Thursday, April 27, 2017

Littlehampton on going local issues of concern






This morning I found a response in my email box from West Sussex would be Councillor Gary Markwell, who is on the campaign trail for the elections on May 4th
I have to say that I am surprised that he read my letter so thoroughly and responded to everything I mentioned for which I am pleased.
I have now responded.

Dear Mrs Belt,

Firstly thank you for taking the time to contact me.

I was very concerned to receive your email and see the photos of the fly tipping attached. Has this all taken place since the reduction in hours? Also has this been reported to the County Council? As I am currently only a candidate, I am not in a position to take any direct action on this, but should I be successfully elected next Thursday, I would be happy to take up your concerns directly with the County Council on your behalf.

I understand your concerns regarding the effect of new housing development on our local roads. One of my top priorities should I be successfully elected on 4th May is to campaign against over-development locally. We have seen 100s of new houses being built to the South of Arundel over the last few years, with no improvement to the A259, A27 or Lyminster Road. This also affects local services such as school places and doctor availability. I believe we must have the infrastructure in place to serve any future development before it is built.

Finally, I agree with your concerns about the local traffic situation, and I believe one of the biggest issues we face in Arundel & Courtwick is the upgrade of the A27 Arundel Bypass. I share your view that the current traffic situation is unacceptable and an improvement is urgently required. I look forward to seeing the public consultation in the summer to see which route options are included. 

With just over one week left until election day, I do hope I can count on your vote next Thursday!

Kind Regards

Gary Markwell



Below is my original letter repeated as a reminder only

Subject: Raising an issue of concern

Good day to you Mr. Markwell,

On the glossy leaflet that came through our door, I found this email address, under the heading 'If you would like to raise an issue of concern…..'
My husband and I have three issues of concern.

1.
I would like to know what if anything, is going to be done about the absolute chaos at the tip in Mill Lane, just around the corner from our home in Toddington Lane, Littlehampton.
We are both outraged at the new opening hours.
The tip should be open from 8am at the latest when it is now not open until 10am.
Two days of closure have been introduced.
These are Tuesday and Wednesday.
This represents an appalling reduction in the service and is that main contributing factor in the massive increase in fly tipping in the area.
This difficulty in getting to the tip is making filthy unhealthy piles of household mess all over our wonderful countryside hereabouts.
The queues to get into the tip are now horrendous and if you do not know about this yourself, I suggest you make an unannounced visit  to see with you own eyes the disruption that is caused.
Yesterday morning by 9.45am, there was already a queue reaching back to the main road and in the other direction cars were also parked waiting for the opening all the way back to the building sites.
At that time, I returned home with my three bags of green garden cuttings.
I returned at 1pm when it was not quite so bad but the trip, that used to take me 12-15 minutes for the return drive took me nearly an hour.

2.
The mass of building work going on in Toddington Lane/Mill Lane, north of the rail line which is also close to our home.
The road should have been constructed first, before the whole 'New Town' that is being thrown up at a scary rate of knots, was allowed to continue.
The mess that is left on the narrow road has during the wet weather in the winter been a quagmire and is a dust bowl on dry days.
There are now cars parked everywhere and passing what is now a serious bottleneck is already difficult before hundreds of new families move in.

3.
I do not like to complain about Littlehampton because I have lived in the area for fifty six of seven years and have been happy here.
When we moved into Toddington Lane about twenty five years ago it was a quiet country lane. now it is a mess.
My husband and myself are triathletes, but now I do not like to ride on the main roads any more because of the dreadful traffic situation.
Riding our bikes from our home up toward Arundel is far too dangerous now, almost out of the question.
My husband has a business concern on the A 27 at Poling on The Vinery Estate and some evenings it has been taking him 30-50 minutes to get home on what was a ten minute trip.
The heavy hold ups at Cross Bush/ McDonnalds area traffic lights is a nightmare due to the A27 Arundel bypass hold up in construction which seems a criminal affront to local people.

Yours in sport and hope

Daphne Belt
Littlehampton Sports Forum
Sports Person of the Year 2016 & 2014

Daphne Belt
Highway
Toddington Lane
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 6JX

Tel: 07990803274


Stop me any way you can if ever I say that I am standing for election.
The following poem contains the scary manifesto I have in mind.

When I Am Prime Minister

The day when Prime Minister I become
Leadership fairer and much more sage
Will make new laws and change will come
For the young and those in older age.

Plain bad manners and rude words
Will be absolutely and completely banned
Guilty ones sent out to live in wild herds
Guarded only by the Almighty’s hand.

When much too much, are ones is earnings
Weekly charity work will be enforced
There will be monthly town centre burnings
Of rapists and paedophiles endorsed.

For spending years in invalid caring
This investment will be compensated
Replaced will be the rags they’re wearing
Nurses, for just rewards rightly nominated.

Lesser crimes still will not pass free
Pavement blocking shoppers admonished
They must endless footage of themselves see
Staring into space as if astonished.

Cold caller menaces who a phone call place
The very plague of these modern days
Will be dispatched by rocket ship into space
Hurtling on into the suns burning rays.

Vote for me should you like these words
Rather than a much more sinister minister
Laws as loud and clear as Beethoven’s chords
Oh yes we can, when I am Prime Minister. 



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