Author: Andrew Taylor
Planned work by Southern Water
We’re planning to lay 650 metres of new water main in Turners Hill Road, East Grinstead to cope with an increase in demand in the area as the community grows.
The new pipe will enable us to pump more water into the area, ensuring residents and businesses in East Grinstead continue to receive top quality drinking water as demand increases. If we don’t do the work, the area’s water pressure will reduce as demand for water would exceed the amount we can supply though our existing network.
We will be hosting a virtual meeting via Zoom on Tuesday 10 May at 1pm for those who would like to discuss the project in more detail with the team. Please email community@southeastwater.co.uk to register your interest in this meeting. A link to the meeting will be sent out to those who register in advance.
Work is scheduled to start on 13 June and the project is expected to take approximately 18 weeks to complete.
As a safety precaution for pedestrians, motorists and our workforce, we will need to close Turners Hill Road up until the access point to Southern Sheeting. West Hill will also be closed once work reaches this section.
We will also need to cross Brooklands roundabout. To undertake this safely, we will have three-way traffic lights on Brooklands Way, Garden Wood Road and Hurst Farm Road as well as road closures on West Hill and Turners Hill Road at the same time. We will close half of the roundabout at a time to be able to manage traffic flows.
Diversion routes have been agreed with West Sussex Highways.
Access to homes and businesses will be maintained while we carry out this work. However, we would appreciate your patience and co-operation during this important project.
We will keep you updated on progress with the scheme and updates on our work can also be found on the dedicated webpage at southeastwater.co.uk/turnershill
Protected: Newsletter 29/04/22
New concessions sites available at East Court
Please click on the link below for the full application packs. The closing date for the applications is 12:00 on Monday 16 May 2022.
Protected: Newsletter 22/04/22
Protected: Newsletter 14/04/22
Boundary Commission Proposals – Mid Sussex
Governance Review – East Grinstead
During 2021 the Boundary Commission consulted on changes to the East Grinstead election wards for District and Parish representation. The proposals were to change the East Grinstead Town Council Wards to 8 and retaining the same number of Councillors, while at the same time reducing the Mid Sussex Wards to 5 and reducing their Councillors by 2.
The Town Council objected to this as the wards would no longer be aligned. We also noted that the East Grinstead Town Council at 19 Councillors across the existing 6 wards is 3 councillors more than Haywards Heath who have a slightly larger population than East Grinstead and 1 more than Burgess Hill which has 10,000 more residents than East Grinstead.
We have proposed that the Town Wards remain aligned with the District Wards so that when voters go to the polls they understand which ward they are in, we are also proposing that our 6 wards be represented by 16 Councillors rather than the existing 19.
When the Council submitted our response to the Boundary Commission, we copied this to Mid Sussex DC who came back to us and told us that they would be able to look at East Grinstead’s request separately to the Boundary Commission and this had triggered the Governance Review and therefore the consultation that Mid Sussex have launched on 4th April and it will run to 27th May 2022. If it is approved it will be brought in for the elections due for May 2023.
The proposal is that the wards and the number of Councillors are changed to:
Ashplats – 4 Councillors
Town – 4 Councillors
Baldwins – 2
Imberhorne – 2
Herontye – 2
East Grinstead South (the new name for Worsted and the south part of current Herontye which is being amended for the District Ward following the Boundary Commission) – 2
Effect of the Proposed Change on the Council: The overall change will result in a small saving to the Town Council of £3,536 in Councillor allowances and there will be a reduction in election costs as 16 elections will cost less than 19. The 2019 costs for the elections was £14,237 which when split over 19 councillors would give an approximate saving of £2,248. The loss of three councillors will mean a little more work per councillor. The Council has four committees each made up of 7 seats plus the Town Mayor and Deputy Mayor, meaning that 28 seats have to be covered on the committees by the 14 remaining Councillors. Currently, 12/17 Councillors sit on two committees and 5 sit on one.
The Mid Sussex Public Notice is largely a quote from the Town Councils response to the Boundary Commission and when taken out of context is somewhat confusing. The above is to clarify the proposal and the reason behind it.
Responses to the Mid Sussex consultation can be sent
via email to: communitygovernancereviews@midsussex.gov.uk
online at: www.midsussex.gov.uk/cgr-form
by post to: Community Governance Review – East Grinstead
Democratic Services
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath RH16 1SS
Protected: Newsletter 08/04/22
Protected: Newsletter 25/03/22
Southern Gas Network planned roadworks
We are writing to let you know about our project to upgrade our gas network around Buckhurst Way, East Grinstead. We are replacing our old metal gas mains and services with new plastic pipe. This essential work will ensure your community continues to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.
In consultation with West Sussex County Council, our contractor, WCB Utilities, will start work on 11 April for approximately twenty-three weeks. The work will be completed in the phases listed below.
Lowdells Lane/Sackville Gardens/Lowdells Close
We will start work in the roads listed above on 11 April. In order to safely access our network of pipes we will need to close Lowells Lane at the junction with Sackville Gardens to outside Bevere Cottage and at the junction with Windmill lane for approximately three weeks. We will also be working in Sackville Gardens and Lowdells Close. Access will be maintained for residents and a diversion route will be in place.
Buckurst Mead
We will need to close Buckhurst Mead from 18 April for approximately three weeks. Access will be maintained for residents and a diversion route will be in place.
Sackville Gardens
From 25 April for approximately six weeks, we will need to close Sackville Gardens. Access will be maintained for residents and a diversion route will be in place.
We will need to return to Sackville Gardens and close the road from opposite property number 1 to outside property number 25 from 13 June for approximately five weeks.
Buckhurst Way
From 2 May for approximately twelve weeks, we will need to close Buckhurst Way. Access will be maintained for residents and a diversion route will be in place. We will also be working in Knole Avenue and King George Avenue; we will be asking vehicles to ‘give and take’ when passing the work site.
Dorset Avenue
Our engineers will be working in Dorset Avenue from the junction of Sackville Gardens to outside number 35. We will need to close the road from 13 June for approximately four weeks.
Buckhurst Close
From 4 July for approximately four weeks, we will be working in Buckhurst Close and asking motorists to ‘give and take’ past our work area. We will also be working in London Road at the junction with Buckhurst Way.
Lingfield Road/Highfield Road
We will be working in Lingfield Road at the junction of Highfield Road from 25 July for two weeks, temporary traffic lights will be installed to safely allow the traffic to flow past the work site. Highfield Road will be closed from 25 July for approximately four weeks. Access will be maintained for residents and a diversion route will be in place.
London Road
Multi-way traffic lights will be temporarily installed in London Road at the junction with Yew Lane from 12 September for three weeks.
We understand that people can get frustrated by roadworks, and therefore only use traffic management if it would be unsafe not to.