In 2019 we approached Cala Homes, who had at that time responsibility for this area whilst they were building The Cresswell Estate.
The roundabout was just grass and totally flat, not very enticing as an entrance to the village from the A259.
We asked if they would work with us to build a flowering area on the roundabout. Cala agreed and 2 of our team met with the landscapers they were using. We gave them a plan of a raised border as there was no depth to the soil which would have a small border running around the raised area for spring flowers. The agreement was they would carry the work out as per our design and AIB would then maintain the border with the surrounding grass area to be cut by them until the roundabout was adopted by WSCC.
The work duly began with the landscapers erecting a two-tier wooden sleeper border which they filled with soil and some small shrubs.
Sadly, the soil they used turned out to be heavily contaminated with bind weed and the shrubs whilst small not ideal but we determined to work with what they had given us and to enhance the area further with our own plants.
WSCC duly adopted the roundabout but the grass was rarely cut causing AIB constant problems.
Covid arrived which meant the phormiums grew without restraint as we were unable to work.
By the time we began working again the shrubs had become extremely large and then we discovered the sleepers had rotted and work on the area for health and safety reasons had to stop.
For over a year we battled to get either WSCC or Cala Homes to discuss resolving the issues with no success and so took the decision that we would have to abandon the site and duly informed all parties and included APC.
The Parish Clerk offered to assist as a liaison with the agencies concerned and after many months, we finally met those on site to discuss a way forward.
It was agreed that the Cala landscapers would remove the rotten sleepers and replace them with composite sleepers. At the same time, they would remove and dispose of the shrubs. Before the work began, Angmering in Bloom team members removed a considerable number of daffodil bulbs which have been planted elsewhere in the village.
WSCC agreed to hand over the licence for the raised border to APC to enable us to work the site whilst they would cut the grass.
The work was carried out as agreed and the licence granted.
AIB will now begin work on the raised border and edging as time allows to make it to a welcoming sight as people enter the village.