Wow ice, sleet and snow! It sure looks pretty and making snowmen is fun but no more please there is too much to do!! Some good and welcome roads news, after our recent road work misery there is good news on the horizon by Ministers after making our case. On 1st December West Sussex County Council became the fourth local authority to be granted key lane rental powers, which will allow WSCC to charge for future access to the network, for example by developers and utility companies, and will focus on areas that will cause the highest level of disruption. It will crucially help to minimise queues by encouraging more work to be completed outside of peak periods, highways to be reopened to traffic at the busiest times and reducing in the length of time works are being completed.
Fantastic news! Mid Sussex District Council will receive £1 million through the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund over the next three years, provided by DLUHC, which reflects the quality of our bid. Providing new investment in community hubs, parks alongside additional skills training for young people in the District who are seeking employment.
Hurrah! Having made a number of approaches to the DLUHC on housing numbers and planning issues to Ministers, I strongly welcomed the new changes to the planning system that were announced last week alongside MSDC too who want the best for our area. These key new and hard fought reforms by MPs from across the Country, particularly in Sussex, will help MSDC keep the District Plan up to date with a boosted regeneration focus and will look to protect our communities. I encourage residents to have their say in the current consultation on the District Plan, which ends on the 19th of December. Local voices will enable the Council to positively plan for the future while keeping our area special, particularly with regard to the new infrastructure levy which will mean better understanding of the needs and wants of our communities, rather than developers taking the lead. The consultation can be found on the Council’s website here: https://midsussex.inconsult.uk/districtplanreg18/