Result will bring relief to Midhurst community

It’s been just over six weeks since the tragic fire struck the Angel Inn in Midhurst.

While there were fortunately no casualties, thanks to the swift work of our emergency services, the partial closure of North Street has had a real and devastating impact on the high street’s local businesses. The focus since then has been on reopening the road and I’ve been working with the councils, residents and the inter-agency recovery group to explore every avenue to get things moving.

Last Friday we had a breakthrough. Using its statutory powers, the South Downs National Park Authority has agreed to step in and secure the front of the Angel Inn, using a special bracing solution that will stabilise the site allowing both lanes to be fully reopened to vehicles while restoration efforts are explored. This is a fantastic result which I’m sure will bring huge relief to the Midhurst community. The preparatory work is already underway and I would like to say a massive thank you to all those who have helped to find a solution.

I’d also like to give a special mention to Tom Richardson our West Sussex County councillor, as well as Geoff Allnutt and Philippa Mccullough from the Midhurst Town Team and Business Network, who have been on the ground since the beginning, feeding back information as the situation evolved.

Last Friday, I spent a lovely sunny afternoon in Selsey, where I paid a visit to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Kingsway. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with Sir Tony Delahunty at the station several times in the past and I’m always grateful to be invited back. As well as serving with the Selsey RNLI team for over 40 years, Tony’s a veteran of our maritime and fishing industries, spending many years at the helm of organisations across the country. Just a few years ago, he received the incredible honour of an OBE in recognition of his long and impressive career.

Thank you to coxswain Rob Archibald for showing me around some of the new fleet and the team at work. It’s volunteers that make most of the day-to-day possible, from manning the hovercraft to the phones, and I’d encourage anyone interested in learning more to check out their website and the roles this incredible team have available: rnli. org/support-us/volunteer/ how-you-can-volunteer