FELPHAM PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

Committee And Council Meetings

Main Council Meeting:

Tuesday 7 March, 6.15pm

Planning Licensing and Neighbourhood Plan: Tuesday 14 March, 6.15pm

Finance and Administration:

Allotments and Open Spaces:

Projects and Resilience:

Public Session

Tuesday 14 March, 7.15pm

Tuesday 21 March, 6.15pm

Tuesday 21 March, 7.15pm

The first 15 minutes of every Parish Council meeting is open for members of the public to raise any issues or concerns relating to the business on the agenda (maximum five minutes per person). If possible or feasible, make a call prior to the meeting to the Clerk to inform you wish to speak or raise an issue at a forthcoming Council meeting. Following are just selected excerpts from recent meetings please visit our website for full meeting minutes.

PLANNING 99. BOGNOR REGIS GOLF CLUB

Councillor Glen Hewlett advised the committee of the latest extension to this application to 27th January. Councillors were very concerned regarding the continuing flooding of this area following the further objection lodged by Felpham Parish Council with photos. The historic problems with flooding of the area are well known locally and so were concerned as to why there had been no objection by the Environment Agency. Clerk to write to the responsible officer at the Environment Agency and request details of the reasoning their decision and clarification of this approach.

MAIN COUNCIL 168. TO RATIFY THE DECISION OF THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING TO APPROVE THE BUDGET DOCUMENT FOR PRECEPT SUBMISSION TO ARUN DISTRICT COUNCIL

The RFO outlined the final budget and was thanked for his work on this. Councillor Kevin Watson proposed that Felpham Parish Council ratify the decision of the Finance and Administration Committee to approve the budget document for precept submission to Arun District Council. This was seconded by Councillor Glen Hewlett and unanimously agreed. Councillor Dave Smart commented on the strong fiscal control exercised by the council over the past few years. In real terms when matched against inflation this has resulted in a significant reduction in our precept of well over 20 per cent. Despite being one of the largest parishes in Arun we continue to set one of the lowest precepts in the area.

PROJECTS 85. FUN ON THE PROM

Councillor Gloria Moss confirmed that the next Working Party Group meeting will be held at Felpham Eastern Greensward on Tuesday 24th January to demonstrate the laser show from the Sailing Club roof with the first demo at 5.20pm the second at 6pm.

Felpham Concorde Pilot Honoured With A Blue Plaque

We will complete the Platinum Heritage Blue Plaque Trail in March 2023 commemorating the Queen’s Reign, seven plaques one for each decade of the Queen’s reign. The Barbara Harmer memorial plaque that will be unveiled on International Women’s Day on the 8th March completing the trail which could not be more perfect and fitting in tribute.

This plaque will be the seventh in the trail following Ernest Joyce, Bob Anderson and Charles Lewis that were unveiled within the last 24 months. These recent plaques celebrate the lives and achievements of Felpham’s pioneers in exploration, film, sport and art with the latest now celebrating aviation and sailing.

It was at Felpham Sailing Club that Barbara’s adventurous, pioneering journey began. A regular sailor with her father from an early age, Barbara became a permanent fixture in the sailing community. Her passion for sailing matched her love of aviation. Her impressive career took her from mobile hair dresser to air traffic controller, private pilot and instructor at Goodwood flying school, to commercial airline pilot. She flew into the history books on 25th March 1993 as senior first officer on BA Concorde flight from London Heathrow to New York’s JFK airport.

She finished her flying career as Captain of the Boeing 777, retiring in 2009. Barbara was also a champion yacht master and had plans to sail across the Atlantic in 2013, sadly this was never achieved due to her untimely death in 2011. Barbara was youngest of four sisters –Joyce, Jeanne, Carole and Barbara – who all grew up on the Beach estate with parents Richard, a commercial artist and Doris who served in the local Wool Shop on Felpham Way. The first ever commercial female pilot on Concorde, Barbara was a true inspiration.

All who were privileged to know her say that she was a determined woman who had real charisma and charm. Barbara Harmer broke through more than just ‘sound barriers’ to achieve her dreams.

For an insight to the route, check our Heritage Trail website: https://kwatson166.wixsite.com/my-site-fpc

Felpham Parish Council, Felpham Community Hall, Meaden Way, Felpham, West Sussex, PO22 8FA, Tel:01243 827470, Mon-Fri, 10.00am-3.00pm. Email: clerk@felphampc.gov.uk