The Bosham Association
Protecting and preserving the best of Bosham, West Sussex
Registered Charity No. 262454
President - Jill McGregor
About us
The Bosham Association is an organisation formed in 1963 to maintain and protect the character and environment of Bosham and surrounding areas. It currently has more than 400 members who annually elect a committee to work on behalf of members and the village as a whole. The Association is non-political and independent of the Parish, District and County Councils, although it aims to work with these and any other relevant organisations for the benefit of the village. (Constitution).
What we do
1. Planning
Bosham is famous for being a beautiful, historic village with an idyllic setting on Chichester harbour. It is surrounded by delightful countryside and, in the summer, the sailing opportunities are second to none. The Bosham Association's committee is fully engaged with forward strategic planning for the area. It has led a group with representatives from the Bosham Parish Council and the Chichester Harbour Conservancy in preparing the draft Bosham Village Design Statement (BVDS). This has now become part of the Chichester District Council's planning guidance for the village. The BVDS is described in more detail on the Strategic Planning page of this website. The committee also keeps an eye on planning applications affecting the Parish of Bosham, in order to help ensure that the whole village continues to remain such an attractive place. Where appropriate representations are made to the District Council which may be an objection, with in some cases suggestions for ways of making the application more acceptable, or on occasions supporting the District Council's actions or the application itself.
2. Sea Defence Flooding and Sewerage problems
Because of its position Bosham is prone at times to flooding both from the sea, during storms and exceptional high tides, and from the land, due to run-off of rainwater from surrounding fields and streams. As a result of climate change, severe weather conditions may become more frequent in the future. The village’s drains are in many cases antiquated and have in the past become blocked. The committee has built up a detailed knowledge of the system and has convinced the authorities to make certain changes. These changes were quite extensive and have greatly reduced the fluvial flooding risk, provided regular maintenance is continued. It is of vital importance to all in Bosham that we do not flood in the future, for insurance reasons if nothing else. Sea flooding is a relatively small risk which can be mitigated by providing and maintaining a continuous sea wall, as far as possible. This is on-going work which has been spearheaded by the Association in the past. The Parish Council in 2010 took on the leadership of this work from the BA, but we are maintaining a watch on flooding matters and are available to help and advise if asked.
3. Roads and transportation
The Association maintains contacts with the West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council and Southern Rail to try to influence action on parking problems and public transport facilities. The WSCC has announced that it will be reducing subsidies to bus companies in order to save £2 million. One of the routes that may be withdrawn, or reduced, is the Stagecoach service 56 between Bosham and Chichester. Residents recently had the opportunity to take part in the Bus User survey on the WSCC website . An independent company, Compass Travel, is now operating a new service, numbered 55A, linking Old Bosham to Tangmere, via Chichester, three times a day on Sundays and Bank Holidays only.
Some roads in Bosham now have a serious problem with the volume and speed of traffic, which needs to be attended to.
4. Other matters relevant to Bosham
We believe it is important to have an active organisation concerned with the environment of our village - separate from the Parish Council and District Council who are sometimes more constrained by the need to work to formal rules.
The Association has been able to initiate action on a number of important things. Examples include the considerable improvement achieved to minimise flooding following the publication of a comprehensive BA report; and taking the lead in raising funding, both official and private, to improve the surface of Shore Road so as to reduce the 'Bosham pong' arising from rotting algae.
Another very important function is the BA's ability to mobilise rapidly substantial opposition from members and other residents to undesirable planning applications. Examples of this were the protests organised against a proposed footpath diversion; the original Burhill application for a dense housing scheme at Burne's boatyard site; and the application for a touring caravan park at the north end of Delling Lane.
Currently the Association is in discussion with various authorities with regard to replacing the unsightly gabions along the Trippett with a matching continuation of the wall.
The Association with its large membership is able to alert its members on issues of importance to the village and to move quickly when a problem is highlighted.
A major current issue is the potential development of the old Burne's boatyard. The recent outline proposals from Burhill Estates has profound and extensive ramifications for the village and its conservation area. We have asked our members for their views and there will be ongoing contact with other authorities and Burhill Estates.
The Bosham Association will always be pleased to hear your views or answer any questions you may have. We can be contacted online by email from this website.
To join the Association please download the Application Form and send it to the Membership Secretary, Mike McKeand.
The Committee for 2011 - 2012 is as follows : - Peter Newman (Chairman), Judy Peeters (Secretary), Tony Chapman (Treasurer), Mike McKeand (Membership Secretary), Dick Pratt, Bowen Wells, Kevin Taws (Accounts Examiner), David West, Janet Howe and Brian Walton (website). Consultant advisory members - Derek Coombe and Peter Price.
This website is being hosted by The Cottage Industry, Aldwick, Bognor Regis.