The costs towards this application have increased since the Spring:
Planning application now in the region of £9,000
CPL Architects £5,000
Contamination Survey £800
Structural Engineering survey Cost unknown

Consultations are taking place with local residents, Kestrel Nursing Care and Councillors to keep everyone concerned up to date with the plans. It is anticipated that main stream students from Sussex Downs College could access the project for day release experience in regard to studies in Social Care, Hospitality, Catering and the Environment. There can be a reciprocal arrangement whereby the residents can access Sussex Downs College. The whole project will adhere to the Governments ‘Valuing People Now’ and ‘Putting People First’ documents, ensuring independent living for individuals and choices as to how each person would wish to live their lives to the full.

Any unwanted gifts for raffle prizes are always welcome. Please contact Jill 486179 or Margaret and Mavis 485617.

Leonie’s Preserves are ever popular and can be obtained from 7,Wannock Avenue, 16, Brook Street or Gilda Crescent Resource Centre.Gift baskets can be made to order.

It is vital that we secure funding for updating brochures and providing an Audio Visual Brochure for the use of prospective individuals who wish to access the project in the future. Unfortunately our application to The Seedcorn Fund for this purpose was unsuccessful. Funding for this will help to access future funding and enable us to advertise the JPK Project locally and nationally.

We also welcomed Michael Crewe, recently appointed Trustee to the JPK Project. He has a financial and business background, invaluable for the forthcoming progress and development of the project.

The accounts were reported to be in a sound position and the need was highlighted to contact Corporate bodies, where match funding could be accessed. It was noted that individuals could approach Corporate Bodies,( e.g. their own bank or building society) to apply for assistance for the project.

As you are aware, we have been fundraising and searching for an ideal site for some seven years. Land is hard to find, in this climate of new development for housing in the South East, although you might imagine to the contrary. It is essential that our Project should be based within an urban setting, whereby the residents can become part of an existing community and this aspect is a necessity as we shall require the support of East Sussex County Council, and they have intimated that this would be a requirement.

The good news since October is that our offer of £700,000 has been accepted by the Governing Body of Sussex Downs College, subject to various caveats including Planning Consent, Vacant Possession and a Contamination report.

Derek Kemp,CPL Architects, is working to complete the Full Planning Application which is taking longer than anticipated due to all the additional surveys required by Eastbourne borough Council.
A Badger survey (cost £495) has now been completed which shows their trails to be only on the banks and not within the bowl where building will take place.
In addition, a Mitigation report (cost £500) is necessary to outline steps to be taken to protect the badgers during the building work. This will include an Ecology/Scoping survey (cost £700-£900) to indicate what can be planted within the Conservation area and deal with Japanese Knotweed.
An Arboriculturist survey (cost £400) is required as there are preservation orders on many trees, placed by neighbours to protect their privacy.These trees require drastic pruning as they have been neglected over the years.
A Contamination survey (!st estimate £9,750) is necessary due to the past use of the site for Lime Kilns, Civil Defence and a Garden maintenance depot with tanks of diesel located on the site where spillage may have occurred.

Meetings have taken place with Mr. Jeremy Howes, Solicitor, Cornfield Law who is receiving documents from the Vendors solicitors. He has discovered discrepancies with regard to the Land Registry and the Land Survey which require investigation as it is essential that our application indicates clearly the land which is for purchase and on which planning consent is to be obtained. We are extremely grateful to Jeremy for his continued support and advice over so many years.

Letters of support have also been received from Mr. Nigel Waterson M.P. (Eastbourne) and Mr. Charles Hendry M.P. (Wealden).

The JPK Project Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 11th June 2008 at 10am at 7,Wannock Avenue. Everyone is welcome. Should you wish to attend I would be grateful if you could notify me in advance to ensure adequate seating and papers are available. Mr. John Males, Accountant, will be present to report on the accounts for the year.