March for the Manhood 29th Jan 2022
March for Manhood 29th Jan 2022
West Sussex residents urged not to bin batteries during the festive period
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Don’t bin your batteries and risk a fire this Christmas – that’s the call from Recycling Centres across West Sussex. As people dust off festive fairy lights and light-up ornaments, there's often a selection of dead or old batteries waiting to be found amongst last year’s Christmas decorations. Nearly a quarter of people across the UK admit binning used batteries, and many people are unaware batteries are pre-built inside smaller items – it only takes a single battery to spark a fire. As many residents are replacing batteries and electricals in the run-up to Christmas, West Sussex County Council is urging people not to throw used batteries or electricals in the bin or recycling because of the risk they could be setting off a blaze. Batteries are damaged from crushing during the sorting and collection process causing paper, plastics and other waste to catch alight. Often batteries have some remaining charge and devices including mobile phones, e-cigarettes, and laptops are known to have caught fire in waste collection lorries and local sorting facilities in recent years. Deborah Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change said: “We’ve seen a rise in the number of fires from batteries or electrical items in collection vehicles and where we process waste - it only takes one spark to cause a blaze.” “Both alkaline and lithium batteries contain hazardous metals and chemicals that harm the environment if they aren’t responsibly recycled – that’s why you’ll see battery collection bins at so many major retailers, and of course at our own Recycling Centres in West Sussex.” Steve Read, County Council Director of Environment and Public Protection said: “Batteries pose a serious risk when placed into general waste or recycling bins and mixed with paper, cardboard, plastic or other recyclable materials. "Lives are at stake, so our message is simple – please don’t bin your batteries and risk a fire this Christmas. “It’s also important that people don't throw away old batteries from power tools, remote controlled toys, e-scooters, tablets, or any battery into their recycling bin. It’s extremely dangerous." To find your nearest battery recycling point at a shop or supermarket where you live, visit the Recycle Now website and enter your postcode. For more details on what you can recycle and where, the County Council has produced a handy A to Z of recycling guide on its website, with tips on how to dispose waste correctly. Recycling Centres in West Sussex are open during the festive period and will be closed to give staff a well-deserved break from midday on Christmas Eve and reopen on Monday 27th December. Mobile waste services in Witterings and Selsey will also close on Thursday 23rd and 30th December. West Sussex Fire & Rescue Officers extinguishing burning rubbish from a refuse truck, caused by a suspected rogue battery. The county council has reported a rise in the number of fires from batteries or electrical items in collection vehicles and at waste processing facilities. Battery collection points are available across Recycling Centres in West Sussex. To find your nearest battery recycling point at a shop or supermarket, visit the Recycle Now website and enter your postcode.
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Waste and recycling collection dates over the Christmas period
Residents in the Chichester District are being advised that most of their waste and recycling collection dates will remain unchanged over the festive period.
General waste and recycling collections over Christmas will take place on the normal scheduled collection days. However, the Garden Recycling Service will pause on Friday 17 December and will start again on Monday 3 January 2022.
There will also be some slight changes to the clinical waste collections — all affected residents will be contacted directly.
General waste and recycling collections over Christmas and New Year are as follows:
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Normal Collection Day |
Pre-Christmas week |
Christmas week |
New Year week |
Post- New Year week 1 |
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Monday |
13 Dec 2021 |
20 Dec 2021 |
27 Dec 2021 (bank holiday) |
3 Jan 2022 (bank holiday) |
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Tuesday |
14 Dec 2021 |
21 Dec 2021 |
28 Dec 2021 (bank holiday) |
4 Jan 2022 |
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Wednesday |
15 Dec 2021 |
22 Dec 2021 |
29 Dec 2021 |
5 Jan 2022 |
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Thursday |
16 Dec 2021 |
23 Dec 2021 |
30 Dec 2021 |
6 Jan 2022 |
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Friday |
17 Dec 2021 |
24 Dec 2021 |
31 Dec 2021 |
7 Jan 2022 |
Residents can download and print out their own personalised waste, recycling and garden recycling collection dates by visiting: www.chichester.gov.uk/wastecollectioncalendar
Any extra waste from the holiday period will be picked up by collection crews on the first collection after Christmas. If residents have any extra recycling, they need to ensure that it is kept dry in a loosely tied black sack and placed next to their recycling bin on the day of collection. Please remember to flatten and fold down cardboard, and ensure the lid can close. Recycling needs to be clean, dry and loose, so close the lid to stop rain getting in. All polystyrene foam and polythene wrapping film should be removed and placed in the waste bin as this cannot be recycled.
A full A-Z of what can and can’t be recycled can be found here: www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/waste-and-recycling/recycling-and-waste-prevention-in-west-sussex/a-to-z-of-recycling
Residents can also dispose of their real Christmas trees using the St Wilfrid’s Hospice charity collection scheme again this year. People can arrange to have their tree collected from their home in January by a volunteer in return for a donation to the hospice. For more information about this scheme, and to book a tree collection, visit: https://stwh.co.uk/support-us/events/christmastrees or call: 01243 755199.
“Over Christmas, we tend to generate more waste than usual and so we are keen to help residents recycle as much as possible at this time of year,” says Councillor Penny Plant, Cabinet Member for Environment and Chichester Contract Services at Chichester District Council. “We have put together some tips for residents about which items can and cannot be recycled. These can be found in the winter issue of Initiatives magazine and on our social media channels.
“Following the success of the tree collection scheme over the last couple of years, we are really pleased to be joining forces with St Wilfrid’s Hospice again to recycle as many Christmas trees as we can, while also supporting a fantastic cause.
“If you are not signed up to our Garden Recycling Service, this is a great way to ensure that your Christmas tree is recycled whilst helping to raise vital funds for the hospice charity.”
Great response to Chichester District Council’s free home energy event
Great response to Chichester District Council’s free home energy event
Residents learned how to cut costs and cut carbon from their homes at a free event organised by Chichester District Council this week, which was met with fantastic feedback.
Around 70 residents from across the district attended the sold-out event — ‘Cut costs, cut carbon in your home’ — on 29 November. The event, which was held at Chichester College, showed people how they can do more to reduce their carbon footprint and save money by implementing different measures in their homes.
A range of experts presented on home energy efficiency and renewable technologies, including Paul Ciniglio, Refurbishment Lead at the National Energy Foundation, a not-for-profit charity. Paul explained the benefits of adding energy efficiency measures, such as heat pumps, and measures that will generate renewable energy, such as solar (PV) panels, in the home.
Paul said: “In the UK, we have approximately 29 million homes that are responsible for around one fifth of carbon dioxide emissions so it’s really important that we retrofit our homes to help reduce the environmental impact.
“We’ve all seen the increase in energy wholesale prices recently so by improving the energy efficiency of our homes, we can help keep our running costs manageable.
“The best way to start your retrofit journey is to carry out a plan — this is like a blueprint which shows you the most viable options to fit and install in your home. Most homes’ energy consumption goes on space heating, so insulating walls, roofs, and floors, and making sure you have effective double or triple glazing is really important. After this you can look at installing new forms of heating, such as air source heat pumps or ground source heat pumps, and other renewables like solar PV to generate free, clean electricity.”
Katherine Shadwell, Partnerships Development Manager at AgilityEco, presented on a range of current and future grant funding schemes in the area to help people implement energy efficiency and renewable technologies in their homes. AgilityEco has partnered with the council to deliver over 30 energy efficiency / renewable home energy measures in the district through a Government funded scheme. People can find out more about grant funding and check the eligibility criteria by visiting: www.arunchichestercab.org.uk/contact-us/energy-2021/
Graeme Clements from the Chichester branch of Covers Building Merchants also attended and brought along a demonstration model of an air source heat pump and examples of renewable energy technologies for people to look at.
For anyone worried about their energy bills, Michelle Baker, Energy Advice Supervisor and Best Energy Saving Network Regional Lead at Arun and Chichester Citizens Advice, offered advice and shared some simple energy-saving tips. At the event, she explained: “Our energy team can help people in lots of different ways from switching their energy supplier to helping them understand their bills. They are available 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday and can be contacted on 01243 974063, or by emailing: energy@arunchichestercan.org.uk.
“We also give advice on simple ways to save energy at home, such as regularly bleeding your radiators and defrosting your freezer. We have lots of tips on how to save money around the house including: leaving your oven door open after cooking; using a slow cooker; and tucking your curtains behind your radiators at night. Switching off your appliances instead of leaving them on standby could save you up to £120 a year alone.”
Councillor Penny Plant, Cabinet Member for Environment and Chichester Contract Services at Chichester District Council, said: “This was the first event of its kind in the Chichester District, and we were delighted that so many people could attend. The audience were thoroughly engaged throughout the presentations and many also took the time to speak to the experts one-on-one at the end.
“I spoke to a number of residents afterwards who all shared positive feedback about the event. Some had already made steps to improve their home’s energy efficiency, while others were just getting started, but they all agreed that they had learnt something from the speakers that would help them on their home retrofit journey.
“For anyone that wasn’t able to attend the event, we captured some short videos with a couple of the speakers at the event, which we will be sharing on our social media channels, including YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChichesterDCouncil
“We’re moving forward with our plans to tackle climate change in our district and supporting residents to reduce carbon emissions from their properties is a key priority. One thing the speakers made clear is that making changes to our homes and lifestyles — big or small — can have a positive impact on the environment, and there is a range of support available to help residents achieve this.
“Organising this event is one of the many actions we have taken to help tackle climate change in our area. Last year, the council produced a Climate Emergency Action Plan, which sets out a carbon reduction target of 10% year-on-year until 2025 for the Chichester District. This target was set for both the council and for the whole of the district. This also outlines our commitment to reducing greenhouse gases in the work that we do, and great progress has already been made.”
For more information about the work the council is doing to help tackle climate change in the district and for details of how individuals, businesses and organisations can play their part too, please visit: www.chichester.gov.uk/climatechange
Seasonal Recycling Guide - what and how to recycle at Christmas
Seasonal Recycling Guide
Colin McFarlin is a Volunteer Waste Prevention Advisor with West Sussex County Council. Christmas is a busy time for talks and community events and poses more recycling questions than any other time of year. Here are his ideas, tips and guidance on how to have a greener Christmas.
Recyclable Items
· Wrapping paper – paper based wrapping paper can be recycled in West Sussex, just try to remove as much Sellotape as possible. If you are unsure if your wrapping paper is more paper or plastic, do the scrunch test! Scrunch the paper up and it if stays scrunched, it can be placed in your at home recycling bin. If the wrapping paper bounces back, it has a higher plastic
content and can’t be recycled.
· Cardboard boxes – flatten boxes to save room and place these in your recycling bin!
· Christmas cards – if possible remove bows and ribbons first before placing in the recycling bin, the bows, ribbons and other accessories from the card can be reused or popped in the rubbish bin.
· Sweet and chocolate tins and tubes – metal, cardboard or paper can all be recycled!
· Glass bottles - tasty juices, beer, wine and champagne glass bottles all go in the recycle bin.
· Remember the best recycling is clean, dry and loose! Don’t bag your recycling and ensure the lid closes so rain doesn’t get in and ruin the recycling’s quality.
Unrecyclable Items
· Wrapping decorations- plastic wrapping paper, bows and ribbons from cards and gift wrap can be carefully removed and saved for you to use on your presents next year.
· Christmas fairy lights – these are classed as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and can either be taken to the Recycling Centre or check with your local District or Borough council as they may offer WEEE collections.
· Artificial trees – Either save for use next year or take to your local Recycling Centre, remember to check and see if you have to book to visit your closest centre.
Dead batteries – Many electrical stores and supermarket have bins for batteries, where they can be sent for proper disposal. Never put batteries in your household bins as these can cause fires when they get to processing centres. You can also take to the Recycling Centre or check with your local District or Borough council as they may offer battery collections.
Other ways to recycle Check out nearest drop off points for many other materials, using this handy Recycling Locator
Happy (Christmas) Recycling!
To ask a question or find out more visit @WSRecycles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
"Book to recycle" consultation open now
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Book to Recycle consultation - now open.
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As a West Sussex resident who has used the Book to Recycle booking system at Recycling Centres since April 2021, we are asking for your views on the service, and if you think it should be introduced on a permanent basis at Bognor Regis, Crawley, Horsham, Littlehampton, Shoreham-by-Sea and Worthing Recycling Centres.
Friday 19th November Volunteer morning Triangle Copse and Pond
Habitat Management Work PartyTriangle pond and the village pond, Church Lane, Birdham, PO20 7HGFriday, 19th November 2021 from 10.00am - 2.00pmWe will be cutting back the vegetation on the banks of these ponds to get light in and to improve biodiversity. There is parking next to the church and it is then a 2 minute walk to Triangle pond where we will meet.Please wear weather appropriate clothing and wellies, your own gloves and any favourite tools such as loppers, shears and saws. Refreshments will be provided but do bring a mug and a chair. Please bring lunch if you are going to stay for the whole session.
Banding together to build broadband into new homes planning
Action is being taken to try to ensure that all newly-built homes have essential fibre broadband services ready for homeowners when they move in.
Countywide guidance has been developed by West Sussex County Council in consultation with its partner planning authorities - each of the seven District and Borough Councils. The guidance sets out how the authorities can use the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to ensure that each area’s Local Plan prioritises gigabit-capable broadband connections to new developments.
Steve Waight, County Council Cabinet Member responsible for Digital Infrastructure, said: “Demand for high speed and reliable broadband services is increasing, particularly now many more people are working from home than before the Covid-19 pandemic started. A fast, reliable broadband connection has become vital.
“Buying a home is probably the most expensive outlay that anyone makes in their lifetime and if that home is newly-built, it should come equipped with everything needed to live a comfortable, modern life. Retrofitting full fibre broadband into an existing development is a costly and disruptive process and we know from experience that developers are not keen to do this.
“Without the planning guidance, and in the absence of legislation, it has been difficult to ensure that new developments have the most appropriate connections. There was previously no obligation on developers or operators to provide a high-quality connection as the only pertinent requirements were for a telephone line and ‘functional’ internet access to be available - which could be as slow as basic broadband.
“The Government is intending to remedy this through publication of its New Homes (New Development Standards) Bill, but this has yet to progress through Parliament and we and our partners are taking positive action in the meantime through the National Planning Policy Framework.”
District and Borough Councils are each responsible for a Local Plan which takes account of the NPPF in delivering new development, including housing and commercial development sites. Each Local Plan contains strategic policies of which the new guidance advises that telecommunications should be one. The policy should require gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure on all new development.
The guidance also lays out strategic considerations in forming telecommunications policy, as well as suggested requirements to consider in relation to development management and design principles. It has been formed in discussion with each Planning Authority’s Planning Policy Officer, who have acted collectively as a group to support its use.
Are you fed up with being stuck in traffic trying to get home? Do you have sewerage issues in your home? Are you affected by flooding? Has your child been refused a place at the local school? Anything else making you frustrated? Read on!
The Parish Council, through the Neighbourhood Plan Review Group, is building a database, a "basis of evidence" to show that it can no longer accept housing within the Parish because the infrastructure isn't there. We need your experiences, your photographs, your stories to create that evidence. We need to prove to CDC the sewerage issues, the problems on the A286, the lack of school places, the flooding, the wildlife issues etc etc. Without the evidence it is hard to prove the case. Please fill out this simple form and thank you for your help!
http://birdhamreview.org/about
Would you like to help cut back vegetation Birdham Pond Friday 22nd October 2021
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