The above planning application for a block of 10 apartments in Beehive Lane has today been refused by the officers of Arun District Council, without needing to go to the Planning Committee. The developer still has of course a right to appeal this decision in due course. Many thanks to the well over 300 local people and organisations who took the time and trouble to submit their own objections.
Yearly Archives: 2015
Over 300 letters of objection to the Beehive planning application
The final figure for written objections to the plan to build a 10-apartment block on the site of the Beehive Cottage in Beehive Lane, Ferring was over 300. We now await the decision of Arun District Council!
Update on the Beehive planning application
As of today (26 August) there are well over 160 objections to this application on the Arun DC website. This illustrates just how unpopular it is, but you still have time to lodge your objection if you wish to do so. You have until the closing date for comments on Thurs 3 September. If you’re thinking about doing so, then please do it for the sake of the village of Ferring. We would like to see well over 200 objections in total. This would give a very clear message to the planners from local people. Details of how to submit your comment are in the post below. Stop Press: Ferring Parish Council also voted overwhelmingly last night to submit a formal objection, as have East Preston Parish Council.
Apartment block to replace thatched cottage in Ferring?
Ferring residents have been stunned by the news that a developer has applied to replace an attractive thatched cottage in a key location with an apartment block. The cottage has been a landmark feature in south Ferring for three generations
‘There will be very strong resistance to this application’, said David Bettiss, Chairman of Ferring Conservation Group. ‘We have 900 members and we shall be encouraging every one of them to send in objections to Arun District Council. It is an outrage – we knew there was a plan already for four chalet bungalows and we 
were having to get used to that idea but ten apartments, in a block that covers the whole site, is really gross overdevelopment and shows no regard for the character of Ferring. This area was built in the 1920s and 1930s in a low density arrangement of bungalows and small houses on large plots. A modern apartment block would be completely out of place’.
‘Not only that but adding ten lots of car owners would increase the traffic congestion and road safety hazards in a narrow road, at a junction on a blind bend, where it is already difficult to turn safely. We would hope the County Council would condemn it on road safety grounds and that Arun district Council will refuse it as overdevelopment, totally out of character for this area.’
Ed Miller, Secretary of Ferring History Group, added, ‘The cottage is not quite as old as some people think but it was one of the first houses built in the development of the 1920s. Its shape and thatched roof earned it the nickname of ‘The Beehive’ and Beehive Lane – the road connecting the inter-war estate to Sea Lane, was named after it in 1928. The house is a dominant feature in one of the earliest photographs of South Ferring, and has been the centrepiece of many postcards. It’s bad enough that we should lose the cottage but to have it replaced by an apartment block is really too much. Our members will certainly fight this application’.
If you agree that this is an unwelcome and unwanted development in the village, you can object to Arun District Council. Their website is www.arun.gov.uk and the reference number of the application by Globe Estates is FG/116/15 – you can view the plans there. Put in your own words why you don’t want this addition to the landscape of Ferring in the comments section of the application.
Big Butterfly Count and Wildflower Walk
Over 20 members of Ferring Conservation Group met up this week on the Ferring Rife to make their contribution to the national Big Butterfly Count organised by the Butterfly Conservation organisation. This was combined with a Summer flower challenge to see how many different plants could be seen.
Members split up into a number of smaller groups to check out areas protected from the strong westerly breeze on what was otherwise a bright and sunny day. The area of both the south and north lagoons on the East Preston side of the river were surveyed, and a total of 10 different species of butterflies were recorded, with 42 individuals around the south lagoon and 36 in the north. Amongst those seen were Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Small White and Red Admiral. The results were duly forwarded to Butterfly Conservation to add to the 25,000 submissions so far, and build up a national picture of butterfly distribution.
The Group then moved on to attempt to find at least 12 summer wild flowers in the area as challenged by walk leader and committee member, Tricia Hall. A number of these plants such as Common Fleabane were proving attractive to butterflies and other insects. Amongst the other plants were the white flowered and pleasant smelling Meadowsweet, Hogweed (not the giant version!), Birds’ Foot Trefoil, Knapweed, Yellow Loosestrife, Bristly Ox Tongue and Yarrow. All of these plants together provide an attractive scene, as well as a valuable habitat for our wildlife in this Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). Most people managed to complete the challenge and find at least 12 different plants, learning about them in the process.
Just to add to the interest, members also found a Bush Cricket, various Ladybirds, some Day Flying Moths and even a small frog discovered by the grandson of one of the Group members, which was released after a quick photograph.
Group Meeting – 31st July 2015
Stuart Card a Conservationist and Qualified Bird Ringer from Warnham Local Nature Reserve (Warnham LNR) opened our July meeting with a fascinating and informative talk about the ‘Captive Breeding and Re-introduction Programme of Harvest Mice’ at Chesworth Farm, Horsham. To our delight and to give our members the perfect photo opportunity Stuart brought along a breeding tank complete with several beautiful harvest mice.
Harvest Mice are Britain’s smallest mammal and weigh between 4 to 6 grams and are only between 50 to 70 mm long. They are the only British mammal to have a prehensile tail which enables them to be incredibly acrobatic. Harvest Mice have many predators including stoats, mink, weasels, foxes, sparrow hawks, barn owls, crows, pheasants and domestic cats.
This breeding programme was established in 2008 when it was realised that Harvest Mice were at risk due to modern farming methods, alterations in sowing practices, pesticides failing to control invasive grasses and climate change creating wet seasons. Harvest Mice cannot warm themselves once their coats are damp. Supported by Friends of Warnham LNR and Horsham DC the programme runs across 4 sites and involves 3 different Public Organisations and 1 private collector.
Harvest mice can breed before they are 1 year old and can produce 3 to 7 litters a year. Their mating season is between May and October. The gestation period is 19 days and litters can range from 1 to 8 young.
Breeding tanks are set up using sawdust, meadow hay, millet sprays for climbing and Finch Wicker baskets to offer additional nesting sites to help emulate a natural environment. Wild bird seed mix and fruit pieces are provided as food sources.
The breeding procedure always starts with 2 males and 2 females in one tank; the dominant female will conceive first. When this occurs the subordinate female is immediately removed. As soon as the subordinate male is identified he must also be removed. The successful breeding pair can be kept together for up to 7 litters. If they have any more than this, the female may die giving birth.
After a break for tea Tricia Hall updated us on the walk on Highdown Hill that took place on 2nd July. Among other species the Yellow Rattle flower was in evidence. This annual plant thrives in grasslands and as its name suggests if you brushed past it in the height of summer you will hear the tiny seeds rattle in their pods. Some excellent photos were taken of the Marble White butterflies as they were nectaring. Tricia brought to our attention that the vegetation had been cut back along the banks of the River Rife leaving only about 10 per cent for wildlife activity.
Ed Miller updated our members with the news that the HM Planning Inspector had asked for the Arun DC Local Plan to be revised to include an extra 180 houses to be built per year over the next 15 years. If an acceptable proposal is not forthcoming then the Local Plan will be rejected and Arun DC will have to start again from scratch. This will leave the door open for developers to pursue planning applications on other sites in the area.
Ed then concluded by announcing that our Group Secretary, Carol Dyball, was stepping down from committee duties after 15 years to concentrate on her move away from Ferring. Ed thanked Carol for all her hard work over the years and wished her the very best in her forthcoming move.
July meeting – change of speaker
For our next members meeting on Friday July 31st (7.30pm back at Ferring Village Hall), we will now be having a visit from Stuart Card, who is a warden at Warnham Local Nature Reserve. He will be giving us a talk on – An Introduction to the Captive Breeding Programme of Harvest Mice at Warnham LNR/ Chesworth Farm (both near Horsham). He will be bringing some of the Harvest Mice with him for you to meet, and there will be an opportunity for you to get some up close photographs, so bring your cameras!
Chris Tomlinson from E.ON will now be coming to our September meeting for an update on the Rampion Wind Farm – this will be in addition to our advertised speaker, who is Dr Dawn Scott (of BBC Springwatch fame) who will be talking on the Brighton Urban Fox Project.
In between these meetings, we have the Summer Social on Saturday August 22nd at 6.30pm again at Ferring Village Hall. Tickets are currently on sale at £10 each – to include a choice of hot main courses, a choice of desserts and a complimentary glass of wine or fruit juice. Tickets can be obtained from Carol Dyball on 249337, or at the July meeting, but be warned – they’re selling fast!
Summer Social tickets now on sale
Summer Social tickets now on sale
Takes place at 6.30pm Saturday 22 August at the Village Hall
Priced at £10 each – to include a choice of hot main course and choice of dessert, plus free glass of wine or fruit juice
An enjoyable evening of good food, good company, good conversation and good entertainment
Get in quick, as tickets always sell out!
Buy them at July 31st members meeting, or contact Carol Dyball on 249337 to book your tickets
Group Meeting – 26th June 2015
For this month only, Ferring Conservation Group held their June meeting at the pleasant St Andrews Church Centre in the village, and were treated to an excellent informative illustrated talk by Jacob Everitt on the topical subject for Ferring of Coastal and Estuarine Birds.
Jacob is the Head Warden at the Warnham Local Nature Reserve near Horsham, and as well being a very effective communicator, he is a very talented photographer and in his spare time is also a bird ringer for the British Trust for Ornithology.
He took us through a journey of many of the birds that we are likely to see on the Sussex coast, as well as our nearby estuaries. He also highlighted the best places to see these birds in the county, but did include the special RSPB reserve of Snettisham in Norfolk, where it is possible to witness the amazing sight of up to 50,000 knot flying close overhead when a high tide forces them on to the reserve lagoons.
Back in Sussex, he described some of the more interesting birds to be seen, such as Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Brent Geese, and Purple Sandpipers, and also why they spend at least some of their lives here. One of the more interesting facts for the wading birds was that each square metre of estuarine mud contains up to 200,000 Kcal – the equivalent of some 77 Mars bars!
Finally, he recommended the best sites to visit to see the birds in their natural environments, and these from east to west were – Rye Harbour, Cuckmere Haven, Seaford Head, and Pagham Harbour, not forgetting the coast off Ferring and the nearby Rife, where we do see a decent selection of these birds on our door step.
In the second half of the meeting, amongst other features, Tricia Hall in her regular Nature Notes, updated members with photographs on the wonderful sight of many Early Marsh Orchids in the Rife lagoon areas, as well as a crop of Flax now flowering on the East Preston Gap, giving it a light blue hue.
June Meeting – change of speaker
We are sorry to let you know that there will be a change of speaker at our meeting on Friday June 26th at 7.30pm (for this meeting only at St Andrews Church Hall). The speaker on Thatching has unfortunately cancelled his booking, but we have been able to bring forward the July speaker to this month.
Our June speaker is now Jacob Everitt (the warden at Warnham Nature Reserve) who will give an illustrated talk on Coastal and Estuarine Birds – very appropriate for our location and to help you identify all those wading birds. He has a lot of knowledge and is an excellent photographer, so it should be an entertaining evening.
The July meeting will now hear from Chris Tomlinson from E.ON who will give us an update on the latest plans for the Rampion Wind Farm, and there will be an opportunity to ask him questions. This meeting will be back at Ferring Village Hall – 7.30pm Friday July 31st.