Constituency Day

My 'constituency day' last Friday began with a meeting in Steyning with West Sussex County Council officials on their latest plans to deal with waste.  Once again I raised my strong objections about the use of landfill sites at Small Dole, Washington and Thakeham.

Then I joined Barbara Fisher in Dingemans Court residential home as she delivered lunches to elderly residents for Steyning and Bramber Meals on Wheels.  If anyone can help, they desperately need more volunteers to help provide this marvellous service.

I grabbed a sandwich before travelling to Storrington to help 'open' the new pavements.  It was interesting to find out why drivers like me had been delayed for months while the works were completed!  But I think most people agree that the village looks much better, thanks to an effective partnership between the County and Horsham District Councils and funding from them.

Then I held my surgeries at Forge House in Storrington - what a great resource for local people this new community centre is.  I met with activists from the new 'Zero Landfill' campaign, and a constituent who was promoting the abolition of council tax for pensioners.

From Storrington I went to Arundel for a meeting with residents in Ford Road who are upset about heavy traffic on their road and especially the weekend closures of the A27 bridge over the railway which are set to cause mayhem.

Finally I drove over to Hurstpierpoint where I joined the opening party of the village festival, now in its fourth year and going strong.

As I returned to my house in Arundel later that evening I reflected that the day showed not only the strength of our local communities but also the vital role played by committed volunteers.  Just think how many clubs, societies and support groups would simply not exist but for the time which our local heroes give them.