Councillors’ Surgeries   The Council is continuing to hold its Bi-monthly Surgeries, to enable members of the local community to have the opportunity to meet with a Councillor to air their views in respect of the way in which the Parish is managed, maintained and enhanced, as well as any other issues of interest or concern. Future Surgeries will be held at the Village Information Centre in the Churchill Car Park from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm as follows:-   Saturday 25 February 2012 __________________________________________ Meetings   Parish Council Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month (apart from August and December) commencing at 7.15 pm in the Roger Montgomeri Room, The Woodlands Centre, Woodlands Avenue.    All members of the public are welcome to attend these Meetings, and time is set aside before each Council and Committee Meeting commences (7.00 pm) to give members of the public an opportunity to pose questions.  A copy of the Agenda for each Meeting is displayed at the Public Library, on the Website and on Notice Boards around the Village. Click here for a full list of Meetings, Agendas and Minutes. ________________________________________________ Blood Donor Sessions   Regular Donor Sessions are held in the Village Memorial Hall at the Woodlands Centre and posters are displayed on Council Notice Boards. Please come along and support this lifesaving cause. ________________________________________ 2011 Loo of the Year Awards     The Parish Council is delighted to have, for the first time, achieved a 5 Star Grading for the Public Toilet Units at The Churchill Car Park. 4 Star Gradings were also received for both the Public Toilets in The Street and Broadmark Lane in the 2011 Loo of the Year Awards’ search to find the best ‘away from home’ toilets in the UK. The Rustington entries were in the Public Toilets (Non-Attended) Category.   In previous years, the aforementioned units only ever achieved a 4 Star Grading, which makes this year’s results even more pertinent! __________________________________________________ Community Carol Concert The Parish Council will, once again, be hosting an evening of Festive Music and fun at the Community Carol Concert in the Village Memorial Hall at The Woodlands Centre, Woodlands Avenue, on Saturday 17 December commencing at 7.30 pm. Entry is Free, as are Refreshments and the Grand Christmas Raffle.   An exciting evening is being arranged with performances by the Littlehampton Concert Band, the Sussex West Guide Choir and the Friendship Singers, not forgetting the always popular Community Carol Singing.   As many of you will be aware, this Concert is a very popular event, and entry will be strictly on a first come first serve basis. (Doors open at 7.00 pm).

 

BRITAIN IN BLOOM AND

SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST IN BLOOM COMPETITIONS 2011

 

Gold and Category Winner - Double Whammy!

 

These were presented at the South and South East in Bloom and the prestigious Britain in Bloom Awards’ Ceremonies in September. At the South and South East in Bloom Ceremony, the Village was presented with a Gold Award in the Town Category, and the Category’s Overall Winner Award. The Woodlands Recreation Ground was also presented with a Gold Award and the Overall Winner Award in the Park of the Year Category. Georgian Gardens School again shone in the School Grounds Competition, winning a Gold Award.

At the Britain in Bloom Ceremony, Rustington was presented with both a Gold Award and the Category Winner, as well as being declared runner-up in the Environmental Quality Category. A great achievement.
The Britain in Bloom judges comments included ‘Rustington shows what a community can achieve by working together’; ‘the many sustainable and floral displays, admirably provided and looked after by Ferring Nurseries are of the highest standards possible’ and
‘Britain in Bloom judges often see the best of British horticulture but nothing can compare with Rustington, a real gem’.

The In-Bloom Committee’s three new projects are long term, the Wildlife Garden on the Woodlands Recreation Ground, an area of biodiversity, is very much in its infancy, but will, in time, become a place for all to enjoy. Children from the Early Bird Nursery have already enjoyed sowing wild flower seeds and, in the Summer, young gardeners from Summerlea School planted butterfly loving flowers and, more recently, spring bulbs. Tree planting is the second project, with a number of trees being planted in South Rustington. It is hoped that this programme can be extended to other parts of the Village, and is seen as a way of ‘greening’ Rustington and helping to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Southern Water kindly donated 14 water butts and composters for the Worthing Road
Alllotment Site. Again, it is hoped that this, third Project, can be extended to the other two Sites.
 

The Committee is delighted that all three Primary Schools are involved in the In-Bloom Campaign, with Georgian Gardens continuing to develop its beautiful Courtyard Garden and Rustington Community School using the beach as a teaching resource. The recently planted flower bed, designed by the Brownies, together with the Horticultural Association’s commemorative sustainable
garden, in Holmes Lane, give much pleasure, not only to the residents of the area, but the many passers-by.

The Committee is now actively progressing the 2012 Campaign and will continue to support not only the community groups already involved, but also those with any new projects.

 

To find out more about Rustington In Bloom please click the link and visit the Rustington In Bloom website.

 

Valerie Narayanaswamy

Chairman - In-Bloom Committee

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Annual Civic Thanksgiving Service

 

The Parish Council’s Annual Thanksgiving Service was held on Sunday 11 September at St Andrew’s United Reformed Church. The Service was conducted by Reverend Andrew Sellwood. Following the Service, a Reception and

Awards Ceremony were held at The Woodlands Centre, when presentations were made to various members of

the community, both for outstanding flower displays in private front gardens and business premises and also for

excellently cultivated allotment plots. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the Presentation of the Parishioners’

Award which, this year, was presented to Mrs Sylvia Loveland, in recognition of her dedication and outstanding service to the community of Rustington for many years.