SBNF Spring 2020 Update for Beach News We publish updates about the progress of the Neighbourhood Plan in every edition of Beach News. Here's a copy of the latest update from our Engagement Officer: The Beach’s Neighbourhood Forum representing Marine Ward was designated for five years in November 2014. By November 2019, the Forum’s alloted legal tenure ran out. Forum Officers have prepared a fresh application to re-designate the Area & Forum for another 5-year period to enable the completion of its work. Redesignation is administered by Adur District Council and likely to take about three months from receipt of our application including a public consultation. When its redesignation is confirmed, the Forum will pass the final Neighbourhood Plan [Version 5] back to the Council for comments and will organise its final ‘HAVE YOUR SAY DAY’ to run immediately after the Forum AGM for members to confirm or change the Committee Officers. Any residents’ comments on the plan offerred at the HYSD could require the Forum to fine-tune the plan before its transmission to the Council. When the final Beach Neighbourhood Plan [Version 5] is accepted by ADC, the Forum will have completed its work and ADC will organise independent inspection of the plan. When that is finally passed, the Council will administer all aspects of a public referendum for the Beach electorate to decide. The Forum wants this process to happen during 2020. [NOTE: since the publication of this magazine, the government has postponed all Neighbourhood Planning Referendums until May 2021. More info...] The Forum’s Committee Officers wish to acknowledge and thank both the Beach community for its patience and the support of every Forum volunteer for giving freely of their time and hard work since November, 2014. Tony Wallington Shoreham Beach Neighbourhood Forum You can read the full magazine here > #Press

Shoreham Beach is growing younger Across Europe, the population is ageing and this is certainly true in Adur, with the over 65 age group increasing more than any other in the coming decades. However, if we look at Marine Ward Census info, new house sizes and alterations, plus "Brighton Drift" research by the Future Adur Schools Team, the average age of people living on Shoreham Beach may well be getting younger. This graph shows the population growth in the Marine Ward area from 2001 to 2011. The majority of the local population is under 45 and this trend looks set to increase. We are preparing a Neighbourhood Plan that sets out a vision for the next 15 years - when many of today's young people will have children and/or houses of their own. Help design our future neighbourhood via three workshops (surveys): transport, re-development and community facilities. These workshops cover various aspects covered in the council's new 'Place Plan' - boosting new homes, employment and local economic growth. The Plan also reflects the key priorities for West Sussex in particular delivering skills, digital connectivity and health & well being services. According to Adur & Worthing Councils, the population of Adur is expected to grow by 5,000 in the next 20 years - part of the 100,000+ extra people expected in West Sussex. Growth in Adur is constrained by limitations on land availability for homes and employment space due to the South Downs National Park and the coastline. Our Neighbourhood Plan will sit alongside the district-wide Local Plan and has to be taken into account by the Local Planning Authority when it is making decisions on planning applications (see our frequently asked questions for more info). The district-wide Local Plan (Adur Plan) identifies over 3,600 new homes and 41,000 sqm employment floor space with the potential to create up to 3,319 new jobs over the next 15 to 20 years. The two priorities set out in the Adur Plan are: Priority 1: – New Monks Farm and Shoreham Airport Development at New Monks Farm & Shoreham Airport provides the opportunity to deliver; 600 new homes; 25,000 sqm new employment space potentially creating a maximum of 2,024 new jobs. Investment involves: Flood Risk Management Measures – Adur Tidal Walls Scheme: to deliver development­enabling flood defences. New A27 Junction and measures supporting the Shoreham Sustainable Transport Package: to deliver both development­enabling and mitigation associated with traffic growth. New Primary School at New Monks Farm: to deliver a new facility to support population growth and planned housing growth. Priority 2: Shoreham Growth – Shoreham Harbour Development at Shoreham Harbour provides the opportunity to deliver 970 new homes, (plus the Parcelforce development, which brings the total to 1100) 16,000 sqm new employment generating floor space potentially creating around 1,295 jobs. Investment involves: Flood Risk Management Measures in Western Harbour Arm: to help deliver new housing and employment floorspace. Shoreham Sustainable Transport Package: to deliver both development­ enabling and mitigation associated with traffic growth. Business Relocation: supporting existing businesses interested in moving to new premises, to enable new homes and employment space to be provided within the Harbour. New/extended Primary School in the Shoreham area: to deliver the capacity necessary to support population growth and planned housing growth.’ #housing #employment #planning #survey #school

Special Meeting to Amend Constitution Existing Neighbourhood Forum members are invited to attend a Special General Meeting online. We need to make a small change to the constitution to align with the rules of our new bank account. Thurs 20 January, 7pm, online via video conference Members Only (10 - 25 participants) SUMMARY: We need at least 10 members of the Forum to attend an online meeting to approve a minor change to the Constitution. This is also an opportunity to present our community engagement plans for feedback, suggestions and volunteers. We will send an invite by email and members can RSVP here: https://www.shorehambeachforum.com/rsvp DETAILS: The Forum needs more funding for community engagement to finalise the Neighbourhood Plan. The vast majority of funding is via grant applications - deposited to a qualifying bank account. However, the banking conditions have changed and now the Forum’s bank will only provide accounts on the basis that any one signatory can approve a transaction. This requires a small change to the wording in the Constitution. Currently, the Constitution requires two signatories to sign a cheque (paragraph 10.1) and that the Treasurer must be authorised by the committee to operate the account online (paragraph 10.2). The Treasurer has proposed the following motion: CHANGE 10.1 ... Three cheque signatories will be nominated by the Committee (one to be the Treasurer). Any two of these must sign every cheque. TO “... Three cheque signatories will be nominated by the Committee (one to be the Treasurer). Any one signatory to sign” DELETE 10.2 “The committee must authorise the Treasurer to make any online banking payments” This change is purely technical to satisfy the bank's terms and conditions and makes no practical difference to the way the Forum will operate its finances. It is essential that the account be set up as soon as possible as this will enable the Forum to apply for additional funding, necessary to fund the website, surveys, promotion and engagement. View the Constitution: https://www.shorehambeachforum.com/constitution For more information about funding options and expenditure, please visit: https://www.shorehambeachforum.com/funding

SBNF Meeting with Adur Planning – April 2022 5 April 2022 at 15.00 The QEII Room at the Shoreham Centre Agenda: 1. Forum bank account 2. Status of Adur Planners’ comments on draft Neighbourhood Plan 3. Budgetary estimate for completion of Neighbourhood Plan and additional funding options 4. Open green spaces in Neighbourhood Plan, especially in relation to MUGA location 5. Policies that Adur Planners consider should be removed 6. Impact of emerging Local Plan on draft Neighbourhood Plan 1. Forum bank account The forum’s bank account has been transferred to Santander and the account is now operational. This enables an application to be made to Locality for further funding. 2. Status of Adur Planners’ comments on draft Neighbourhood Plan Policy Team to respond to draft Plan, Forum's response to our comments ideally by 12th May. This timescale is partly dependent on the following item - Mike W to forward a word (or Google Doc) version of the Forum's response to the Policy Team's last set of comments. MH to contact DC with suggested format for letter of instruction regarding SEA/SA scoping MH to contact colleagues and establish whether there is a formal relationship between Boxpark and the BG car park. 3. Budgetary estimate for completion of Neighbourhood Plan and additional funding options · MW to send proposed breakdown of costs for Reg 14 consultation exercise · MH to check next grant allocation from Dept of LUHLG - stage and amount. · Mike G to find out if Locality can organise a free NPIERS health-check, and make MH aware of response. 4. Open green spaces in Neighbourhood Plan, especially in relation to MUGA location MH to contact Pippa re MUGA issue; of the 2 locations, Forum believe Beach Green is most appropriate - DC would like to meet and discuss. 5. Policies that Adur Planners consider should be removed which the Forum wish to retain Forum still wish to consider allocation of allotments west of BG car park - MH to contact Estates, and others for Council view. Forum to work towards an up-to-date, consistent draft plan document o Forum to consider issue of Design Code, i.e. Is “Design Code / Guide” the wrong type of document? Too constrictive? Is there a more flexible and appropriate planning instrument, i.e. a Supplementary Planning Guide? o Planning Policy - to consider how a NP design code would work - integral to plan or separate? o Forum to consider how the plan addresses concerns regarding development 6. Impact of emerging Local Plan on draft Neighbourhood Plan Planning Policy Team to consider sustainability criteria for the Forum - align with emerging ALP? Would it be easier if SBNF replace the One Planet Principles with UN Sustainable Development Goals and what is the outcome of the A&W Climate Assembly? Meeting closed at 16.42 Attendees: Moira Hayes (MH) Adur Planning Policy Manager Dave Collins (DC) SBNF Chair Kevin Hall (KH) Vice Chair Mike Whelan (MW) Secretary James Breckell (JB) Architect Mike Gibson (MG) Planning Consultant Apologies for absence received from: Jonathan Marshall (JM) Treasurer David Johnson (DJ) SBRA #minutes #management #funding #ADC

SBNF AGM 2018 Minutes Friday 9th March 2018 Hall of the Church of the Good Shepherd. 21 members in attendance Apologies: Maurice Pitchford John Haffenden (JH) commended Dawn Clenton-Sparey for all her dedication and effort over the years and wished her all the best with her family commitments. Unfortunately John is also forced to stand down due to family commitments. The Forum thank John Haffenden for his outstanding efforts to connect with key stakeholders and drive forward the agenda of the Forum. Elections Chairman: Dave Collins (DC) Proposed by Joss Loader and seconded by Liza McKinney Unanimous support Vice chair - Tony Wallington (TW) Proposed and seconded by Joan and Joyce Secretary - Mike Whelan (MW) Proposed by Joss Loader and seconded by Liza McKinney Treasurer - Jonathan Marshall (JM) to remain Treasurer’s Report The Forum has a number of outstanding debts It is essential that funding is found Working Group Leaders Green & Blue Neighbourhood Gwenn Parker-Tregoat to be replaced by Stella Filmer (SF) - no objections Regeneration & (re)Development Dave Collins to continue as leader Community Facilities The Forum does not believe Maurice has resigned, although his health has affected his ability to progress the work and any help he can receive would be greatly appreciated. Transport & Movement TW & MW to co-lead Community engagement Paul Davis is stepping down. No-one present was willing to take this role. Constitution Paul Davis proposed changes, Joss seconded Unanimous agreement. Committee quorum will be a minimum of 5. Several other amendments were agreed which can be viewed by clicking here. Liza Mckinney suggested “all residents on beach should be considered members” MW explained that whilst the Forum has every intention to be inclusive, "members" is a specific term which in this context, applies to those who are eligible to vote at the AGM and make changes to the constitution. Locality was very explicit that there are “legal obligations for members”. They pointed out that “if members do not consider the Basic Conditions of neighbourhood plans, then the whole Plan could fail to conform”. Inclusion Joss Loader stated that “not everyone has the Internet, you are excluding residents” MW explained the impracticalities, budgetary limitations, negative impact on the environement and lack of voluntary support to distribute every single amendment of a 60 page document in paper form to every household. MW stated that the Forum is actively monitoring engagement and taking steps to ensure balanced proportional representation. The problem is not lack of involvement by the older generation. By contrast, the older generation is over-represented. This was evident when looking at the average age of attendees at the AGM. MW also pointed out that the vast majority of Forum Committee members are over 50, as is the case with the working group members, their social networks and other representatives of community groups which are consulted. The Forum needs to encourage the involvement of anyone who can engage with local groups with a young membership. MW referred everyone to the engagement statistics available on the website and the 2017 community engagement report, which states the following: The Neighbourhood Forum must plan for the next 15 years. During this period it is predicted that both the youngest age group and oldest age group will increase the most. The Forum must also consider the needs of the wider community in Adur who wish to visit the Beach and make use of the facilities - including the +/-1,500 new homes (and commercial developments) being provided in the immediate vicinity - in order to be eligible for funding from new developments. In this context, it is important to note that the size and nature of the new developments are designed to attract a relatively young population to live and work in the area, many of whom will be moving from Hove, Brighton, London, etc. where digital literacy is even higher than Adur. The vast majority of Shoreham Beach residents are also under the age of 65. In this age group, internet literacy is well above 90%. In 2015, under 45s on Shoreham Beach repeatedly requested that the Forum provide them with the means to communicate and participate online - through emails, surveys, polls, forums, etc - rather than purely through printed literature and public meetings. In the South East, Internet access in 2017 is 94% and is increasing all the time. 90% of adults in West Sussex have used the internet. Marine Ward is equipped with fast and reliable broadband, good 3G and 4G mobile coverage, a local computer shop on the High Street and free use of computers at the local library. Internet use and the elderly In the UK, nearly three quarters of over 65-74yr olds have easy access to the Internet and use it regularly. This drops to less than ~45% for over 75s. Only a quarter of over 65s use social networking and several local residents have expressed their outright refusal to use the Internet at all. Conversely, the over 65 age group are much more likely to read local magazines and printed newspapers, participate in local groups and attend public meetings. Hence the need to continue with Have Your Say Days, press releases and updates in Beach News Magazine. The household #survey conducted by the Forum in 2015 followed a door-to-door, ‘paper-first’ strategy, with the an online option. The response rate of the over 65 age group was disproportionate to the actual makeup of the Beach population. The ratio of responses was almost double the actual proportion of elderly residents. This age group was therefore over-represented in the resulting data. The over 65s are also very vocal in Forum have your say days and other public engagement events, and the management committee is mostly over 50 - therefore the Forum has also been using online tools to balance out the data and build a more accurate representation of the local population. Time and Money Digital tools provide a fast and accurate way to validate contact info, verify the location and identity of respondents, avoid duplication, calculate results, cross-reference data, generate reports and provide transparency. Online communication also ensures that data can be easily aggregated and anonymised. Digital information is up to date, feedback is immediate and supporting information can be made available through links and attachments. As an example, the paper-based Household Survey report cost several thousand pounds and took six months to produce, by contrast, the Young People’s Survey cost £20 and results are available instantly. With an ever-decreasing budget, the Forum needs to balance communications to reach the widest possible audience, for the lowest possible cost. AOB SF enquired if key milestones will be discussed at the next management meeting. MW stated that this available on the website and a review will be added to the next meeting agenda. Spencer said: “we will soon lose the view of the South Downs” “...we seem to be powerless to stop all the development north of the River Adur” Ben Stride explained that this is unfortunately outside the designated area for Marine Ward and therefore not in our remit. The residents who live in that area should support the efforts of SBNF and formulate their own Neighbourhood Plan. Please be aware that a draft neighbourhood plan must meet the following legal requirements if it is to proceed to referendum: must be appropriate to national policy must contribute to the achievement of sustainable development must be in general conformity with the council's plans must be compatible with human rights requirements must be compatible with EU obligations. Please contact us if you are willing to help audit the plan to ensure it meets all the criteria. You can find a wide range of resources to help with this process here: shorehambeachforum.com/resources Printable copy of these minutes: #management #AGM #minutes #funding

How to ensure opportunities come back to the community An independent examiner of Neighbourhood Plans reflects on some of the plans that have been examined so far and also talks about the opportunities for benefits to come back to communities, for example through Developer Contributions like the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). #video #funding

Seven simple ways to help us finish your Neighbourhood Plan Welcome to all our new subscribers and members. The Neighbourhood Plan aims to protect and strengthen what works here (as decided by the community) and change what doesn’t. To do this well, we need more people to raise awareness, consult with fellow residents about the policies that affect them and help to gather the evidence to finalise the plan. Have your say and help shape the future of Shoreham Beach. The Neighbourhood Forum must plan for the next 15 years. During this period it is predicted that both the youngest age group and oldest age group will increase the most. The Forum must also consider the impact of the wider community in Adur who wish to visit the Beach and make use of the facilities - including the +/-1,500 new homes (and commercial developments) in the immediate vicinity. How you can help 1. Public events Supply a venue and/or help us organise our next Have Your Say day 2. Spread the word in the neighbourhood Print off the draft Plan or posters and display in your shop / cafe / workplace 3. Stay in touch Subscribe to our mailing list or become a member. ​ 4. Spread the word online Invite your friends and colleagues via the website share buttons or our pages on social media: Facebook / LinkedIn / nextdoor.com or Youtube 5. Evidence Get your kids, their friends and your school to fill in the Young People Survey and look out for other surveys and polls. 6. Funding Membership of the Forum is free, but we rely on grants and donations to fund our community engagement work. If you feel able to contribute, by offering a venue, helping to submit grant applications or by making a small donation, please click on the link. It’s easy to donate - you can choose your own amount and payment method - either Paypal or credit card. We also need help to determine approximate cost and ways of funding the infrastructure proposed in the Plan. Send us an email if you have specialist knowledge of planning, development or crowdfunding. 7. Monitor and Measure Once the Plan is complete, help to monitor the implementation and measure progress. Send us an email and let us know which of the main issues/topics you would be interested in helping with. See the Monitoring section of the draft Plan for details. See our 2017 community engagement report for more details and ways to get involved. #funding

Neighbourhood Plan August 2014 update On behalf of the Neighbourhood Plan Forum, I am writing to say a belated thank you for your support and encouragement to those who attended our inaugural meeting on Tuesday 15th July and we were delighted by the great turnout. It shows how committed residents are to the future of Shoreham Beach and we look forward to working with you in future. As a result of the positive feedback from the meeting, we have now formally lodged the Neighbourhood Plan Application with Adur District Council, and submitted the constitution which was formally adopted at our meeting on July 15th. We have already had positive feedback from the council and it is our intention to press ahead with drawing up a plan. As we explained at the meeting, this is a fairly lengthy and detailed process that will culminate in a public referendum, hopefully next year. In the meantime, we are planning a full public consultation exercise to make sure that residents are kept up to speed and are able to make informed decisions in advance of the referendum. Much of the work needed to prepare the Shoreham Beach Neighbourhood Plan will be done through topic working groups. The first meeting of the Forum Management Committee after last month’s inaugural forum meeting, identified provisional topics and leaders for several working groups. These topics will be developed and the responsibilities of the working groups will be finalised as more Forum members get involved and start work. We would very much like to hear from you if you would like to contribute to one or more of the Working Groups. If you want more information, or want to contact any of the group leaders, please write to us at shorehambeachforum@gmail.com The groups include: Residential development and regeneration. Members will analyse development trends that are affecting the Beach. This will include identifying the cumulative impact to date of the re-development of single properties for two or more dwelling units. In consultation with the Local Planning Authority, the group will work to develop the Shoreham Beach Urban Design Guide, to set standards for all types of development in the area, including the small-scale redevelopment of Bungalows. Dawn Clenton-Sparey Community facilities. Looking at pre-school and school provision, health facilities, provision for children’s play, youth facilities and provision for the elderly. The starting point will be a survey of existing provision, resulting in a report that identifies any gaps or areas for improvement. Maurice Pitchford Conservation of the natural and historic environment. The Council sees the impending Ferry Road improvement/landscaping/car parking projects as encouraging more people to visit the area (see Beach News page 9).Unfortunately, this scheme is now delayed until Spring 2015. Recognising this, the Neighbourhood Plan will develop proposals for the area (hopefully working in partnership with organisations who maintain the Nature Reserve and the Fort) to establish a balance between conservation and development. Cllr Liza McKinney Local businesses and jobs. The group will aim to contact those who work in the area, either in industrial/commercial premises, the shops or, increasingly as in self- employment from home. The first task of this group will be to make contact with employers to establish their views about the future of the area and whether the Neighbourhood Plan could help to sustain their businesses. Maggie Taylor Transport and movement. The issue of movement for residents and visitors, both on and off the Beach, will be an important component of the Neighbourhood Plan. This includes provision for pedestrians, cyclists, private cars and public transport. This group’s work will start by identifying residents’ concerns, including car parking, traffic speeds, frequency and public transport costs and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Cllr Ben Stride Sustainable green neighbourhood. Can Shoreham Beach reduce its carbon footprint by reducing its energy consumption through improved building insulation and by generating some of its own renewable energy (solar panels), together with improved waste management (reducing, recycling and re-using) and reduced water consumption? These are some of the measures, which aim to protect the environment and reduce household bills, will top the agenda. Jennie Tindall Community Engagement Strategy and Programme. The production of a Neighbourhood Plan has to involve residents from all parts of the Beach and all groups living and working here. This group is developing a strategy to make sure this happens. Our programme will include recruiting members across the area, organizing three open Forum “Have Your Say” events at different venues, and workshops led by the Topic Working Groups. Joss Loader All work will be supported by the Shoreham Beach Neighbourhood Forum Planning Adviser, Professor Mike Gibson MSc BA DipTp MRTPI. In the meantime, please bear with us during this quieter holiday period. A lot of preparation work is going on behind the scenes and we look forward to your continued support from September onwards. If in the meantime, you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact me via the forum email address above. Finally, I ask that if you have received this correspondence by hand delivery, then please let us know your email address by return if you have one, as we can then update you more quickly. Kind regards, Maggie Taylor On behalf of Shoreham Beach Neighbourhood Plan Management Committee #planning #bungalows #management #heritage

New Beach Boardwalk Extension in May 2018 and NP Draft Policy Adur Council is planning to start building the boardwalk extension to Forthaven in May 2018. Here you will find the planned route and notification to residents. Our own research and consultations suggest that a westward boardwalk to Beach Green and beyond is needed even more. Why is it needed? With increasing numbers of visitors, the boardwalk provides access to those less able to walk on the shingle and reduces impact upon the rare vegetation. This heat map shows the routes the popularity of the existing boardwalk for those who track their walking and running activity. You can see that a lot of people continue westward along the shingle towards Beach Green. Where do people access the water? This activity map (made by users of the fitness tracker app) shows the routes people take across the beach to access the water - see more detailed map here > It will be interesting to see if the new eastward boardwalk extension enables an increase in water activity in that area... although this is limited due to the popularity of fishing > and associated waste at the West breakwater of Shoreham Port. Draft Neighbourhood Plan Policy TM4: Boardwalk Extension to the west The Plan strongly supports the extension of the pedestrian boardwalk westwards to the proposed new Beach Green cafe and from Beach Green to Widewater lagoon - as outlined in the Beach Green Master Plan Policy NR 4. The Rationale: Improve pedestrian safety and reduce clashes with cars and cyclists by extending the pedestrian boardwalk westwards to the new Beach Green cafe and from Beach Green to Widewater lagoon. Find out more here about the draft policy here: http://bit.ly/sbnf-plan-latest Beach Green Draft Master Plan: http://bit.ly/sbnf-beach-green-master-plan Transport & Movement Workshop 2016: http://bit.ly/trans-report-feb2016 Notification from ADC Engineering Services: Following the successful completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the Shoreham Beach walkway, tenders for Phase 3 of the project were issued on Friday 23 February, and construction of the walkway is likely to commence on site in May 2018. The above plan (click to enlarge) shows the route of the Phase 3 walkway. The works are to be undertaken by the Council under its Permitted Development Rights, these rights are also known as “permitted development” (PD) as set out in The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amended) (no.2) (England) Order2008. This covers works that do not require planning permission. The route of the phase 3 extension will run on land owned by Adur DC, between the existing hard concrete access path at The Burrells, and the boundary of their land at Shoreham Fort and then on Land owned by Shoreham Fort. The path will follow the more northerly existing established footpath on the shingle beach between the patches of vegetated shingle, to the Shoreham Port land where it will turn north to follow the existing muddy path before joining to the WSCC footpath at Forthaven. The chosen route is designed to give access to those less able to walk on the shingle and to formalise a route that reduces impact upon the vegetation. The proposed route has been discussed and agreed with the Environment Agency and with West Sussex County Council’s, County Ecologist and Countryside Ranger, and Shoreham Port. Whilst the project is widely supported by the Adur Councillor, Shoreham Residents Association, Friends of Shoreham Beach and the residents of Shoreham in general, we understand that some residents whose properties back onto the beach may have concerns Should you wish to comment or seek clarification on any points, please contact Ken Argent, Engineer via e-mail: ken.argent@adur-worthing.gov.uk #boardwalk #ADC #heritage

Join the Green Working Group Much has been done to prepare for the last Have Your Say Events earlier this month which I hope you may have had the chance to attend. However much remains to be done: We have gathered plenty of feedback forms which we need to process and act upon. Policies remain to be refined and possibly some still to be defined. There are some very exciting prospects and projects that could emerge from all this public engagement and body of evidence that has been gathered over the past 2 years. It is so wonderful to witness a Neighbourhood coming together to talk about issues that matters to them, their family and community - whatever they may be. Within the Green & Blue Neighbourhood group (renamed after considering how much blue our green neighbourhood was made of on the Beach!). We will continue looking at ways to achieve a sustainable community and seek to further protect the 'Green and Blue' spaces on the Beach - and finalise the relevant policies. Some of these issues could be further defined with a 'statutory policy. ' Others will appear in the 'non-statutory' part of the Neighbourhood Plan: ideas and wishes to include threads and projects that could be made viable via the gathering of like-minded people and brought to action. People who want to make a difference within and for their community. We will be further focused on working together with residents and 'friends of...' groups already working for - and with - the community - on the Beach. We will be creating links with the different local organisations and stakeholders, to secure more manpower and other potential opportunities for financial support to projects. We intend to explore ways of accessing funding to make things happen. We will explore what corridors and rain gardens are. We will engage with flooding issues and the Environment Agency Tidal Walls scheme. We will look at sustainable energy: we will be working with our children to help them define what they love so much about the Beach and what kind of Neighbourhood they want when they grow up! The debate remains open, ideas and intentions can manifest where there is a will. This Forum is a platform, it generates policies and witnesses the genesis of many ideas. As a member of the Shoreham Beach Community your input in this Plan is very valuable, even crucial. If you think you would have a bit of time to meet up as a group to drive action and ideas forward. Please check this page for an update of the work so far and to join the group http://www.shorehambeachforum.com/green-neighbourhood I would be delighted to hear from you. Kind regards, Gwenn Parker-Trégoat #flooddefences

How to address design and character within a neighbourhood plan An informative video by Planning Aid England about how to do a design and character assessment as part of your neighbourhood plan. They discuss common themes and issues raised by neighbourhood planning groups, how the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out what design policy can and can't do, and how to reinforce local distinctiveness through your neighbourhood plan. They also talk through how to do a character assessment: what it is, why you might produce one, how to use the information it produces and what the benefits are. This is backed up by real life examples from neighbourhood planning groups. Find out more about SBNF's own development working group here: http://www.shorehambeachforum.com/regeneration #design #housing #heritage

Budget cuts wiping out public toilets Adur & Worthing Council is not alone in the struggle to fund public toilets. Across the country, nearly two thousand council-run public toilets have closed in the last decade, leaving many areas with no facilities at all, a new investigation has revealed. A freedom of information request by the BBC found 1,782 council-run public toilets have closed since 2006. Ten areas - including Newcastle and Wandsworth - now have no public toilets at all on their high streets or public spaces. According to the research, 22 councils now only have one public toilet and four out of five councils have cut spending on toilets since 2011. A spokesman for the Local Government Association ( LGA) said budget cuts meant councils had less to spend on community services. However, a spokesman said councils were doing everything they could to keep public toilets open, including running community toilet schemes to enable pubs, restaurants and shops to make their toilets available to the public. The research by the BBC showed that many public toilets have undergone ‘extreme’ makeovers rather than being demolished or closed down. For example, derelict toilets have been turned into bars, food outlets, art galleries, recording studios and other local businesses. Adur & Worthing now has a £44.2m gap in council funding following a worse than expected grant settlement from Government. If you would like to have a say in community facilities, visit the Community Facilities Working Group page or sign up as a member of our Neighbourhood Forum #BeachGreen #funding