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Sandgate Park footbridge funding campaign

At the end of January 2019 a crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise funds to build a footbridge across the quarry stream between Horsham District Council’s Sandgate Park Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and the area of parkland owned by CEMEX north of their Sandgate Quarry (also confusingly called Sandgate Park).

The CEMEX parkland offers easy walking suitable for those less able to negotiate the rougher terrain of Sandgate Park (LNR) as well as views over the quarries and towards the South Downs, including Chanctonbury Ring. With its open south facing aspect sitting on one of the benches on the CEMEX parkland is a pleasant way to while away some time on a warmer day. Also the linkage between Sandgate Park (LNR) and the CEMEX parkland opens up new circular and linear walking routes.

Accessing the CEMEX parkland from the Badgers Holt end of the parks currently requires the steep muddy banks of the quarry stream to be negotiated and the stream itself crossed. This is hazardous, especially in the wetter weather. A variety of makeshift ‘bridges’ have been laid across the stream over the winter, from planks which have rotted and broken, to logs which are uneven and slippery.

HDC Parks & Countryside do not have the budget for a footbridge but grant funding for community projects is available from West Sussex Country Council. The process to bid for WSCC grant funds involves the setting up of a ‘crowdfunding’ campaign. This allows WSCC to gauge the level of public support for the project.

The crowdfunding campaign is being run by Sandgate Conservation Society and is fully supported by HDC Parks and Countryside.

The WSCC Local Committee is due to discuss our application for a grant at their meeting on 13th March. We are very optimistic that WSCC will agree to giving the project a significant grant which will help us to meet our funding target as the project has the support of HDC, our local councillor and Storrington & Sullington Parish council as well as more than 55 individual local backers who have pledged almost 40% of the total funding required.

Provided we meet our funding target we will be seeking to overshoot that target so that we can provide enhancements to the project such as improving the paths on the approaches to the new footbridge.

The footbridge will be of similar design to the one in the photograph. The build will be carried out by volunteers and overseen by HDC.

How to pledge your support

If you want to support this project please pledge a donation. Pledges do not need to be for much. At this stage, while we are waiting for WSCC’s grant decision, the number of backers is as important as the amount of money pledged, so even the minimum pledge of £2 would be very helpful.

You can pledge your donation at www.spacehive.com/sandgate-park-bridge

If you do not want to pledge your donation online you can send a cheque made out to Sandgate Conservation Society to

The Secretary
Sandgate Conservation Society
Greystones
Melton Avenue
Storrington
RH20 4BH

Your cheque will not be cashed unless and until the crowdfunding target is reached.

Phase 1 of Sandgate Country Park

We are please to be able to tell you that both sections of phase 1 of Sandgate Country Park are now open to public access.

Some of you may be aware that a condition of the planning approval given for the development of the RMC Workshops site north of the A283 between Storrington and the Washington roundabout (east of Hampers Lane) as Millford Grange housing development was that two former quarry areas would be made accessible to the public as Phase 1 of Sandgate Country Park. These areas are the former quarry north of the Millford Grange housing development and the area between the Cemex Sandgate Park Quarry (off Water Lane) and Sandgate Park.

The area north of the Millford Grange housing development became open to the public in early 2017 and, with the path provided by the National Trust across its adjacent field, provides a largely off road walking route from the BT telephone exchange (next to the fire station) in Storrington to Washington, the on-road sections being mainly quiet roads. This area is usually referred to as Millford Grange Country Park

The opening of the Water Lane area was promised for Autumn 2017 but that date came and went with no activity on the site. The Society continued to raise the matter with the Horsham District Council Planning Department and eventually there were small signs of activity on the Water Lane site, such as new fencing. More time passed with little visible progress. The Society continued to press HDC Planning for updates and in the Autumn work started on the creation of the paths and access points. The site became safe for public access in October 2018. This area is usually referred to as Water Lane Country Park

You can enter Water Lane Country Park from a gate on the corner of Water Lane and Sandgate Lane. There are two access points into Sandgate Park but both of these are currently difficult to use due to inclines, a stream and encroaching vegetation. The Society is currently liaising with HDC Parks on what can be done to improve accessibility.

The new area provides good, wide paths and a fascinating view of the Cemex and Britanniacrest quarries as well as a wonderful view across to the South Downs.

Please respect the area and its wildlife by picking up and disposing of dog waste and litter responsibly. There are no bins in the area so please take all waste away with you – discarded plastic bags full of dog waste have, unfortunately, already appeared.

New Chair of the trustees’ committee

We are pleased to be able to tell you that Chris Barrow has agreed to take over as Chair of the trustees’ committee. Photograph

Chris is a regular volunteer at our Sandgate Park work mornings and was elected onto the trustee committee in May 2018.

Repairing the 39 Steps

We have been sent this photograph of the National Trust and its volunteers repairing the 39 Steps.

The timber used was chestnut coppiced from Warren Hill.

Thanks to the guys for repairing the steps and making them safer to use.

National Trust & volunteers repairing the 39 Steps — Repairing the 39 Steps Summer 2018

Heath Common Design Statement 2018

Earlier this year the Society contributed to the consultation on the new Heath Common Design Statement produced by the Heath Common Residents Association.

Design Statements are produced by local communities and provide guidelines for new developments to encourage new developments that fit in with the area and are in keeping with local character.

The new Heath Common Design Statement was adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) by Horsham District Council on 19th July 2018.

The adopted Heath Common Design Statement and ancillary documentation can be found here https://www.horsham.gov.uk/planningpolicy/planning-policy/detailed-planning-guidance/design-statements

Sullington Warren field day tasks in Autumn 2018

You may be aware that there has been a change of local National Trust personnel in the last couple of months. We have said a fond goodbye to Andy who has taken another job in in different part of the country with another conservation organisation. We wish him and his family the best of luck for the future. In July we welcomed Ashley, who has been seconded from his permanent job in the Birling Gap area to cover our local ranger post until the end of the year.

In the short time Ashley will be with us he is keen that Sandgate Conservation Society field day volunteers carry out a couple of projects that have an identifiable conclusion, provide a visible improvement and give a sense of achievement. Much of the work we do on the Warren can seem invisible or require a long time before the benefits materialise.

The two tasks we will be working on are

clearing the area in front of the small wooden bench that overlooks the Green (up from the stony path towards the windmill shaft). This will open up the view from the bench over the Green. This work was started in July and is expected to continue in September and October.
clearing gorse from around the stone seat on the large barrow to open up views from the stone seat. You can see from photographs published elsewhere on this website that the view from the stone seat used to be clear across to Chanctonbury Ring. It will be interesting to see how much of that view we will be able to recreate! The additional benefit is that as the barrow is a scheduled ancient monument English Heritage require that it be kept clear of large shrubs and trees which obscure and damage it.

With both tasks completed it may become possible to view the stone seat from the wooden bench and the wooden bench from the stone seat across the Green.

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