Tag: environment

launch of The Water Efficiency Campaign

The Campaign focuses on the forecast that if nothing changes there could be a 5 Billion litre shortfall of water per day by 2055 and aims to effect a long term behavioural shift in the usage of water.

A new campaign to help us all save water

Let’s Save Water is a campaign to help everyone use less water by making small, everyday changes.

Why do we need to use less water?

England may seem wet, but many places do not have enough water. The climate is changing, meaning summers are drier and winters bring heavier rain. Both make it harder for rivers and reservoirs to refill.

England has clean, safe tap water. But we often use more water than we realise at home and at work. This means in many areas we are using water faster than nature can replace it.

Taking too much water from rivers, lakes and underground sources harms our environment and wildlife. It can make droughts last longer.

If nothing changes, by 2055 there may not be enough water to go around, and England could face a potential shortfall of 5 billion litres every day. That’s like 25 million people leaving the tap running for 20 minutes, every single day.

What can we do about it?

We need to act now, and everyone has a part to play.

The water industry is investing billions to upgrade the network – from fixing leaks to upgrading infrastructure and increasing supply.

But small changes from all of us at home and at work will make a big difference. Shorter showers, stopping drips in our toilets and taps and using water-saving appliances all add up.

How much water do you use daily?

Most of us don’t realise just how much water we use each day. In fact, the average person in England uses almost 140 litres a day. A lot of the time when we’re using water, it’s as part of daily routines that are so familiar, we don’t think about them.

But to avoid water shortages, we each need to save about 28 litres of water every day. And we need to save this water all year round, not just in the drier summer months or during droughts.

Everyday changes to help you save water:

• Cut your shower by two minutes and you will save 28 litres a day

• Swap a running tap for a washing up bowl, to save 10 litres per minute

• Fixing a leaky loo saves up to 5 full baths of water, 400 litres a day

• Swap regular mode for eco-mode on your dishwasher and washing machine to save 10 litres per wash

Find more information and things you can do at letssavewater.com

Friends of Lewes – policy on development in the floodplain

Following the very successful Friends of Lewes 25th Floods Anniversary Exhibition, we received a considerable amount of feedback that Lewes residents didn’t want any more homes to be built in the floodplain.  In response we have developed a policy position on development in the floodplain, which we have sent to the South Downs National park in response to their latest version of the SDNP Local Plan.  

Read the policy here ….. 

FOL Flood Policy Final _a_17 June 2026 convDownload

South Downs National Park Authority – Local Plan

Have your say on vital placemaking plan

The South Downs National Park Authority has published the South Downs Local Plan (Proposed Submission) for Regulation 19 (Publication) consultation.

This is the final consultation stage before the plan is submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination by a Planning Inspector.  This consultation stage differs from previous consultations on the new Local Plan, as the Planning Inspector will be interested in comments related to the Local Plan’s soundness and legal compliance.  

Consultation period: 12th May to 23rd June 2026 (closing at 23:59)

Documents published:

  • The South Downs Local Plan – Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) May 2026
  • The Policies Map
  • Supporting evidence (including Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment) and background documents

View the consultation documents on our website

Hard copies of the documents are available for inspection at our principal offices during opening hours:

Alternatively, the documents can be viewed at the following libraries during their opening hours:

  • Bishops Waltham Library, Free Street, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, SO32 1EE
  • Findon Valley Library, Lime Tree Avenue, Findon  Valley, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 0DH
  • Hassocks Library, 9 Ewart Close, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8FJ
  • Lancing Library, Penstone Park, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 9DL
  • Lewes Library, Styles Field, Friars Walk, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2LZ
  • Liphook Library, London Road, Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7AN
  • Midhurst Library, The Grange, Bepton Road, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9HD
  • Petersfield Library, 27 The Square, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3HH
  • Petworth Library, High Street, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0AU
  • Steyning Library, Church Street, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3YB

If you are having trouble accessing the documents, or if you require the consultation documents in an alternative format, please contact the Planning Policy Team via email at planningpolicy@southdowns.gov.uk

Making representations – During this stage, comments should focus on:

  • Whether the Local Plan meets the legal requirements; and
  • Whether it is sound (positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy).

Representations must be submitted by Tuesday 23 June at 23:59 and cannot normally be accepted after this date.

Publicity – If you are able, please help promote the consultation by sharing this poster

How to comment – We strongly encourage all representations to be made online using our consultation portal: https://southdowns-consult.objective.co.uk

Have you say on the consultation portal

Submitting comments online is the quickest and most efficient way to make a representation and helps us to process all representations promptly and effectively.

If you are unable to comment online, representations may alternatively be submitted using the Representation Questionnaire, and returned:

Further details on how to comment, and what matters can be raised at this stage, and how representations will be handled are set out in our Guidance Note on Making a Representation, and Statement of Representations Procedure.

What happens next – Following the close of consultation, the Local Plan and all duly made representations will be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination by a Planning Inspector.

Data protection – Representations will be made publicly available as part of the examination process. For information on how we handle personal data, please see the website for our privacy notice.

Further information – Join a drop‑in event or online session to learn about the consultation and how to comment.

Drop‑in events:

Lewes Depot, Pinwell Road, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2JS
Wednesday 20 May 4–7pm

Petersfield Festival Hall, Heath Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4EA
Thursday 21 May  4–7pm

Online appointments (pre‑booking required) via the Eventbrite website

5‑minute slots available:
• from 12:00 on 3 June
• from 17:00 on 4 June

You can also view our Frequently Asked Questions on our website.   

If you have any questions about the consultation, please contact the Planning Policy Team at planningpolicy@southdowns.gov.uk or by telephone at 01730 814810.

Lewes Tree Festival 2026

On Saturday 13th June the Lewes Tree Festival starts with a launch event from 11:00 to 15:00 at the Lewes Climate Hub with an exhibition from Lewes Urban Arboretum. Refreshments will be available.

The Lewes Urban Arboretum team has organised four guided walks in June to celebrate our trees and our status as an Arboretum Town – one of only two in the country! All the walks will be led by local arboriculturalists who are members of our Trees Committee. The walks are free but donations are always welcome to fund our tree-planting projects.

  • Tuesday 16th June, 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Railway Land Nature Reserve. No need to book – just meet us at the entrance to the Linklater Pavilion.

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) Partnership Management Plan for the Future

There are many people who play a role in looking after the National Park. The Partnership Management Plan (PMP)  is a key document that sets out the priorities for the South Downs National Park for the next five years and how we will work together to achieve this shared vision.

The world is facing both climate and nature crises at a time when people have never needed access to green space more. The South Downs National Park is already being impacted and needs an ambitious vision for the next five years to meet these crises and to deliver for nature, climate, people and place. This is your National Park, and we need your input to decide what the shared priorities for the next five years should be. Over the coming months there will be different opportunities to get involved.

Resources for Change are working with the SDNPA to ensure we hear from as many voices as possible but to do that we really need your support. We think that your views around what the National Park does next are critical and so please do sign up or encourage others to do the same and help create a plan for the future that works for nature and for everyone.

Please see the table of upcoming events below and a link to the SDNPA website were you can complete a short survey.

Phase 2: Priority outcomes and action planning – Everyone is welcome to attend events listed below.

DateTimeVenue
Wednesday 5th March 
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE		7pm – 9pmONLINE
Thursday 6th March
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE		10am – 3pmStroud Village Hall
Monday 10th March
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE		10am – 3pmPulborough Village Hall
Tuesday 11th March
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE		7pm – 9pmONLINE
Wednesday 12th March
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE		7pm – 9pmONLINE
Friday 14th March
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE		10am – 3pmLinklater Pavilion, Lewes

Together for Nature, Climate and People – South Downs National Park Authority

Lewes Flood Exhibition – Call for exhibits

Do you have photographs or memorabilia of the Lewes Floods? Did you write a poem or paint any pictures? This October is the 25th Anniversary of the 2000 Lewes Floods when over 600 homes and 300 businesses were devastated, as following days of very heavy rain the river Ouse burst its banks and flooded large areas of Lewes.

The Friends of Lewes are organising an exhibition of flood memories and experiences, and we would like to hear from people who can loan photographs/ memorabilia etc. We would also like to audio record people’s memories of the time, and reflections 25 years on.

We are particularly interested to hear from any children or families who slept in the Town Hall or Malling Community Centre, and hear their memories and reflections 25 years on.

Harvey’s Brewery Yard 3pm 12th Oct 2000

Winterbourne Festival 1st – 9th March 2025

Instagram / Facebook / Love our Ouse Website

Sponsored by The Friends of Lewes

Community initiative Love our Ouse and local partners have been awarded funds to deliver a festival on the 1st to the 9th March dedicated to the Winterbourne Stream that flows through Lewes

Read the press release here:

Winterbourne Festival Programme releaseDownload