March 7, 2025

 

Welcome to this week’s blog - thanks for having a read.

Last Sunday, Mick presented the first Local Alliance Scooter trophy at the Selsey Scooter Club’s first event of 2035. On Tuesday Donna and Steve had CDC’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee, with Donna in the Chair. On Wednesday Donna had WSCC’s Health & Adult Social Care Committee in the morning while Val had CDC’s Licensing Committee. We all joined them at STC at 7pm for a single item Extraordinary Full Council before Ian, Andrew, Mick, Val, Ali and Gareth had STC’s Planning Committee. Next week Donna and Val have CDC’s Planning Committee on Wednesday. That evening, Ali, Mike, Donna, Ian, Andrew and I will be at STC for a Meeting of the Finance & Administration Group.

You can watch meetings live: CDC and WSCC.

To mark the fifth anniversary of the pandemic, a COVID-19 Day of Reflection will take place on 9 March across the UK. People are invited to come together to remember and reflect on this unique period of our history as well as their own experiences. The pandemic had a huge impact on all of us. This provides us with an opportunity to remember the friends and loved ones that we lost, as well as the sacrifices that so many people made. It is also a time to pay tribute to the work of health and social care staff, frontline workers, researchers and all those who volunteered and showed acts and kindness during this unprecedented time.

A week later, on Sunday March 16th, the Cross Market & More returns to the City, while on the 18th it is Selsey's Annual Town Meeting in the Selsey Centre at 6.30pm. Also in the Selsey Centre, in April, there are drop-in exhibitions about the options for possible new sea defence. 

A new free food event aimed at showing people how to eat healthy and cook satisfying meals on a budget takes place on Saturday 29 March in the city centre from 10am to 6pm. CDC has partnered with the Goodwood Estate for this new ‘Good Food For All Feastival’. There will be a stage with a kitchen to showcase a series of short demonstrations, presentations and talks from local chefs. There will also be a variety of stands where people can find delicious street food and drink and learn more.

Surface flooding is an ongoing problem, but increasingly we are realising people may have worsen things; the Government are allowing beavers to be released back into the wild which may help: - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/28/ultimate-bringers-of-life-cornwall-farmer-beavers-stop-flooding 

The better weather may have prompted some of you to wonder whether travellers will come to our coastal spots. Donna has heard that the parking team at CDC has recently arranged for some work to be done around the East Beach, Selsey site to assist with security and access, they have also discovered some damage to the infrastructure/land. The height barrier doesn't always prevent unauthorised access because it needs to be up to facilitate emergency and larger vehicle access. There will be visits made over the coming weeks and CDC will be closely monitoring the situation and considering further improvements. CDC is also encouraging the police to take action where there are unauthorised encampments.

CDC’s award-winning Community Wardens are celebrating their 20th anniversary. They work in Chichester East and Whyke; Chichester West; Tangmere and Oving; Selsey and The Witterings where they play a key role in bringing the community together, as well as dealing with environmental issues and working with the police to help reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and fear of crime. They also check in on elderly and vulnerable people, and are also seen as friendly authority figures to the young people in their community, offering both guidance and support.

Finally: - 

• Report potholes

• Warmer Homes

• Supporting You

• WSCC Meetings

• CDC Meetings

• STC Meetings

As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim