Chairmans Letter March 2006

This year the Society celebrates its 70^th anniversary, and 70 years of achievements.

It is no exaggeration to say that the shape and form of The Valley today is due exclusively to the efforts of past committees in obtaining, for us all, the benefits of the bounding open spaces on either side. The Gallops to Coombe Rise are there for the benefit of all as a direct consequence of input by the FVS. FVS has also resisted successfully earlier attempts at light industrial development, and residential development “not in keeping with the nature of the Valley”.

More recently, we have successfully opened dialogues with both County Highways, and the Highways Agency (for the A27). Re A24, County Highways has recently changed its position on the 40mph speed limit on Findon Road from “No Negotiation; it’s a Managed Speed Route” to “we are now looking seriously at reducing it to 30”. (Traffic measurements have recently been taken.) A (second) protected crossing proposal at the Surgery has moved on from “not even considered” to being 6^th on the County’s list of crossing installation priorities. And there have been numerous more minor enhancements to road safety, either installed or scheduled. Re A27, Highways Agency has scheduled the installation of a crossing on Warren Road for 2006/7, and we are promised “Keep Clear” markings for Offington Corner in late March/early April.

For more information on the above, and much else besides, visit our website at http://www.findonvalley.org/

Solely because your committee is running out of people. We urgently need a few more willing souls on board to undertake some of the key roles currently vacant. These include Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and (from May) Vice Chairman.

Equally importantly we also need another ten(?) Road Representatives. This is not an onerous job. (Collect the subs. once a year, and make new friends.) But without candidates coming forward, we could/will/are likely to run out of cash within a year or two.

So, please, if you have any contribution at all that could be made in any way, please contact me NOW. You are promised a very warm welcome by your future colleagues; you will enjoy the experience, and also the senses of achievement and neighbourly contribution.

Since publication last month, I am delighted to announce that the posts of Secretary and Treasurer have been filled by volunteers.

We also now have a Membership Secretary; this role, however is onerous enough to warrant a co/assistant secretary, so there is still ample room for another willing party.

And still we shall be without a Vice-Chair from our AGM on 17th May. (All Saints Church Hall.)

Please come along and meet us, and learn about the latest developments within The Valley. There will also be an open forum on the stance your Society should adopt in the presence of escalating planning permission applications.)

And Road Representatives. And Road Representatives. And Road Representatives.

The ideal here is for a dedicated Representative for each road, (or for part in the case of the longer roads). So, please forward your names to me, or the Membership Secretary, or the Webmaster if you feel that one of these roles might be right for you.

We can never have enough Road Representatives. They (You?) are the building blocks for the future of The Society.

And we are absolutely not stuffy. There's always plenty of laughter at our meetings. Try us and see.

Oh, and our Spring/Summer get-together is to be held at the Amberly (Chalk-Pit) Museum. Bring a picnic. Spend the day. Let the kids run around. Ride the old narrow-gauge. Come and go as you like. Plenty to do and see, even if it rains a bit.

Sunday, 25th June. (Diaries now! More details later.)

Chairman.

FINDON VALLEY SOCIETY