Author: Andrew Taylor

AS a family left homeless by a tumble dryer fire try to rebuild their lives, they are appealing to the town for some practical help to move their belongings and find a new home..

The family – a mother, grandmother, three children, one of whom is disabled, and their pet – were alerted to the tumble-dryer fire in the early hours of the morning, but although they escaped with their lives, all their uninsured possessions on the ground floor were destroyed in the blaze.

Amanda Clark, a family friend who is trying to help them find a new home, said:

The family needs more storage space. Martells have provided free storage for one month, but it’s not big enough to hold everything – and it will likely take longer than one month for a house to be provided.

Tomorrow: They need people with cars/vans to help move things from the house on Lingfield Road into storage as the landlord wants everything out by the end of Wednesday night.

By Thursday at 5pm: we need a temporary home for Alfie the dog – he’s a beautiful Staffordshire Bull Terrier and is up to date on his jabs. He lives well with teenagers and adults, but is probably too bouncy and energetic for young children/babies or older people. He does not like cats!

As soon as possible: They need a house. The family have been moved from band D to band B and are awaiting housing. They are staying with a friend at the moment, but it is cramped. The youngest son attends Manor Green School in Crawley, due to learning difficulties as a result of a brain tumour, so they need to stay within the area.

If anyone can help with any of these requests, please contact Amanda’s email alpc.campaign@gmail.com

AGE UK East Grinstead & District ran an Energy Advice Day in partnership with Rachel Gamble of Energy Base, which took place in East Grinstead Library two weeks ago.

The event, supported by the Government, was well attended, with queues developing from the outset.

It was structured to provide impartial advice to people with an emphasis on how they could save money by switching their energy supply to a cheaper tariff. Advice was also given on other ways people can receive help on their energy bills and payments, such as the Warm Home Discount which is a payment of £140 paid towards the electricity bill for those people who qualify – for example for people receiving the pension credit guarantee).

A number of people chose to switch on the day and in total an amount of £2,640 was saved between ten people. The biggest saving on the day was over £500. There was also plenty of opportunity for people to ask questions and find out more about changing energy provider, as well as dispelling some of the myths on switching.

Age UK hopes to run further events like these in the future , so look out for further information or contact Age UK East Grinstead & District on 01342 327046 if you are interested in finding out more.

THE newly launched National Plant Monitoring Scheme is the first of its kind and asks for volunteers across the United Kingdom to visit a kilometre square local to them and record the plants they find there in several different plots.

The scheme will enable monitoring of how plants in different habitats are responding to changes in the environment.

The project is jointly organised by the  Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, the Centre for Ecology, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Plantlife.

All volunteers registering for a square on www.npms.org.uk will receive a survey pack (survey guidance; species list; species guidebook)

All volunteers will  be able to access telephone and email support provided by the volunteer coordinator

All volunteers, who carry out surveys twice a year, will be able to access free training courses.

To find out more go to www.plantlife.org.uk

THE Town Planning Committee has unanimously recommended plans for the development of Hill Place Farm on the Turners Hill Road for refusal.

Chairman Cllr Bob Mainstone said: “At the East Grinstead Town Council Planning meeting on Monday 9 March the outline planning application for 200 dwellings on Hill Place farm was unanimously recommended for refusal by the committee.

“Thirty nine members of the public attended the meeting with most of the interest concentrated on the Hill Place Farm application.

“The committee members listened to several local residents who expressed their opposition to the application and many letters of objection were read out by the Town Clerk.

“Following a recommendation for refusal put forward by Herontye Ward councillor Dick Sweatman, the committee debated the application and voted to support his recommendation.

“The recommendation for refusal covered three main areas: Building outside the built up boundary of the town; the impact on the grade 2 listed Imberhorne Viaduct and countryside; the worsening impact on the local road network.”

* Full details of the recommendation are available on the Town Council web site. The recommendation now passes to Mid Sussex District Council where a decision will be made.”

SARAH Bunting, who has been PA to the Town Clerk and Mayors’ Secretary for the past 23 years retires today.

She started work at East Court on19 February 1992, and is the Council’s acknowledged expert on all matters of protocol, said town promotions officer Simon Kerr.

Her colleagues are having a toast to Sarah at East Court at noon, and then they are taking her out for lunch.

Geraldine Durrant, who is responsible for the Town Council’s PR, said ”Sarah is unflappable, competent and kind, and I am sure all her colleagues will greatly miss her.”