INTRODUCTION ...

Rustington is seen as an attractive and friendly village, which appeals to both residents and visitors alike. As no community can remain static our vision is to manage the inevitable changes in ways that ensure the atmosphere of the village is maintained and, wherever possible, enhanced for the benefit of all. At an open meeting held in October 2006, it was agreed to produce a community action plan that would identify current concerns and ensure
that local people could have a voice in the future of where they lived.  The Partnership always welcomes new volunteers.

After twelve months of hard work, involving more than twenty volunteers, collecting facts and figures from various websites and censors together with grass roots information obtained from residents via questionnaires, visiting schools, talking to the public at the Carnival fete and on the environmental bus together with being present at the launch of the new Heritage centre, the Community Action Plan was publicly launched on February 16^th 2008 at the Woodlands Centre.

The meeting was well attended by Parish Councillors together with Councillors from Arun District and a considerable number of residents, many of whom expressed an interest in what had already been achieved and were keen to help with the next phase of the plan i.e. forming the Community Partnership.

If you are a resident or have an interest in our area and wish to offer something to the Partnership, you will be most welcome.   Please send contact us via email at communitypartnership@rustingtonpc.org and we will be delighted to discuss your involvement.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NEWS - APRIL 2008

At the initial meeting of the Partnership, officers were elected as shown on our website, a management committee was formed and the first constructive ideas for the work ahead were discussed. Subsequent meetings of the Management Committee have prioritized various items from the Action Plan which we feel can be achieved in the early stages of the Partnership whilst we do not have many funds.  We are actively seeking volunteers to take forward some of the first stage projects, such as discouraging plastic bag usage, street seating, glass recycling, walking routes, a quiet garden, village jobs information board, parking issues amongst others.  

We have a small, but important, set up grant from the Parish Council which will enable a bank account to be opened.  A Constitution and a Memorandum of Understanding is being drafted and will be agreed with the Parish Council prior to the Partnership launching itself into the first items of concern from the residents. We can then apply for grants from various authorities to help us achieve the most expensive, but also the most needed item on our agenda, the Village Design Statement.

When most residents were asked what was their biggest concern about the future of the village said that further house building development in inappropriate areas was their major worry and needed to be strictly controlled.   To this effect the Community Partnership needs to produce, with the help of a professional architect, a Village Statement. This document will be expensive but when completed, and accepted by Arun District Council as part of their planning criteria, will be a major factor when the planning authority considers future development and should ensure that what is allowed will be sympathetic to the existing village environment.  We cannot stop development but at least we can try to make it fit in.         

Keeping Rustington Special

Email: communitypartnership@rustingtonpc.org

Telephone: 01903 786420