Author: Andrew Taylor

Town Mayor Dick Sweatman was out and about in the High Street at the weekend to witness the High Street Traders Christmas Big Reveal. Now an annual date not to be missed, shops in the High Street tease passers by with covered up shop windows until one by one the coverings are taken down and the Christmas displays are revealed.

This year there was even a splattering of snow to bring a proper seasonal atmosphere to the proceedings. As each window was revealed there were appropriate Oohhs and AAhhs from the crowd. Taking our photographs was Town Promotion Manager Dawn Spalding who was on hand to explain when a passing visitor from Lingfield was heard to ask ‘What is going on?’

So impressed was he that he vowed to bring his family to look at the windows this year and to look out for it next year. Check the results out for your self in the run up to Christmas.

Mid Sussex District Council is encouraging bargain hunters who are gearing up for Black Friday on 27 November to make sure they recycle their packaging when everything arrives in the post.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year in the UK and millions of savvy shoppers will be jumping online to try and grab the best deals when retailers announce their 24 hour sales.

Last year, UK consumers spent an estimated £810 million on Black Friday, a figure that is expected to rise to almost £1.4 billion in 2015, and online giant Ebay anticipates that 9 million British people will visit its website on Friday 27 November this year.

The number of gifts now being bought online is dramatically increasing the amount of packaging arriving through letter boxes at home. Most Amazon orders are now packaged entirely in cardboard and many other online retailers use recyclable materials for their packaging.

Mid Sussex District Council is reminding local people to recycle all the cardboard packaging from their online purchases in their blue lidded recycling bin. Residents can also recycle the moulded plastic packaging that often protects gifts such as toys, headphones and tools.

“Lots of people will be looking to grab a bargain or two when the Black Friday sale starts on 27 November and we want residents to help us recycle as much of that packaging as possible,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. “If you have more recycling than you can fit in your bin then you can leave the excess in a box alongside for collection but please only do this if the weather is dry. If it rains and the cardboard gets wet then it will cause problems at the sorting facility and won’t be recycled.”

It’s important to remember that bubblewrap, soft plastic wrappings, plastic bags and polystyrene cannot be recycled and should be placed into the black rubbish bin.

Full details of what can and cannot be placed in the recycling can be found online at www.midsussex.gov.uk/recycling.

As part of the Town Council’s annual Revenue Grants, Town Mayor Dick Sweatman presented a cheque for £100 to the Meridian Short Mat Bowls Club on Monday.  The Club’s Secretary and Treasurer Bob Lane, warmly welcomed the Town Mayor and voiced the Club’s appreciation. The Club meets every Monday afternoon at the Meridian Hall on the East Court Estate, and new members are always welcome.

Mid Sussex District Council is providing all-day town centre parking for £1 on the weekends leading up to Christmas.

The Council is supporting shoppers and traders with discounted parking on Saturdays in the towns of Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath. The £1 parking offer will only be available in long stay car parks owned by Mid Sussex District Council.

Parking in Mid Sussex is completely free on Sundays, so that’s a whole weekend of shopping for less than the price of a loaf of bread. The parking discounts will be available from Saturday 5 December at the following locations:

• Queens Crescent car park – Burgess Hill
• Station Road car park – Burgess Hill
• The Vicarage car park – East Grinstead
• Norton House car park – East Grinstead
• Franklynn Road car park – Haywards Heath

The Council is also encouraging families to visit the town centre Christmas Festivals by making car parking free after 1pm on the day of each event. In Burgess Hill children can meet The Gruffalo, Father Christmas and his real reindeer on 21 November. In Haywards Heath there’s a lantern procession and firework display on 28 November and the offer is available in East Grinstead on 5 December, with the Christmas Festival taking place the following day.

“This is the most important time of the year for local retailers and we’re showing them our support by offering town centre parking all weekend for just £1 in the run up to Christmas,” said Councillor Gary Marsh, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Property.

“You can join us and show your support for the local economy this Christmas by shopping in your local town. Popping into town is quick and convenient way to pick up gifts for friends or family and with the great range of shops we have in Mid Sussex, there’s no reason to go anywhere else.

“I hope our parking offer encourages even more people to shop locally and attracts shoppers from other areas to spend their money in Mid Sussex.”

For more information about parking across in Mid Sussex visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/parking.

From budding entrepreneurs to established owners, the West Sussex business community are being invited to attend a drop-in Business Information Session in East Grinstead.

Staff from West Sussex Libraries’ Business Information Service will be at East Grinstead Library, 32-40 West Street, between 10am and 4pm on Tuesday 1st December, demonstrating some of the services that West Sussex County Council are able to offer local businesses.

Whether you are thinking of starting a business or looking to expand, they will supply the information you need to help you along your way.

You’ll be able to find out how the council’s use of specialist databases (some of which are updated daily), printed resources and desk research can provide you a comprehensive and confidential service covering:

• Business start-up guidance
• Mailing lists
• Company information and reports
• News reports
• Guidance to sources of information

(Some of these services may require a small charge)

The drop-in session is free to attend and for more information, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/bis or call 0330 222 4744.

The Town Mayor led Cllrs, Staff, visitors and the Chair of Town Twinning  shared a minute’s silence to mark the events in Paris over the weekend.   The European flag was lowered to half mast in respect for the victims and in unity with Europe, for the duration of the silence and remains flying, all day at East Court.

6 teams competed in the Rotary Youth Speaks competition at Chequer Mead last night.  The public speaking contest had 5 entries from Lingfield Notre Dame, Sackville and Worth in the senior section and one from Worth in the intermediate section.

The judges (Brian Aps Julie Holden and Hillary Waddingham)  heard arguments on a range of topics from why video games are bad for society through to the population explosion.  The Winners were announced as Worth Team A ; Eli Barratt(chair),  Olivia Wilson (speaker) and Isabella Lee (proposer of thanks) who persuasively argued that Advertising should be regulated due its harmful subliminal effects under the title Bombarded and Brainwashed; Advertising Really Hurts.

Clive Brooks asked a question of each team from the floor and Town Mayor Cllr Dick Sweatman presented the prizes.

In announcing the winner The chief adjudicator Julie Holden said “It was a tough decision as all the teams presented confident, well researched arguments. It is greatly appreciated that the schools support this annual event, which develop skills for use later in life”

The Winners, along with the intermediary entry (Hareen Ahmed, Kitan Ojo and Jessica Piraino) also from Worth School will move along to the regional heats in February.

As temperatures reach their coldest and we’re spending most of our time indoors, there is an increased risk of fire in the home.

Some people, especially the elderly, can become vulnerable during the winter, as they struggle to stay warm.

However, there are some simple things everyone can do to help them stay safe this winter.

Heating the home

• Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
• Always unplug electric heaters when you go out or go to bed.

Using an electric blanket

Do

• Carry out a visual check of the blanket to make sure the blanket is intact with no visible signs of damage caused in transport when first purchased.
• Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions before use.

Don’t

• Use the blanket whilst it is still folded, rucked or creased.
• Use if there is damage to the flexible cord between the supply plug and the control to the blanket.

Smoke alarms

Smoke alarms are the best way to alert you if there is a fire in your home and allow you to get out in good time. Test your smoke alarm weekly, to ensure that it is still working efficiently.

Recommend a Home Safety Visit

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is urging everyone – particularly the friends, family and neighbours of older people – to recommend a free Home Safety Visit.

A Home Safety Visit involves firefighters visiting people in their home to give them fire safety advice, discuss escape routes and fit smoke alarms and other specialist detection equipment free of charge.

To request a Home Safety Visit call 0845 872 9719 or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire