Parking
In the Middy we have the council excited at the new enforcement of parking restrictions. They say that "consultation programmes will begin soon in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath on the possible introduction of controlled parking zones near black spots." By that they mean that, as in London, you may soon have to pay for the privilege of parking outside your own house.

Masterplans
The users of Cyprus Hall are not happy with the threatened demolition of their hall. It shows how shifty our council are when the hall's organisers have just spent £150,000 installing a new lift and foyer for disabled users, unknowing of our local politicians' "Masterplans".

MSDC leader, Christine Field, assures residents that "individual property owners' rights are protected." John Jory, Mid Sussex Council's chief executive says that people who lose their houses will get their full market value. And how much is that, now they are blighted by the bulldozers? About a fiver each, I would guess!

In the Middy Mailbag, John Virgo of Albourne, writes: "I can only conclude that Thornfield Properties have disguised a lucrative business opportunity for themselves with total disregard to existing businesses, residents and youth organisations." Tut, tut - such cynicism!

Sydney West
Councillor David Shevels in the Middy Mailbag has a go at some of the people criticizing the redevelopment of Sydney West, including yours truly, who dared write to the paper. Apparently, we are supposed to have short memories, since Sydney West used to have a two-storey building on it before.

Yes, I know. But why were the two community buildings pulled down? Ah, yes, the Lib Dems decided they were surplus to requirements in 1999 and announced their demolition. The Conservatives won seats on the council with a pledge to keep them standing.

The Conservatives found out that the Lib Dems had signed all the demolition contracts in secret, so the buildings could not be saved. I believe the electrics had already been stripped out by the time of the council elections.

And that is how the council always behaves, plotting in secret. I received a letter from the council on the 28th of January beginning: "You may have seen recent reports in the local press about proposals for development at Sidney West..." Indeed, but we, as residents, would have liked to have been informed first. Instead, a tiny classified ad is placed in early January when nothing very much is happening, in the hope that no-one will notice.

Why don't I believe the assurances of the council, that the land at Sydney West is safe from commercial development? Well, leasing the site to the NHS trust, is commercial development. The letter I received promises consultation with the residents about the new building. Is that the same consultation as with the Small Scale Housing Options document? 2000 objections and the council announces that it is to carry on with its plans regardless. Councillor Shevels says that "local community groups have been consulted." But not the residents! Not until they started kicking up a fuss. I went onto the St Andrews Cricket Club forum a couple of months ago and even its members did not know that the committee had entered into discussions with the council. So much for consultation.

Anyway, surely this can't be the same David Shevels talking who, as quoted in the Daily Telegraph of 31 December 2005, talking of a tiny tree house he refused temporary planning permission for, said it was "looking like a watchtower, the sort you see on the edge of prison camps." Who's a hysterical resident now?

Burgess Hill Town FC
The Argus of 26 January reports on the hearing at the High Court in London, when Burgess Hill FC narrowly avoided being wound-up. It reports that had it been wound up the Official Receiver would have taken over its affairs: "He would have ensured debts were paid off by selling any assets and then brought business to a close." Some people might have thought me cynical in accusing MSDC of trying to bankrupt the business so it could sell the ground for housing.

The club narrowly survived this week. It is reported that the club are resigned to a change of venue with the debts incurred from the council's spitefulness. The council has announced that it intends in pressing forward with all sites proposed for housing. Who could argue with me now?

Walking my dog this weekend, I fell into conversation with a woman who lives next to the Leylands Park ground. She told me that her and other residents were concerned that the ground was going to be used for housing. It only goes to prove how unrepresesentative of the community Gill Balsdon and Tim Wickham were with their malicious campaign to bring the club to its knees.

And the council have the nerve to wonder, why those of us surrounding Sydney West don't believe any of their assurances about protecting that sporting facility.

Rubbish
The Leader reports: "A tidy-up target team has blitzed a rubbish black-spot in Burgess Hill where litter-bugs have been dumping waste within site of a bin." I don't know why the town council is so offended, it just sounds like our usual refuse collection service.