News – Birdham Parish Council

Survey on impact of lost fishing gear – help with research!

Wednesday October 8th, 2025/in News /by Clerk

We’re very pleased to share with you a new survey created to support research by Natural England, to map the distribution of lost and abandoned fishing gear on the Island and wider Solent region. Please see the information below explaining the survey:

Help us understand the distribution of lost and abandoned fishing gear on the Isle of Wight and across the wider Solent area. Lost fishing gear can impact marine ecology through smothering, abrasion, trapping wildlife and spreading invasive species. It creates a hazard to the marine environment and can be a safety hazard for people using the coast. It can also compete with sustainable fishing practices in the area. This survey, supporting research being undertaken by Natural England, aims to map lost and abandoned fishing gear to understand the local extent and distribution of its impact, taking the first steps towards the removal of these items where possible.

We’re hoping to get as wide of a reach as possible to build a comprehensive dataset. If you’re able to share this survey with your network and on your social media, that would be greatly appreciated.

The link to the survey is here: https://arcg.is/0z19qq1

QR code (and attached):

North Street Car Park closed for Sloe Fair

Thursday October 2nd, 2025/in News /by Clerk

Chichester’s Northgate car park to temporarily close for the annual Sloe Fair

The Northgate car park in Chichester will be temporarily closing for three days to enable the annual Sloe Fair to take place.

The car park will close at 6am on Saturday 18 October 2025, re-opening at 12 noon on Tuesday 21 October 2025. During this time no vehicles will be able to use the car park.

Customers who have an X roving season ticket will still be able to park in the council’s two other long-stay car parks, Basin Road and the Cattle Market in the area beyond the mini roundabout. The council has been in contact with all season ticket holders to make them aware of this.

The Sloe Fair is organised by The Showman’s Guild and is enjoyed by many people each year. It also has a long association with Chichester and can be traced back through history to the reign of King Henry I who passed a royal charter to enable the fair to take place.

“The Sloe Fair is one of the earliest recorded fairs in Chichester, dating back hundreds of years. It was granted by King Henry I to Ralph de Luffa, Bishop of Chichester and is believed to be named after the Sloe tree which grew in fields by Northgate on the original site,” explains Councillor John Cross, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Place at Chichester District Council. “We have already advised season ticket holders of the temporary closure and alternative parking arrangements during this period, and we would like to thank the public in advance for their cooperation while the car park is closed.”

To find alternative car parks people can visit: www.chichester.gov.uk/carparks.

WSCC – helping new, young drivers be safer on the roads – with parents’ help

Thursday September 25th, 2025/in News /by Clerk

news release

24 September 2025

From learner to licensed: a support guide for parents and guardians of new drivers

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is excited to announce a new, free webinar developed by Warwickshire County Council for the parents and guardians of young drivers who have recently passed their test and who are about to begin driving independently.

The fire service’s Head of Prevention, Nathan Cross, said: “Young drivers are at higher risk on the road due to their inexperience. They are less able to spot hazards and more likely to take risks, resulting in one in five crashing within a year of passing their test.

“As a parent or guardian, your influence on your young person’s ability to become a safe independent driver is more powerful than you might think. This free online event explores how you can play a vital role in shaping the safe driving habits that will continue to be critical to your young person’s road safety long after they pass their test.”

This free 60-minute event takes place on October 1 from 6 pm to 7 pm. Please be advised that spaces are limited. You can find out more and register for the event here

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For further information please contact the press office on 0330 2228377 or email FRSMedia@westsussex.gov.uk.

For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415.