Published: 16 July 2024
Funtington Parish Council
Drainage and Flooding problems were the main topic of conversation at the parish Council meeting 6th March. Southern Water have extended the road closure notice for Watery Lane until 15th March, and we heard last night from our County Councillor Julian Joy that SW now have a Traffic Order Notice in place allowing them to close off Watery Lane at any time within the next 18 months. Julian is not hopeful that the repairs to Watery Lane will be carried out before the end of this 18-month period, but we as a Parish Council will keep badgering SW to try and get some of the issues resolved.
We have had a meeting with a Highways drainage engineer, and we are hopeful that we can get some of the problem flood area addressed by Highways, again we will keep badgering them until problems that can be resolved are resolved.
We have been experiencing a few problems around the parish from a quad bike rider and from 2 lads on an electric bike, the Police have been informed and if you see either of them, either on private land or doing anything illegal, the police have asked us to dial 999 and inform them immediately. We hopefully have stopped the quad bike rider from riding on the Dell, by concreting posts into the ground at the point where he was accessing the Dell, unfortunately this person has trashed the west end of the Dell and done a huge amount of damage in the privately owned adjacent bluebell woods. The 2 lads on the electric mud bike are also driving onto private land, riding on the public highway without crash helmets, overtaking other traffic in an irresponsible and dangerous fashion and firing catapults, loaded with ball bearings, whilst driving along.
The problem of rubbish being flung out of car windows, not just in our parish, but in general, is getting to be a real problem, as soon as we, or the Council clear it up, it appears again. However, we have more than our fair share around the parish, and I will try and organise some litter picks around West Ashling, now that the weather is a bit better, and Councillor Bob Moseley will be organising some litter picks around Funtington, please volunteer your services to either/both of us and let us have your email addresses so that we can contact all those willing to help and arrange some dates and some meeting places around the parish that need clearing up.
The next parish Council meeting will be held in St Mary’s Church room, Funtington, on Wednesday 3rd April at 18:30.
Jane Mottershead.