RECREATION AND LEISURE

Executive Summary

This section reviews the recreation and leisure facilities that are available within Washington Parish. These are almost entirely centred within the Village itself.

• In addition to the topics covered herein, the Village is home to a Camp Site and the Frankland Arms public house. Walkers, equestrians and cyclists enjoy the network of footpaths and bridleways, including the popular South Downs Way that runs along the top of the escarpment past Chanctonbury Ring. All these amenities attract many visitors to the Parish.
• Footpaths, bridleways and cycle-ways are discussed in more detail in Chapter Two, Roads and Transport.
• The Village Hall is a well-used centre for events, meetings and clubs. It was originally built over 80 years ago and, despite the extensions and updates, is in serious need of modernisation. 
• The Recreation Ground would benefit significantly from much-needed drainage improvement and extension to the available facilities. These could include upgrading the tennis court to a floodlit all-weather playing area, providing more seating and a public toilet.
• Although the Heath Common Ward is of a similar population size to the Washington Ward (albeit at a much higher housing density), it is almost totally devoid of localised amenities. The shops have long since gone and the Marley Football Ground is no available. However, the Ward does benefit from its proximity to the National Trust open spaces (Warren Hill & Sullington Warren) and the Sandgate Park Conservation area.

4. RECREATION AND LEISURE

4.1 Introduction

The population of Washington Parish is somewhat dispersed, and apart from the Old Village centre itself, which stretches from Stocks Mead in the south to The Recreation Ground in the north, there are various pockets of population to be found in the Heath Common Ward in the north-west of the Parish, as well as the two housing estates, Montpelier Gardens and Spring Gardens which are both sited to the north of The Parish. There are sundry other smaller pockets of population within the Parish boundary that would be isolated without any form of transport.

The realism of living within such rural boundaries is that there is a limit to the type and size of facilities that could be provided for the residents. The ward of Washington has the large recreation area and a Village Hall. There are no areas in the Heath Common Ward that are presently dedicated to any form of sporting recreation.

Further consideration of the provision of better transport to existing facilities outside The Parish is made within the Roads and Transport section of this plan.

The main topics that are considered in this section are:

Three of the bastions of Village Life:

1. The Village Hall
2. The Village School
3. The Church

And, in addition, the other facilities and amenities that could (realistically) be improved upon or provided.

4.2 The Village Hall

The re-furbishment of our dilapidated building is Fundamental to Social Gain.

The Parish Council is whole-heartedly supporting the rebuilding programme, as it recognises its importance as a centre and meeting place within the Parish.

The Parish Council has indicated that it would be willing to consider raising a loan to finance the project, based on a sound business plan. However, The Village Hall Committee has indicated that grants may be forthcoming to enable the much-needed work to be carried out.

The improved structure would be more welcoming for additional clubs and activities within the Parish. Additionally, it is hoped that The Parish Council could encourage local doctors to open a limited Doctors Surgery there to attend to the needs of parishioners who find it difficult to travel.

a) The Village Hall Management Committee to continue to explore fund-raising for the improvement of the Village Hall structure, facilities and amenities.
b) It is suggested that the Parish Council investigate the possible provision of a part-time local Doctors Surgery in the Village Hall.

4.3 The Village School

St Marys School is a Church of England Controlled School, which is funded by the L.E.A.

There are 90 pupils attending the school, and priority is given to children living within the catchment area, which follows, (but not entirely), the Parish boundary.

The school benefits from a Swimming Pool. Although it is sited in the school grounds, the Community Grant that was given by BIFFA, stated that it must be provided for Community use.

It is a teaching pool, and its depth lends itself to be used by a properly constituted Swimming Club. There is only a need to provide a properly qualified first-aider, and 1 adult per 14 attendees.

a) It is to be hoped that interested parties could develop a properly constituted Swimming Club.

4.4 St Marys Church

4.4.1 The Church

St Marys Church, Washington is joined with Ashington, Wiston and Buncton under the ministry of the Rector of Ashington. ( Note that the ecclesiastical parish boundary does not necessarily coincide with the Local Government parish boundary) The Church is a Grade 2* listed building with a 15^th century tower, a largely Victorian nave and a peal of six bells. It is particularly noted for its ceiling and its Elizabethan alabaster monument to the Byne family depicting them in Shakespearean dress.

The Church authorities have given a view as to how they see any developments that can be made to enhance their role, and to provide some facilities that would be of advantage to the Community as a whole.

The plans are in a very early stage of formulation, but it is hoped that they could include the provision of a kitchen and toilet facilities at the Church and some modern form of heating.

It is important to note that any work that is undertaken should be sympathetic and would involve fund-raising. However, if the Community could see the benefit of the work that is proposed, we are sure that this could be achieved.

4.4.2 The First Extension Graveyard

The Parish Council assumed the maintenance of the First Extension Graveyard some years ago.

A contractor is employed to keep the Graveyard in good order, but it has recently come to light that major works need to be undertaken.

The Parish Council has formed a committee to review the extent of this ongoing undertaking, and has put aside substantial funding to contribute towards the necessary work. Additionally, it is seeking grants that would help to offset the costs.

As of March 2004, the extensive perimeter walls have been cleared of overgrowth to see what repairs need to be done. Because of the severity of the ingress of ivy, the broken stonework is to be repaired immediately, before there is further deterioration and risk to the public from falling stones.

The work schedule, in order of priority, is as follows:

1. A Health and Safety Report is being carried out to ascertain which of the monuments are unstable and in need of repair.
2. A stonemason will be engaged to carry out these repairs.
3. One dangerous tree on the wall adjoining the second extension graveyard is to be immediately felled, and another lopped to ensure its stability.
4. The large branches overhanging the second extension graveyard and the track to Taintes Orchard are to be immediately lopped.
5. The Probation Service is to undertake coppicing, shrub-removal, cleaning up, and general tidying of the graves to allow shingle to be added to the actual grave-plots to make them more attractive. This will commence after the graveyard is deemed safe.
6. The banks on either side of the entrance into the graveyard are to be repaired.
7. A five-year programme of felling of the surplus trees is to be proposed in order to open-up the area.
8. A bench will be provided - probably under the Holm Oak.

The Parish Council is to continue with the work schedule as a matter of priority and seek grants and available funding

4.5 Other Facilities

1. Jockey Meadow
2. Recreation Areas
3. Allotments
4. Village Shop
5. Other Amenities
6. Seating and Bus-Shelters

4.5.1 Jockey Meadow

The local National Trust has been fundamental in developing Jockey Meadow (a large field adjacent to the Recreation Ground) into a natural area of recreation.

It is expected, by The Trust, that when it is open to the public, there will be no immediate impact on the Parish with regards to traffic-generation, litter, or car parking.

The Parish Council welcomes this, and considers that it can only be of benefit to the Parish overall.

Part of the meadow has been allocated to St Marys School, and it will become a conservation area due to the terrain. It is hoped that this be formally developed in the next few years.

4.5.2 Recreation Areas

Washington Youth Shelter

The present Recreation Area amenities are desperately lacking.

The Parish Council has recently co-ordinated a community project to provide a Youth Shelter, for use as a meeting place, in the Recreation Field. This has been a great success, and it is used both in the day and the evening by a cross-section of the Community.

It is additionally proposed that:

a) The ditches are cleared to enable the ground to drain properly, so that the fields can be used for the sporting activities that are presently lacking.
b) The current tennis-court is converted to a floodlit all-weather playing area that would be available on a no-pay basis for both Clubs and individuals. This is an idea welcomed by the headmistress of St Marys school, as they have little space to provide this type of formal play-area for their pupils
c) More benches should be provided to cater for the occasional visitor.
d) A public toilet is made available, with additional signposts in The Village to guide people to it. There are many walkers in The Parish who would benefit from such a facility.

4.5.3 Allotments

All of the available plots are let and there is a waiting list.

a) The Parish Council is to explore the possibility of a water standpipe.

4.5.4 Village Shop

It is hoped that the current shop, which is sited in The Frankland Arms, may be moved to rather larger premises on the Washington Garage site.

It is recognised that this would be a tremendous boon to the community, as not all residents have the ability to travel very far to do their shopping and also this might encourage social interactivity.

4.5.5 Other Facilities

Within The Heath Common Ward:

a) Additional seating to be provided.
b) Could The Marley Football Ground be re-opened for recreational use?

4.5.6 Bus-Shelters

There is an urgent need for a shelter opposite Washington Cottages on the west side of the A24/A283 roundabout. The lay-by gives no protection to people waiting there, as traffic speeding off the roundabout, towards Storrington creates very uncomfortable conditions for both young and old.

The present bus-shelters tend to suffer vandalism, which may be discouraged by the provision of lighting at these shelters in the future.

Bus-shelters are additionally reviewed in Section Two, Item 2.6.

a) Consideration should be given to providing vandal-proof lighting at the bus-shelters
b) There is needed a policy to clean all of the shelters on a regular basis.