Rustington Parish Council

Tree Wardens

The Parish Council is seeking volunteers who would be interested in being appointed as Tree Wardens for the Parish of Rustington. The Tree Wardens would operate within the national network of locally-based volunteer tree enthusiasts and would be co-ordinated by the Parish Council, working within the Tree Warden Scheme in West Sussex. No particular qualifications are required other than an interest in caring for the local environment coupled with the enthusiasm to learn more.

For further details, please contact the Parish Council’s Offices.

Blood Donor Sessions

Regular Donor Sessions are held at the Village Memorial Hall and posters are displayed on Council Notice Boards. Please come along and support this lifesaving cause.

Play Area Refurbishment - Woodlands Recreation Ground

The refurbishment of the Play Area on the Woodlands Recreation Ground was

completed at the beginning of July 2005. The total cost of the refurbishment was

in the region of Ł55,000. The Parish Council was delighted that the Project

secured Ł15,000 grant funding from the SITA Environmental Trust, through the

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, plus Ł5,000 from Awards For All, Ł5,000 from the

National Association of Local Councils Quality Parishes Investment Fund and

Ł500 from the West Sussex County Council Parish Initiatives Fund. The balance

of funds for the Project were provided by the Parish Council from its 2004/2005

Precept. The refurbishment is certainly proving to be a success with the younger residents of Rustington, as is evident by the significant increase in the number of children using this much improved community facility.

Sponsorship of Planters

Whilst the Council has recently secured further sponsorship for certain of its floral displays in the Village, it continues to look for local businesses, organisations and individuals that would be willing to sponsor other displays in the Village. Please contact the Council's Offices for further information in this regard.

Rustington Museum at Church Farm Cottage

As the new Curator of the Museum I would like to say how happy I am to have been given this opportunity to be involved in the development of the new Museum at Church Farm Cottages for the community of Rustington.

The more I learn about Rustington’s history and heritage, the more certain I feel that this Museum will surprise and fascinate its visitors with the many famous celebrities, artists and musicians that have lived in Rustington over the years. Rustington is a unique and individual Village and the story of its interesting heritage and history will be reflected in the displays, exhibitions and events at the Museum. I hope that our museum will be a special place for the residents of Rustington, as well as for visitors from further afield, to learn more about Rustington’s important place in the history of West Sussex.

Currently we are fitting out the Museum and preparing for its opening early next year. The Garden Café is almost complete; and with its oak timber frame, perfectly complements the traditional style of the Museum. There are many behind-the-scene preparations that need to be carried out and completed over the next few months so that when the Museum and Café opens they will provide facilities for the community of Rustington to be proud of.

We are looking for interesting and distinctive objects, photographs, pictures or postcards relating to the history of Rustington to add to the Museum Collections. If you think you have anything in your home that has been passed down through the family or collected by yourself that might be of interest to the museum please call me at the Council’s Office and I will arrange to meet with you.

Parishioners' Awards

Rustington Parish Council, at its Meeting on 23 June 2008, resolved the following:-

(a) that the 2008 Parishioners' Award in respect of Group/ Organisation be awarded to the

Littlehampton District Lions Club, in recognition of its outstanding commitment and efforts for the benefit of the local community and, in particular, for the organisation of the Rustington Festival each year

(b) that the 2008 Parishioners' Award in respect of an Individual, be awarded to Mr Roy Stoneham, in recognition of his dedication and unceasing support for the benefit of the youth of the local community, for in excess of 20 years

These Awards are made on an annual basis, in recognition of outstanding Public Service to the Community, and all Rustington Parishioners or parish-based Organisations (including voluntary Groups and Professionals), or Individuals, Groups and Organisations from outside of the Parish who make an outstanding contribution for the benefit of the community of Rustington are eligible to receive these Awards. Each recipient of the Award receives Ł50.00, together with a commemorative scroll, dish or trophy (suitably engraved), to keep as a memento.

The 2008 Awards will be presented to the recipients by the Chairman of the Council, Councillor Mike Warrington, at the Reception following the Council's Annual Civic and Thanksgiving Service in September 2008.

Christmas Lighting

As reported previously, the new Christmas Lighting Scheme in the centre of the Village, was extended for the 2007 festive season. It now includes features in the northern section of Sea Lane and additional lights on trees in the Parish Churchyard.

The Scheme is funded equally by the three original partners namely the Parish Council, the Chamber of Trade and Commerce and Store Property Investments Limited. To ensure that the Lighting Scheme can continue to be extended next year all three partners have again each committed financial provision of Ł5,000 for 2008.

It is anticipated that the Scheme will continue to be enhanced and maintained by the partnership in future years.

Coastal and Marine Wildlife Interpretation Board

An Interpretation Board, providing information in respect of the plants and wildlife that can be found living along the beach at Rustington, is erected on the stretch of greensward between Sea Lane and Broadmark Lane. The Board was designed by the Arun District Council’s Nature Coast Project, and was supported by funding from the Parish Council, courtesy of a grant from the Environment Agency.

The Board is further evidence of how the Rustington Community is getting involved in coastal conservation. The Rustington Community Primary School has already adopted a stretch of the beach, with pupils litter picking and carrying out regular surveys in respect of the plants and wildlife observed. The Oak Community Project, based at The Woodlands Centre, is also participating in a native shingle plant growing project, and there are already a number of volunteer Beach Wardens looking after the beach in Rustington.

Spring Bulb Planting

Every year the Parish Council purchases a quantity of spring bulbs, as part of its continuing planting scheme at various locations and this year is no exception with miniature daffodils blossoming throughout the Village in the Spring. Towards the end of 2007, all three primary Schools in Rustington each received a quantity of bulbs from the Council to plant in their grounds.

If you have any suggestions for locations within the Village, which would benefit from being planted with spring bulbs, please let a member of personnel at the Village Information Centre or the Council’s Offices know, and arrangements will be made to include it in the next phase of this scheme.

Basketball Court/Kickabout Area - Woodlands Recreation Ground

The enhancement of the Basketball Court/Kickabout Area on the Woodlands Recreation Ground was completed in July 2006, and is proving to be very popular with all age groups within the local community. The enhancement includes the installation of heavy duty fencing, new multi-use goals and a cricket wicket, together with a new green decatone surface.

The total cost of the enhancement was Ł25,000, and, the Council was very fortunate in securing funding of Ł10,000 from the Sita Environmental Trust, through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, Ł5,000 from the Arun Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, and Ł5,000 from Awards for All. The balance of funds required for the Project have been provided by the Parish Council from its 2006/2007 Precept.

Annual Sussex Day

In 2006, the West Sussex County Council, Worthing Borough Council, Adur District Council and many towns across Sussex marked the first ever Sussex Day by raising the Union Flag at Council Offices, Town Halls and Civic Centres. In 2007 the Parish Council agreed to recognise 16 June as Sussex Day and to fly The Martlet Flag annually on this day.