NEWS RELEASES
Looking ahead to a New Year of challenges
14th January 2005
WE have witnessed more than a decade of busy activity in the Horsham District, bringing with it much advancement for our community. More change is ahead of us during 2005, with new challenges and great goals set for us to achieve.
This year the Council becomes responsible for all alcohol licensing, a job previously done by the magistrates courts, and we have set in motion new procedures which affect everyone working in the drinks trade and the owners of premises where alcohol is sold. Our Licensing Committee will have a busy time as responsibility for some 350 licensed premises is transferred to them.
In July, there will be another big step when the Council becomes responsible for organising traffic wardens, a role currently undertaken by the police, and we are already looking at ways to make this important public service more effective.
High on the 2005 agenda will be future housing needs and this will be achieved through finalisation of the new Local Development Framework which will set out development targets up to year 2016. We are required to find land for 6,470 new homes, some on existing development sites and some on green fields, and many of you will have read about some of the possible locations currently under discussion.
I should stress that no decisions will be taken until after full and thorough public consultation takes place, and this will happen between February 4 and March 18. All views will be welcomed, and please look out for the special comment forms that will be issued with the draft plans.
The much awaited £24 million re-development of Southwater village centre is proceeding at a pace and this year we expect to see completion of some shops, homes and offices, to be followed by community facilities and the opening of a new Co-op store. The scheme is going to be a tremendous boost for this community of 10,000 residents who will finally get the additional facilities to match years of housing growth.
Big improvements will come at Horsham Hospital where an £11 million re-development programme has been secured by the Primary Care Trust, whilst site clearance at the former Spiro Gills site at Pulborough has started in readiness for the much awaited health centre and commercial developments there.
The YCentre in Horsham is also on course for opening during 2005, we will be starting work at the former TA Centre in Horsham on 20 flats for people who need short term accommodation whilst the Council secures a new home for them (in partnership with Southern Housing Group), whilst at Steyning we are continuing to work on a package that will see a new health centre and care home being built. We are also progressing with the design and site location for the much awaited new swimming pool at Billingshurst.
A key date for the diary will be Thursday, May 5, the date of the county council elections, and of course a possible General Election too. Then in June we will be saying farewell to our Chief Executive, Martin Pearson, who will be retiring after 22 years service and welcoming his successor Tom Crowley.
Tom is currently Director of Policy and Environment with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council in Surrey and is a town planner by profession. He and his wife Jane have lived in Horsham for the past twenty four years and they have two sons at local schools. Between 1980 and 1988 Tom worked for Horsham District Council, first as a planning draughtsman and, by the time he left he was the Area Planning Officer for the north of the District. His experience and knowledge of the Horsham District will be of great importance to us in the years ahead.
A busy, and interesting, time ahead indeed.
Ends
Councillor Sheila Van Den Bergh, The Chairman, Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RH.
E-mail: contactchairman@horsham.gov.uk
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
(01403) 215549