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Action over death road

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Action is being taken to improve safety along a death road where there have been a string of accidents as well as near-misses.

West Sussex County Council is to install a new crossing and new footpath along the stretch of road near a busy roundabout in Pulborough.

The move follows a number of pleas for action from local residents following the death of a woman in a crash back in 2012. Since then there have been many more minor accidents.

Now the county council is to provide a wider continuous footpath between the A29/A283 Swan Corner roundabout and Lower Street. An existing parking bay will be removed so two existing footpaths can be connected and a pedestrian crossing point will replace it.

County Councillor Bob Lanzer, said: “This is a busy location in Pulborough for traffic using the A29 and A283. Pedestrians feel exposed here without a footway and often have to walk a long way further down the road to cross where the road is wider and quieter.

“With a better footpath and crossing point, it will make things much safer.”

Work is due to start on Monday January 30, weather permitting. It will last for up to two weeks.”


Crawley supremo Derham hits out at critics over Portsmouth postponement

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Crawley Town operations director Kelly Derham has hit out at fans who criticised the club for postponing the Portsmouth game on Saturday.

Supporters from both clubs voiced their frustration on social media that the game was called off following a 9am pitch inspection by a referee.

The Reds supremo has revealed the club lost £10,000 because the game didn’t go ahead and has praised the staff and fans who tried to get the game on.

She said: “I don’t do social media, but in the office my colleagues have told me that some Portsmouth fans have called us a ‘tin pot club.’

“We don’t have a big budget or big gates.

“I found this kind of comment really hurtful. We don’t just call games off just for the sake of it.

“We did everything we could to get the game on, including paying for warm air blowers to warm up the south end of the ground which does not get warmed by the sun in the winter.

“Staff and volunteers were working until 11pm on Friday, building wooden trestles to raise the covers so the blowers could reach the frozen areas.

“We were all back at 7.30am, but with the temperature going down to -5c overnight, it was rock solid, so there was nothing we could do.

“It was the correct decision it wasn’t going to go above 2 degrees and there was only a 20 percent chance of it thawing in time for a 12noon inspection.

“It is better to make a decision to prevent away fans from travelling unnecessarily - it would actually make a saving to call off the day before, but we were still trying to get the game on.

“We had around 30 fans turn up at around 9am to take the covers off - the same fans as last week who did the same for the Yeovil game.

“It was very upsetting to see everyone work so hard and for the game not to go on. It was really sad - we have such a good team of staff and no-one moaned.

“We wanted the game to go on - we have taken a financial hit of around £10,000 and that does not allow for any fewer fans coming on a Tuesday night.

“I was devastated. It ruined my weekend.

“It was as a big operation, taking months of planning and we did out best to try not to disappoint 5,000 fans.”

The game has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 7 at 7.45pm and Derham would love a positive response from the fans.

She said: “I hope people will come and support the club and the staff for all their hard work.

“We know a Tuesday night is hard but in March it might be a bit warmer. I am hoping everyone who bought tickets will come to this one - we have made refunds to some people who were travelling to the game from Ireland who really can’t make it,”

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County news: Teenager dead after falling from bridge at marina

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Sussex Police said a 17-year-old boy has died after falling from a bridge at Brighton Marina this morning (January 25).

Police closed the access road to the Marina after being called in at 7.19am.

A police spokesman said: “Police and ambulance services were called to Brighton Marina where it appeared a person has fallen from a bridged area. A 17-year-old boy died at the scene.

“This is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed.”

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics attended Marina Village this morning to reports a person had been found injured.

He said: “A teenage boy, who was believed to have suffered a fall from height, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”

The access road to Brighton Marina has reponed this afternoon.

Residents battle to halt spread of an ‘industrial monster’

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Residents living in a country lane have launched a desperate battle to halt an ‘industrial monster’ on their doorstep.

They say their lives have been made ‘a total misery’ by a waste firm’s expansion of its site near their homes in Peeks Brook Lane, Shipley Bridge, near Crawley.

The land at Rivington Farm was originally used as smallholdings but has since been taken over by United Grab Hire.

The waste firm has gradually expanded its use of the land and is now seeking retrospective planning permission from West Sussex County Council to site two shipping containers there, a weigh station, two offices, a staff welfare unit and eight storage bays.

It’s also seeking approval for the widening and part sealing of an access road and the installation of a wheel wash.

But desperate residents have put forward a string of objections.

Members of the Peeks Brook Lane Residents’ Association say United Grab Hire have created “unacceptable levels of traffic and pollution.”

Many are elderly and fear that their health is being affected.

In a protest to the county council, they say: “The volume of traffic using these small residential lanes is inappropriate, damaging and dangerous, impacting on residents’ quality of life.”

They say that up to 200 lorries a day ‘thunder’ past their homes, creating dirt, dust and diesel emissions.

They also fear that vibrations from the heavy vehicles could damage their properties.

And, they say that pedestrians are in danger when lorries use the narrow access lane and many vehicles have churned up grass verges and areas in front of their homes. Road drainage has been blocked, they say, because of road deposits from the lorries.

In a letter to the county council the residents’ association state that the area “has been allowed to grow into an industrial monster.”

They want Peeks Brook Lane closed to lorries and access to Rivington Farm diverted onto the B2037 or via a gate onto the B2036.

And they are pleading to county planning committee members to “protect our safety and wellbeing.”

Development of the site, they say, is uncontrolled and has gone from a few smallholdings ‘to an unofficial industrial estate.”

Crawley Borough Council objected to United Grab Hire’s proposals in a letter to West Sussex County Council in September.

A decision on the matter is expected to be made at a county council meeting next week.

COUNTY NEWS: Shoreham airshow will not return this year

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The Shoreham airshow will not take place for a second year following the 2015 disaster, one of the directors has confirmed.

Colin Baker said it could not take place because important reports into 2015 crash, in which 11 men died, were still ongoing.

“Frankly, it wouldn’t be right to even attempt to do it,” he said.

He said they were still waiting for the inquests to take place and a police investigation into the pilot to conclude.

A final report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which he said the directors were ‘anxiously awaiting’, has still not been published, though Mr Baker believes it will be released ‘imminently.’

Of putting on the airshow, he said: “It’s not even our decision, really, while these other people are still doing their work.

“And the needs of the families need to be taken into consideration.”

He said whether the airshow would take place next year or in the near future was also ‘subject to these very important examinations.’

A vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed onto the A27 during a display at the airshow on Saturday, August 22, 2015.

Yesterday, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) gave an update on the implementation of recommendations they had received from the AAIB.

A spokesperson confirmed that all 21 recommendations had been accepted, and had either already been implemented or were currently being implemented.

The CAA also published their own review into airshow safety in April last year, the spokesperson said.

Sussex Police are still investigating the pilot, 51-year-old Andy Hill, for possible endangerment contrary to Article 138 Air Navigation Order 2009 and for possible manslaughter by gross negligence, a spokesperson confirmed.

In September last year, the High Court rejected Sussex Police’s request to see statements made by pilot Andrew Hill to the AAIB, which it had wanted to help with its investigation.

However it ruled that film footage of the flight, made by cameras installed on the aeroplane, could be released to the Police.

A pre-inquest review hearing into the 11 deaths is schedule to take place on Friday, March 17 at the new West Sussex Coroner’s Court in Woodfield Road, Crawley.

It had been postponed from November, because it had been anticipated that little progress could be made while the AAIB report and the police investigation were still outstanding, a West Sussex County Council spokesperson said at the time.

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Uproar over fox in village rampage after attack on sleeping man

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An ‘aggressive’ fox which caused a public uproar when it went on the rampage after biting a man’s ear is now undergoing health checks.

The fox was rounded up in Storrington after a two-night hunt following the attack in which the man’s ear was almost entirely bitten off.

The police, RSPCA and Storrington and Sullington Parish Council were alerted after more reports were made of the fox attacking people in the village.

The parish council called on the National Fox Welfare Society for help and issued a public appeal not to approach any foxes or feed them.

Meanwhile, following the two-night hunt, officials from the fox welfare society and villagers finally managed to round up the animal.

A woman who helped to track it down - who has asked not to be named - first sounded the alarm after her 24-year-old son fell asleep on a bench at the village’s mill pond after he had been drinking.

“A couple of young lads heard my son screaming and saw the fox attacking him.

“They tried to get the fox off him and the fox went for them.”

She said her son had a drink problem and was in and out of consciousness during the attack. “The fox had eaten most of his ear,” she said.

Ironically, she feels the fox may have saved her son’s life because he was unconscious in sub-zero temperatures.

After the initial attack, other residents reported sightings of the animal around Waitrose, the library and the village memorial pond.

There followed reports of an attack on a girl, on a Tesco delivery driver and on walkers in the area.

“The fox just kept going for people all over the place,” said the woman who helped to finally catch the animal.

“Eventually, he just walked into the cage and curled up. It was completely disorientated.”

She said she thought the animal might be suffering from toxoplasmosis. “It couldn’t hunt for itself. It wasn’t chasing people to attack, it was just desperate for food.”

The National Fox Welfare Society, which dubbed the fox ‘John Lewis’, said the animal was to undergo further health checks.

Police dog numbers to be reduced across Sussex

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Police dogs on Sussex streets will become a rarer sight as the number of dog handler posts is reduced by 30 per cent over the coming year.

Criticising the move, a police staff association have said it will ‘undoubtedly’ impact the ability of police dog teams to respond quickly to incidents.

Sussex Police has confirmed a reduction from 51 to 36 dog handler posts across Sussex and Surrey during the financial year as part of their ‘overall change programme’.

A spokesperson said: “We are confident that effective management will ensure that the dog team continues to provide a good service to their operational colleagues and to the public across both forces.”

But Matt Webb, from the Sussex Police Federation, said that fewer dogs meant that, in the future, there would be incidents where dogs and their handlers would not attend – whereas in the past, they would have been deployed.

“The belief that you can get more for less is a fallacy, you only get less with less,” he said. “As we have said before, cuts have consequences, and this is a direct consequence of the cuts we are facing from central government.”

Andy Stenning, from Sussex Police Unison, said: “Any reduction in front line resources needs to be looked at very closely and challenged if necessary.”

Simon Ellery, a spokesperson for the office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, said the reduction was part of the four-year Local Policing Plan supported by Katy Bourne.

He added that the plan is constantly scrutinised by Mrs Bourne through measures including the monthly performance and accountability meeting.

The police dog training video was taken when a reporter went to observe a training session take place last December.

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BOWLS: Grattons beat London Scottish

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On Sunday the Grattons men team played host to London Scottish who had travelled from all over the South East of England.

This was the first time we had played them for about ten years.

Scores on the rinks were varied but Grattons held the lead at half-time by 15 points.

After tea, Grattons continued to apply pressure, winning 120-95.

Captain Kim Robinson said, “It was a pleasure to welcome the London Scots back to Grattons. I am sure it will become a regular fixture for us in the future.” The top rink was Norman Kennard, Pete Heaver, skip Bernie Holt and Brian Knott.

The Grattons mixed team played London Civil Service at home on Saturday.

It was a bitterly cold day outside, but everyone’s minds were on the game to come.

Grattons soon moved into the lead which they maintained until teatime when they were 22 shots ahead.

Grattons continued to pile on the pressure after tea, eventually winning 150-79.

Captain Kim Robinson said: “This is a game that we usually win but you never know what might happen. Everyone played really well, including our opposition”

The top rink was skip Mike Hawkins, Helen Walton, Helen Stubbs and Ted Smith.

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Option to strip operator of Southern services prepared by Government

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Options which include stripping Govia Thameslink Railway of Southern services are being prepared by Government civil servants, according to an industry publication.

Rail Business Intelligence has published claims that the rail operator is in default of its contract, with performance below the targets set in the remedial plan agreed by the Department for Transport.

It suggests a number of options are being prepared including splitting off the Southern service group to a ‘managed exit’ where the Government would take direct control of the entire Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise until a new contract could be let.

RBI claims that the last option has been worked up to the point where it has its own codename and a potential interim managing director has been identified.

Passengers using Southern services have been subjected to more than a year of misery due to a combination of staff shortages, industrial action, mismanagement, Network Rail track issues and upgrades, and operational incidents.

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT union, said: “Instead of dragging this farce out any longer the Government should now do the decent thing, pull the plug on the GTR contract, take the lines under public control and draw a line under this shambles that shames Britain’s railways.

“As part of that process they should get round the table with the union and reach a genuine and lasting negotiated settlement to the on-going guards safety dispute.

“RBI are the respected voice of the industry when it comes to insider knowledge and their claims today make sense to anyone who has tracked the Southern/GTR fiasco.

“Chris Grayling should stop pussy-footing about, get his act together and get Southern/GTR off the tracks before more damage is done.”

Both the DfT and GTR have been approached for comment.

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COUNTY NEWS: Killer lied about self-defence, court hears

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The man who killed Mark Manning invented the story that he acted in self-defence, the prosecutor told his trial.

Colin Gale, 40, who on Monday admitted to killing Mark Manning, continued giving evidence at Lewes Crown Court today.

Duncan Atkinson QC, prosecuting, told the court that Gale had plenty of opportunities in the years since Lancing father Mark Manning Manning disappeared to come forward and say that he had killed him in self defence, but had not.

Mr Manning was last seen alive on April 19, 2014, with his body not found for over two years.

Gale has pleaded not guilty to his murder. Another man, Stewart Robertson, 51, denies preventing the lawful burial of a body.

On Monday Gale told the court that Mr Mannnig had come at him with an axe and that he had picked up a Stillson wrench which he ‘swung in his [Manning’s] direction to keep him away’.

Gale said he had hit Mr Manning three times in total, claiming he had been scared that he was going to be seriously injured by the axe.

Questioning Gale today, Mr Atkinson said: “You have told us you had done what you had done because he [Manning] had an axe.

“To explain to the police what happened you would need to tell them about the axe.

“An axe that had been held by Mark Manning might have fingerprints on it to show that he had come at you and attacked you.

“So you got rid of it?” he asked Gale, referring to Gale’s assertions on Monday that he had taken the axe and the wrench, wrapped them in a pink towel, and thrown them away in Ringmer Road.

“That does not make any kind of sense does it?” Mr Atkinson said.

Mr Atkinson asked Gale if he had ever returned to the site in Ringmer Road where he had disposed of the weapons.

Gale replied: “When it had turned to a murder inquiry I went to retrieve the weapons to dispose of them and when I got there the pink towel was there and the axe was there and the Stillson [wrench] had gone.

Asked what had happened to the axe, Gale said: “I threw it off Worthing Pier.”

Mr Atkinson said: “The axe was your proof that Mr Manning had had a weapon but you threw it in the sea at a time you knew it was a murder investigation?”

Gale confirmed that was what happened.

Mr Atkinson also asked Gale about a police questioning on May 6, 2015, the day Gale was arrested on suspicion of murdering Mr Manning:

“You understood did you not that this was your chance finally to tell them what had happened and you didn’t,” Mr Atkinson told Gale, who agreed that was what happened.

“Mr Gale they gave you every opportunity if you were truly acting to defend yourself. They asked you again and again: ‘Were you acting in self defence?’.

“Why not tell them if that were true?,” he asked Gale.

Gale said his legal advisor at the time had told him not to.

Mr Atkinson said: “What you have done, Mr Gale, is take the evidence and shape your account around it.”

“You recognised that a way to escape from your debts to Mark Manning was if Mark Manning was not there anymore,” he told Gale, who said this was not true.

The trial continues.

BREAKING NEWS: IKEA confirms plans for Sussex

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It has been announced today that IKEA is aiming to bring a new store to Lancing as part of a ‘comprehensive development’.

A statement outlined the plans for New Monks Farm Development which include a 35,000m2 store along with 600 new homes, a new primary school, country park and ‘major new junction on the A27’.

In addition it reported the new store will create ‘430 local jobs’.

Tim Farlam, Real Estate Manager for IKEA, said the site ‘presents a great opportunity’.

He added: “At IKEA we are committed to being a good neighbour and true partner in our local community. Prior to submitting the planning application, IKEA together with New Monks Farm Development Company would like to meet with the local community and hear their views.”

As such the draft proposals will be on display at a public exhibition tomorrow, from 2pm to 8pm, and on Saturday, from 10am to 2pm, at The Shoreham Centre and on Wednesday (February 1) from 4pm to 8pm at Lancing Parish Hall.

Martin Perry, director of New Monks Farm Development, said: “We are delighted to be working with IKEA, they share our values recognising the talent of their co–workers and contributing to the quality of life of the local people in the community.

“This is part of a wider major regeneration scheme in Lancing that is in line with the emerging Adur Local Plan. In addition to the significant employment generated through this development by IKEA, 600 homes for local families will be created, supported by a new primary school, a country park and replacing the Sussex Pad traffic lights with a major new roundabout on the A27 will improve the situation for commuters and open up new job opportunities on Shoreham Airport.”

The news follows months of rumours that the furniture giant would be coming to Lancing, aided by New Monk’s Farm’s owners calling for the site to be allocated more commercial space as part of policies in Adur District Council’s local plan.

The site had been earmarked for 600 homes and 10,000 square metres of commercial space. Under the latest proposal, the commercial space would be increased to 35,000 square metres.

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Court results - Crawley

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The following are results contributed by HM Court Service, of cases sentenced by Sussex Northern magistrates sitting at Crawley.

Alun Adams, 48, of Troon Close, Crawley, was fined £600, with a £40 victim services surcharge, £85 costs, and four penalty points added to his licence. He had pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, and to speeding, on the A23.

Gheorghe Popescu, 38, of Green Lane, Shipley Bridge, was banned from driving for six months, with a £1,320 fine, £170 costs, and a £66 victim services surcharge. He had been convicted of failing to identify a driver suspected of committing an offence, and of driving without insurance.

Marius Zielinski, 35, of Three Bridges Road, Crawley, was given a community order with 40 hours of unpaid work, an £85 victim services surcharge, and £100 costs. He had been found guilty of common assault in Crawley, and admitted two counts of breaching a suspended sentence.

Carmen Mills, 54, of Lytton Drive, Crawley, was banned from driving for 18 months, with a £390 fine, a £39 victim services surcharge, and £85 costs. She had pleaded guilty to drink driving in Copthorne.

Steven Linden, 36, of Ryelands, Crawley, was jailed for nine weeks, with £48 compensation, and a £115 victim services surcharge. He had admitted breaching the terms of an early release from prison, and pleaded guilty to theft of alcohol from Morrisons, theft of DVDs from Boots, and fraudulently selling stolen DVDs, all in Crawley.

David Pritchard, 24, of Ashdown Drive, Crawley, was given a six week jail sentence, suspended for a year, with a £115 victim services surcharge. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary of prescription medication from a pharmacy in Crawley.

Tomasz Szmigiel, 28, of no fixed address, was given a 12 week jail sentence, suspended for a year, with a £115 victim services surcharge, and £85 costs. He had pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer, theft of tools, and failing to answer bail, all in Crawley.

Gerard Legrand, 57, of Chippendale Road, Crawley, was given a community order with 120 hours of unpaid work, an £85 victim services surcharge, and £85 costs. He had pleaded guilty to theft of jewellery, aftershave, and alcohol from Gatwick Airport.

Aiden Ford, 23, of Punch Copse Road, Three Bridges, was jailed for 12 weeks, with £110 compensation, and a £65 victim services surcharge. He had pleaded guilty to common assault and to causing criminal damage to two window panes, and admitted breaching a suspended sentence.

Ebrahim Miah, 18, of Warrington Close, Bewbush, was given a one year conditional discharge, with a £20 victim services surcharge, and £85 costs. He had pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon (a police baton) in a public place.

Oliver Oldfield, 26, of Old Horsham Road, Crawley, was given a 20 week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work, a £115 victim services surcharge, and £85 costs. He had pleaded guilty to stalking a woman in Slinfold, causing serious alarm or distress. A restraining order was made, barring him from contacting the victim, or going to her home or workplace.

Shanmugapriya Shanmugaraja, 24, of Brooklands Road, Crawley, was banned from driving for 18 months, with a £364 fine, a £36 victim services surcharge, and £85 costs. She had pleaded guilty to drink driving in Orchard Street, Crawley.

Liam Foxley, 23, of Broadwood Rise, Broadfield, was banned from driving for a year, and given a community order with a three month curfew, £150 compensation, and £50 costs. He had pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent in Broadwood Rise, Broadfield.

Serigne Gueye Mbaye, 25, of Lismore Crescent, Crawley, was fined £220, with £46.25 vehicle excise back duty, and £85 costs. He had been convicted of using a vehicle while it was subject to a SORN.

Jack Kemp, 27, of Sandpiper Close, Ifield, was fined £293, with £146.25 vehicle excise back duty, and £85 costs. He had pleaded guilty to using an unlicensed vehicle on a public road.

Francine Manley, 50, of Foxglove Walk, was fined £220, with £49.17 vehicle excise back duty, and £85 costs. She had been convicted of using a vehicle while it was subject to a SORN.

Khalid Mahir, 25, of no fixed address, was given a community order with 120 hours of unpaid work, £150 compensation, an £85 victim services surcharge, and £85 costs. He had pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress, in East Grinstead.

Rui Andrade-Camara, 33, address given in court as Lewes Prison, was jailed for 16 weeks, with a £115 victim services surcharge. He had pleaded guilty to possessing a kitchen knife in Station Way, Northgate, and to two counts of possessing a Class A drug (heroin and crack cocaine).

Susan Dunwell, 63, of Treyford Close, Crawley, was banned from driving for a year, with a £120 fine, a £30 victim services surcharge, and £50 costs. He had pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath alcohol specimen.

Edley Marie, 30, of Dobson Road, Langley Green, was fined £120, with a £30 victim services surcharge, £85 costs, and six penalty points added to his licence. He had pleaded guilty to driving without a licence, and to driving without insurance, in Brighton Road, Crawley.

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COUNTY NEWS: Biggest Roman find yet for city

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An amazing discovery just below the surface of a park is being hailed as the most complete Roman find ever unearthed in a Sussex city.

Foundations of three Roman houses have been discovered under Chichester’s Priory Park which have survived virtually intact for more than 1,600 years.

Scans showing two large town houses the size of Chichester’s Pallant House Gallery – most likely lived in by members of the aristocracy – and a third building, of great interest because of its unusual shape, have stunned local archaeologists.

“For Chichester we have never seen anything like this,” said James Kenny, archaeologist at Chichester District Council. “This is far and away the most complete series of Roman plans that we’ve ever come across.”

The discovery was made by geophysics specialist David Staveley from East Sussex, using ground penetrating radar equipment to scan the parks in Chichester, on Mr Kenny’s recommendation.

Following the scan results, Mr Kenny and members of Chichester & District Archaeology Society carried out a small dig last year, 30m south of the Guildhall, where foundations were found just 40cm below the ground.

Mr Kenny said: “What’s remarkable about this discovery is that it has survived over 1,000 years in a currently occupied city.

“The only reason they have survived is because they are under a park that has never been built on.

“It’s almost unique to see Roman houses survive in this type of setting and to be so complete.

“The location marks what may have been one of the more affluent parts of the Roman town, with these houses being the equivalent to a property worth millions of pounds in today’s society.

“The two houses have walls surrounding complete rooms, which are set around a courtyard or atrium.

“There is also a deep masonry building with a rounded end.

“We are intrigued to find out what this building is. It could be a cellar, part of a bath house, or something even more exciting. We can’t wait to find out.”

The astonishing find adds to Chichester’s rich Roman history, which includes the city walls, the Roman Bath House in the Novium Museum and – outside the city – Fishbourne’s Roman Palace.

A community dig is planned for late spring/early summer so people can see the thrilling Roman finds for themselves.

Amateur archaeologists will be involved and future opportunities are being explored for school visits.

“The first excavation proved the finds are Roman, the next trial excavation will hopefully identify what the buildings are and what else survives within them,” archaeologist James Kenny said, adding that any artefacts dug up would go in the Novium Museum.

The district council is identifying funding opportunities to allow more detailed digs next year, to tie in with Priory Park’s centenary year.

After 3D images are made the ground is likely to be completely replaced.

Susan Taylor, CDC cabinet member for planning, said: “This is very exciting. If the find turns out as we hope it will further enhance Chichester’s reputation as a Roman city.

“It’s so important that the community will be engaging in excavations, it will awaken interest in archaeology... and children will be able to see examples of the Roman history that they are learning about in school.”

POLL: Do you want IKEA to come to Sussex?

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IKEA has confirmed it plans to open a store in Sussex – but do you want the furniture giant to come to the area?

The long-rumoured move to Lancing, near Worthing was confirmed this morning, but do you want an IKEA? Vote below.

School funding - an appeal to West Sussex MPs

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Everyone loves an under-dog. It’s fun to root for them as they fight seemingly insurmountable odds, even if they’re unlikely to win.

It stops being fun when those under-dogs are our headteachers and our schools. And there’s absolutely nothing to smile about when they’re fighting to secure enough money from the government to be able to give our children a decent education.

It’s been almost two years since headteachers warned us the county faced an education funding crisis. With West Sussex being one of the poorest funded local authorities in the country, our schools have received thousands of pounds less per pupil than those at the higher end of the pecking order – and hundreds of pounds per pupil less than those who received no more than the national average.

With hundreds of children per school, that added up to an awful lot of money.

Headteachers took their fight for fairer funding to Downing Street, made their case on mainstream TV and wrote letters asking questions of the county’s MPs. Every single one of them gave us reason to be proud as they ensured the spotlight never shifted from the people at the centre of it all – the children.

Unfortunately, the support from the powers-that-be has not been so impressive.

West Sussex has an extremely strong presence in Parliament when it comes to education. Nick Gibb, MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, is Minister for Education, while Henry Smith, MP for Crawley, is Parliamentary Private Secretary to Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for Education.

They’ve all made the right noises and even took to Westminster Hall for a debate on the issue – not that Mr Smith, Mr Gibb or Ms Greening were present. While having the potential to offer much, the debate did little more than give those who turned up the opportunity to mouth a few soundbites for the cameras.

Over the past weeks, some MPs have given the impression they resent the pro-active stance taken by our headteachers.

Speaking on Meridian News, Sir Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West, said: “My advice to teachers is come and talk to the MPs first, come and see ministers with us.

“To start sending letters out as though it’s a sort of great petition when we’re actually aware of the issues, we’re providing the leadership, and I think if the headteachers got together with me or even better with Jeremy Quin and Nicholas Soames, who are leading for the West Sussex MPs, I think we’ll get a great deal further forward.”

Looking back over the past two years, it’s clear the heads have been talking to MPs – have been trying to make them understand how serious the situation has become. Backed by Louise Goldsmith, leader of the county council, who showed true leadership when she wrote to Ms Greening, pleading for support, it’s hard to understand how they could have done more.

It’s the lack of urgency shown by our representatives in Parliament that has proven frustrating.

Take Sir Peter’s meeting with ministers. It was mooted in November, but a date was only set after headteachers published an open letter to their MPs earlier this month asking why it had not happened. They will meet on February 1.

Then there’s the new National Funding Formula, which MPs have been keen to laud at every opportunity. It’s still in the final consultation stage, but as it stands West Sussex schools should receive around £79 per pupil more.

Considering they’re already £402 per pupil short of the national average, it’s easy to see why they aren’t popping the champagne. Add to that the increasing costs, such as pay, pensions and national insurance contributions – none of which are covered in that basic grant – and it’s obvious our schools will be worse off.

No matter how many times MPs praise the way they’ve rearranged the dwindling piles of money in the country’s pitiful education budget, our schools will be worse off.

Peter Woodman, head of the Weald School, Billingshurst, said: “It’s absolutely critical our MPs understand the pressure that we’re under. In one sense they know the pressure we’re under but at times we have to question whether they really understand the impact that’s having on the ground, on us as teachers, headteachers and as students.”

In an attempt to fathom the thoughts of MPs, the headteachers sent an open letter asking five questions.

The same questions were asked by this newspaper. Sadly the response, as predicted, was vague, incomplete and centred around the same, oft-repeated information – the current funding formula is not fit for purpose and the new funding formula is more transparent.

That is just not good enough. Of course we understand there is no bottomless pile of cash in the government’s coffers, ready for a funding free-for-all – but there must be fairness in the way the money is distributed.

Our message to the MPs of West Sussex is simple – please answer the questions.

Tell us why you think it’s acceptable for West Sussex to remain one of the lowest-funded authorities in the country;

Tell us why there will be no emergency money to plug the budget gaps left by years of under funding;

Tell us what else headteachers should cut from their budgets to make ends meet;

Tell us what happened to the government’s pledge to protect the per pupil funding for the life of this parliament;

and tell us where that £500m earmarked for the government’s now-scrapped academies programme went, and why it can’t be used to help authorities such as ours.

Please, Mr Quin, Mr Smith, Mr Herbert, Mr Gibb, Mr Loughton, Mr Tyrie, Sir Nicholas and Sir Peter – tell us what you’re going to do to ensure the children of West Sussex don’t fall behind their richer peers because your government doesn’t think they’re worth any extra money?

They deserve the best, and you’re not delivering.

This article was the personal view of the author.

Make the right choice for you and your child - Visit educationsussex.com for trusted school reviews, videos and so much more.


Crawley boss Drummy aims to make one more January signing

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Crawley Town head coach Dermot Drummy wants to make one more signing during this transfer window.

To do this he needs to send a couple of players out on loan to make space in the budget.

The Reds boss is targetting a possible wing-back, and is known to be interested in Brighton’s Rob Hunt, who a few clubs are vying for to take on loan.

Brighton have signed Chelsea full-back Fikayo Tomori on loan until the end of the season, which could now allow Hunt to go out to gain Football League experience.

Drummy no longer sees a new striker as being so important, with James Collins an automatic choice, he is now being supported by Enzio Boldewijn who is playing in a more advanced position, behind the main striker in a new 3-5-2 formation.

Added to this is the good news that injured striker Matt Harrold could be back in training in four weeks.

Drummy said: “Enzio seems more content in this advanced role - we have already spent money on Dean Cox this window and we want to manage the budget well.

“We are aiming to move some players on by the end of the week on loans to generate money.

“We are playing a waiting-game with the wing-back. Plus we have taken a long look at (ex-Arsenal striker on a monthly contract) Sanchez Watt who has a great pedigree and we’re very pleased with him.”

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Man dies after fire despite desperate bid to save him

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A man has died following a fire at his home in Horsham despite desperate efforts by a neighbour to save him.

Engineer John Major tried unsuccessfully to break down his neighbour’s front door after he and his wife Lynn spotted flames leaping from the man’s bedroom window following a ‘muffled explosion.’

Fire crews had to break a glass panel to get into the house of the victim - named locally as Chris Fry - when they arrived at the scene in Wood End, Roffey, shortly after 6 pm on Friday.

Forty-eight-year-old Mr Fry was rushed to East Surrey Hospital following the blaze and was later transferred to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, where he died last Wednesday.

Shocked next door neighbour John Major told how he and his wife Lynn first discovered the fire.

“We heard a muffled explosion at about tea time which rattled the doors a bit. It was unusual. It sounded like someone shutting their car boot very hard.

“Lynn looked out the back and then went to the front of the house. She came straight back and said ‘It’s on fire’.

“I asked her to call 999. I put my shoes on and went out and started banging on the door and tried to barge it down, but it wouldn’t move.

“I was calling out to him in the street ‘Get out of the house’.”

He said that “it seemed like an age, but the firemen arrived quite quickly. There were flames coming out the the window upstairs at the front.”

He said the fire crew also had trouble trying to break down the door and had to resort to breaking a glass panel at the side of it to get inside.

John and his wife were evacuated from their home while firefighters checked their property to make sure the fire had not spread.

Meanwhile Mr Fry was helped from his home.

“We weren’t aware that he was badly burnt because he walked out eventually,” said John, who was shocked to hear Mr Fry had later died.

“We had lived next door for about 10-12 years,” said John, “but he seemed content to keep himself to himself.”

Police forensic scientists taped off the house and spent most of Saturday at the scene.

He said other neighbours to the semi detached property were all out at the time of the fire.

A police spokesman said later: “Police and fire officers are treating the fire as arson, but are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.

“The matter has now been passed to the coroner’s officer.”

BOXING: Crawley’s Jones to fight for WBC international belt in London

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Ben Jones is to headline an upcoming show at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London on Saturday, March 4.

The Crawley-based fighter, who has shared the ring with current IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby and two-time world title challenger Stephen Smith, will fight for the WBC international featherweight title on a show hosted by Assassin Boxing founder Kaz Evans.

Jones is hoping to get his chance to challenge for major honours this year, in a featherweight division of superb fighters which includes Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz.

The division was once dominated by the notorious Prince Naseem Hamed.

The show, organised by Assassin Promotions is scheduled for March 4 and features some of boxing’s most exciting prospects.

Debutants will include Alfie Best Junior at featherweight and middleweight Josh Douglas, who is announcing himself onto the professional stage in 2017.

The talented boxer recently announced plans for a string of fights in 2017 under the Assassin brand, with bouts scheduled for Bournemouth, Brighton and London, all in the first quarter of 2017.

Assassin founder Kaz Evans said: “This is a chance for Ben to shine under the lights. He’s shown what he can do countless times and we think he can take things to the next level in 2017; winning the WBC international belt is a key part of that process.

“The London show should be a good night of entertainment in a great venue and should act as a benchmark for future shows.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

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IKEA - how it all began

Rabbits and guinea pigs stolen from farm

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Police are investigating after nine rabbits and five guinea pigs were stolen from a farm.

Police said thieves took the animals from the farm in Turners Hill Road, Crawley, on January 19.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 0781 19/01/2017.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

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2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

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