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Nutbourne Residents' Association

Our next meeting will take place at 7pm on Sunday 21 July 2024 at the Rising Sun. The Agenda is now available. Download or view the Agenda. The Minutes of the last meeting, which was held on Sunday 28 April 2024, are also available. Download or view the minutes of the last meeting.

At the heart of the community

Most Nutbourne residents are members of the NRA. We're only a tiny community, yet twenty-one people gave up their Sunday night to attend our last meeting, and, as ever, contributed most of the items discussed. Topics included ways to improve our local beauty spot for future generations by rewilding the recreation ground and continuing to preserve and enhance the heather.

The deteriorating condition of local roads is becoming a major concern for local residents. From the edge erosion and surface damage in Stream Lane which provides a key link between Nutbourne and West Chiltington, to the delays and daily disruption to the routine of many local people caused by recent road closures by Horsham District Council and the West Sussex County Council.

The Highways Agency clearly spotted the danger on the Church Hill, Pulborough section of the A29, installing a 'Falling Rocks' warning sign some years ago.  They should be commended for their foresight even if they predicted occasional minor falls rather than the complete collapse and landslide in December 2022.

Eighty years ago, as Britain once again faced enemy bombardment from pilotless V1 doodlebugs and V2 rockets that dropped out of the sky across South East England and caused utter devestation all around. The Emergency Services, ARP and the skilled team of specialist first-responders had one task - to get major roads, public transport and pavements back open so that everyone could keep calm and carry on. Soldiers built bailey bridges over sink holes, workmen propped surviving terraced buildings to keep them habitable, and restored embankments so that roads, tramways and railways could resume service within hours or days not months.

County Councillors didn't have protracted, disputed negotiations with local landowners - they knew that life had to go on.

West Sussex's recommended diversion route, which is still posted on-line today (as shown on the left) required drivers to complete a circuit of 28 miles if they wanted to go from one side of the landslip to the other, taking them through Storrington, Washington and West Grinstead on minor roads before rejoining the A272 back to Billingshurst and southbound A29 to return to Pulborough.

Finally many months later one side of the road had been cleared sufficiently to allow alternate one-way traffic around the obstacle, controlled by traffic lights. The council blames the delays on thr owners of neighbouring properties, who protest in the strongest terms that they have done their utmost of co-operate from the start. Nutbourne residents are particularly concerned at the wear and tear that the heavy traffic has caused on the diversion route. The council says it is investigating .

Residents Association members also expressed at our last meeting about road closures closer to home, which have taken a long time to repair, and their concerns that even after a long wait Horsham District Council is penny-pimching making a temporary repair by unblocking rather than replacing failing Victorian culverts, for example. The NRA Chairman, Brian White, agreed to explore their concerns with the Highways Team at the Council. 

The Chairman also agreed to highlight residents' concerns about the continued deterioration of Stream Lane (illustrated right, with thanks to Googe Earth). This winding thorooughfare provides crucial access between West Chiltington and the Village Centre, as well serving major local businesses like the Nursery and the Vineyard. Edge erosion, sometimes causing severe cracking and potholes into the carriageway which make driving dangerous and is believed to be the culprit for many local punctures and other tyre damage.

Stories from the Archive

Nutbourne Barn Dance - 10 July 2010  

What a night! From start to finish this was a great evening for all. From babes in arms to octogenerians, everyone's feet were tapping and dancing to the music of our professional caller, Calvin Sims, and Nick Martin on the accordion. The Hog Roast, supplied by Bob the Hog Pygott, was a mouth-watering delight, and was followed by scrumptuous chocolate brownies kindly made by the ladies of the village. Many of the children took delight in having their faces painted.

These events depend on the goodwill and hard work of many people. There are too many to mention everyone, but our special thanks must go to Gill and Jim Shaw for hosting the event; to Ollie, Charlotte and Tristan of The Rising Sun for running the bar and kindly donating their profits, and to Tom and Ruth Simmonds for the loan of a fabulous marquee and the fire extinguishers. The event was co-ordinated by Bridget Gladwin, Jane Scampton, Erica Riddle, Gill Shaw, Charlotte Howard, Ruth Simmonds and Jill Westlake, who going innovation, motivation and organisation brought everything together.

Over £900 was raised at this event, plus the sale of raffle tickets to win a £50 note (and not the lovely Charlotte in her pink tutu) raised £253 which will be donated to Chestnut Tree House. The remainder of the profits are going to be used to buy external lights for use at future Nutbourne events, and leaving a buffer in the village account to get these going.