In today’s County Times: Developers are ‘circling like hyenas’

In Horsham news the Phoenix Stroke Club has this week vowed to keep fighting for funds to secure its future, a planning application for around 220 homes could be submitted south of Southwater, Wisborough Green and Kirdford were celebrating as plans for exploratory drilling were rejected by the county council, and the Weald School in Billingshurst has announced ‘exciting’ new plans for a £10m expansion.

In West Sussex 11 people were arrested from April to June as part of a police crackdown on paedophiles, vandals smashed a shop window in Horsham town centre, two men were jailed for stealing bicycles across Sussex including several at Horsham Railway Station, and a serial burglar from Broadbridge Heath has been jailed for nine months.

Staff at Warnham Pre-school have said there is ‘no immediate threat’ of closure, Rudgwick residents have highlighted concerns over pedestrian safety, a cancer sufferer hopes her story will highlight the need for bone marrow donors, and a Billingshurst teenager whose brother fought off cancer twice has raised more than £2,000 for two charitable causes by shaving her head.

In South Downs news this week Prince Charles met with Steyning Primary School pupils at the Wiston Estate, a Pulborough parish councillor has resigned in protest at Horsham District Council’s behaviour, a Storrington pensioner has been given a restraining order after harassing his neighbours, a survey has revealed Thakeham residents’ opinion on housing, work has started on improvements to Storrington’s leisure centre, and an Upper Beeding company has received its Queen’s Award.

This week we have also launched our ever popular Community Awards, and are inviting nominations in categories such as best fundraiser, volunteer, local hero, and charity of the year.

Meanwhile in our 24-page WOW entertainments pullout we preview comedian Peter Antoniou’s show at this year’s Petworth Festival as well as other previews, reviews, what’s on, nostalgia and listings.

In Horsham district sport this week we look at Sussex’s clash with Warwickshire as part of the Horsham Festival of Cricket, on top of three pages of local cricket match reports, news from Horsham FC and Horsham YMCA’s pre-season moves, bowls, athletics, motorsport and swimming.

As well as letters, motors, politics, and business, we have 13 pages of readers’ news.