2

December 2007 Issue 28

www.lindfieldtimes.co.uk Circulation 6,000

* POST OFFICE CLOSURE THREATS*

* REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY THANKS *
* CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICE FEATURE *
* LINDFIELD’S HIGH STREET TREES *

Cover image:
‘Merry Christmas’
© Lindfield Times 2007
Copydate for January issue of Lindfield
Times: 12th January 2008
Editors Comments
Here is the next edition of the Lindfield Times
before Christmas, so it goes without saying
that my first thoughts are in wishing all our
readers and advertisers a very happy
Christmas and New Year.

Now very established in the Village we are

Editor Jeremy Crooks
Design Editor Kevin Elliott
Email: news@lindfieldtimes.org.uk
www.lindfieldtimes.co.uk
looking to consolidate our position and
improve services by involving editorially
several new people who would manage the
material for different sections of the
magazine.

Photography by: Picsnapper We would be particularly interested in

www.picsnapper.co.uk
Printed by: Swan Press
To Advertise email
ads@lindfieldtimes.org.uk
someone who could promote the Magazine
to children, liasing with the schools and
developing young writers and journalists.
Jeremy Crooks
Editor
Please send you articles to
news@lindfieldtimes.org.uk

ADVERTISE
IN THE
LINDFIELD TIMES

Why not advertise in

the Lindfield Times and
reach over 6,000 local
households

Many local businesses

can be found by simply
picking up the Lindfield
Times

To advertise email us
ads@lindfieldtimes.org.uk

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 King Edward Hall
‘Atmosphere’
Disco
Diary of Events
December
1st Art Club Sale
(Valerie Harvey 455704 Great Entertainment
Lindfield Dramatic Club Table
Top Sale (Rex Cooper 831512)
Weddings - Birthday’s
2nd Ruwach Christian Church Service
(Janet Hilton 459025) Music For All Ages
Hever Opera Performance
Atmosphere Disco provides
(Roger Clow 01273 736272) the very best entertainment
6th Country Market
for any occasion
(Sheila Hobbs 483396) 60’s 70’s 80’s Tribute Nights
7th Lindfield Horticultural Society Social Tel. 01444 891290
(Sheila Hobbs 483396)

9th Ruwach Christian Church Service info@atmospheredisco.co.uk

13th Country Market

16th Ruwach Christian Church Service

LOOKING TO
BOOK THE
17th Ruwach Christian Church Service
WORKS
19th Hickory & Lindfield Montessori CHRISTMAS
PARTY ?
Nurseries Nativity Play
(Carole Anne Benson 241491)
Our ever popular Christmas
20th Country Market
menu is now available.
22nd Charleston Quartet Concert Celebrate Christmas in our
(Russell Gilbert 455888) friendly country pub with a
23rd Ruwach Christian Church Service roaring log fire, great
atmosphere and fantastic menu
25th Ruwach Christian Church Service From Saturday 1st December
30th Ruwach Christian Church Service through to New years Eve
Open Christmas Day
31st Lindfield Club Dance Book Now
A very safe and happy Christmas from every- THE ARDINGLY INN
one at the King Edward Hall - Thank you for all Tel 01444 892214
your support in 2007
Issue 28 Page 3
 The Constantly Reviled Gardener

The English upper classes were, as we know, traditionally disdainful of their servants,
and gardeners seem especially to have come in for stick. Why was this? Perhaps it was
the result of some underlying rivalry in that most English of domains, where the
gardener, servant though he might be, was also his own expert.

We have some local examples of the way things used to be. You would probably not
have wanted to be gardener to Miss K L Pakenham who, writing in Lindfield Fare in 1912,
under the title of “Wisdom Indispensable to the Making of a Garden” says – “I strongly
advise an unpleasant person in this capacity, necessary admonitions will then be given
with much greater goodwill, and you will not, as in my case, be denied the relief of the
natural safety-valve for your feelings. A person who is too agreeable to scold can be
quite as exasperating as anyone else”.

She goes on, “Never ask him to think. It would be an act of barbarity to subject his brain
to such an unaccustomed gymnastic; do that part yourself, but make him feel
responsible for all the minor technical details and routine work; he will then swell with
pride at any good results and swallow the entire credit. Such harmless fancies need not
be trampled on; they hurt no one and give a great deal of innocent pleasure”.

The subject matter is obviously felt to deserve droll treatment, and we see this again
when John Halsham, who was writing about Lindfield a century ago, suggests in his
book “Every man his own Gardener” that the landowner should acquire his own
gardening skills so that he can “bear up under the scornful pity of the dictator” which is
his gardener. Driving the joke home, Halsham continues “If there is any revolutionary
spirit looking for a downtrodden class to be liberated in our happy land, he might do
worse than attack the tyrannical oppression of the wealthy by their gardeners”.

Halsham wrote less than kindly about his own gardener in his journal about Lindfield life
in the 1890s. Bish lived in a little house which Halsham humorously names Dogkennel.
“Under instructions, Bish works admirably; but he has no power of initiative;He can
perspire all day and sit at night among the family linen hanging on strings about his
head, just conscious of discomfort in his wet shirt. He can live, spite of Sunday
cleaning-up, in compacted dirt, inveterate, ingrained. He can eat, of mere custom,
coarse food to repletion”. One guesses Bish did not have a great deal of choice in the
matter.

John Usher

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 The Sussex Police Roads Policing Unit is
again reinforcing its message to drivers about
the dangers of driving the morning after con-
suming alcohol.

Many motorists are unaware of the lingering

effects of alcohol and are driving the follow-
ing day with potentially illegal levels of alco-
hol still in their system. This problem is com-
pounded over the Christmas period, when
drivers often consume higher levels of alco-
hol than they normally would during an
evening out.

Roads Policing Unit officers will be conduct-

ing regular checks throughout the morning
commute to work in order to educate and
help deter this activity.

All drivers involved in a collision in Sussex

will be breath tested whatever time of day it
is, so drivers are advised to consider their
early morning commitments before consum-
ing alcohol the night before.

Issue 28 Page 5
 Celebrating the Bicentenary of the Geological Society of London

On the 12th and 13th of November a

conference entitled ‘In the Footsteps of the
Founding Fathers’ took place at Burlington
House London. One of the lectures, given
by Professor Hugh Torrens, specifically
dealt with ‘Dissenting Science, the
Quakers among the founding members.’
There were three and they included
William Allen, well known locally for
establishing the industrial school on Black
Hill Lindfield and for his allotment scheme.
Why should Quakers have played such a
prominent part in this development?
Barred by conscience from the armed
forces and clergy and from English universities by law, many Quakers were involved in trade.

The Askesian Society was among earlier scientific societies in London, founded by Allen and
another Quaker William Phillips in 1796 to promote science. From this, in 1799, grew the
Mineralogical Society. This planned, by survey and analysis, to produce a mineral history of
Britain. The desire to understand and use the mineral resources of Britain led to the founding of
the first Geological Society in the world.

In the evening a plaque commemorating

the bicentenary was unveiled by Professor
Richard Fortey, President of the Geological
Society on the site of the Freemasons
Tavern where the Society was first formed.
The site is now occupied by the new
Connaught Rooms, Holborn. A dinner at
which many guests were in eighteenth cen-
tury costume then took place. After a toast
to the society by Lord Robin Derwent ,’
words of congratulation by William Pinkney,

Minister Plenipotentiary delivered on behalf of President

Thomas Jefferson ‘ followed!

To find out more about William Allen visit the

website www.williamallenquaker.co.uk or purchase
the book William Allen, QuakerFriend of Lindfield
from The Bookstop in Lindfield or direct from the
author Margaret Nicolle on 01444 482685.

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 Fencing Gate’sPatio’s Path’s
Hedge Cutting Rotovating
Stump Grinding Planting
Handy man services Turfing
Experienced | Insured | Reliable

For a free friendly quote phone Nigel Clough on

01825 723138 or 07722710329

Issue 28 Page 7
 Letters to the Editor...................

Dear Sir,
I am writing in response to the letter by A.C. in the November edition.

Essentially what this says is that anyone living in Lindfield has no right to object to housing
schemes because they own a house themselves. Although not a member of the Preservation
Society, for me the central issue here is conservation - conservation of the unique rural quality of
the village and of the surrounding countryside. The "old" village of Lindfield is surrounded on
most sides by more recent housing schemes and the proposed development site is one of the
last places where there remains direct contact with the countryside and true village character is
retained.

A.C. asks why it is only now that building is a "threat to the very fabric of our lives". Well, we
cannot undo what has happened in the past but if we continue to allow development of our
green field areas they will be lost forever and we will simply be enveloped in an urban sprawl.
No single development will probably be critical but it is the ongoing, insidious process of devel-
opment that is the problem. Obviously the current high demand for housing puts a very real
demand on this area right now. No one is objecting to others coming to live in Lindfield but just
to new developments on green field sites.

It is an interesting concept that one should not object to any activity from which one has indirect-
ly benefited from in the past. Following this rationale we should not object to another country's
industrial pollution because we have profited from our own industrial revolution? Similarly we
should not object to any nation invading another country because of our colonial history, or per-
haps because the invaded were historically invaders themselves?

I could go on but what would be the consequences of standing by passively in these cases?

L.D.

From
The Lindfield Times
Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007
 POST OFFICE CLOSURES
Four years ago the Lindfield & Haywards Heath area suffered the loss of two of its Post Offices
at Sunte Avenue and Queens Road. There was precious little consultation and it was clear that
Royal Mail had a target of closures to meet and just picked off the easiest ones, where they
could find postmasters willing to accept a substantial sum to close their branch. There seemed
to be no real evidence of assessing the needs of localities or the damage the cuts would cause
to communities.

Now we are told two more Post Offices, at

Franklands Village and New England Road, are
under threat. It is some comfort to know that the
Lindfield High Street PO is to be retained, but the
whole area of Haywards Heath and Lindfield will
now be served by the main Post Office in the
Orchards and the tiny one in Lindfield.

This means that, for a combined population of

some 30,000 people our Post Office provision will
have been reduced from six to two in five years.

Of course, there are intense financial pressures facing Royal Mail. The payment of benefits
direct into bank accounts, the creaming off of lucrative aspects of the mail delivery service by
private operators and the immense growth in e-mail communications have all meant a reduction
in business and profits.

However, these new closure proposals for Mid Sussex, particularly those relating to the
Haywards Heath & Lindfield area, appear to be quite excessive and unjust, when seen against
the earlier round of closures. If you wish to put your point of view, please contact Gary Herbert,
Network Development Manager, C/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION
TEAM. Email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk - Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44.

MSDC’s response on the proposals

“This Council is gravely concerned by the proposals by Post Office Limited to close the local
post offices at: Franklands Village and America Lane in Haywards Heath; London Road (St
John’s Common) and Lower Church Road in Burgess Hill and Common Road, Copthorne.

The proposals would result the loss of local facilities that for many people are an important life-
line especially for many elderly and disabled people and carers. These proposals appear to be
designed to drive more people into the main post office and increase the government’s revenues
at the expense of the excellent services provided by our local sub-postmasters.

The true social value of our local post offices should be considered as well as their economic
value. Recent research shows that most people find their local post office essential to their way
of life. A lot of people lose their independence when they lose their local post office.

This Council resolves to establish a cross-party working group to consider these proposals in
detail, to work in consultation with local Town and Parish Councils and to return to the next
Council meeting (12 December) with a draft formal response.”

Issue 28 Page 9
 HISTORIC SUCCESS

Over 760 people visited the ‘Our Lindfield’ exhibition organised

by the Lindfield History Project Group held in the King Edward
Hall at the beginning of October. The group would like to thank
everyone who supported the event and for their interest in the
history of our village.

A small number of the excellent and very attractive book ‘A

Sense of Place – West Sussex Parish Maps’ by Kim Leslie,
RRP £35, are still available at the special exhibition price of
£23. This book would make an ideal Christmas present for any
one interested in West Sussex and local history.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy or would like further details about the Lindfield History
Project Group, please contact Richard Bryant 01444 482136.

MRS JAET IRWI

EDUCATIOAL COSULTAT
& PRIVATE TUTOR

MATHS, EGLISH & FRECH

All ages & Stages, Children & Adults
01444 455081

Fun French Clubs Age 2+

www.janetirwin.com

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 Remembrance
Sunday
The Lindfield Branch of The Royal British Legion wish , through the medium of this column, to
thank everyone who contributed to make the Lindfield Branch Remembrance Day Service on
Sunday November 11th 2007, so successful.

We especially should like to thank:

The Drummers, who joined us at a moments notice

The Buglar - Mr Peter Swann who is always ready to help us in so many ways

The Boys” Brigade, under the guidance of Captain Geoffrey Cocksedge

The children from “Tavistock and Summerhill Preparatory School and Lindfield Primary School
who read the “Poems of Remembrance” in the Church Service.

The ladies who donated cakes to support the Remembrance Tea in the King Edward Hall

Our membership total goes down every year

which, unfortunately, is quite understandable.
“those who are left” do grow old and it
becomes very difficult for them to support the
activities needed to keep a working Branch.
Especially since we have no Club to boost
membership. The Branch must however,
contribute towards the National body of sup-
port for the young people who are still serving
in the present war zones.

We should welcome new members” ..

The Poppy Appeal was officially launched in London this year by

Katherine Jenkins. Katherine was sporting a vibrant dress made
with thousands of poppies attached. She also took part in the
service held at the Royal Albert Hall, in front of the queen.

Katherine is no stranger to Mid Sussex. She will be appearing

again at Victoria Park in Haywards Heath next July.

For more information visit www.itsmagic.ork.uk

Issue 28 Page 11
 LINDFIELD’S HIGH STREET TREES – an update

Lindfield’s High Street trees have been featured in both recent issues of “Lindfield Times”
and there has been a good deal of discussion about the matter in the village.
Things have now moved on, however and a full consultation took place on Tuesday,
October 16 at which representatives were present from the County, District and Parish
Councils and the Preservation Society. At this meeting it was made clear that some of the
existing trees are now over mature and consequently becoming unmanageable.
Furthermore, they are causing progressive damage to the footway causing trip hazards.
Major works are therefore required to ensure the long-term future of Lindfield’s lime trees
as a major feature of the street scene.

To enable a balanced approach to be taken West Sussex County Council is now propos-
ing a three phased replacement plan, spread over the next nine years. This would
involve removing all 36 lime trees in three phases at 3 to 4 year intervals and replacing
them with 26 hybrid 3 metre high lime trees which produce little or no sap and no basal
growth. The majority of the trees in the High Street are predominately on the western side
of the road and it is anticipated that 24 trees will be replaced with 17. On the eastern side
there are currently 12 trees, which will be replaced with 9.

Meanwhile the canopy of the trees remaining at each phase will be reduced by 50% above
the level of the previous pollard. Young tree maintenance is scheduled for the first three
years, when each summer the trees would be checked; re-staked and mulched.
Depending on the growth of the trees it would be expected that a formative prune would
be carried out every five years, typical works would include selective branch removal and
crown lifting.

After ten - fifteen years it would be possible for pollarding works to be carried out on the
new trees and, if the consensus of opinion is still in favour of pollarding, the West Sussex
County Council would undertake this activity on a five year cycle.
Details of the proposals can be seen on the Parish Council noticeboard and website. If
the Lindfield Parish Council approves this plan at its meeting on November 20, formal
“Notice of Intent” for the works will be made by WSCC to MSDC for planning consent and,
after the normal six-week consultation period, work could commence on the first phase of
renewal in the New Year, whilst work on the remaining trees will be undertaken in the
Summer.

Of course, I am sure that everyone concerned recognises that, attractive as they are, our
High Street limes will not last for ever and a proper programme of care, maintenance and,
when necessary, replacement is required. There is some feeling, however, that the pro-
posed complete replacement of all our High Street trees in such a short period is a rather
drastic measure when all the people of Lindfield asked for was a return to a proper pol-
larding regime. General opinion, including most experts consulted, seemed to support
that as the proper way forward and there has been no clear explanation as to why that
cannot be done.

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 WEST SUSSEX CLOCKS
Antique Clocks
Paul Sewell FBHI
Restoration, Repairs & Sales

Call in and see my clocks at Tufnells of Lindfield

www.westsussexclocks.co.uk

01403 240069 or 07973 612311

E-mail westsussexclocks@btinternet.com

Issue 28 Page 13
Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007
 Artwork supplied by KipperCreative

Issue 28 Page 15
Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007
Issue 28 Page 17
Lindfield Times Magazine December2007
Issue 28 Page 19
 MID SUSSEX ONLINE
Mid Sussex Online is an up and coming live local business directory
serving Mid Sussex Traders only. It is a directory which will take the
form of a quarterly printed publication and a live up to date website
listing local businesses. The website is under development and will be
launched in the new year. The first printed directory which will be
delivered to over 6,000 local homes, will be published in early 2008.
Some businesses have already reserved entry space in both the
directory and our online site.

Essentially the web directory is aimed at small independent businesses

which will be promoted locally, advertising will be affordable from as
little as £10 per week, not bad to advertise to over 6,000 for £10

Sounds to good to be true !

Well rest assured it is brought to you by the long serving team from

The Lindfield Times

To register interest drop us an email admin@midsussexonline.com
Spaces will be limited and on a first come first served basis

Thursday 6th December

6.00pm to 9.00pm

With the Rotary selling hot chestnuts and mulled wine, Santa in his
grotto, there will be a festive spirit again this year in Lindfield High Street
during the late night Christmas shopping and festival. The road will
close and will be pedestrianised, the streets will fill and the crowds will
come. Wrap up warm as it can be a chilly evening, hopefully though the
weather will stay dry !

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 Why Not Advertise Here Next Month?
One advertiser has so much local work he
need’nt advertise again until Christmas !

Issue 28 Page 21
 Village Archive Collection
Thanks to the foresight and hard work of Gwyn Mansfield, a Parish Councillor at the time, the
Village Archive Collection was established in 1996. The collection continues to be owned and
maintained by Lindfield Parish Council and is housed at the Parish Office in Denmans Lane.

During the past 11 years it has grown considerable and for

the last five years has been looked after by Richard Bryant,
the volunteer archivist. The aim is to create a comprehen-
sive record of Lindfield that covers those aspects of the
community’s life, people and buildings that may be of histori-
cal or social interest. It provides a local source of reference
material on Lindfield that might not be generally available
and accordingly compliments the roles of the County Record
Offices.

Enquiries are received from local residents, from across the

country and around the world. Most originating via the Parish
Council’s website. The collection has a wide range of materi-
al, photographs and maps including a full set of the 1875, 25-
inch scale Ordnance Survey maps for the parish. However
the strength of the collection is very dependent upon your
contribution of items, either donated or loaned for copying.
Should you have any material relating to Lindfield, past or
present, please do think of the Village Archive. Nothing is too
small to be considered.

The Archive has recently been fortunate to receive a signifi-

cant number of photographs taken in the middle decades of
the last century by Miss Gwyneth Pennethorne, a professional
photographer who lived at The Hill House in Denmans Lane.
The photographs have a distinctive style and are mainly of
people, rural life and places in southern England. Many are
annotated with details of the camera, shutter speed, aperture
and filter used. Typical of her photographs are ‘Harvest Time
at Kenwards Farm.’ Any information on Gwyneth
Pennethorne would be much appreciated.

An item from the collection to reflect the festive season is the 1912 poster for Ye Olde Lindfield
Waits’ announcing their custom of touring the Village early on Christmas Day morning singing
carols for the Fireman’s Widows and Orphans Fun.

For all matters relating to the Archive, please contact the Parish Office, 6 Denmans Lane,
Lindfield, RH16 2LB.
Tel 01444 484115. clerks@lindfieldpc.fsnet.co.uk

Lindfield Times Magazine December2007

Issue 28 Page 23
 COUNCIL SLAMS FIT FOR THE FUTURE

Mid Sussex District Council unanimously gave a thumbs down to all three options in West
Sussex Primary Care Trust’s Fit for the Future, at the meeting of the Council on Wednesday
evening.

Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillors unanimously agreed their response in a
detailed paper which carefully considered the options put forward, provided evidence to support
the Council’s rejection of the options put forward by the PCT, and put forward the Council’s mini-
mum requirements for the Princess Royal Hospital.

The Changes will reduce the level of healthcare provided in Mid Sussex

Fit for the Future is the latest healthcare reconfiguration that continues to take services away
from the Princess Royal Hospital. Each time the Council has been assured that the hospital has
a bright future and is a key part of service delivery from the Brighton and Sussex University
Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Council is no longer prepared to accept these false promises. If the Princess Royal is a key
part of the Trust, then this position should be demonstrated through actions. The Trust can
demonstrate it means what it says by reintroducing a full Accident and Emergency Service and
bringing back a consultant led maternity service.

The Changes are not deliverable because of capacity issues

Neither East Surrey Hospital nor the Royal Sussex County Hospital is able to cope with the cur-
rent demands on its services. Ambulances have to queue up outside A&E entrances, patients
are left in corridors and women are transferred to other hospitals (including the Princess Royal)
to give birth. The proposals will make the situation worse, with a poorer patient service and
increased pressure on staff.

Despite the recommendations of the Clinical Reference Advisory Groups, there is a massive
body of clinical opposition to the proposals, in the belief that they are clinically unsafe.

The Proposals take no account of the specific requirements of Mid Sussex

The population of Mid Sussex is getting older and the number of people aged over 85 is expect-
ed to double in the next 20 years.

Many of those most in need of hospital treatment live in villages, with no public transport and
without their own car. These people will lose out financially in terms of taxi fares etc, but more
importantly, their life chances are going to be affected.

Mid Sussex District Council is clear that any reduction in services at the Princess Royal Hospital
is unacceptable.

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE ?
The Council does not consider any of the options in the consultation as being genuine options
for our community. Therefore Mid Sussex District Council is not able or willing to identify one of
the options as being our preferred, or ‘least worst’ option.

Mid Sussex District Council wants the PCT to revisit its options, to take into account the strength
of public feeling on this issue, and create proposals that provide the whole of West Sussex (this
is not just a Mid Sussex issue) with the quality and availability of healthcare services that it
deserves.

When preparing this option, the Council wants the PCT to ensure that the Princess Royal
Hospital has the following services provided:

• A full Accident and Emergency Unit

• Level Three Intensive Care Unit
• Consultant Led Maternity Unit
• Emergency Surgery

Furthermore, the Council wants the PCT to:

• Recognise the flaws in the consultation and to take whatever steps are necessary to
redress them.

• Develop plans that are sustainable in the long term (for a minimum of 20 years) that
take into account the fact the Mid Sussex population is expanding and aging. This should take
into account the rural nature of Mid Sussex and the fact that rural areas cannot be treated in the
same way as urban areas when devising healthcare systems.

• Recognise that the proposals may well work in Brighton and Hove, but the reality for
the Mid Sussex community is reduced access, increased cost, increased stress and a reduced
patient experience.

• Review the arrangements for ambulance services, to engage with paramedics and to
ensure that the service is properly funded.

• Provide a full A&E service at the Princess Royal Hospital. This is to deliver services to
the expanding community of the District and that of neighbouring authorities. The service is also
required to reflect the specific needs of the rural population and its distinct needs.

• Respond to the community’s demand that maternity services should remain and be
enhanced at the Princess Royal Hospital. The Council wants the PCT to rethink its proposals,
and produce an alternative, sustainable solution that enhances the service at the Princess
Royal.

• Work with the Acute Trust to set out their commitments about how effective manage-
ment arrangements will be implemented.

Issue 28 Page 25
 PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Mid Sussex District Council decided at its meeting on Wednesday evening to consider
further the wording of the District Council’s draft Core Strategy Document.

The South East Plan requires the Council to decide broad locations for approximately
15,000 new homes in the District from now until 2026.

The Council’s draft Core Strategy Document includes the Council’s vision for the area up
to 2026, including broad locations for major housing, employment and related develop-
ment, and strategic policies for that period.

The Council agreed that a small cross party

group of Councillors, together with the
Cabinet Member and the Council’s planning
policy officers, would amend wording within
the draft Core Strategy Document as appro-
priate before the document is returned to
Council for consideration

The draft Core Strategy is about managing change in the best interests of the area and
the community while accommodating the housing allocated to Mid Sussex by the South
East Plan up to 2026. In drawing up the draft Core Strategy, a number of key issues have
been considered.

• the need to create and maintain an attractive and healthy environment that sup-
ports sustainable lifestyles and addresses the issues of climate change
• the need to provide the amount, mix and tenure of housing in the right place to
meet the needs of the community into the future
• the need to support a healthy and vibrant economy by revitalising the town cen-
tres, protecting and improving existing employment areas and providing new employ-
ment areas
• the need to ensure that new development is accompanied by necessary and
timely infrastructure to build sustainable communities
• the need to support and enhance rural communities; and in particular to provide
affordable housing for local people.

The draft Core Strategy was reported to the Council’s Better Environment Advisory Group
on 18 September, and was considered by full Council on 17 October. It is expected to be
considered again by Council later this year before it goes to public consultation.

More informaton can be found at www.midsussex.gov.uk

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 LINDFIELD FLOWER CLUB
Chairman: Mrs A Cumming, Rowallen, Beaconsfield Road, Chelwood Gate, East Sussex,
RH17 7LG
Secretary: Mrs MA Stanley, 9 Portsmouth Wood Close, Lindfield, West Sussex, RH16 2DQ
Treasurer: Mrs PM Hardman, 1 Portsmouth Wood, Lindfield, West Sussex, RH16 2DH

A warm welcome awaits you at Lindfield Flower

Club, established in 1958.

Monthly meetings take place on the fourth

Tuesday in the month, at 2.3O pm, in the King
Edward Hall (opposite the village pond).

Each meeting consists of a demonstration by a

NAFAS approved demonstrator; there is a sales
table and a raffle for the arrangements created
by the demonstrator.

In addition, we hold social events during

the year. 2008 promises to be a ‘special’
year as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

The annual subscription is £17 starting in

January 2008 and a charge of £3 is made
for visitors.

Do come and enjoy a pleasurable afternoon

seeing beautiful arrangements created and
picking up tips about flower arranging, not
forgetting the chance to take one of the
arrangements home!!

You may then decide to join and help us

celebrate 50 years as a Flower Club, during
2008!!

Should you require any further information

please contact the Secretary, Mrs MA
Stanley, telephone O1444-414352, or just
come along to a meeting. Hope to see you
soon.

Issue 28 Page 27
Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007
Issue 28 Page 29
 STEPHEN GALLICO
S O L I C I T O R S
STOP PRESS!

Happiness = productivity = profitability

THE PROBLEMS

Inter-employee relationships cause practical and legal problems. Discrimination, bullying and
harassment are issues which are governed by statute. Senior staff operating under extreme pressure can
lead to poor performance and unacceptable behaviour.

THE CONSEQUENCES

The employer is liable for all harm, including psychiatric harm, caused by acts of discrimination, bullying
and harassment done in the course of employment. The penalties for allowing discrimination, bullying and
harassment to occur include:- Loss of staff morale. Decrease in staff confidence and productivity.
Significant financial loss, both obvious in terms of compensation required and hidden in terms of
loss of revenue.

THE SOLUTIONS
Act now

Ensure your organisation has clear and accessible policies covering areas such as discrimination,
bullying and harassment in the work place, setting out what is considered unacceptable behaviour and the
steps concerned employees can take to address the problem.
Ensure the procedures are fair, transparent and balanced between all employees, irrespective of
their positions within the organisation.
Arrange periodic training on basic inter-personnel relationship issues for relevant staff.

More often than not, the solutions to these problems are not legally based. However, failure to
spot problems early on and appreciate the legal consequences of the situation very often spiral the situation
out of the employer’s control.

Sound legal advice, particularly at the early stages of problems, is the key to happy employees, productive
staff and, ultimately, profitability.

Stephen Gallico Solicitors Stephen Gallico Solicitors is a specialist practice

Merlin House providing a personal and professional service to
private individuals, families, executors and trustees,
6 Boltro Road
particularly in the areas of personal, financial and
Haywards Heath estate planning together with residential and other
West Sussex property matters, and also in employment work.
RH16 1BB
Based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex the firm
Tel: 01444 411333 occupies offices just two minutes walk from
Haywards Heath mainline station which has direct
Fax: 01444 440604 links to the City of London and the West End. Clients
DX: 300 311 HAYWARDS HEATH and professional contacts are welcome to visit our
offices; alternatively we are happy to be available in
Email: enquiries@sgallico.co.uk
London and elsewhere as required

Lindfield Times Magazine December 2007

 BARKING MAD
A mania takes over at this time of year. Just when every sensible gardener should be
resting on their laurels after a busy autumn getting the garden ready for its well-earned
rest, we find ourselves instead, in retail mayhem preparing for Christmas.

But just have a look at what we are missing: suddenly the splendour of bark is revealed
and what about all these amazing berries? It is the simple pared down beauty of a
garden in December that is so appealing.

With no competition from distracting blossom or flowers, the soft diffuse light of winter
complements the subtle colours of bark. Cinnamon, a
colour rarely found during the rest of the year, looks
fantastic in the flakey bark of the maple, Acer griseum.
Another small tree, the cherry Prunus serrula has a
chocolatey-red bark that appears to be on fire when the
sun shines from behind the trunk. If you are looking to
throw subtlety out of the window, then dogwoods and
willows are a gift.

Although they will colour up in north-facing positions, it is

direct sunlight and cutting back in spring that ensures
intense colours the following winter. The vivid red stems
of dogwoods look stunning when planted in front of white
trunked birches, such as Betula utilis var. jacquemontii.
Beautiful throughout the year, birches have bark in colours
ranging from white through to coppery orange.

What would Christmas be without the berries of holly, ivy and mistletoe?
As well as providing sustenance for our birds, berries also give rich colour contrasts.

Callicarpa berries are an extraordinary purple, whilst

viburnam and clerodendron have berries with unusual
metallic sheens.

So during the celebrations, do not forget to raise your

glass to the garden for its most generous gift of all:
colour and beauty at the darkest and coldest time of
year. Merry Christmas.

Haut Talk by Karoline Baird

Haughty Culture Garden Design: specialising in all
aspects of design
Tel: 07742 731967 email: haughty.culture@virgin.net

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