Author: northhorshampc

Sign Up For Better, Faster Broadband

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Better ConnectedWest Sussex – Better Connected is an exciting project to bring better, faster broadband to West Sussex.  Funded by the government, West Sussex County Council and partners, the project aims to make it possible for 90% of the county to connect to better, faster broadband services by April 2015. This means that homes and businesses will have the opportunity to have a broadband connection using a commercial supplier.

The benefits will be great. Improved broadband speeds can transform how we work, live and communicate. This exciting technology can improve our quality of life, and help to grow our economy by enabling new businesses to start up, and existing ones to prosper. Providing better broadband presents challenges. The geography of West Sussex requires a range of technologies to bring broadband to households and businesses. These include fibre optic, advanced copper, satellite and wireless technologies.

This is a hugely ambitious and challenging project. It is inevitable some areas will be able to connect to better, faster broadband before others. We will be working closely with our partners to take into account many factors including local geography and demographics, planning requirements and engineering issues, to ensure a smooth installation of the technology.

Help to make sure your area is included in suppliers plans by signing up for better broadband. You can do this in the following ways:

  • Sign up online
  • Sign up by completing the paper form (download a copy of the form or call 01243 642119 or collect a form from your local West Sussex Library or Help Point).

Signing your support does not commit you to any form of contract for a new broadband service.

Southern Water Summer 2012 Newsletter Update

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Southern Water Logo“Welcome to our latest news update. Since our last newsletter we have seen our water supplies, in particular our reservoirs, return to a healthy position, thanks to the wet weather we experienced during the previous few months.

The heavy rainfall throughout April, May and early June allowed us to lift the restrictions on water use on June 14. We also recorded our lowest leakage rate, the best of all the water and sewerage companies in the UK.

However, some underground sources are still below average and we thank all our customers for helping to save water.

In June, West Sussex saw the brunt of the wet weather and we found ourselves battling the effects of some of the most intense rainstorms in recent years.

Teams worked around the clock when a month’s rainfall fell in just 12 hours. The sheer volume of rain overwhelmed parts of the sewerage system causing flooding in areas including Littlehampton, Bognor, Chichester and Worthing.

Our priority during this time was helping our customers and carrying out clean-ups, while keeping our pumping stations running. Tankers were dispatched across the county to remove stormwater from the system and customer services staff and clean-up crews worked in the affected areas.

We are now participating fully in West Sussex County Council’s work to investigate flooding across the county.

To coincide with the Olympic torch passing through our region, a series of events took place to mark the Learn to Swim scheme’s 20th anniversary. Ambassador Duncan Goodhew and his Olympic torch were the stars of Sussex Sports Day at K2 in Crawley, where 1,300 children competed, watched by Tim Loughton MP, Children and Families Minister. We supported Olympic torch relay events in Brighton, Medway and on the Isle of Wight, providing drinking water, water bottles and educational material about drinking water for health and water efficiency. Duncan Goodhew also represented us at a torch ceremony which took place with all of the schools in Peacehaven prior to officially opening the Peacehaven Community School’s Olympic week.”

Average Speed Cameras Protecting A23 Roadworks

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West Sussex County Council LogoWith work on a major road upgrade on the A23 underway, drivers are being reminded about the importance of sticking to the 40mph speed limit through the roadworks.

Average speed cameras are in place between Handcross and Warninglid to enforce the speed limit, the first time such cameras have been used in Sussex. The cameras, which are installed and operated by Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP), will help to keep the road operating safely while narrow lanes and a changing road layout are in place throughout the two year project.

The Highways Agency is widening the A23 from two lanes to three in each direction to make journeys quicker and more reliable, and improving access to Gatwick airport from the south. It will also improve safety by straightening out the road, improving visibility and removing direct unsafe turnings on to and off the A23.

Andy Reohorn, Camera Team Operational Supervisor at the SSRP, said:

“Average speed cameras offer a much more effective method of managing safe speeds along a section of road than could be achieved with either mobile or fixed speed camera enforcement. Initial indications from the A23 Average Speed Camera system show that the vast majority of motorists are complying with the 40mph speed limit, which is good news.

“However, with 65,000 vehicles using this section of the A23 every day, even 1% non-compliance means that around 650 drivers a day are putting themselves and others in danger, as well as running the risk of prosecution.”

Average Speed Cameras use Automatic Number Plate Recognition software to record a vehicle’s details as they enter and exit the protect zone. The time taken to travel through the zone can then be used to calculate the average speed for the vehicle. Processing of any offences detected by the system will take place in exactly the same way as for other types of enforcement, with Speed Awareness Courses offered where appropriate.

The system – known as SPECS3 and developed by a company called Vysionics – has been being tested and calibrated since installation at the end of June. Although no offences have been processed while the installation period has taken place, the system has been registering when vehicles exceed the 40mph speed limit.

Chris Bacon, the Highways Agency project manager in charge of the improvement project, agreed with the safety benefits of the cameras, and added that it is vitally important that motorists drive with extra care through roadworks.

Chris Bacon said:

“Road workers work in a dangerous environment, only feet away from moving traffic, and deserve respect and consideration from drivers. Driving through a mile of road works at 40mph takes less than 40 seconds longer than it does at 70mph but that difference can save lives.

“For us, the best speed camera is the one that takes no fines at all, but encourages drivers to stick to the limit. Here on the A23, they are playing a vital role in allowing us to keep two narrow lanes of traffic safely open in each direction at virtually all times, and therefore keeping any congestion during the work to an absolute minimum.”

To help motorists navigate the road works, plan their journeys and avoid potential disruptions, the Highways Agency carries detailed information on their website – www.highways.gov.uk.

Information will also be carried on the SSRP’s website (www.SussexSaferRoads.gov.uk) throughout the scheme’s duration.

Co-opted Independent Members Of The Police And Crime Panel

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Sussex Police LogoSussex Police and Crime Panel is looking for two enthusiastic and strategically minded people from the Sussex area to serve as co-opted independent members of the panel.

On 15th November 2012, the people of England and Wales will vote for a Police and Crime Commissioner, who will be accountable for how crime is tackled in their police force area.  Each Commissioner will hold their chief constable and the force to account – effectively making the police answerable to the community they serve.

Each police force area will also have a Police and Crime Panel, to scrutinise the performance of the Commissioner, to ensure transparency, and to provide checks and balances in relation to the performance of the Commissioner. The Sussex Police and Crime Panel will comprise councillors, drawn from each of the 15 local authorities within the region, and two co-opted independent members.

Independent members, through their knowledge and experience, will augment the Panel’s ability to hold the Commissioner to account.

Applicants should live within the Sussex area (East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove). Experience in community safety, victim support, criminal justice and related issues would be helpful, but is not essential. There is no salary for the role, but travel expenses can be reclaimed.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 13thAugust. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will likely be conducted the week of 17th September.

To obtain an application pack, or for further information about Sussex Police and Crime Panel contact Ninesh Edwards at West Sussex County Council:

01243 752714
ninesh.edwards@westsussex.gov.uk