News & Roadworks
Detailed information on all decisions made by Felbridge Parish Council can be found under the Minutes tab. Please look under the Planning Comments tab for information on applications and comments submitted. Updates on MSDC developments on the Felbridge boundary can be found on the MSDC Developments page.
CONTACT: clerk@felbridge-pc.gov.uk The Clerk's scheduled hours are sixteen per week on flexible days. Responses to emails will be made as quickly as possible. Please visit the Reporting an Issue page for information on frequently asked questions.
FOR FULL INFORMATION ON ROADWORKS IN FELBRIDGE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA PLEASE VISIT https://one.network/ and search by postcode for scheduled works. Note that only works shown as 'Granted' are confirmed. Felbridge Parish Council share information on roadworks to assist residents and road users but have no control over the dates, duration or location.
5 May-6 June: Rowplatt Lane fully closed to through traffic | 24 May-6 June: Two way lights at the junction of the A264 Copthorne Road and Mill Lane
All providers are working together to bring services to the new development at 24 Rowplatt Lane under a single closure. Rowplatt Lane will be fully closed to through traffic from 5th May–6th June. Access will be maintained for residents. There will be two-way lights at the junction of Copthorne Road and Mill Lane from 24th May–6th June. The works location will run from the sub-station at the top of Mill Lane to the development site at 24 Rowplatt Lane. Works start on a Saturday to make the most of the half term. While access for residents will be maintained throughout, it may be necessary to use a diversion route depending on the position of the works throughout the duration with access restricted to one location from either the Copthorne or Crawley Down Road. The promoter will be delivering letters to residents and setting out advanced warning signs prior to the works commencing to make through traffic aware of the restrictions. During the last closure of Rowplatt Lane for emergency works, a car ignored the road closed signs and ended up driving into a large hole in the road. It is hoped that by sharing information in advance any similar incidents can be avoided.
Last Updated 23rd April 2025
ROWPLATT LANE ROAD SAFETY REVIEW
In response to multiple concerns from residents regarding Rowplatt Lane increasingly being used as a ‘rat run’, Felbridge Parish Council and Cllr. Lesley Steeds asked Surrey Highways to conduct a safety survey. This acknowledges that vehicles turning right on to Rowplatt Lane from queuing traffic on the Copthorne Road drive at unsafe speeds along Rowplatt Lane and Crawley Down Road in an effort to ‘beat the queue’. Having looked at options, Surrey Highways consider the most feasible solution would be for the junction of Rowplatt Lane and Copthorne Road to be placed under a ‘point no entry’ traffic order. This would mean that those vehicles could no longer enter Rowplatt Lane from Copthorne Road. Rowplatt Lane itself would remain a two way road with full access at the Crawley Down Road junction and drivers would still be able to exit Rowplatt Lane on to the Copthorne Road.
It is considered that this would put a stop to the ‘rat run’ issue while having a lesser impact on local residents compared to other options. It would also make it more difficult for HGVs to use the road as a cut through; address the issue of vehicles turning left from the Copthorne Road in the middle of the road; and make it easier for pedestrians to cross at that point.
The next steps will be a design feasibility study followed by public engagement and consultation. Residents living on and off Rowplatt Lane will be consulted and all residents will be able to comment on the proposals.
It is hoped that addressing this major road safety concern would encourage families who have said they don’t feel safe walking their children to school to go back to walking rather than driving. This would further reduce traffic and improve parking on Crawley Down Road. Details of how to comment will be provided when available. While any change will inconvenience some residents, it is hoped that most will consider that the safety improvements will make it worthwhile.
Cllr. Steeds has also asked for Rowplatt Lane to be included in a Tandridge District parking review scheduled to take place over the summer.
PARKING
Drivers are reminded not to park on footpaths or facing or close to driveways or access roads. Obstructing footpaths forces pedestrians, including those with pushchairs or wheelchairs, to walk in the road which puts them in unnecessary danger. Parking facing a driveway or access road or too close to a dropped kerb makes it difficult and sometimes dangerous for residents to access or exit their driveways.
COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
- Are you fed up with speeding motorists in Crawley Down Road and Copthorne Road?
- Do you value safety above the ‘need for speed’
- Can you spare an hour a month?
Felbridge Parish Council have restarted the Community Speedwatch Group in response to concerns about safety due to speeding vehicles. Cllr. Stephen Hall is the group co-ordinator. The group is currently undergoing training from Surrey Police before starting operations. The intention is to try to reduce the risks to children and other pedestrians from speeding motorists. If you can spare an hour or more a month then please join our group. Full training is given by experienced Traffic Police Officers and Speedwatch volunteers. Please contact Councillor Stephen Hall for more information on cllr.hall@felbridge-pc.gov.uk
SCHEDULED RESURFACING ON FELBRIDGE ROADS
Surrey Highways have placed notices on the OneNetwork website to alert utilities companies to their scheduled resurfacing works on the A264 Copthorne Road between Doves Barn and the county boundary near the Shell Garage and on the A22 from the Star Junction to Manor Vista which is facing the Premier Inn. The works are scheduled to take place over a few days within the six month period between April and October 2025. Putting an alert on OneNetwork ensures that utilities companies do not schedule routine works during the six month period. It does not mean that either road will be closed for six months. As these works have been scheduled before and then cancelled, Felbridge Parish Council are waiting for confirmation from Surrey Highways before sharing any information. Please follow our Facebook page or visit our website for updates.
SKATEBOARD RAMP
The surface of the skateboard ramp has been replaced and it is now available for use. Please note that this facility is intended for use by skateboarders rather than as a play area for young children.
FELBRIDGE ANNUAL VILLAGE MEETING
Thanks to everyone who came along to the Annual Village Meeting on 10th April. We will keep the website updated with information on the new Unitary Authorities; MSDC developments; roads and highways issues (including traffic calming for Crawley Down Road) and the road safety improvement proposals for Rowplatt Lane.
IMBERHORNE LANE DEVELOPMENT
Mid Sussex District Council planning committee unanimously approved this development on 13th February. It will include 550 dwellings and up to 150 care home rooms/apartments along with sports facilities, a community building and land set aside for a school (which WSCC say is not currently needed) and space for a GP facility.
COPTHORNE ROAD - Resurfacing
Following repeated requests by FPC and Cllr. Steeds, Surrey Highways have now added these works to their schedule for the second half of 2025. The details shown are "Major resurfacing including full reconstruction and civils works were necessary. Location: Rowplatt Lane to Surface Joint 70m E of West Entrance to Lake View Road"
FELBRIDGE PARISH COUNCIL PRECEPT INCREASE
In order to meet forecast budget expenditure for the financial year 2025-26, at their meeting in November 2024 councillors approved a total precept increase of £5K for the financial year. This is mainly to create a budget for general maintenance including removing overgrown vegetation, hedge cutting in public areas and maintaining facilities. The average Band D property increase will be less than £5 per property for the full financial year. Felbridge Parish Council's total precept for a Band D average is £29.87 per property, per year which is lower than all neighbouring authorities and remains one of the lowest in the Tandridge District.
NEW PLAYGROUND
Felbridge Parish Council are delighted to have been able to provide new playground equipment.
- SWINGS including a basket swing and a You & Me swing with seats facing each other
- ROUNDABOUT suitable for use by all ages and abilities
- CONE TWISTER moving, climbing challenge
- SWAY ALLEY with moving horizontal steps for balancing skills
- SEE SAW with back supports to one side for all ages
- SOMERSAULT RING different heights for group play
- TODDLER MAGIC BUSH to promote social play
The new base was laid on top of the old base to avoid it going to landfill.
SHELTER The shelter has been refurbished, repainted and the grafitti removed.
CCTV in Felbridge Village Hall Grounds New and updated equpment has now been installed to deter further vandalism. This includes an additional camera to cover a blind spot. All cameras now operate at a much higher resolution than before in the interests of safety and as a deterrent to vandals. Anyone witnessing any act of vandalism is asked to call 999 and make a report. Doing so will ensure that the Police have a record of the exact timing and CCTV footage can be more quickly assessed. Felbridge Parish Council will seek to recover costs from anyone found guilty of vandalism or criminal damage to equipment and facilities.
TANDRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTION 2ND MAY 2024
Councillor Lesley Steeds, Councillor Sir Nicholas White and Councillor Nicola O'Riordan have been elected to the Dormansland and Felbridge Group at Tandridge District Council.
ANNUAL VILLAGE MEETING, Thursday 18th April 2024
Thanks to all the residents who came along to this year's meeting. It was wonderful to see so many people attending. Thanks also to the representatives from local community groups who attended. Contact information can be found on the Annual Village Meeting page. We appreciate County Cllr Lesley Steeds making time to attend before going to her TDC meeting. Jeremy Clarke gave a clear explanation of how the upcoming election will be different following the government boundary changes. Felbridge residents will have the option to vote for three candidates out of a total of 11. The newly elected District Councillors will represent Felbridge residents irrespective of where they live so It will be useful for residents to have three voices at Tandridge in future. Other discussions including the ongoing Barratt Homes application off Crawley Down Road; potholes and footpaths and advertising boards.
GRASS VERGE CUTTING MAP AND SCHEDULE
Surrey Highways have taken over responsibility for grass verge cuts from Felbridge Parish Council. They have published a map which shows the type of cut (Urban within 30mph zone and Rural elsewhere). The link is https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c34756a8324440f58d15bd562eb6a10e Search by postcode and click on any area to see the schedule for the next two cuts.
FELBRIDGE PLAYGROUND UPGRADE - WORKS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST
Felbridge Parish Council's bid to TDC for Community Infrastructure Levy (developer) funding towards a major upgrade of the existing playground has been approved. £72K in developer funding along with £20K in Felbridge Parish Council reserves will be invested to provide a quality playground with equipment to meet the needs of all local children. The plans include a new base; new swings (toddler, standard and basket style); an inclusive roundabout; new equipment which promotes strategic thinking and which is suitable for a wider age group. Other equipment including the slide and climbing frame units will be refurbished and retained. The fence and gates will also be refurbished. The picnic tables will be moved immediately outside the fencing to allow more space within the playground area. If possible, the existing base would be used as a sub base for the new material.
SPORTS FACILITIES IN VILLAGE HALL GROUNDS (King George's Field)
Replacement goal posts and a new basketball hoop have been installed in the Village Hall grounds. Funds are being set aside towards the replacement of the surface on the Skateboard Ramp.
OVERGROWN HEDGES AND VEGETATION ALONGSIDE FOOTPATHS
To report footpaths which are being obstructed by overgrown hedges, please report, including a photograph if possible, to SCC on https://www9.surreycc.gov.uk/HighwayIssue/whatistheissue.aspx?&code=thgw-hdg If the vegetation is on SCC land and they consider it an obstruction they will have it cleared. If the vegetation is on private land, e.g. a hedge alongside a pavement which belongs to a property or landowner, SCC will carry out an inspection. If it is considered to endanger or obstruct road and pavement users, they will contact the owner requesting that they cut it back. If the overgrown tree or hedge is not cut back by the owner within their timescales, they may also serve them with a notice to do the work under Section 154 of the Highways Act 1980.
MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL DEVELOPMENTS IN FELBRIDGE
Despite considerable local opposition, MSDC Councillors have voted in favour of their Development Site Allocations document which includes the site off Crawley Down Road to either side of the Gullege Bridleway. Barratt Homes have already prepared plans for 200 dwellings on this site. Felbridge Parish Council strongly opposed their pre-planning application on grounds including lack of infrastructure and facilities, the inability of the local roads network to cope and the loss of green fields. Surrey Highways would have to approve the access road since it opens on to a Surrey/Tandridge road. Felbridge Parish Council are working with the support of Surrey County Councillor Lesley Steeds. This would be the fourth MSDC development on the Felbridge border which would mean a total of 350 dwellings accessed from Felbridge roads.
Sports Facilities - King George's Field, (Felbridge Village Hall Grounds)
A new all weather table tennis table with an extended base has been added to the facilities in the Village Hall grounds and the basketball hoop and board have been replaced. Along with the skateboard ramp and outdoor gym, the improved facilities offer more for older children and teenagers. Replacement goal posts are scheduled to be in place by the end of December (weather permitting)
Green Belt Planning Application - Land near Double Dee, Star Junction
Surrey Highways have recommended the nine property development near to the Star Junction (21/2187) for refusal due to specific access concerns and because the junction is “already over-capacity and suffers from significant queuing at peak traffic hours…not acceptable to the Highway Authority”.
Felbridge Parish Council's response to the application for nine affordable homes to be built on Green Belt land next to Kwik Fit near the Star Junction can be found under the Planning Comments tab.
Housing Survey not supported by Felbridge Parish Council
A housing survey has been distributed to Felbridge residents. Felbridge Parish Council (FPC) became aware of facts relating to this survey which they believed should be disclosed to residents in the accompanying covering letter. That request was declined. Therefore, in the interests of transparency, FPC wish to share this information directly with residents.
• Unusually, the survey relates to a specific Green Belt site (near Kwik Fit on the A22) and has been commissioned by a developer.
• An application for nine detached houses by the same company, on the same site, was refused in 2016 since the land is in the Green Belt.
• The original application (2016/1840) was made by Millwood Designer Homes
• The survey has been commissioned by Places for People. Millwood Designer Homes is owned by Places for People.
• Places for People is funding the operational costs of the survey so may decide against openly sharing the full results.
• The survey timetable has been rushed since Places for People have already said they intend submitting a planning application in early summer.
Felbridge Parish Council have stated that they would welcome a carefully considered housing survey, undertaken solely to ascertain need, which was neither site specific, developer driven or rushed.
However, the objective behind this survey is to enable a developer to build on Green Belt land close to the busy Star Junction. Felbridge Parish Council cannot support this survey since it is considered to serve the developer’s interests, rather than those of Felbridge residents.Imberhorne Lane Waste and Recycling Centre
For up to date information please visit http://www.recycleforwestsussex.org/recycling-sites/east-grinstead/. The Centre is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and visitors need to bring ID and proof of residency. Surrey County Council have made a payment to West Sussex County Council as part of an agreement to allow Felbridge residents to continue to use facility. Please note that the agreement covers cars only. The full list of postcodes included in the agreement are: RH19 2, RH7 6, RH10 3,,RH19 3, TN8 7, TN8 5 and TN8 6.
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Emergency contact numbers, email address and website addresses for all the council agencies and utilities providers has been uploaded below. Please scroll down and open the folder named 'Emergency Contact Details'.
Tandridge District Council Additional Recycling - Door Step Collection
You can recycle textiles, paired shoes, small electrical items and batteries every week in your own plastic bags, by leaving them out with your food waste caddy. For further information visit https://www.tandridge.gov.uk/Recycling-and-rubbish/Recycling/Textiles-electricals-and-battery-collections.
DEFIBRILLATOR
A defibrillator is located in the porch next to the entrance doors to Felbridge Village Hall. To access the equipment you first need to dial 999 and the emergency services will provide a code to open the cabinet. The equipment works automatically with audible instructions on use. It will not work if not correctly positioned so is safe to use. The equipment and location were selected with advice from our local First Responder and SECAmb.