• WSGA •
National & Local Government
Working Collaboratively
WSGA works collaboratively with West Sussex County Council, together with Chichester, Arun and Adur District Councils to ensure local government are aware of the significance of horticulture in their area of jurisdiction and the challenges faced. We are fortunate to have some long-standing relationships with many councillors who appreciate the contribution growers make in producing local food and bringing employment and growth to the area.
HOW IT WORKS
Seeing Is Believing
We believe that “seeing is believing” and encourage councillors and cabinet members to visit growers to see first-hand how our team of growers operate; the passion that growers feel for what they do and the amazing innovations being used in our sector.
From sweetcorn to strawberries, tomatoes to trees, coriander to cordalynes, our product range is endless.
Councillor Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council and a number of his team visiting Architectural Plants, Brinsbury College and Fargro
Standing Together
Our local government colleagues regularly support us including at NFU Farm Unity Day on 25th January, 2025 where local farmers and growers were supported by Jess Brown-Fuller MP, Cllr Paul Marshall and some of his WSCC team and Cllr Adrian Moss and some of the CDC team.
Recent Visits
On 1st August 2025, we were delighted to welcome Lee Parker, Interim Director of Place Services at WSCC and Councillor Garry Wall to innovative strawberry grower David Moore at Wicks Farm as part of a continuing conversation about the challenges in our local horticulture sector, particularly energy, labour and planning, and ways in which local government can help.
Lee and Garry are part of the team who will inform the new mayor and as such are keen to continue the dialogue and move things forward.
Katy Bourne OBE Visit
We were delighted to host Katy Bourne OBE, the Conservative mayoral candidate for Sussex at Tangmere on 9th October on her first visit to a member of the West Sussex Growers’ Association. James Bardgett, Head of Operations gave Katy a tour of the UK’s biggest dedicated sweet bell pepper grower.
James Bardgett commented
“We were delighted to welcome Katy to Tangmere and provide her with a full insight into our operations, from growing through to packing. It was invaluable to hear her perspectives on planning, infrastructure, and the wider challenges facing the horticulture sector. I was especially pleased that she acknowledged the vital role horticulture plays in supporting our local economy.”
Katy Bourne summarised the visit,
“I was wowed by the scale and size of the Tangmere operation which produces over 70 million sweet bell peppers a year on the old Battle of Britain airfield. The use of automation throughout growing and packing was very impressive. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to discuss the challenges the horticultural sector faces such as a time consuming planning system, poor energy infrastructure and unpredictable journey times due to the A27. Also very positive to hear the work being done in this sector to engage with local secondary schools and colleges and promote the diversity of careers available in horticulture.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Digital Technology: Growing Sussex
Since 2023, we have been working closely with the Digital Infrastructure team at WSCC. The team were successful in a bid for Department of Science, Innovation and Technology funding to become one of only 10 5G Innovation Regions throughout the UK.
WSCC want to co-develop use cases for foundational technologies (5G, AI and IoT) that will test how digital technology and applications using devices such as sensors, monitors, drones and cameras can develop future farming and growing practices that increase sustainable food, drink and plant productivity. Two West Sussex growers: The Greenhouse Sussex who grow tomatoes and Wicks Farm who grow berries, are very much involved in this project.
For more details, please visit Our Projects
