Come along to the next meeting of the group on 13th June 2025 at Winterton Hall 5pm to discuss a display for the school fete.

Increasing Biodiversity and maintaining our wild species.

Biodiversity– the Council has a duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity and must consider what policies, objectives, and action it can take, consistent with the exercise of its functions, to further the general biodiversity objective. Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, s.40 & Environment Act 202, s.102

Help for the wildlife in the summer months-

Things to do to encourage biodiversity in your garden during the Winter-

Feed the birds with peanuts, sunflower hearts, seeds and fat balls. Clean feeders and bird tables regularly.

Provide water – a bird bath or pond ensuring it doesn’t freeze over when very cold

Leave areas of leaves and twigs or overgrown grass for insects and toads

Create log or stone piles or build an insect hotel!

Consider leaving plants unpruned with seed heads intact.

Avoid chemicals for obvious reasons!

Check bonfires for hedgehogs and small animals before lighting.

Plant winter flowering honeysuckle, hellebores and Mahonia or native trees with winter berries.

Mulch flower beds to insulate soil but leave bare patch for solitary bees to bury and hide in.

Leave hedge trimming until Jan/Feb as they provide cosy places for insects when wet and cold

Create nesting sites- bird and bat boxes- clean out bird boxes just before spring

Reduce artificial lighting in garden as it disrupts nocturnal animals during winter in particular

Join the working group or autumn project to clear and plant in the community gardens

Take a look at the photographs on our website.

https://www.plaistowandifold-pc.gov.uk/the-drive-ifold-bus-stop-conservation-project

Phase 2 maintenance of the area will involve initially cutting down and clearing away the vegetation growth to reduce the fertility of the soil. This encourages biodiversity and over time further species will grow in the area. Natural processes may need a little help from the Biodiversity Working Group.

In April the Parish Council submitted a Traffic Regulation Order proposal to WSCC Highways to reduce the speed limit entering the main settlement area of Shillinglee to 30mph

WSCC have responded as set out below. The process is expected to take 12 months.

Our ref: Traffic Regulation Order application – Shillinglee Road – Northchapel - 622445

Thank you for your Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) application for Shillinglee Road, Northchapel. Please quote ref number 622445 in any future correspondence.

I can now confirm that your TRO application has found its way to myself as the Area Traffic Engineer for the Chichester District.

Please note that the TRO process is a democratic process. This means that any proposal may be implemented in full, in part or declined by the Assistant Director due to objections or representations at the formal consultation stage. Please be aware that funding a proposal does not guarantee that it will be implemented any sooner, if at all.

Successful applications will be included on a programme, where further feasibility and design work may take place. A proposal will then be subject to a three-week statutory advertisement or ‘formal public consultation’. In addition to a notice being placed in the local paper, site notices may also be erected at the location of the proposal. Once the formal consultation period is over, a final decision on the TRO may be required by the County Council’s Assistant Director, Highways Transport and Planning. If the TRO is approved, arrangements are made for the necessary signs and road markings to be provided. A final notice will also be advertised in a local paper stating when the TRO will come into effect. In total, it may take approximately 12 months for a TRO application to proceed to implementation.

I have now carried out an Initial Assessment on your application, and before I progress to a Detailed Assessment, I will be requesting speed data to carry out a speed data assessment.

The speed data assessment will help us to determine if the 30mph speed limit proposal aligns with the West Sussex County Council Speed Limit Policy.

Once I have received and assessed speed data, I will update you accordingly.

Kind regards,

Olly King

Traffic Engineer

Western Area (Arun & Chichester)

Highways, Transport and Planning

Place services

West Sussex County Council