Welcome to the Local Alliance Blog

  This week, we have happily lent our blog to the Scouts: if we can help you, or if you want to help us, get in touch . Tim What makes a Good Scout? Is it being able to DYB, DYB, DYB or DOB, DOB, DOB? Or, maybe the ability to do bob a job? Maybe that’s what you think, but times have changed. Do you have a young person in your house who likes trying different things, learning new skills & meeting new people? What about camping, caving, crafts, team building, fire-lighting, cooking, games, hiking, sleepovers, skill making, adventures, canoeing, map reading, caring, sharing and making new friends?  Scouting is still aimed at young people between the ages of 6-25. However, the fun doesn’t have to stop when you become a grown up. If you feel “stuck in a rut,” have some unwanted time on your hands and are never too old to try something new, then maybe you should think about volunteering. We are not only looking for people to run, or help run meetings. We need treasurers, secreta...

  What is Singleton known for? A week ago, I would have answered just the Open Air Museum, until I discovered it is also where BBC One’s “The Repair Shop” is filmed . I enjoy driving through Singleton most days, as it is on my preferred commute to Walton-On-Thames. I also hope at some point over the Summer to while away a bit of time in the garden of the Fox Goes Free, looking at the animals in the adjoining field. Let’s hope Half Term is the start of Summer. As things have eased further, more places are opening up again, widening our leisure possibilities: there are several historic sites including Petworth House , and our beaches, including these three that have been named by The Times as being among the top 10 in England . If you are thinking about eating out, these restaurants in Chichester come highly recommended .  I quite often mention The Novium . There is a new exhibition you might want to catch all about the role of Graylingwell Hospital in Chichester’s history ...

  Apologies, we did not blog last week because of the local elections -   we got mentioned by the BBC . Once again we want to thank everyone in Selsey who voted for Donna and made her their new County Councillor, and those of you who lent us moral support from further afield. Concern about the scale of development has bubbled up again following an application for an Environmental Impact Assessment for 320 homes in East Wittering . If you want to study it in more detail or comment upon it, you can click here .  As national restrictions ease further, you may fancy venturing further afield in which case these places might interest you , as might these seaside spots . Due to a lapse of legislation, decision-taking Council meetings are held in person again: Donna has her first full County on the 21st which is a hybrid meeting . CDC are holding some in public whilst the rest will continue online . There is also a by-election for the Chichester East ward of CDC : nomi...

  And here I am again, it has been a while since I sent my last Blog but so much has happened in the last month I felt it worth writing about. It all started at the beginning of April when, as part of the Local Alliance team, I put on my walking shoes and started to deliver literature in support of Donna Johnson, for her campaign to be elected to West Sussex County Council at the election to be held on May 6th. I was lucky enough to enlist the help of my husband Mick and 2 of my granddaughters Lilly-Ellen and Kylie-Rose ( they knew what to do as they have helped in previous campaigns) so wearing their mini rosettes off we went to get started. I was amazed at their enthusiasm, their help was invaluable and in a very short time we managed to cover 52 roads. My biggest surprise was how they engaged with the many residents who took the time to talk to them and the conversations that ensued, so if you were one of those residents thank you, not only have you built their confidence you ma...

  Do you like a walk in the woods? On a hot summer’s day, either a beach with a bit of breeze or sheltered woodland do the trick for me. I am Sussex born and Sussex bred so am drawn instinctively to both. However, I hadn't realised that we live near to Britain’s most ancient trees until this article about Kingley Vale popped up . You may also fancy a stroll in some enchanted bluebell walks and like to see for yourself this apparently haunted, hidden, abandoned school and church .  This week we caught up with my first two daughters; my second one is a paramedic and her other half works with her so opportunities when we are all available are increasingly rare. We met midway in Arundel again because we all had other things on. The castle prompted some discussion - I recalled my visits there in the past: if you've been there, or seen it from afar, I am sure you will agree it remains one of Sussex’s most charming . A pop-up local Crafts shop opens on the edge of Selsey’s holid...

  Are you worried about planning and the impact of over-development in your area? Many of us are and we are not alone. Other parts of West Sussex have concerns about their home areas too, as this article about one I spent part of my childhood in demonstrates. More locally, following a meeting which Donna attended, Selsey Town Council was able to ensure that   residents’ concerns about a planning application and other issues re the holiday park were addressed.  One of the local spots Donna and I like to frequent is Denmans Garden , so we were pleased to learn that the tale of its renaissance is going to be told online to raise money for the Sussex Snowdrop Trust. At this juncture, it seems appropriate to also share with you information about places opening in West Sussex as part of the National Garden Scheme 2021 . It has been another busy week in the WSCC campaign but the team has finished our first leaflet delivery. There has been some speculation about longer ter...

  Elections are not easy and neither should they be  -  if you don't have real passion for what you are doing or, indeed trying to do, it's hard to get through them. For those of us not affiliated to the main parties, we have to organise and fund everything ourselves. Absolutely nothing is done for us. As I say, without real passion, it would be hard to push through. Pushing through is what we've been doing this week; the task of delivering 5000 odd election leaflets in 5/6 days was intimidating to say the least but, we're about there. I really dislike negative campaigns and we will never start one, but I will certainly defend myself and our Alliance when necessary. Is it uncomfortable when people start being critical? Not really...as I say passion and commitment to our Community pushes me - and our incredible team of members and volunteers - through.  Personally, I'd have been very happy to have seen other individual Independents or Groups stand as well, but it is ...