About Town – Autumn 2021
Published Autumn 2021
Lions Club International
The Lions Club are a worldwide service organisation seeking to give help and comfort to people and groups who cannot help themselves. They are now planning to open a new Lions Club in the Arundel area and are looking for volunteers who, through the work the ‘Lions’ do, could make a real difference in the community.
You will see that ‘Lions’ is a truly diverse group. When caring people take action to make their community better, it creates an incredible feeling for everyone involved. You may have skills that will help the ‘Lions’ to help others, but that is not essential- willingness and enthusiasm are!
If you would like to make a positive contribution through local projects, get involved with fundraising with every penny supporting good causes, organise community activities and, most importantly, have fun helping others, let them know by contacting John Taylor on 01903 774516 or email johnht20@hotmail.com. You may also like to visit the website www.lionsclubs.org
Centenary of the Arundel War Memorial
On Saturday, 24th July 2021, exactly one hundred years to the day, a ceremony took place in the Town Square to mark the centenary of our War Memorial. The Chairman of the Arundel and District Branch of the Royal British Legion, Angela Standing, organised the event, which received strong support from the local community.
The Branch Chaplain, Philip Tout, together with Canon David Twinley and Revd. David Clifton, conducted the commemorative service. Arundel and District was one of the founder RBL branches and to mark this event the Standard now proudly displays a Centenary Ribbon.
A century ago, Lord Leconfield who commanded the Royal Sussex Volunteers from 1917 through 1918, unveiled the Memorial. It was wonderful, and entirely apt, that a number of Royal Sussex veterans were present to lay a wreath to honour their Regiment.
After the ceremony guests and participants were invited to the Museum gardens where refreshments were available including quantities of “The George” beer kindly donated by The George, Eartham. As ever the camaraderie of the group was enlivened with lively conversation and reminiscence.
Honorary Poppy Appeal Organiser, Col (Retd) Arthur Merrick says: ‘It has been a challenging year for the Legion and we are hoping that this year’s RBL Poppy Appeal will help us recover. We need volunteers. If you are interested in helping please get in touch with me on 07896981910. Thank you.’
Arundel Chamber of Commerce
Businesses in Arundel are working hard to recover from the past 18 months and are getting back to a level of normality. Visit Arundel and the Chamber continue with their ongoing marketing work to support Arundel’s success as a domestic tourism destination and the UK ‘staycation’ market has meant that Arundel has been busy this Summer with tourists as well as local visitors.
The Annual General Meeting in June was kindly hosted at the Castle Lower Lawns supported by catering from Lulamae’s and Pallants and was a great success despite some inclement weather! Two new committee members were welcomed, Suzy Willis (from Parkgate Arundel Ltd) as Treasurer; Nikki Richardson, Manager at the Lido; and Judy Newhouse to take minutes.
The Chair Sharon Blaikie comments “We now have an eight strong committee, a healthy membership and new businesses who have recently opened including The Pig at Madehurst and House Arundel. The Chamber has formally adopted a constitution, is setting itself up as a limited company, and pursuing affiliation to the Sussex Chamber of Commerce.”
Mayor Tony Hunt also attended the AGM said “Arundel is a town where tradition matters. And one new tradition which we have begun to create in the last year is a tradition for the Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce to work together in the interests of everyone, businesses and residents alike”. They have been looking at specific projects and successfully received a grant from the government “Welcome Back” Fund to support the re-opening of the local economies.
The Chamber continue to liaise with Arun District Council (ADC) to help hospitality businesses trade outside their premises when there are road closures, thereby adding to the buzz and sense of ‘café culture’ during events such as the Farmers Market and Festival. The process has not been smooth to say the least, but ADC have a clear remit to help the local ‘high street’ recover from many months of closure during the Covid crisis.
The Chamber’s calendar of breakfast and evening networking meetings restarted at the Lido followed by the Town Hall. Please do check the Chamber Facebook and Private Members Forum Pages for latest information – www.facebook.com/arundelchamberofcommerce
Revamped ACN keeps Arundel Up to Date
The ACN (Arundel Community Network), the free ‘opt in’ email newsletter for residents who want to receive important news and information, has been revamped.
It was originally launched in 2014 and is funded by Arundel Town Council. During the Love Arundel resident consultations in October 2019, it was clear there was a desire for even more information about what was happening around town and at a greater frequency. Since then, the ACN has boosted its output and increased subscriptions from 400 to 700 and the Love Arundel community website (LoveArundel.org) has been launched as a sister site to Visit Arundel.
The Bell, Love Arundel community website and ACN are now working together to improve the availability of local news for all residents. As part of this plan, the ACN has been revamped and renamed The Arundel Update.
It will become a fortnightly newsletter and will have three categories:
News Update will bring the latest news including the various Arundel projects, major developments such as the A27, flood defences, our Covid response etc.
What’s On? will showcase upcoming town events and attractions.
Have Your Say will highlight public surveys, debates, and issues relevant to Arundel where residents have a right to contribute their opinions. This is important because, as a small town, we need to speak up to be heard. The Arundel Update will show people where and how to have their say.
The new look Arundel Update goes live in September. If you want to know what’s going on, just sign up to receive the newsletter at LoveArundel.org and click on the red button. Alternatively, if you have important news to share, please contact community@arundel.org.uk
The ‘New’ Road
The Bell loves a bit of history and we are very grateful to David Clifton (who was on the original Bell committee) for this photograph of Mill Road shortly after its construction. It shows the trees which were originally lime and elm, with the elms being removed once they were established to make more room for the limes. The picture is actually a postcard produced by Lapworths which was the newsagent, stationers and souvenir shop at 33 High Street. David’s father’s wrote recollections of Arundel in the early 20th century and include this description of the shopkeeper- ‘Old Lappie, a thin old man of medium height with side whiskers. He wore a knickerbocker suit and a pince-nez’. What a marvellous image that conjures up!
Arundel Festival of the Arts
The Arundel Festival of The Arts committee experienced a more challenging task in 2021 than 2020. It was not until the government announcement at the end of June that they felt able to press play on their planning. Health and safety measures and big open spaces were a top priority whilst enabling a good time for all those who attended the broad variety of events.
As well as collaborating with the usual wonderful wide range of organisations, there were some new ventures including a collaboration with the Lido for festival family fun activities, the Castle for a residents’ only picnic with orchestra and an Arundel Cathedral Festival series of three different concerts.
The Festival also ran a successful competition for the two Arundel primary schools where as part of a special art project, pupils designed eye-catching flags which featured in the Opening Ceremony, were exhibited in the Cathedral and were admired during the Children’s Concert in which pupils were invited to perform. The winning flags are due to go on display at the Museum this month.
The Festival thanks everyone who made the festival possible including: Arundel Town Council for their generous grant and administrative support, the fantastic team of volunteers, the town’s businesses, including hospitality and the attractions, and all those who gave their time, donations and participated in our Annual Community Festival.
The volunteer committee delivered hundreds of hours over many months, “and hope that the Festival gave the local community a much-needed boost,” says the Chair Sharon Blaikie. “We plan to hold a consultation process in the Autumn and welcome residents’, businesses and community groups views on how to develop the festival over the next few years”.
The Pre-fest fundraiser has not been possible for the past two years and sponsorship was much harder to obtain during this difficult economic climate. Therefore there are still important fundraising events to come. Don’t miss the 1940’s tea dance on 12th September at the Town Hall!
For further information please see www.arundelfestival.co.uk or contact secretary@arundelfestival.co.uk
Arundel CLT July 2021 Update
On 21 July Arun District Council (ADC) Planning Committee approved the Ford Road Development Outline Planning Application. The ADC Planning Committee agreed with the officer’s report/ recommendations and approved the Outline Plans with detailed matters reserved and subject to the section 106 (s106) Agreement.
The s106 Agreement is legally binding. It sets out how the affordable homes will be delivered and includes details of a payment to Highways England for road improvements near the site (on the Ford Road) and the transfer of land to ATC for allotments and a new community building.
Part of the agreement sets out how local people (on the ADC Housing List) will be able to apply for the affordable homes, and a Local Lettings Policy (LLP) will be appended to the agreement.
Over the coming months, ACLT will be working hard to finalise the LLP and s106 Agreement working closely with Norfolk Estate/Savills, ADC and Aster.
The next steps for this project are:
- Norfolk Estate/Savills will select a development partner who will work with NE to deliver the scheme as originally intended: To be a legacy for Arundel, following the previous times that NE have provided land for housing since the 1940’s.
- NE/Developer/Savills to create detailed plans for the site and seek Reserved Matters Planning Consent.
- NE/Savills have given assurances that they will engage with the community on the plans as they develop
- ATC will need to plan for the new community building on the site and what its purpose will be.
The development provides many opportunities for community and public benefits and we at Arundel CLT look forward to supporting any future consultations on this project. In addition to the affordable homes, 20 at social rent (around 50% of market rent) and 7 shared ownerships, more than half the site will provide new public access Green Space and new allotments, which all Arundel residents will be able to enjoy, with links to the wider public footpath network.
Please see the ACLT August Newsletter for a more detailed report on the Outline Planning decision, s106 and the Local Lettings Policy. (www.arundelclt.org select from Member’s page).
From Isleworth to Arundel
Regular readers of this magazine will recall a review of Graham Toole-Mackson excellent autobiography ‘From Isleworth to Arundel’ which ran in the March issue of The Bell. Well since then Graham’s book has raised over £600 for St. Nicholas Church Funds. Also, there is now a copy in the West Sussex County Record Offices in Chichester and the Library Service have taken three copies. The author seems surprised by the book’s success- ‘It all seems quite amazing to me——I didn’t know I had it in me!’ If anyone would like a copy of the book you can contact Graham on 01903 885756 or email toolemackson@btinternet.com