Committee Activity 2012/13
B2110
Well, the saga continues on this subject. As many of you have
pointed out, drivers are not taking note of the 40mph speed limit and
dangerous overtaking is still happening across the entrance to the
park. Speed Watch are only allowed to monitor in a 30mph limit,
therefore, in July, I wrote to the Chairman of the Parish Council to
request that some form of speed monitoring be put in place, and were
advised that it was anticipated that this would happen between March
and May of this year. In the interim, the Parish also requested that
larger signs be installed. In November, I wrote to Cllr Acraman our
West Sussex councillor who advised that the repeater signs installed
along East Street are the standard signage. In January I wrote to our
new Police Commissioner to request that the Police carry out some
form of monitoring and also to West Sussex highways to ask what had
happened to the promised high friction tarmac.
Our brand new Police Commissioner replied, telling me everything that I already knew about the consultation that took place before the speed limit was introduced, that monitoring was down to West Sussex and that no decision could be made until results of monitoring were available BUT, they did go on to promise that Sussex Police would increase patrols along the stretch of road. So drivers watch out! The West Sussex highways officer contacted me after my second email and during the conversation explained that he did not feel that a high friction surface would slow drivers down, however, shortly after this, speed monitoring strips were put in along East Street, between the Parish Gates and the entrance to the hotel. It was interesting to see the results, which show that over a 24 hour period one third of vehicles exceeded 40mph! Further discussions have resulted in a planned site meeting with highways officers on the 16th April; several Parish Councillors will also attend. During a recent discussion with the Speed Monitoring group, I was advised that they would make a request to Sussex Police for permission to monitor beyond the Parish Gates they were not hopeful, but would try.
Alexander House
Success at last, the permanent gates are installed and what an
improvement they make to the entrance to the park. We continued to
communicate with the hotel manager during the year, especially when
the refuse area looked particularly untidy. We were given several
assurances that the gates were still possible even when advised that
a new manager was taking over the hotel. We were therefore very
disappointed during the summer to be told very firmly that no gates
would be forthcoming because the owners insisted that the area was a
‘fire exit’. We were also again, receiving complaints about
noise emanating from the hotel.
In September, we decided that it was time to bypass the hotel managers and write directly to the owners. A letter was sent detailing our main concerns. This resulted in a meeting at the hotel with one of the owners, many promises were made, but sadly the problems with the refuse area did not improve. After further correspondence the hotel owner advised us that they would be reviewing the area ‘in January 2013 when we have our new budget’. Finally, with the assistance of our local District Councillor, Mid Sussex Environmental Health was involved, more refuse collections were made and the gates appeared!
The hedge has been cut back quite a lot compared with previous years. We know that many of you would like to see more cut back, but now feel that perhaps this is as far as they will go.
We have not received any further complaints concerning noise from the hotel, so hope that they have listened to us and have reviewed their procedures. Whilst we as an association are happy to contact the hotel on this issue, if any of you do suffer noise, may we remind you that your first step is to contact the noise officer at Mid Sussex District Council. This way they will build a history of complaints. We have in previous years given contact details to all residents whose homes are near the hotel. It is no use complaining after the event.
Neighbourhood Watch
Following last year’s AGM the committee surveyed all
residents regarding the possibility of the park again becoming a
neighbourhood watch area. As we advised you in our newsletter, sadly,
not enough of you expressed any interest for it to be a viable
objective. We do however, keep in contact with the local
organisations in order to keep up to date with local
issues.
84 Bus Route
We have raised this problem with both the Parish Council and
Crawley Down Health Centre. The bus company’s response was that
the 82 bus could connected at the village and that in the
questionnaires completed last year, residents only noted that they
used the bus to reach Crawley or East Grinstead. Nobody said that it
was needed for reaching the Doctor. The surgery has refused to alter
the times of the surgery at The Ark to fit in with the 10.00am bus,
because this would disrupt the doctor’s surgeries at Crawley
Down. It was pleasing to note that the Parish Council have asked a
question regarding the bus service in the recent survey and that they
have asked the bus company to consider the number 82 bus turning
round at the park when the crossroads are altered. This is very much
in the future though!
Coffee Mornings
These continued last year, we do hope that those of you who
attend enjoy meeting up with other residents for a chat. We are very
happy to continue with them and would be pleased to see more
residents, so if you have a neighbour who you think would enjoy some
company, please encourage them to come along. Also, if you have any
particular concern that you would like information about, please let
us know and we will make enquiries as to whether speakers are
available. If you know of an organisation that is looking for venues,
we will be pleased to have any information.
Help with Gardens
We continue to be in contact with Worth Abbey regarding help with
gardens and they have now been to all of the residents concerned.
They are not able to visit on a regular basis, but will come when
contacted by the resident concerned. Please let any committee member
know if you would like help with your garden. We have recently made
contact with Worth and they have confirmed that they are happy to
continue the arrangement with us. If you need help with your garden,
please let any committee member know, arrangements are made on a
’first come, first served basis’.
Government Inquiry in to Park Homes and the
Law
The residentscommittee has followed with interest news from IPHAS
brought to us by our President Geoff Furzer.
The government inquiry is currently moving very swiftly with the Bill having its second reading in the House of Commons on 19th November and then going through Committee Stage. After some small but important amendments, it obtained a third reading on the 30th November and was then sent on to the House of Lords. It has now had its second reading on the 1st February where it received unanimous support. I have to say, that it has been very heartening to watch and to hear the support given to those of us who choose this way of life, for whatever reason.
It now has to go through the Lords Committee stage after which it is hoped that it will receive Royal Assent by summer at the latest.
This will bring new legislation which will be THE MOBILE HOMES ACT 2013.Various parts of the Act will come into force at different times.
What will this mean to us?
Selling and Site Rules:
These parts will come into force two months after The Act
receives Royal Assent and are intended to deal with the problem of
‘sale blocking’. The Act will take away the requirement
that any buyer has to be approved by the site owner.
However, this will only apply to new
agreements made or assigned after the date on which this part of The
Act is enforced.
For existing residents who want to sell their home, they need
only provide the site owner (the Park Office) with the name of the
proposed buyer and that they will be able to comply with the Park
Rules. If the site owner does not approve of the buyer, he then
has 21 days in which to apply to the Residential Property Tribunal
for a refusal order. Rules will be laid down to specify the
information that must be given to the site owner.
These parts will also require a valid copy of the Park Rules to be lodged with The Local Authority, which is intended to ensure that any alterations to the rules are carried out using the correct procedure.
Important Note:
Do you have a copy of your agreement/assignment in a safe place along
with the most recent Park Rules? Everyone should have an agreement.
Last year we issued every member with a copy of the Park Rules, we
have also in the past given you copies of The Implied Terms. These
are very important documents and should be in a safe place, where
they are easy to find should you need them.
It will of course take some time for these new rules to impact, on parks. Here at Turners Hill Park, we have in the main been lucky and are able to sell our homes unhindered. But the most important change for us will be that we will no longer be obliged to notify the office before we put our homes on the market.
New Licensing:
These parts will come into force on 1st April 2014 and
will give Local Authorities the power to make park owners comply with
their site licence.
Residential Property Tribunals
These replaced the County Court system for most matters relating
to disputes with park owners in May 2011, they are not as costly as
County Courts at £150 to take an issue to the Tribunal. Reports
show that they have been used to resolve a large number of
cases.