

Note particularly the reference to:

1. Protecting and enhancing Chailey’s built and natural heritage;
2. Recognising and conserving the most highly valued countryside areas;
3. Fostering and increasing the sense of community spirit and cohesion.

The heart of our village is Chailey Green and the area surrounding the Church.  In recognition of the importance of preserving this, the Green has been a designated Conservation Area since 1976.  In the Conservation Area Appraisal prepared by Lewes District Council, much is made of the attractive historic buildings surrounding the Green and also of the various views into and out of the Green.  Quoting from the Appraisal:

“The conservation area has a pervading sense of enclosure, almost separateness, provided by the concentration of buildings that surround the Green.  Nevertheless, the rural setting is an integral part of the character of the conservation area, with views across open fields possible in several locations.  Views of the wider countryside are possible along the northern part of Lewes Road between the Reading Room and Chailey Primary School……There is an attractive vista into the conservation area from the south where Lewes Road is tree-lined with some views of the open countryside and where Place Cottage and Beards terminate the vista.  An attractive vista is found up and down the tree-lined lane that leads to Chailey Moat, also either side of the lane there are fields which can be seen through a continual line of trees.  Some pleasing views and vistas are also available from a point standing on the Green and looking towards the surrounding properties.”

Bearing this in mind, your Parish Council is concerned by the increasing use of the lay-by along the centre of the Green as a more or less permanent parking area.  We feel that the presence of vehicles parked in the heart of the Conservation Area is detrimental to the built and natural heritage of the Green and fails to recognise and conserve one of the most highly valued countryside areas of Chailey.  It tends to destroy the beauty of the various views and vistas which are so well described and documented in the Character Appraisal.  However, any action to restrict or even ban such parking can only be undertaken with the support and agreement of Chailey’s residents.  Otherwise, Chailey’s sense of community spirit and cohesion may be damaged.

Therefore, your Parish Council asks you to consider the following questions:

1. Do you agree that the presence of a line of parked vehicles along the centre of the Green detracts from the special identity and status of the Conservation Area?
2. Should such parking be accepted by the community?
3. If such parking is acceptable at all, should its duration and scope be limited?
4. Would parking for the limited purpose of visiting the Reading Room be more acceptable?
5. Should residents of the properties around the Green be given special permission for overnight parking on the Green?

Please respond, by the end of June 2024, to the Parish Clerk at the Reading Room, so that your views may be taken into account in the formation of any parking policy we may try to develop.

Chailey Parish Council, The Reading Room,Chailey Green,East Sussex, BN8 4DA

Tel: 01825 722388

Email:  Clerk@chaileyparishcouncil.gov.uk

The UK’s telephone network is changing. Between now and 2025 most telephone providers will be moving their customers from old analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology. This means services that rely on the old landline system such as home phones and healthcare devices will be switched over. The upgrade will be delivered by the telecoms industry in a phased approach. 

What are the implications?

The landline switchover has implications for adult social care due to the connectivity of telecare devices such as fall monitors to the new line. Also, for vulnerable residents who may not have an internet connection or mobile phone, digital landlines cannot carry a power connection so in the event of a power cut they will not work.  Residents who have older mobile phones will not be able to connect to the new network so will need to update their phone. 

Please see attached a factsheet containing information and guidance to help residents navigate the upcoming changes.

Community Transport Sussex is working in partnership with Parish/Town Councils and other community transport operators by carrying out a short survey to help understand the need in local areas and inform Planning of local transport provision across Sussex. Would you be able to help the Community Transport team by completing the survey attached here https://forms.office.com/e/Yn4tcWd1GF 

If you have any trouble accessing this form, then please do not hesitate to contact the Clerk at Chailey Parish Council.

Clerk@chaileyparishcouncil.gov.uk

Tel: 01825 722388

The Council met with Highways in February.  Evidently, and following many complaints, we discussed potholes.  Telephone reports may be made on 0345 6080193 or, for preference, through the website Welcome to East Sussex Highways live.eastsussexhighways.com Highways requested that residents identify clearly the location of the pothole along the road. 

We discussed in particular the A275 in South Chailey but were disappointed to learn that this road is slated for full repair only in 2025/26;  however, we were encouraged to report the two drain covers currently lifting.  The bridge at Goldbridge is unlikely to be fully repaired before the end of this year.  The design for amber-warning lights on the approach to Mill Lane should be completed before Easter, and the gully along the A275 and into Warrs Hill is to be cleared.

Since our meeting the Council has commented on the East Sussex draft Local Transport Plan to the effect that it broadly ignores traffic along the Northern East-West route (A272) – travelling to employment in mid-Sussex and to the Princess Royal, a problem also reflected in the zoning of the recent Flexibus.

Finally, we requested Highways review the pavements and lack of a crossing facility along the A272 opposite Chailey Heritage.

CHAILEY REPAIR CAFÉ – TIME TO DUST OFF THOSE CYCLES AND MOWERS!!

We were seriously busy at the last Chailey Repair Café, where we tacked a seized up printer, a Henry Hoover, an elephant, a helicopter, a laughing buddha who had lost his hands and more than 80 other challenging  repairs. Our talented fabrics team will always do their best to repair clothing and zips. Please note that, although  we don’t have time to do zip replacements, we can nearly always fix them for you!

As we head into Spring, we’ll now start seeing your cycles which have been loitering in sheds and need some attention, as well as mowers and garden machinery such as trimmers and hedge cutters (you know – those ones where you have accidently cut through the lead….??!!!)

Bring us your garden tools which need sharpening and our   state of the art sharpening machine will soon sort those  out, as  well as your kitchen  knives and workshop  tools.

Our 2024 dates are easy to remember – we are open every 2nd Saturday of each month between 10am – 1pm (9^th Mar, 13^th April,  11^th May and so on). Please remember that we can get very busy, so be prepared to wait and enjoy some refreshments while you do so. Only one item at a time please (although you can go round again if there’s time) and try not to arrive too late as we may not be able to  accommodate you!

Our 2024 posters and flyers with all our dates are available at the Café, so you won’t forget.  And don’t forget to pick up a free car sticker and one of our smart new bamboo pens so you can spread the word!

Chailey Repair Café is part of a  world-wide movement where volunteer experts repair things free of charge – although a donation towards running costs is invited. Anyone can bring along broken items or clothing needing repair from home, and have a cuppa and a cake while they wait.

Not sure if we can fix your stuff? Contact  us at chaileyrc@gmail.com and we’ll see what we can do to help.

See you very soon!!

Bryan McAlley and the Chailey Repair Café team