West Sussex Libraries Essential Toiletries Kit 2025

/in /by

As part of our ongoing Cost of Living response, West Sussex Libraries will again be providing Essential Toiletries Kits free to residents. The Essential Toiletries Kits will contain shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, roll on deodorant, toothpaste, adult toothbrush and tissues. All will be in a sealed zip lock bag. Children’s toothbrushes will also be available for people to add to the Kits themselves, depending on their needs. They will be available from all 36 libraries and will be on display for anyone to collect.

The Kits will be available in libraries from Monday 24th November while stocks last. We would appreciate if you would be able to spread the word about our Kits to your clients, to make sure people are aware of our offer.

How does it work?

Essential Toiletries Kits will be available for free in every one of our 36 libraries around West Sussex. All customers need to do is to visit their local library and find the display of the Essential Toiletries Kits. They can then help themselves to a bag, add a child’s toothbrush and then tick a sheet for our data records to say which group best represents their household – families with children/people with disabilities/older people or other if the previous categories do not relate to their circumstance.

Gas Main replacement – roadworks 2025 – 26

/in /by

From 27 October SGN engineers will start a programme of work to replace gas mains, renew services, and make connections in Fishbourne, Chichester.  These works are essential to ensure they can continue to provide residents with a safe and efficient gas supply and avoid disruptive gas leaks in the future.

Due to the location of the gas pipes in the road and for everyone’s safety, they will need to have varying traffic management in place.

SGN Has planned these works in the following phases – these timelines are for guidance.

 

Phase one: Main Road, Fishbourne Road – 27 October for duration of 8 weeks

Multiway temporary traffic lights – SGN will be working from outside Home Farm, Main Road to outside 113 Fishbourne Road

  • Bus stop suspension will be required on Main Road as works progress – buses will be operating as usual, for more information contact your bus service provider

 

Phase two: Old Park Lane, Fishbourne, Chichester – Monday 05 January for duration of 5 weeks

Road Closure – Old Park Lane will be closed from the junction with Main Road (side of The Globe House)  to the corner with Beggars Roost Nursing Home.

 

Phase three: Salthill Road, Fishbourne, Chichester – 02 February for duration of 5 weeks

Road Closure – Salthill Road will be closed at the level crossing to Roman Way.

 

Phase four:  Mill Close, Chichester – 16 February for duration of 6 weeks

Give and take – traffic management on the Mill Close will be under give and take past our work location

 

Phase five:  Mill Lane, Chichester – 09 March for duration of 3 weeks

Road Closure – Access only to residents – Mill Lane will be closed – access only to properties.

 

Phases with road closures will mean:

  • No through vehicle access past the closure in either direction – a signed diversion route will be in place
  • Vehicle access for residents within the closure will be maintained, access arrangements will change we will liaise directly with all residents to keep them informed
  • Pedestrian and cycle access will be maintained throughout
  • Bin collection days will remain unchanged unless you hear otherwise by your service provider
  • Bus routes may be affected – we’d advise passengers to contact their service provider for the lates information about your service

 

SGN understands the works can be disruptive, and engineers will be working as quickly and as safely as possible to complete these works without delay.

If you need to speak to SGN about these works, please email the customer service team  or call them on 0800 912 1700, they will direct your enquiry to a member of the team for response.

SGN is sorry for any inconvenience our works will cause and thank you for your patience and understanding.

Visit from Jess Brown-Fuller MP

/in /by

On Wednesday 27 August Jess Brown-Fuller MP visited Fishbourne.

The Parish Council had arranged a meeting where the Council and public could ask questions of Jess, and at 2.30pm a group of residents and councillors arrived at the Fishbourne Centre to take advantage of this opportunity.

Jess gave full and frank answers to a variety of questions (which you can read in the transcript below) and left everyone impressed with her enthusiasm and knowledge of the topics discussed.

The Parish Council would like to thank Jess on behalf of the local community for coming to Fishbourne and hearing our voice.

Attachments

Total Attachments: 1

Download: Visit by Jess Brown-Fuller to FPC 2025 08 27 (201 KB)

Local Government Reorganisation Survey – Live!

/in /by

Have your say on the future of local government in West Sussex – councils launch public survey

Residents, businesses and community groups across the county are being invited to share their views about the future of their councils as part of an important survey launching on Thursday 17 July at: www.shapingwestsussex.org.

All West Sussex residents and organisations are invited to complete the survey, which asks about where they live or work; the council services they use; as well as what matters to them about how their council could be structured in the future. The survey will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 13 August. This is just the start of local government reorganisation in West Sussex and the councils will continue to seek the views of local people as the process progresses.

All councils in the area – Adur District Council, Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council – are working together to gather views that will help shape proposals for the future of local government in the county. The government has asked councils to explore how Local Government Reorganisation could work in the area, with the aim of creating a new unitary council model, or models – replacing the current two-tier system with a single-tier council responsible for all local services.

Local Government Reorganisation is a process of restructuring local government to simplify the way services are delivered. Instead of having separate county and district or borough councils, a unitary model brings everything together into one organisation – from bin collections and housing to education and adult social care. Town or parish councils will remain as they are. This is different from devolution, which involves transferring powers from central government to regional or national governments, whereas local government reorganisation focuses on streamlining existing local structures.

This is a significant change that will affect how local services are run in the future – and how decisions are made about the things that matter most to local people. That’s why it’s vital that residents, community groups, and businesses have their say at this early stage. This input from local residents, community organisations and businesses will help build a strong foundation for a new council that reflects the people it serves.

Once the business case has been submitted on 26 September 2025, the Government will begin a formal consultation process. A Government decision on local government reorganisation in West Sussex is expected in Spring 2026. After this, further engagement with residents, staff, councillors and businesses will be carried out on the design of how the new council will look, in line with the chosen model and implementation schedule.

Whatever changes are agreed, vital local services will continue as normal – from waste collection and public health, to care for older people and support for families. The aim of Local Government Reorganisation is not to reduce services, but to simplify how they are delivered and to ensure that local voices are heard more clearly in decision-making.

“We’re committed to making sure the proposals we submit to the government reflect what matters most to our residents, community groups, and businesses. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to take part in this important survey before it closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday 13 August,” says Cllr Adrian Moss, Leader of Chichester District Council.

“Whether you’ve lived here for decades, recently moved, or work in the area, your views are vital. This is a unique opportunity to help shape a new council that works better for you, your family, and your community.

“We’ve also been engaging with local partners and key stakeholders to ensure their voices are included in this process. Once proposals are submitted in September, the government will begin the formal consultation process and is expected to make a decision in Spring 2026. If approved, new councils could begin operating in shadow form by 2027, with full implementation by 2028.

“Whatever the outcome, our services will continue to be provided, and we’ll work hard to make the transition as smooth as possible. We’ll also keep you informed every step of the way.”

The survey is available at: www.shapingwestsussex.org and will be open until 11.59pm on Wednesday 13 August. To find out more about devolution and local government reorganisation, please visit: www.chichester.gov.uk/devolution.

Weapon surrender

/in /by

Between 1 July to 31 July, a national surrender and compensation scheme is in place where you can dispose of ninja swords at specific police stations, with no consequence for the possessing of the surrendered article.

From 1 August it will be illegal to possess, manufacture, sell or transport these weapons.

Find out more about the scheme and where you can dispose of them here: https://orlo.uk/LSMKG

Please make sure to wrap your weapon in newspaper, bubble wrap, or cloth, then place it in a sturdy bag or box that’s completely sealed. Go directly to the surrender location without making stops.

Temporary closure of Fishbourne footpath for upgrade works

/in /by

Footpath 555 between the footbridge at Fishbourne Meadows (What3Words: ripen.stared.riverside) and the Sluice near Apuldram water works (What3Words: freshen.hazy.vine) will be temporarily closed between 21/07/25-15/08/25 whilst contractors appointed by WSCC Public Rights of Way Team undertake surface improvement works to the path. The works are taking place to improve accessibility as part of the King Charles III England Coast Path Project. For any enquiries regarding the works please contact 

Footpath closure

Footpath closure

Action Fraud Alert: rise of extortion phishing email reports

/in /by

Action Fraud are urging the public to look out for phishing emails that relate to extortion as the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) received over 2,924 reports in March 2025, a staggering increase compared to only 133 reports made in February.

The reported phishing emails received by the National Cyber Security Centre’s SERS relate to a type of extortion referred to as ‘Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion’ (FMSE).

Reports suggests the phrasing of the email and subject lines can vary, but the theme remains consistent: the phishing email claims to have installed malware on the recipient’s computer and recorded them visiting adult websites. The sender will then coerce the email recipient to pay a ransom demand by threatening to release the videos. The ransom is usually demanded in a form of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin.

In order to make these phishing attacks convincing, emails will often include genuine pieces of personal information relating to the victim, such as a password or home address. It is likely these would have been obtained from historic breaches of personal data.

Analysis shows that many people who received these emails also later reported becoming victims of online account hacking.

In 2024, a male victim in his thirties received numerous extortion emails that contained a password he used for one of his online accounts. The emails demanded a ransom of $500. Having correctly identified the emails as a scam, he deleted them. However, shortly afterwards he noticed that he was unable to login to one of his social media accounts. After some checking, he realised that one of his bank accounts and multiple social media accounts had been hacked and he was locked out of them.

What to do if you receive an email like this:

  • As with other phishing emails, do not to engage with the phisher, forward the email to , which is the NCSC’s Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), and then delete it.
  • If you are considering paying the Bitcoin ransom, you should be aware that doing so, you will likely become the target of more scams, as the phisher will know they have a ‘willing’ customer.
  • The inclusion of genuine passwords or other personal information in phishing emails is a strong indication that you may have been affected by a historic data breach. You can use this service to check which of your online accounts were affected:  https://haveibeenpwned.com
  • If the phishing email includes a password you still use, then change it immediately. Advice on how to create suitable passwords and enable other factors of authentication is available here: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/protect-yourself-from-fraud/protecting-against-online-fraud/improve-your-password-security/

If you have been a victim of extortion, or concerned that someone may be in possession of intimate images of you, you should report it to your local police force by calling 101.

Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk

If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of any phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at  https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Casual Vacancy for Fishbourne Parish Council

/in /by

1. THERE IS A VACANCY ON FISHBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL.

2. A BY-ELECTION TO FILL THE VACANCY WILL BE HELD, IF WITHIN 14 DAYS (not counting Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or Bank Holidays) FROM THE DATE BELOW, TEN (10) ELECTORS FOR THE  PARISH GIVE WRITTEN NOTICE TO REQUEST THAT THE VACANCY BE FILLED BY ELECTION TO THE RETURNING OFFICER, CHICHESTER DISTRICT COUNCIL, EAST PALLANT HOUSE, 1 EAST PALLANT, CHICHESTER, WEST SUSSEX, PO19 1TY (Telephone 01243 521010).

3. THE NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN IN WRITING OR ON A FORM OBTAINABLE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE RETURNING OFFICER AND MUST INCLUDE THE ELECTORAL NUMBERS OF ALL ELECTORS REQUESTING THE FILLING OF THE VACANCY BY THE ELECTION PROCESS.

4. IF NO SUCH NOTICE IS GIVEN WITHIN THE TIME ALLOWED, THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL FILL THE VACANCY BY CO-OPTION.

 

Lucy Wright, 20 March 2024

 

Invasive Spruce Bark Beetle Awareness

/in /by

The Forestry Commission is working on the eradication response to the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, which is an invasive and regulated pest in England.

Ips typographus targets weakened or damaged spruce trees, and storm events like we’re experiencing this winter can create ideal habitat. It is being blown over from outbreaks in Europe and, if left unchecked, it could potentially build in numbers and would be devastating to the country’s timber industry. Proactive management of spruce is advised to remove potential habitat and risk of infestation.

We’re also encouraging everyone in the Proactive Spruce Removal Area to be vigilant for windblown, snapped, damaged and stressed spruce trees, and to submit a TreeAlert report for anything of concern or email . This could be landowners, those directly involved with managing spruce (e.g. foresters, tree surgeons, Christmas tree growers), or members of the public who use spruce woodlands recreationally (e.g. dog walkers, ramblers).

Download this flyer for more complete information>>>

Additional info can be found via the GOV.uk Ips typographus page.

Fishbourne goes a-wassailing!

/in /by

On Sunday 18 January a fabulous Wassail took place at the Fishbourne Centre. This is an old English tradition to drink health to the trees to bring a good fruit harvest for the year.

Ronnie and Sally who organised the event gave their thanks to all involved…

WASSAIL THANKS TO ALL :
Our Volunteer First Responders….Thanks lads
Andy (Spinnaker Shanty) (and closet Mummer) leads the “Address to the Tree” – The Wassail : Good Health!
Fishbourne Mill (the local Morris Side) entertained us all.
“In Comes I……“
Prize Old Mummers who intrigued and entertained all, with wild tales and boasts. They collected for Naomi House Hospice for children.
Sally & I would like to thank everyone who made the evening possible by their contribution – the First Wassail at Fishbourne anyone can recall.
Namely…
The Fishbourne Centre , management & staff
Fishbourne Mill Morris Side
Prize Old Mummers
The Rollicking Nancies ( Shanty Singers)
Andy Jackson ( Mummer & Wassail King)
All our friends who were Volunteer Stewards & Helpers & Apple Cake Bakers.
Jack & Joyce – community spirited local residents.
Community FIRST RESPONDERS ( 3 super volunteers)
The Village Magazine, Fishbourne Village Voice, FPFA & Parish Council.
Fishbourne Vibes.
And….last but NOT least:
All those who came along to view, enjoy & contribute.
Thank You All – Ronnie & Sally
( “will we do it again next year? “)

Address to the tree

Address to the tree

Fishbourne Mill morris

Fishbourne Mill morris

Prize Old Mummers

Prize Old Mummers

Wassail first responders

Wassail first responders