We are the residents of Bedelands Caravan Park, Worlds End, BURGESS HILL, West Sussex, RH15 8AU.

The site comprises up to 10 plots, occupied by a mixed community of Travellers and non-Travellers. We always do our best to get on with one another and to remain good neighbours.

The site is managed by Mid Sussex District Council.

 

We formed the Bedelands Caravan Park Residents' Association on 5th February 2024. Our aim is to keep all our resident neighbours equally well-informed about any issues affecting the site, together with details of any future Tenancy Association meetings.

All tenants may raise their concerns with the elected Secretary, Arran Layzell, either in person or by email via this site (contact@bedelandscaravanpark.com).

We want to re-establish and maintain an open and fully democratic relationship with Mid Sussex District Council, such as we used to have before Cllr. Pru Moore sadly died of cancer over two years ago, when we had regular meetings roughly every two months, attended by the relevant MSDC officers and local Councillors.

Here is our constitution, established 5th February 2024:

1. Name: Bedelands Caravan Site Residents' Group.

2.The aims of the Residents' Group:

* For residents of Bedelands Caravan Site to work together to improve our living conditions.

*To work with the council, the police, our councillors and other agencies to improve the management of our site and the environment that we live in.

*To represent the families living on Bedelands Caravan Site on issues that affect the whole site.

(Individual issues will not be discussed at the meetings - unless they are a collective issue which could impact upon other residents - but should be raised directly with the site management at another time.)

3) Who can be a member of the Residents' Group:

Meetings are open to all permanent residents at Bedelands Caravan Site, who agree to the above aims of the group.

4) Secretary:

The secretary will be responsible for arranging the meetings, sending out the agenda, taking notes of the meetings and looking after the Residents' Group email.

5) Chairperson:

The chairperson makes sure that everyone at the meeting has a fair say, thatbthe agenda is discussed, decisions are agreed and will share responsibility of emails/notes.

6) Election of secretary and chairperson:

There will be a meeting once every year where the election of secretary and chairperson will take plece. Names will be put forward beforehand and there will need to be at least 5 votes. Only licensees can vote.

7) Calling meetings:

Meetings will take place about every 3 months. Any member of the Residents' Group can call a special meeting about a specific issue which affects the whole site. An email/letter or personal invitation (face to face) must be sent out to every licensee at least several days before the meeting giving the date and time and what will be discussed.

8) Making decisions:

The decisions will be decided via majority vote, each plots consists of 1 vote.

9) Inviting others to attend meetings:

Residents can agree to invite other people to particular meetings who can offer useful information, advice and who are able to answer questions on behalf of any statutory or non-statutory body which relates to the Site and its residents. This may include, councillors, community police,council officers or representatives of other organisations.

10) Bedelands Caravan Site Residents' Group - Election of site reps:

*There will be an election once a year between 1st February and 31st March to fill the relevant roles.

*Any official resident can put themselves forward to be voted for.

*It will be a secret vote.

*Each licensee can vote for one person on the list.

*There will need to be votes from at least 6 licensees

*The votes will be counted at a meeting by an independent person.

5th February 2024

Signed on behalf of the Bedelands Caravan Site Resident by the chairperson and secretary.

 

Here are the minutes of our first meeting. (Despite being invited, no representative of MSDC attended.)

 

Bedelands Caravan Site, Residents' Association meeting 5th Feb 2024 at Burgess Hill Town Football Club, 4 pm - 5.15 pm

Present:

Jonathan Jones, from Friends, Families & Travellers (Brighton)

Dominic Moore, local resident & long-term friend of the site.

Nelson Smith (plot 10)

Steve Creek (8)

Arran Layzell (7)

Tracy Delaney  (1)

Alf Smith (1)

Shane Sargent (5)

John Sargent (True Grit)

Jill Sargent (True Grit)

Nelson Smith Jnr. (9)

Anne Eves, ward cllr.

 

The meeting resolved to form a Residents' Association. They elected Nelson Smith (Senior) as Chair and Arran Layzell as Secretary. The  Constitution was adopted and signed by the Chair.

 

Issues raised:

Many residents felt there was not enough communication from MSDC and that when they made complaints those complaints did not find their way back to MSDC. Some residents were getting more information than others and no-one got information in writing. "We are kept in the dark".

*Sewage overflow (no 10), a recent health hazard only fixed by accident by passing contractors.

*Asbestos on the shed roof (no 1), supposed to have been removed years ago.

*Plot 9 had to remove his shed which cost him £2,500, for spurious reasons.

*Rats were reported but nothing has been done about it.

*Suspicion that the meters aren't working correctly, making for inflated electricity bills. Is it even legal for the water & electricity to be measured on the same meter?

*There may be a water leak as, when all appliances are turned off by the engineer, the meter was still going round. Bills are very high: £20 a day for electricity can't be right? Has someone tampered with the lead-tagged meters, years ago, without authorisation?

*Residents don't even know who their electricity suppliers is & have no possibility to switch to another one. They cannot find out if there's a cap on what they can be charged, or whether electricity is cheaper after a certain time in the evening. Jonathan (FFT) will check this out with Citizen's Adcice Bureau (CAB). He will also ask MSDC what the charge is per kWh and whether all residents are paying the same per unit.

*MSDC are now digging the field up & lifting the bridge, where the stream is, but residents have not been told what is going on.

*Not all residents are keen to have the work done which MSDC is proposing. One asks, are my trees going to be taken down? When will I be told? Are there TPOs on these trees?

*The MSDC requirement to have a certain minimum distance between caravans only applies to this site & not to WSCC sites, so it should be waived.

 

Anne Eves explained that MSDC apologised for not being able to send over an officer at such short notic, but they would be happy to attend at a future meeting. She mentioned the headings of work which MSDC is planning to carry out at the end of this summer.

Jonathan said FFT have a health hotline for the Traveller Community: if you have had any problems with the NHS, such as not being able to read an appointment letter, FFT can help.

The meeting agreed they would like to meet again in the presence of a senior officer from MSDC as soon as possible. Anne Eves to organise a mutually acceptable date.

Tina & Vince were thanked for hosting the meeting at the Football Club.

AE 5.2.24

 

 

 

 

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