Parish Council

Communities across the National Park have been asked to help provide evidence for the Review of the South Downs Local Plan.

In particular, parishes are being given an opportunity to produce short Parish Priority Statements, summarising the main needs of their areas, the prevailing views of their communities and what makes their place special.

Following successful community involvement at the B-earth Day event in May, more inputs were obtained at the Fun on the Farm event in June which provided scores of villagers with an opportunity to have their say.

With a number of Parish Councillors retiring in May and the opportunity for other residents to take their places as part of the election process, there are now some new faces on the Council – and also some vacancies. 

Doug Jones, Maggie Johnston, Tim Crew, Lynne Ashcroft, Sarah Stevens and Heidi Coates all retired after many years of service to the community: over 70 years in total.

The South Downs Planning Authority has started to review its Local Plan and has asked Parish Councils to help provide evidence. 

In particular, parishes are being given an opportunity to produce short Parish Priority Statements, summarising the main needs of their areas, the prevailing views of their communities and what makes their place special.

At the recent meeting of Buriton Parish Council there were reports of a number of complaints from residents about the development process at Greenway Lane.

Most complaints related to car parking issues when contractors’ vehicles had apparently been parking in Glebe Road which appeared to be contrary to the agreed Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP). 

A Government Planning Inspector has overturned the South Downs National Park’s decision to refuse proposals to develop a field near the Greenway Lane roundabout for up to 60 holiday lodges, spaces for shops and cafes, a re-charge centre for electric vehicles and internal roads with about 125 parking spaces.  

In April 2022 the National Park’s Planning Committee had unanimously refused the planning application but the Inspector’s decision means the development can now be built. 

You may not know about it, but Buriton is the site of an annual migration in late winter or early spring when common toads travel back to their breeding areas: usually on the first warm, damp evenings of the year (February to April).

Toads spend the majority their year on land, in woodland, hedgerows and gardens. They are nocturnal creatures, and hibernate each winter in frost-free undergrowth or holes. Every Spring they must return to the water to breed.

EHDC has asked for the attached ‘Parish Notice of Election’ to be displayed on this website (pdf document at the foot of this web-page) and for the details of the acceptable forms of photo ID to be displayed as well (pdf document also at the foot of this web-page).

There are big changes affecting the forthcoming elections in May and more information has already been provided on this website here and here.

The last stage of the 8-day Public Inquiry took place on-line (rather than in-person in Midhurst) with the ‘Closing Statements’ session beginning at 10am on Tuesday 7th March

The session included lengthy statements by the Barristers representing the South Downs National Park Authority’s planners and the opposing developers.

Having been recorded whilst being transmitted ‘live’, it can all be watched via this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qZju-HrYiQ

The deadline to submit nomination forms is 4pm on Tuesday 4th April.  

With some of the current Councillors retiring this year there will be vacancies.  

Please encourage anyone interested in helping with the Parish Council’s business to complete the paperwork in good time.

Nomination forms have to be taken by hand to EHDC’s offices ‘by appointment only’: from 17^th March to 4^th April.

The last stage of the 8-day Public Inquiry will take place on-line (rather than in-person in Midhurst).

This session will include the Closing Statements by the Barristers representing the South Downs National Park Authority and the opposing developers.

The National Park’s staff are arranging to webcast the session live via this YouTube link from 10am on Tuesday 7th March: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qZju-HrYiQ

The link will also be publicised on the SDNPA website.