Pease Pottage Focus Group Part of the Slaugham Parish Council Neighbourhood Steering Group

MEETING MINUTES rd

Meeting held on Wednesday 23 May 2012 at 7.30pm in the Black Swan Pease Pottage. The Minutes will remain in DRAFT until approved and signed at the next suitable meeting.

__________________________________________________________________________________ Steering Group Members Present: David Clare, Billie Bridges. Others Present (All Pease Pottage Residents): John Hamlet, Ray & Pam Brown, Lorette Holborn, Kim Godwin, Patricia Simons, Lesley Vail, Hilary & Ahmed Darvishi, Daphne Morgan, June & Rod Glassford, Carol & Mike Whiteford, Julie Goyder. 1

Apologieses for absence: Simon Goyder

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Neighbourhood Plan Explanation & Focus Group Role – DC began with a brief summary of the Council’s work for the Neighbourhood plan so far and explained the role that the Pease Pottage Focus group would play in that process.

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Reasons for Living in Pease Pottage and what is important for the residents: In order for the group to get to know each other better and find out where each person was coming from, everyone introduced themselves and said a few words about why Pease Pottage is important to them.

Common themes expressed were that people: 1.

Like the Village ‘as it is’.

2.

Like that it is a village and not a town and that it is separate from Crawley and Horsham.

3.

Like that that it is a rural village in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

4.

Like that while it is in the country it is still close enough to facilities that the local towns have to offer, that it is quiet and convenient.

5.

Like that it is a good location to live, in relation to Gatwick, the motorway and local stations for commuting.

6.

Like that the Black Swan is becoming more of a ‘locals’ pub now that the Grapes has gone.

7.

Feel that it is a good place to raise children with good schools in the area.

8.

Want to grow old here, in a place where the sense of community is growing.

9.

Want to cherish and preserve a) the local countryside, woodland and wildlife and b) the heritage of the area including old or historic buildings.

10. Like the local people and parish as a whole. 11. Live in Pease Pottage because of family ties or proximity to family. 4

Problems in the area: The most mentioned problem areas were: 1. 2. 3. 4.

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Traffic – excessive traffic and the speed it travels through the village is the main blight to the area. HGV and other vehicles using village as a car park. Limited public transport. Large number of proposals and applications to build more houses in the area.

The future for Pease Pottage: The two things that everyone agreed about were: 1) that they did not want any large scale development in the village and 2) that the traffic urgently needed reducing. People felt that it is very important that the village needs to be respected as a village and that consultation is essential for ALL proposals that concern or affect it.

Views expressed in term of future development included: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j)

No more building at all. Some feel that the development of The Squires and The Hemsleys was more than the village can handle. Piecemeal development would be better than large scale. Only development of brown field sites would be acceptable. No development that involved the destruction of old/historical buildings would be acceptable. The long wait for the building of the Finches Field Community Centre has frustrated many and made them distrustful of promises made by developers. Most moved to the village knowing it has limited facilities so it should stay as it is, so development in the future should only be considered if the village decide it needs something. Possible needs for the future: limited affordable housing so people brought up here can afford to stay here if they want to; sheltered accommodation so people can see out their days here. Ideal site for development / improvement – the warehouse site opposite the Black Swan. It is accepted that there is a varied collection of types of houses and bungalows in the village, but it is felt that any future building should be in keeping with the houses within the immediate vicinity of development. Drastic Traffic Calming is required before any more houses are even considered.

7. Non Parish Council Member For Steering Group – Kim Godwin agreed to take on this role and possibly role of Chair if the focus group meets again. 8.

Results of this meeting to be put in format required by steering group.

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Date for future meeting: To be advised if and when required.

Meeting closed at 9.15pm

Signed ________________________________________________ Date ________________________________