Author: Andrew Taylor

East Court Playground for children aged up to 12 has today opened its newest piece of playground equipment. The “Climber for All” is aimed at children aged 3-10 and has finally been opened for use.   The Town Council started putting money away in 2017 to replace the former multi use unit, then with the pandemic and then this year’s haulage shortages the new equipment was delayed until the end of October before it could be completed.

The unit has a climbing net, slide, bridge, fireman pole and an accessible climber for those with less mobility.

“This climber is excellent, it allows children of all abilities to join in and have fun.  It has been a long time coming but we are very proud to be updating our playpark with top of the range inclusive facilities”  said Cllr Dean Duly Vice Chair of the Town Council’s Amenities and Tourism Committee

Cllr John Dabell, Town Mayor was pleased to reopen this part of the playground and Darcie (pictured) who had helped to choose the type of play equipment and was the first user of it, claimed that it was “awesome and the colours are really pretty”.

Christmas is upon us once more, it’s time to roast those chestnuts and wrap those presents!  Sadly, the event couldn’t take place last year, so it’s great to be back and the East Grinstead town traders will be wrapping their windows, once again, in preparation for this year’s Big Reveal, which will coincide with the Christmas lights switch-on, taking place on Saturday 20th November. The Town Mayor, John Dabell, will switch on the Rotary tree of light at the same time as the Town Council Christmas lights, at 5pm.

This year town traders will unveil their windows simultaneously to avoid large gatherings in one location and voting for your favourite window may be slightly differently this year, so please look out for social media for announcements nearer the time.

London Road will be closed to traffic from 3pm until 5.30pm and the High Street will be closed to traffic from 3pm to 8pm.  It will be free to park in Mid Sussex-owned short stay car parks (Chequer Mead and Queens Road).  Look for signs by the pay machines.

So, come along, join in the festive atmosphere and kick-start your Christmas with the Big Reveal, late-night shopping and music from the East Grinstead Concert Band.

Four parks in Mid Sussex will proudly fly the prestigious Green Flag in 2021/22, a special year for the scheme as it marks its Silver Jubilee.

Beech Hurst Gardens and Victoria Park in Haywards Heath, St Johns Park in Burgess Hill and East Court and Ashplats Wood in East Grinstead are four of 2,127 green spaces across the UK celebrating success.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world. When a Green Flag is flying, it is a sign to the public that a park or open space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

Research carried out by YouGov for Keep Britain Tidy over the summer shows just how important parks are to the British public.

It reveals that having access to a quality park or green space helped improve people’s mental health with almost six in ten (59%) saying they felt less stressed when using the park and 55% saying they felt more positive in general. That’s why it’s important that parks are managed to the Green Flag Award standard.

The survey also showed that more than half of people (53%) visit a park or green space at least once a week and more than nine in ten (93%) think that parks and green spaces are important to their local community.

Councillor John Belsey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery said:

“It’s wonderful news that Beech Hurst Gardens, Victoria Park, St Johns Park, East Court and Ashplats Wood have all retained their Green Flag status for another year.

“Parks and open spaces have always had a special place in our hearts but the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures we have experienced have made us appreciate them even more.

“Huge credit must go to our parks and open spaces team who have worked so hard over the past 12 months to manage these parks to such a high standard and ensure they are safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy.”

Councillor Helen Farren from East Grinstead Town Council said:

“It’s great news that Ashplats Wood has retained its Green Flag status. We are privileged to have such a beautiful green open space on our doorstep that we’re able to enjoy all year round.”

Commenting on the news that four parks in Mid Sussex have achieved the Green Flag Award standard, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said:

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making these four Mid Sussex parks worthy of a Green Flag Award.”

To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that these parks have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.”