The weather has been perfect for hay making, and we are two thirds through filling the barns. The final twenty five acres are now cut and if the forecasts are correct, this too will be made and stored away with the rest and under cover before the rain due on Thursday.
The complete replacement of the foul water drainage system is well under way at Ote Hall. This major eight week project to replace the original ancient system, which is beginning to show its age, was installed in 1880 by General Godman, when he upgraded and restored Ote Hall and built the farm buildings and cottages.
This significant sewage works upgrade will bring the drains into the 21st century. The two historic systems rely upon a series of settling tanks, a reed bed and eventually flow into the river. To date they have been efficient and on the whole have done a good job. Now for the first time the estate will be connected to Wivelsfield Sewage Treatment Plant which has been sited on the farm since the 1950s. This plant is just coming to the end of a two year upgrade which could be in preparation for the massive increase in housing currently under consideration for Wivelsfield.
Wivelsfield and Wivelsfield Green have a population of approximately 700 people. Currently there are planning applications in for six development sites, ranging from 12 to 70 dwellings per site. If all these sites were approved, this would result in just under 200 news homes being built.
Needless to say the majority of the residents are appalled at the prospect, taking into account that the relatively new primary school is already over full, there is no doctor’s surgery, and public transport is negligible.
Houses are indeed required but they should be proportionate and appropriate for requirements and local facilities, or the lack of them. The village is tight on the boundary of East Sussex and just falls within the District of Lewes. The council appear to be keen to offload housing requirements in our neck of the woods so they can negate responsibility for the inhabitants to either Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath in West Sussex. Both of which are already finding it hard to cope with their own growing populations.
The local road network is bursting at the seams, and any journey taken at peak times takes twice as long as it used to. The roads are inadequate with too many bottle necks causing major traffic jams, and to cap it all there are constant road works and pipe installation projects happening along all the main arteries.
Farmers facing difficulties with falling commodity prices are having to cope with the additional problem of livestock rustling. There have been multiple cases of sheep worrying causing loses and many being stolen. Some weeks ago around 300 were taken from one farm and last week a hundred cattle were taken from a farm in Kilbeggan, Westmeath, Ireland.
These incidents are not just isolated cases of rustling a few livestock, this is well organised crime on an industrial level. The financial implications from these thefts are hugely damaging to the farm businesses and in some cases will drive the farmer out of business.
The state of lawlessness is becoming out of control and police forces across the country are struggling to cope. The problem will only get worse as our borders leak like a sieve, although being an island it should be possible to make them water tight.
With the growing problem of migrants queuing up in Calais, determined to make the crossing one way or another, and the threat from terrorists eager to take advantage of EU ‘open borders’, it is thought that the Prime Minister will have his work cut out to persuade the British electorate to accept more of the same.
Whatever he promises regarding sealing our borders and making our streets safe, it is now rather too late as the horse has already bolted. It is now a case of trying to clear up the mess and seek out the infiltrators already roaming our streets and countryside.
There is increasing doubt that Mr Cameron will be able to pull the wool over the eyes of public. If he thinks they are convinced that his plaintive requests to his disinterested EU colleagues, will halt the helter skelter towards increased integration and control from Brussels, he is mistaken.
He tells them that the British will vote for the status quo, in a referendum, when he warns of the dangers of leaving. There is however a growing realisation that it is far too dangerous a world for the UK to stay in.
The report in a Sunday newspaper that some 356 former MPs have been allowed to keep their passes to enter Parliament, is a complete nonsense. In years gone by when you lost your seat or retired as an MP you lost the right to enter the Palace of Westminster. I doubt there is much I would agree with the SNP’s Mr Sheppard, MP for Edinburgh East, but on this subject he absolutely right. The place is already heaving with too many MPs, and members of the House of Lords. This situation is unacceptable and requires an immediate review.
Carola Godman Irvine
The complete replacement of the foul water drainage system is well under way at Ote Hall. This major eight week project to replace the original ancient system, which is beginning to show its age, was installed in 1880 by General Godman, when he upgraded and restored Ote Hall and built the farm buildings and cottages.
This significant sewage works upgrade will bring the drains into the 21st century. The two historic systems rely upon a series of settling tanks, a reed bed and eventually flow into the river. To date they have been efficient and on the whole have done a good job. Now for the first time the estate will be connected to Wivelsfield Sewage Treatment Plant which has been sited on the farm since the 1950s. This plant is just coming to the end of a two year upgrade which could be in preparation for the massive increase in housing currently under consideration for Wivelsfield.
Wivelsfield and Wivelsfield Green have a population of approximately 700 people. Currently there are planning applications in for six development sites, ranging from 12 to 70 dwellings per site. If all these sites were approved, this would result in just under 200 news homes being built.
Needless to say the majority of the residents are appalled at the prospect, taking into account that the relatively new primary school is already over full, there is no doctor’s surgery, and public transport is negligible.
Houses are indeed required but they should be proportionate and appropriate for requirements and local facilities, or the lack of them. The village is tight on the boundary of East Sussex and just falls within the District of Lewes. The council appear to be keen to offload housing requirements in our neck of the woods so they can negate responsibility for the inhabitants to either Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath in West Sussex. Both of which are already finding it hard to cope with their own growing populations.
The local road network is bursting at the seams, and any journey taken at peak times takes twice as long as it used to. The roads are inadequate with too many bottle necks causing major traffic jams, and to cap it all there are constant road works and pipe installation projects happening along all the main arteries.
Farmers facing difficulties with falling commodity prices are having to cope with the additional problem of livestock rustling. There have been multiple cases of sheep worrying causing loses and many being stolen. Some weeks ago around 300 were taken from one farm and last week a hundred cattle were taken from a farm in Kilbeggan, Westmeath, Ireland.
These incidents are not just isolated cases of rustling a few livestock, this is well organised crime on an industrial level. The financial implications from these thefts are hugely damaging to the farm businesses and in some cases will drive the farmer out of business.
The state of lawlessness is becoming out of control and police forces across the country are struggling to cope. The problem will only get worse as our borders leak like a sieve, although being an island it should be possible to make them water tight.
With the growing problem of migrants queuing up in Calais, determined to make the crossing one way or another, and the threat from terrorists eager to take advantage of EU ‘open borders’, it is thought that the Prime Minister will have his work cut out to persuade the British electorate to accept more of the same.
Whatever he promises regarding sealing our borders and making our streets safe, it is now rather too late as the horse has already bolted. It is now a case of trying to clear up the mess and seek out the infiltrators already roaming our streets and countryside.
There is increasing doubt that Mr Cameron will be able to pull the wool over the eyes of public. If he thinks they are convinced that his plaintive requests to his disinterested EU colleagues, will halt the helter skelter towards increased integration and control from Brussels, he is mistaken.
He tells them that the British will vote for the status quo, in a referendum, when he warns of the dangers of leaving. There is however a growing realisation that it is far too dangerous a world for the UK to stay in.
The report in a Sunday newspaper that some 356 former MPs have been allowed to keep their passes to enter Parliament, is a complete nonsense. In years gone by when you lost your seat or retired as an MP you lost the right to enter the Palace of Westminster. I doubt there is much I would agree with the SNP’s Mr Sheppard, MP for Edinburgh East, but on this subject he absolutely right. The place is already heaving with too many MPs, and members of the House of Lords. This situation is unacceptable and requires an immediate review.
Carola Godman Irvine
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