By HILARY GAVIN
THERE was a full house at Sidlesham Parish Council yesterday as SEVEN members of the public turned up – with at least one there to quiz WSCC Cllr Pieter Montyn about the flooding issues in the village recently.
They wanted to know who was responsible for blocked culverts in the parish – landowners, WSCC or the Environment Agency (EA).
One member of the public was particularly vocal – and I’ll post my footage soon.
Saying that, I’m not going to spend much time writing up a report as I explained in the quick colour piece on Facebook which I dashed off after returning home.
Facebook copy below
“SIDLESHAM Parish Council meeting update
I’ve just filmed Sidlesham Parish Council’s meeting tonight where seven members of the public, beside me, turned up to listen to and to contribute to the main topic of discussion – FLOODING.
Naturally the burning question was: “When does a ditch become a rife?”
Now, I was born in Donnington, so I am fully aware how contentious riparian rights are. Flooding has been a nightmare for years because the Manhood Peninsula is a flood plain and, as Chairman Martin Mellody pointed out “it is a swamp”.
Unfortunately, I’ve had to deal with personal matters over the past week or so – and I did think about missing tonight’s meeting. Saying that I’ve been fully aware of the recent flooding in Sidlesham so I felt duty-bound to attend.
Of course, I was late due to these personal issues and rushed off without my tripod.
Once in St Mary’s Parish Halls, I briefly placed my camera on the end of the parish councillors’s desk when Cllr Tricia Tull immediately objected, so I had to spend the rest of the proceedings with my camera in my hand.
This, of course, made the footage, which I’ll upload on YouTube and my WordPress blog, very, very, very shaky. It was also virtually impossible to make notes, so I’m not going to expend much time and effort tomorrow writing up a parish council meeting report.
I’ll let you watch the parish councillors in full flow instead.
At one stage the parish councillors mentioned that the village newsletter – The Spread – has stopped publishing, so they spent time talking with each other about the best way to publicise parish news.
They discussed joining forces with The Parishioner parish church magazine as well as distributing their own Sidlesham Parish Council newsletter – which, of course, would be written from the council’s standpoint.
At one point Cllr Lewis Ramm brought up social media and the parish council clerk Alison Colban was quizzed about website analytics.
Of course I’m fully aware how costly and time-consuming effective PR is both in print and online – so I wish them well on their voyage of discovery and hope they are FRUGAL with residents’ money!
As for me, I’ve spent enough time covering parish council meetings locally over the past year.
Still, I hope anyone who lives on the Manhood Peninsula now realises how important it is that our local press gets its act together to pay rookie reporters to cover parish councils.
Of course, this is the best way the matters that were discussed tonight – including flooding, local government reorganisation, updates on the Melita Gypsy site, Speedwatch, 20mph speed limits in Highleigh, Stagecoach bus shelters and digital time displays, and resiting bus stops will get any real traction with local people.
Democracy isn’t served by co-opted parish councillors who are handed free rein to spend our PRECEPT as they please because local people don’t fully understand that they represent us.
Remember folks, parish councillors SERVE us so keep quizzing them on what their INTERESTS are and who benefits from the decisions they make unilaterally behind closed doors.
As for me, well I’ve had my fill of being chastised by know-it-all windbags, or being branded “nutty” for pointing out that parish council noticeboards should be used for council business.
Over the past year I hope I’ve helped to make it clear to any of you who have bothered to read my social media and WordPress website that ignoring parish councils HITS OUR POCKETS.
Naturally, I can’t force anyone to take an interest in parish councils – but I’d remind those of you thinking of being co-opted as a councillor that you don’t have the luxury of being CAMERA SHY!
Man up and show your true colours!
Good luck!
Hilary Gavin
Excuse typos
PS: On a personal note I was glad to hear that a £9,000 CDC grant to repair the Memorial Hall roof was successful – which will be match funded by the parish council.
I was also pleased to hear that Stagecoach has paid for bus shelters north and south at the Ferry RSPB Medmerry nature reserve which will come under the council’s auspices but maintained by the RSPB. Good news indeed.
Oh, and it seems that Sidlesham Parish Council is discussing resiting the Green Lane Stagecoach bus stops on the B2145 which – contrary to Cllr Tricia Tull’s comments – is used by passengers. Still, I think Cllr Tull lives Birdham way, so she mightn’t be au fait with the busy Selsey road. ;)”
By HILARY GAVIN
Copyright February 11th 2026
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Hilary Gavin
6 Southover Way
Hunston
CHICHESTER
West Sussex
PO20 1NY
Tel 07940 444664
Email: grumpywoman@hilarygavin.blog
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