Author: Andrew Taylor

Visit Kingscote Valley today launches a new seasonal photography competition seeking a photo that represents the very best of the season within the Kingscote Valley area, whether that be spring flowers in the Standen House garden or the Weir Wood Reservoir landscape. A prize from a Kingscote Valley attraction is on offer for the best photo of each season and an annual overall winner will also be chosen.

Kingscote Valley is a new tourism destination consisting of 2000 acres of stunning Sussex countryside surrounding East Grinstead; packed with activities and places to stay, eat and explore.

“The countryside surrounding East Grinstead is very picturesque, so we wanted a competition that encourages everyone to explore, enjoy and share their images of the Kingscote Valley,” said Dawn Spalding, Town Promotions Manager, East Grinstead Tourism.

“There are so many amazing things to see and do within the Kingscote Valley that we want local residents, as well as visitors to Sussex, to know what’s on offer,” added Councillor Gary Marsh, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Property, Mid Sussex District Council.

The competition starts 1 March 2016 for the spring season. The photo needs to be taken within the Kingscote Valley area, which stretches south from East Grinstead to West Hoathly, and includes the area around Kingscote station and the Weir Wood Reservoir. Refer to the map on the website to see the location of the area and links to all of the attractions.

Prizes include a Deers Leap Park family pass for four including bike hire, lunch for two at Gravetye Manor, a Busses Farm beef box, and a Kingscote Estate vineyard tour and wine tasting for two. One prize will be awarded to the overall winning photo for each season. Further details are available on the Visit Kingscote Valley facebook page.

The photography competition seasons are:

• Spring – starting 1 March and ending 31 May
• Summer – starting 1 June and ending 31 August
• Autumn – starting 1 September and ending 30 November
• Winter – starting 1 December and ending 28/29 Februar

All keen photographers need to do is post their photo on twitter or instagram using #kingscotevalley. They can also post a photo on the Visit Kingscote Valley facebook page or email a photo to visitkingscotevalley@gmail.com.

Kingscote Valley Attractions:

ACTIVITIES:

Blackland Farm incorporating 4th Dimension and Young Drive

Bluebell Railway

Deers Leap Park

East Grinstead Sports Club

Kingscote Estate

Ultimate Laser Games

Weir Wood Sailing Club

HISTORIC HOUSES:

Saint Hill Manor

Standen House and Garden

The Priest House

COUNTRY PUBS:

Old Dunnings Mill

The Cat Inn

The Fox Eating and Drinking House

CAMPING AND GLAMPING:

Blackland Farm

Yoghurt Rooms (at Busses Farm)

HOTELS:

Alexander House Hotel

Gravetye Manor

About Kingscote ValleyVisit Kingscote Valley is supported by Mid Sussex District Council and works in partnership with West Sussex County Council, East Grinstead Town Council & Tourism, East Grinstead Business Association and Ashdown Forest Tourism Association.

Kingscote Valley is a new tourism destination consisting of 2000 acres of stunning Sussex countryside; packed with activities and places to stay, eat and explore. A magical and enchanting valley steeped in history, rich with ancient woodlands, streams, lakes, vineyards, rocks, the River Medway, and a host of walks and trails. Attractions include historic houses and the Bluebell Railway. It is a destination for everyone; well suited to families, dog owners, foodies, adventurers, and couples seeking a rural retreat.

Website:

www.visiteastgrinstead.com/kingscote-valley

Social media:

www.twitter.com/KingscoteValley

www.facebook.com/visitkingscotevalley

www.instagram.com/visitkingscotevalley

Media contact:

Clare Kitts, Whippet PR

07808 906107

clare@whippetpr.com

THE EAST GRINSTEAD DRAFT NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN, Is undergoing its second round of public consultation.

The Town Council submitted the plan to Mid Sussex District Council on 15th December 2015 and following their checks for legal compliance, is open for public consultation from 3rd February for a 6 week term. All responses at this stage must be submitted to Mid Sussex District Council directly.

Following this second consultation, the plan will continue to independent examination and then be subject to a public referendum. If adopted by the public vote it will then become part of the planning legislative framework for East Grinstead.
The plan has 16 policies and 8 site specific policies covering matters to be considered by the planning officers when considering applications for the East Grinstead Parish.

The Leader of the Town Council, Cllr Rex Whittaker said “we are really pleased that the next stage of the process will start this week. We are very keen for the plan to proceed to examination and referendum to ensure that this Town has a plan for the future. 165 responses were made to the first round of the consultation, some changes have been made and we urge residents to respond to Mid Sussex at this next stage, we feel that this is a positive plan that reflects the majority views of East Grinstead residents”

Copies of the consultation will be available from 3rd February on the Mid Sussex District Council website: http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/planning/10145.htm. Hard copies of the plan will be available for inspection at the Mid Sussex District Council offices, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1SS and from East Grinstead Town Council.

The final stage of the McIndoe Memorial Statue project was put into place this week. Engineers from power company SSE made the final connections to the new lighting illuminating the statue standing in the High Street in front of Sackville College. The Town Council helped facilitate the work undertaken by SSE in partnership with a grant given by West Sussex County Council.
The lighting has been carefully sited so that while it features the statue itself, it doesn’t impinge on the frontage of Sackville College behind it.

The fund raising for the project was closed in June 2015 with the full cost having been met by private donations and grants.

The Committee which comprised membership from the McIndoe Family,  Blond McIndoe Research Foundation, East Grinstead Business Association and the East Grinstead Town Council has now been disbanded. The Statue has passed to the ownership of the Town Council.

Julie Holden, Chair of the Committee said  “The memorial is now very much part of the town and so many visitors and locals continue to spend time there.  I would like to formally thank everyone who made this happen from the members of the committee to the donors of time, service and money.”

Mid Sussex District Council is publishing the submitted Ansty, Staplefield and Brook Street Neighbourhood Plan. The publication will run for six weeks from 21st January 2016 until 03rd March 2016. The documents are available to view at www.midsussex.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplans . Paper copies are available to view at the Council offices (see address below).

Ansty and Staplefield Parish Council has prepared a neighbourhood development plan for the majority of the parish, excluding the Strategic Land Allocation known as the Northern Arc, and excluding land to the east of the railway line south of Haywards Heath. The Plan seeks to allocate additional sites for housing and recreational land.

Formal comments can be submitted online at www.midsussex.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplans or by post to Planning Policy and Economic Development, Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1SS.

All comments must be received by midnight on 3rd March 2016. All comments received will be public information.

The District Council must appoint an appropriately qualified and independent Examiner and publicise the proposed Neighbourhood Plan and details of how to make representations. At the end of the publication period we will send all representations received at this stage to the examiner.

If you have any queries, please contact the Planning Policy and Economic Development Team on (01444 477391) or email neighbourhoodplans@midsussex.gov.uk

The fifth Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend has been confirmed for the May Bank Holiday weekend of 2016, presenting a great opportunity for a New Year challenge!

Whether you are taking up running, starting a new health and fitness regime, seeking to raise money for a cause close to your heart, or are a seasoned runner looking for a different challenge, Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend offers something for everyone.

Participants will once again be traversing the Mid Sussex countryside over all three days of the May Bank Holiday weekend. We are delighted the 2016 races will be hosted again at the 2015 venues, so the superb facilities of East Grinstead Rugby Club will be the venue for a 10-mile cross-country race on Saturday 30^th April. Phil Major (Operations Director, East Grinstead Rugby Club) said: “East Grinstead Rugby Club is a community orientated club so when the event was seeking a new venue last year we were only too pleased to help. It was a great success with participants able to benefit from our facilities and the club able to raise some funds by selling refreshments so we are looking forward to the event returning later this year, when I hope to persuade more of our members to be taking part this time around.”

Sunday 1^st May sees the event move to Victoria Park, Haywards Heath for a 10-mile race, a course covering footpaths and roads, which will be a part of the Sussex Grand Prix calendar.

The event finishes in Burgess Hill on Monday 2^nd May, over a 10-kilometre course that will consist of roads and the Batchelor Farm fields. Following the success of 2015 the final leg will return to Oakmeeds Community College and Woodlands Meed School. Chris Markham (Contract Manager – Mid Sussex, Places for People Leisure Management Ltd.) said: “Having kindly stepped in last year as event hosts, in response to an eleventh hour enforced route change, we are extremely pleased to be returning to Oakmeeds Community College in 2016.  We are also very grateful for the involvement of Woodlands Meed School who also play a significant role in this event by granting us access to their car park from the Oakmeeds playing field. This allows us to use our usual race route that has proved very popular with participants in previous years.”

The event has consistently attracted over 1,000 participants each year and the event organisers are hoping to make it bigger and better in 2016. Event Director Simon Adby said: “We relish the challenge of managing the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend and are delighted to be involved in such a prestigious community event. Participants can enter one, two or all three of the main races and prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in each race. Those choosing to run all three days will complete the full marathon distance, which will be a stern test of endurance over three days that we recognise by presenting a goody pack to all finishers as well as awarding prizes to the top placed runners. Additionally we will also be staging the Mid Sussex Mile fun run races before each of the main races. The fun runs present an opportunity for juniors and adults to be part of the weekend event over the shorter 1-mile distance, set within the boundaries of our host venues.”

You don’t need to run in the event to be involved as volunteer support will be required each day to assist with marshalling of the routes. Councillor Pru Moore (Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability, Mid Sussex District Council) said: “Volunteers are the foundation of all community events, especially the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend. We are extremely grateful to the willing volunteers who are prepared to give us half a day of their time. The volunteer contribution cannot be underestimated as it truly enhances the event. They are the unsung heroes, without whose help this event, and many others like it, would not be possible.”

Alongside volunteers, event organisers are also seeking local business partners who are interested in becoming event sponsors or providing race prizes. Simon Adby said: “This is a great opportunity for local businesses to become involved in a community event. All support will not only enable us to stage the event but also provide all participants with a memorable experience. Any surpluses made from race entries will be invested by the District and Town Councils into local sporting causes so the wider community will benefit from a successful event.”

Those wishing to be involved in the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend 2016 as either a participant, volunteer or sponsor partner should refer to the event website: www.midsussexmarathon.co.uk. The website contains all event information, including entry forms and organiser contact details.

Extensive work over the past few months by Town Council staff was unveiled last week at East Court. The previously somewhat cramped reception office is now easily accessed by one and all with direct access from the lift into the office and a bright spacious sitting area leading to the new reception facilities within.

Town Mayor Dick Sweatman wielded the official opening scissors cutting the ribbon, which in fact turned out to be part of the packaging for the building supplies! Holding the ribbon in the photograph are Katrina Hamill  and Roger Gwatkin, who was responsible for much of the restoration and carpentry work for the new office.

Dick Sweatman welcomed the new facilities which made the offices into a much more user friendly location, although as he pointed out, it wasn’t an easy option adapting a listed building as the work had to be done with such care, but the time and effort had been well worth it.

As a small part of the Nation’s Art Collection, the Town Council has taken the opportunity to display their artworks in a new permanent location within the East Court Mansion. Following the restoration of the stairwell to the first and second floor landings, a safe and secure display now offers a new home to the paitings, which are located on the second floor landing. Town Mayor Dick Sweatman was among the first visitors to see the new display. The pictures can be viewed during working hours when the building is open to the public.