The body of a local man in his 60s has been discovered at a Chichester caravan park, police have confirmed.

Police said the man was found dead at Lakeside Caravan Holiday Park on Wednesday, September 20.

He is understood to have been living at the park in Vinnetrow Road and his body found in his caravan, according to a resident, who asked not to be named

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “His family have been informed and the inquest is due to open next Tuesday, October 3.

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Cub Scouts raced around Goodwood Motor Circuit on Sunday, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Supreme Box Kart Championships.

There were 240 girls and boys aged eight to 11, battling it out in 40 teams and taking on the fast-flowing, figure-of-eight raceway.

Organiser Stephen Bell said: “We have had the Festival of Speed and the Revival –Sunday was the turn of the Supreme.

“From humble beginnings, the Supreme has become the biggest box kart championship for Cub Scouts in the UK.

“This is a showcase championship for Cubs and they love the inter-pack competition.

“With sponsorship from the Woods Travel Group, the championships have grown and grown. Woods Travel, for the sixth year as main sponsors, ensure that every Cub goes home with at least a medal, the top four teams go home with some lovely trophies to keep and there is a shield for the championship winners.

“Teamwork, healthy competition and sportsmanship are all skills these young people will leave the Supreme with, and not an electronic device to be seen anywhere on the day.”

Seven counties were represented, including new entrants 1st Barnstaple from Devon and, returning for a second year, 12th Bangor from County Down, Northern Ireland.

The heats were hard fought, to gain a place in the shootout for the top 16 teams.

Littlehampton Sea Cadets Band played for the large crowd at lunchtime and National Hot Rod driver 155 Lee Pepper had his race car on display for the Cubs to sit in.

The quarter finals followed, then the semi-finals, where 4th East Grinstead beat 1st Warsash from Hampshire, and 1st Woodmansterne from Surrey beat 1st Felpham.

Stephen said: “Sadly, 4th East Grinstead crashed out just after the start in the final. So, for the first time ever, the winner of the Supreme championship was a pack from outside West Sussex, 1st Woodmanstrene, who also won the Michael Smith Concours Award for best turned out kart.”

Rachael Hammond, chairman of West Sussex Scouts, said it was an amazing day that gave a huge amount of pleasure to everyone involved.

An RAF veteran has lost his challenge against dog mess laws and has been told to pay five times his original fine.

John Churchill, 77, appeared in court today to fight what he said was as an unfair fine he got after not seeing his dog Chaka’s mess.

But magistrate Ted Coleman said ‘being unaware is not a defence’ and found Mr Churchill guilty at Horsham Magistrates Court.

Dog warden Russ Akehurst told magistrates he saw Mr Churchill’s white Alsatian foul at The Sanctuary in High Salvington on March 10: “The defendant was 40 yards away and walked away.”

Mr Akehurst said he went over to Mr Churchill and told him what he had seen. Mr Churcill, who lives with his wife in Durrington Hill, then went to clear up the mess.

The dog warden added: “It is a very important conservation area and a lot of children play on the field.”

Mr Churchill said the fine was unfair since he cleared up the mess quickly: “I admit I did not see my dog defecating, I did my best.”

He took issue with the law wording, which says owners must clear mess ‘forthwith’, saying that he did.

Mr Churchill added: “I can think of no more innocent pleasure than walking my dog and now I face a criminal record for doing just that.”

Finding him guilty, Chairman of the Bench Mr Coleman said: “After the dog warden alerted you to the fact you did go and pick it up.

“There is no indication you would have done if you were not alerted. The owner being unaware is not a defence.”

He was fined £60, and must pay a £30 victim surcharge.

Mr Churchill must also pay costs of £200.

A council spokesman said: “We take dog fouling seriously. Not only is it very unpleasant it poses a health risk.

“The council provides bins for dog mess across Worthing, making it easy for owners to clean up after their pets.

“We wrote to the gentleman three times giving him the opportunity to pay the £50 Fixed Penalty Notice. A decision to take the case to court was a last resort.”

Mr Churchill said after the trial he may take the case to Crown court for an appeal.

Sompting and District Model Railway Club was absolutely chuffed with its first open day, held on Saturday.

Following on from the club’s annual exhibition in May, this was a very different event, giving members a chance to showcase lots of different layouts.

Matthew Ayling, publicity and website manager, said: “We were extremely pleased with this, our first open day.

“This was all about showing the public what we get up to on a typical club night. We are hoping that some of the people who attended will join us and become club members.

“The children’s layout was running, which is always popular, allowing our younger members to control their own model train.

“We were very pleased with numbers attending and we had almost eighty people visit us over the course of the day.”

There were various railway-related activities taking place that included model tree construction demonstrations, scratch building and brass loco and building construction.

There were also layouts being worked on where points were being renewed, wiring was being put in place and layouts were being tested for faults.

Colin Edkins, club chairman, said: “We were so pleased that we had so many people attending on our first club open day.

“There was a real buzz of train conversation about the place as club members and visitors shared their thoughts, ideas and opinions. We look forward to welcoming some of the visitors into our club.”

The club welcomes new members, from juniors to experienced modellers.

Meetings are held at Sompting Village Hall on Fridays, twice a month, from 6pm to 10.30pm.

For further information about the Sompting and District Model Railway Club, visit www.somptingdistrictmrc.co.uk

A multi-storey Horsham car park will experience a series of partial closures for exploratory works starting this Thursday (September 28).

Horsham District Council is proposing to demolish the 330-space Piries Place Car Park, and built a replacement of between 443 and 560 spaces, depending on the final design.

The project is being timed to coincide with the redevelopment of Piries Place Shopping Centre, which is set to see a new hotel, Everyman cinema, and restaurants built by the start of 2019.

A capital budget of up to £7.25m was approved by HDC’s Cabinet last Thursday (September 21).

Exploratory work is due to be carried out between this Friday and Thursday October 12.

Thursday September 28- Ground Floor and First Floor will be closed - Floors 2, 3 and 4 will be open for use

Friday September 29 - Floors 2,3 and 4 will be closed - Ground Floor and First Floor will be open for use

Sunday October 8 - Certain Ground Floor spaces will be cordoned off, no other floors will be affected

Monday October 9 - Thursday October 12 - Certain Ground Floor spaces will be cordoned off, no other floors will be affected.

https://www.facebook.com/LittlehamptonGazette/videos/1485161254905827/

Hundreds filled St Nicholas’ Church to discuss the A27 at a public meeting.

Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel and South Downs kicked off the evening by reiterating his support for a bypass

He said: “If you take this argument that if you build roads you just get more traffic, noise and pollution we would dig up the M25 and grow vegetables on it.

“I have always favoured the pink-blue route (Option 3).

“The is it goes through ancient replanted woodland. There is very significant protection for that woodland and an increased cost would have to be mitigated.

“I am open-minded about Option 5A, although I think it’s worse for Binsted itself.”

Darrell Gale, an Arundel resident of 16 years, said: “The Highways England proposals were commissioned to build a dual carriageway around Arundel and not to resolve Arundel’s traffic problems.

“In this respect I believe the commision to be fundamentally flawed.

“Highways England has its job to do but their top priority is not Arundel or its people.”

Richard Smith, who lives in Pearson Road, focussed on the environmental issues posed by options 3 and 5A: “When you build roads you just get more traffic.

“Can’t we look at an online option toward easing all this destruction?”

Discussing Option 5A, the so-called ‘Binsted route’, ecological specialist Jackie Thompson said: “We have 13 species of bats [in Binsted Wood], three of which are extremely scarce in England.”

She said these and other species would be threatened by Option 5A: “A road round the woods would cut off the bloodlines to the woodland.”

But Colin Adams of Maltravers Street called on people to be ‘responsible citizens’.

He said: “I think it is time we in Arundel take a much less nimby view of this and look far more globally at this and help people in West Sussex not just Arundel.”

Many at the meeting asked why a new road could not be avoided entirely by simply building a tunnel.

Alan Feist, A27 programme lead for Highways England, said: “A tunnel is completely unaffordable.

“We did look at it and it has been discounted on cost grounds.”

He praised the ‘high quality debate’, saying it ‘really shows what a challenge building around here is’.

Have you joined our A27 discussion group on Facebook? Click here to get involved!

A 15-year extension for an oil well west of Storrington is being sought.

The site, off the A23 Pulborough Road near Cootham, has been operational since the 1990s, but the current temporary planning permission expires at the end of 2017.

IGas Energy has submitted an application to West Sussex County Council to extend consent until 2032.

According to the application, although production levels have diminished the site still produces 46 barrels of oil per day.

The planning statement reads: “The proposal hereby submitted does not include any extension or intensification of activity at the site and any potential environmental impacts will continue to be mitigated as they are at present.”

To view the application visit the council’s website using code WSCC/035/17/SR.

Two Indian restaurants, in Storrington and Ashington, face new controls over trading following enforcement action by immigration officers at the Home Office.

Cottage Tandoori, in Storrington, and Indian Cottage, in Ashington, ‘have been found to be employing illegal workers who have no right to work in the United Kingdom due to their immigration status’, according to Horsham District Council.

Horsham District Council’s licensing sub-committee is due to review the licences on Friday (September 29) at Chartway, Horsham.

The enforcement visits of Cottage Tandoori were conducted over a ten-month period between July 2016 and May 2017.

The visits of Indian Cottage were conducted over an 11-month period between July 2016 and June 2017.

Horsham District Council said a total of 13 instances of illegal working were identified across both premises during these visits.

The Home Office has issued a £160,000 penalty to Exotic Creations – the licence holder of Cottage Tandoori – and a £120,000 penalty to Kaher Zaman and Sons Limited – the licence holder of Indian Cottage – ‘as a result of their employment of illegal workers’.

Company House shows that Mr Kaher Zaman is the sole director of both Kaher Zaman and Sons Limited and Exotic Creations, according to Horsham District Council.

A report issued by Horsham District Council said: “This penalty amount relates to penalties issued from the first and second enforcement visits to the premises. The decision regarding the potential penalties relating to the third enforcement visit to the premises currently remains outstanding.

“To date none of these civil penalties has been paid by the premises, neither did they appeal/object in court the decision to issue these penalties.

“Appropriate checks had not been made at either premises by the premises licence holders to ensure that all the staff they employed had a right to work in the United Kingdom.

“Sleeping areas for multiple persons were identified by immigration officers at the premises.”

The premises licences holders for both Cottage Tandoori, Storrington and Indian Cottage, Ashington, are Mr Bodruz Raman, Mr Jashim Uddin and Mr Kaher Zaman and the grounds for the review relate to the employment of illegal workers.

At the meeting on Friday, the sub-committee has a range of options from modifying conditions on the licence, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence for three months or revoking the licence completely.

If the committee decides to revoke the premises licence, the restaurants may not be able to sell alcohol, supply alcohol to a club, provide regulated entertainment or provide late night refreshment.

In this case, the premises may still open but it will be dry and no hot food after 11pm, according to Horsham District Council.

A ‘fantastic’ affordable housing scheme in Cowfold has been completed, with new residents set to move in this week.

Housing association Saxon Weald, with financial support from Horsham District Council, has delivered 20 homes at the site in Alley Groves.

The affordable rented homes consist of four one-bedroom flats, nine two-bedroom houses and seven three-bedroom houses.

Kate Rowbottom (Con, Billingshurst and Shipley), HDC’s cabinet member for housing and public protection, said: “Horsham District Council is pleased to have been able to support Saxon Weald to deliver such a fantastic affordable rented accommodation solution in the Cowfold parish.

“Supporting registered providers to deliver affordable rented accommodation is crucial to help those on the council’s housing register to secure a suitable home.”

David Standfast, chief Executive of Saxon Weald, added: “We’ve seen a lot of changes in the last 14 years, with the amount of grant available from the Government for building affordable homes declining to the point where it has all but disappeared.

“While it’s becoming more challenging for us to build, we are determined to find ways to continue, because the need for affordable places to live is more acute than ever.

“We are very proud of reaching this milestone, but we could not have done it without the support of our many partners, particularly Horsham District Council who supported us in this development at Alley Groves. We offer them all our sincere thanks and look forward to working with many of them again as we continue our journey.”

Pews were packed on Monday as Arundel residents gathered to discuss bats, bypasses and Binsted.

Hundreds filled St Nicholas’ Church to discuss the A27 at a public meeting.

Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel and South Downs kicked off the evening by reiterating his support for a bypass

He said: “If you take this argument that if you build roads you just get more traffic, noise and pollution we would dig up the M25 and grow vegetables on it.

“I have always favoured the pink-blue route (Option 3).

“The is it goes through ancient replanted woodland. There is very significant protection for that woodland and an increased cost would have to be mitigated.

“I am open-minded about Option 5A, although I think it’s worse for Binsted itself.”

Darrell Gale, an Arundel resident of 16 years, said: “The Highways England proposals were commissioned to build a dual carriageway around Arundel and not to resolve Arundel’s traffic problems.

“In this respect I believe the commision to be fundamentally flawed.

“Highways England has its job to do but their top priority is not Arundel or its people.”

Richard Smith, who lives in Pearson Road, focussed on the environmental issues posed by options 3 and 5A: “When you build roads you just get more traffic.

“Can’t we look at an online option toward easing all this destruction?”

Discussing Option 5A, the so-called ‘Binsted route’, ecological specialist Jackie Thompson said: “We have 13 species of bats [in Binsted Wood], three of which are extremely scarce in England.”

She said these and other species would be threatened by Option 5A: “A road round the woods would cut off the bloodlines to the woodland.”

But Colin Adams of Maltravers Street called on people to be ‘responsible citizens’.

He said: “I think it is time we in Arundel take a much less nimby view of this and look far more globally at this and help people in West Sussex not just Arundel.”

Many at the meeting asked why a new road could not be avoided entirely by simply building a tunnel.

Alan Feist, A27 programme lead for Highways England, said: “A tunnel is completely unaffordable.

“We did look at it and it has been discounted on cost grounds.”

He praised the ‘high quality debate’, saying it ‘really shows what a challenge building around here is’.

Have you joined our A27 discussion group on Facebook? Click here to get involved!

Pulborough’s famous free Harvest Fair beat all previous records on Saturday, with more visitors, more stalls and more events than ever before.

What started 11 years ago as a small community village event now attracts thousands of people from all over Sussex and well beyond as word of its success spreads – helped by its use of social media.

Pat Arculus, district councillor, opened the event and judged the scarecrows, together with the community wardens.

She visited many of the stalls and said how much she enjoyed coming to the event, in the wonderful field setting on the edge of the National Park and in the adjacent historic church of St Mary’s.

Malcolm Gray, organiser, said: “It is wonderful to see the whole community coming together around the fair and enjoying themselves - many people catch up with people they have not seen for ages.

“The dedicated team who have made this possible are the real unsung heroes of the day, as well as our sponsors, without whom the event would not be possible and allow us to give to local groups any profits we may make.”

The LMC Arena had a constant stream of dog and music events, plus children’s entertainer Tomfoolery.

At the heart of the Harvest Fair was the Harris brothers Old Time Fair, which gave young and old the excitement of traditional rides on chairoplanes and swing-boats to the music of the ride’s fairground organ plus other traditional rides and side shows.

Younger children, and some adults, enjoyed having a teddy bear tearing down a zip wire from the top of the church tower. They then retrieved it in the churchyard and every brave bear that did the trip received a certificate.

Inside the church, there was a tombola with more bears, plus quizzes for children and lots of other activities, displays and a chance to sit with a tea and cake and listen to the hand-bells being played. Visitors to the church activities were welcomed by the new rector, Father Paul Seaman.

At the centre of the large food area, West Chiltington Silver Band kept drinkers and picnickers entertained during the afternoon.

Farming part was well represented by a state-of-the-art tractor, an amazing display of historic stationary engines and petting animals from Brinsbury. Traditional country crafts were also in display, with whittling of walking sticks.

Around 300 dogs had their day on Saturday, at Boxgrove Companion Dog Show with Obedience.

The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was friendly and happy, with hundreds of owners and supporters enjoying the entertainment at Boxgrove Sports Field and Boxgrove Village Hall.

Organiser Sylvia St Aubyn Hubbard said: “The Have a Go agility, organised by Mad about Dogs, was extremely popular and was busy all day with more than 100 dogs having a go.

“This, together with the raffle, tombola, cakes, books and other stalls, plus dog show entries, meant that takings on the day amounted to £3,000.

“The profits from the event will be shared 50-50 between two charities, Boxgrove Priory and Boxgrove Village Hall.”

Abbie, a German shepherd owned by Alison Jones from Bognor Regis, won best in show.

Other winners were:

Best puppy, Riddick, a border collie owned by Dianne Hewitt.

Best local dog, Bella, owned by Nina Davis from Chichester.

Best novelty, Duke, owned by Abbeygail Longhurst from Middleton-on-Sea.

Obedience classes: triers, Bracken, a springer spaniel owned by Colin Watson from Hellingly; starters, Rufus, a labrador owned by Ian Hudson from Purbrook; improvers, Siri, a shellie owned by Sue Kenny from Littlehampton; advanced, Lyken, a working springer owned by Dianne Hewitt.

Southern is planning to run a normal service on most routes during next week’s rail strikes.

The RMT union has been fighting the further extension of driver-only operation on the Southern network by Govia Thameslink Railway since April 2016.

The changes make drivers responsible for opening and closing train doors, with the RMT raising safety and access concerns.

The union has instructed its members not to book any shifts on both Tuesday October 3 and Thursday October 5.

Although Southern plans to run a normal service on most routes, some Coastway trains and peak hour services between Hastings and Ashford International will not run.

Angie Doll, Southern’s passenger services director, said: “We are aiming for business as usual on most of our routes during the RMT strikes next week.

“The RMT is striking about changes we made almost a year ago as part of our modernisation programme. Nobody has lost their job over this, in fact we employ more on-board staff to help passengers than we did before, and we are providing a better service with fewer cancelled trains.

“We are operating on the busiest part of the network so it’s essential that we use modern technology to keep trains running for the benefit of our passengers – not cancel them as the RMT insists.

“We’ve spent 18 months negotiating with the RMT and met for 25 days. We’ve made four good offers to resolve this dispute yet the RMT has rejected them all without even putting them to their members for a vote.”

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said: ”RMT will not stand back while the guards, front-line staff when it ‎comes to safety, security and access, are thrown off Britain’s trains for political and financial reasons.”

Full details of service changes can be found on Southern’s website.

Huge swathes of stunning English countryside are being invaded - by killer ticks.

The South East of England has been earmarked as high risk areas for Lyme disease - a bacterial infection spread by infected tick bites.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said West Sussex and the South Downs to have higher prevalence of infected ticks which cause the disease.

It is estimated there are 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales each year - and that number keeps going up year on year, as weather conditions are allowing biting tick populations to explode.

If untreated the disease can be fatal, and the health body is now calling for a study into the condition in the UK.

NICE has also set out a series of recommendations on how the condition can be assessed and treated.

These include diagnosing people who have a distinctive rash - often described as looking like a bulls eye on a dart board - without needing to refer them for further tests.

A new draft guideline from NICE said: “Infected ticks are found throughout the UK and Ireland and although some areas appear to have a higher prevalence of infected ticks, prevalence data are incomplete.

“Particularly high-risk areas are the south of England and Scottish Highlands but infection can occur in many areas.”

Last month former England rugby captain Matt Dawson underwent heart surgery after being bitten by a tick in a London park.

The 44-year-old developed feverish symptoms early last year and was later diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Dawson had to endure 18 months of treatment.

When former England rugby player Matt Dawson was bitten by a tick in a London park early last year, it caused a bacterial infection to spread through his body.

He said: “I had two days where I felt awful. Very feverish, on the sofa, crashed out.

“It was a really scary time for me and my family. Such a tiny creature caused me to end up needing heart surgery.”

Eventually he went to hospital where he was diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Former US President George W Bush, Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin and comedian Ben Stiller have also suffered from the disease.

Professor Saul Faust from Nice said: “Lyme disease may be difficult to diagnose as people can have common and unspecific symptoms, like a headache or fever and they may not notice or remember a tick bite.

“Our draft guidance will give GPs and hospital doctors clear advice on how to diagnose if they think Lyme disease is a possibility.”

It said better information on spotting the symptoms and dealing with the management of Lyme disease both in hospitals and GP services will mean services can be tailored to suit those infected.

Rustington has received yet another impressive set of results at the South and South East in Bloom annual awards.

For the fourth year running, the village won the Gold Award in the category for villages and town centre, and was also named the overall category winner.

The Ash Lane Walk also won a Gold Award in the floral single site multiple beds category.

The West Sussex Discretionary County Award was presented to Rustington-in-Bloom, as the entry with the highest marks.

Other awards presented on Wednesday included a Silver Gilt for Rustington Methodist Church Garden in the our community category and the RHS National Certificate of Distinction for the Chaucery Memorial.

In the it’s your neighbourhoods category, Outstanding Awards went to the Coastal Workshop, Oakhurst Gardens, Rustington Hall, the Methodist Church Garden, the Chaucery Memorial and the Hidden Twitten.

Carole Ward, clerk of Rustington Parish Council, said: “Such impressive and rewarding results for all involved.

“The community, once again, pulled out all the stops with its support for the In-Bloom campaign, by helping to ensure that all areas of the judging criteria were met and exceeded and, in recognition of this, Certificates of Excellence were awarded to a large number of different groups, clubs, organisations and individuals for their most important contributions towards the success of the Rustington entry.”

As always, members of the Rustington-in-Bloom committee, in partnership with the parish council, organised the 2017 campaign.

They were most grateful for the support of Arun District Council’s cleansing, parks and car parks departments, together with other individual officers from the district council.

Mrs Ward added: “Again, special thanks and appreciation must be conveyed to Ferring Nurseries, without whose outstanding service, expertise and dedication, this remarkable success would, as has been the case in previous years, most certainly not have been attained.”

A popular television seamstress will be meeting crowds at Burgess Hill Girls School Open Day this Saturday.

Joyce Bellingham, who stared on the Great British Sewing Bee, will share her tips with others who enjoy to sew.

Visitors will have the opportunity to join a sewing workshop run by Joyce who also lives in West Sussex with husband Hugh.

Liz Laybourn, the head teacher for the school, says they love to see creativity in all departments.

She said: “The school has a growing reputation for encouraging creativity right across the board, in everything from textiles to graphics and photography.

“This is a fantastic introduction to sewing from a master of the craft. And I’m hoping Joyce will also share some back-stage moments from the TV show, too. I can’t wait!”

Schoolchildren will engage with a new project set to raise awareness on the importance of protecting whales and dolphins.

ORCA, a leading UK marine conservation charity, will be working with schools across the county which includes Lindfield, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead.

The organisation will provide free resources for schools to deliver sessions about why people should protect our sea life.

The Whale Education Month will take place in October and is a new initiative by the charity.

Anna Bunney, education coordinator at ORCA, said they are feeling really positive towards its launch.

She said: “We have more than 100 schools signed up across the country. This is about 7,000 children.

“I think it is important for children to learn about whales and dolphins and how we should protect them.

“People think you need to go to the other side of the world to see them but you don’t so we need to raise awareness about them being in our seas.”

Expert conservationists have produced the material for the young people.

Teachers will deliver the sessions inspiring the next generation of marine biologists.

Miss Bunney added: “We felt a special month was the idea way to highlight these amazing animals to youngsters.

“Inspiring students about the fascinating marine wildlife around them is crucial.

“Not many people realise a huge range of different species of whale, dolphin and porpoise live in and visit waters around the UK.

“With these new educational packs, we are reaching a whole new group of children and inspiring students all around the country about how they can help protect whales and dolphins for the future.”

The ORCA now plan to devote every October to a topic where they will provide a pack for schools interested in teaching.

The government use research by ORCS to inform UK and European marine conservation policy and are a key voice in the UK marine conservation sector.

There was virtually unanimous support among district councillors today to turn down funds for a previously rejected A27 scheme.

Faced with the choice of supporting Highways England’s preferred route, Option 2, to secure £250m of money, every councillors rejected it, bar three abstaining.

With the county council cabinet member for highways, Bob Lanzer, ‘minded to’ do the same, a new, community-led improvement will now bid for the next pot of Government funds, the Road Investment Strategy (RIS)2.

At today’s (Tuesday) special A27 meeting, council leader Tony Dignum said some may be tempted to ‘take the money’.

But he said with Highways having stated this morning it would not make changes to lower flyovers and roundabouts in Option 2, and with MP Gillian Keegan and the county council backing a new bid, he said: “We would incur widespread hostility for no benefit by striking out on our own.”

Many members echoed Cllr Carol Purnell’s view that they faced a ‘very difficult decision’ that could not please everyone.

She said: “Instinctively, I tended to look towards the better the bird in the hand, but having said that, what really weighs with me is, having given the community the chance to come together to design something better, this outweighs the rest.”

Cllr Jonathan Brown also backed RIS2, but said the public had been ‘very badly let down’. “It’s a scandal more ambitious schemes, including but not limited to the northern bypass, have not been properly explored so it’s no wonder that residents have not been impressed.”

Cllr Graeme Barratt said all but one parish council in the Manhood Peninsular, representing about 26,000 residents, ‘support the leader’s statement’.

Cllr Christopher Page said “Accepting RIS1 at this stage would completely cut across the community process,” adding he hoped the community could now ‘come up with a solution to our traffic problem that everyone can accept’.

Cllr Keith Martin said Highways’ previous options were based on outdated data of 20 per cent through traffic, when in fact it is 46 per cent, while cllr Dunn abstained from the vote, saying a much more environmentally friendly solution was needed.

CDC’s decision will now formally be given to Highways England along with the county council’s following a committee meeting tomorrow (Thursday).

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New housing development for the River Arun corridor is listed as a future option in a draft vision for Horsham.

The document argues that the stretch of the river, between the Curry’s/PC World store and St Mary’s Church, could be better integrated into the town centre, creating more usable and informal green and blue spaces to ‘counterbalance the more formal leisure offer of Horsham Park’.

The Town Centre Vision Statement, which has been published by Horsham District Council for public consultation, outlines the potential in the long-term to create new ‘residential-led developments along this corridor that make the most of the riverside setting’.

It acknowledges this would require the relocation of some office uses to other parts of Horsham to ‘maximise the use of the river as a town asset’.

The vision adds: “Development of these offices should ideally take the form of comprehensive redevelopment, to make the most of the river, rather than simple conversion.

“Development could also contribute to enhancing the river, both through direct works and financial contributions.

“Improvements to the river could include clearing of excess vegetation, path and cycleway improvements, and the addition of features including bridges.

“Moving further east, into the park around the river, no development of the park itself is proposed, but there may be improvements as above. In particular, lighting improvements to cycle paths would be beneficial. Reinforcing this cycle route would help to establish this as a key route into the centre of town for cyclists, a viable alternative to the main roads.

“This route could also be linked through the centre of town, along existing routes by Sainsbury’s to the Causeway, and up to Carfax, and on to Horsham Park via Medwin Walk (for more on Medwin Walk see below).

“This would require cycle path improvements through the centre of town, along Carfax.

“The designation of a dedicated cycle route, including separate paving and signage, would assist in this.”

A separate HDC project is looking to restore and upgrade the Garden of Remembrance and Mill Bay, which includes replacing the existing stone paths, dredging of the stream, and refreshed shrub planting.

To comment visit HDC’s website.

The consultation closes on Monday October 16.

A man has died following a serious crash on the M23 near Gatwick Airport last night (September 27).

Police said officers were called to Junction 9 of the M23 southbound just before midnight after two vehicles collided.

A man, in his late 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

The road was closed between junction 9 and junction 8, leading to the M23, while police carried out investigations. It was reopened at around 7am.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 01483 639922 quoting P17245830. Similarly, anyone with dashcam footage is also asked to get in touch.