New access road proposed for Tilgate Park

Councillors will be asked to approve a new access road linking Tilgate Park to the A23 and more car parking spaces at a meeting in February.

The plans – part of a £1m investment in the park – also include the resurfacing of the main car park and the installation of a pay and display system, as well as improvements to coach parking, new disabled parking areas, and safer pedestrian access around the toilet areas and into the park.

The plans will be debated by members of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on the 10th February before the Cabinet makes a decision on the 12th.

If approved a planning application for the access road will come in the spring. A tender period would follow before preliminary work would begin in September. Road construction would take place between September this year and April 2015.

£6 million is now the estimated repair bill to fix surreys flood damaged roads and bridges.

Torrential rain, strong winds and burst riverbanks over the christmas period meant county council roads teams had to work around the clock to clear hundreds of flooded roads and fallen trees. The county council’s fire and  rescue service also  responded to thousands of calls £800,000 alone is expected to be needed to rebuild Flanchford Road bridge near Reigate. When final estimates are in, the roads repair bill could rise above £10 million, and there could be more flooding yet to come.

More here:

http://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2014/01/30/6-million-bill-for-surrey-county-council-to-fix-flood-damaged-roads/

A pensioner from Crawley has had distinctive items stolen from her after a burglar broke into her home while she slept.

The 89 year old womans home in Cuckmere Crescent was broken into between 9.30pm and 8.30am last Friday.

A Sony Bravia TV was stolen along with a bottle of brandy, a 12-inch high castle made of stained black wood and featuring chains for a drawebridge, decanters and glasses, two six inch shell cases and two small brass ornamental cannon.

Anyone with information should call sussex police on 101.

A 13 year old pedestrian has suffered serious head injuries following a collision with a car in Southgate Avenue Crawley.

This incident happened at 5.27pm on Tuesday 28th January.  The girl from Crawley was taken to hospital where she is now in a stable condition.

The driver of the Audi car involved, a 42-year-old from Bedfordshire, was uninjured.

Anyone who saw the collision is asked to contact police on 101.

More info here:

http://www.sussex.police.uk/whats-happening/latest/news-stories/2014/01/29/crawley-teenager-injured-in-collision

An action group put together to save Dunottar School is gathering momentum.

More and more volunteers are joining the group and fundraising is going well. They plan to have a five year business plan in place within the next two weeks.

£15,500 in funds has already been offered and pledges are pouring in. A ‘Love Dunottar Day’ is also to be staged on Saturday 15 February to showcase the school, celebrate the students’ talents and contribute to the fighting fund.

For further information contact SaveDunottarSchool@gmail.com, follow @SaveDunottar or visit www.DunottarVoice.com