Author: Andrew Taylor

CHURCHES Together has organised a free CAP money course for anyone who would like to improve their budget management whether they have lots of experience or none at all.

It does not include how to manage debt, but anyone who has attended the course, is welcome to access CAP Money Plus, which through an internet based counselling service and face-to-face counselling (if required), can help a person to pay off their debts.

The course is FREE and will help anyone who wishes to learn how to plan and manage their budget effectively. It uses a simple cash-based system to help a person get more in control of their finances, so they can budget, save money and reduce/prevent debt.

For more information please see https://capuk.org/i-want-help/cap-money-course.

Churches Together hopes to run an open course on a regular basis, and is also considering how to facilitate custom-designed courses to meet the needs of specific community groups including local churches, schools and societies.

Any community group who would appreciate a free course run specifically for them, can contact organiser Ian King on 01342 458633.

CAP Money Course Information

IF you missed the Fab Four first time around, there’s a chance to recapture the magic of the Mersey beat on February 13 when the Upbeat Beatles come to Chequer Mead.

Four supremely talented performers in their own right, the Upbeat Beatles go on a Magical Mystery Tour of the songs that changed a generation, with 13 guitars and five costume changes.

The veteran tribute band have played for the Jordanian Royal Family, Hollywood film actor Michael Douglas, the Prime Minister of China and, more recently, The Lord Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who said afterwards “That’s the first time anyone has ever actually danced at this annual function…”

Time: Thursday 13 February at 7.30pm
Tickets: £17.50
Pavilion Café: Pre-theatre meals are available for this show. To book a table, call 01342 324860.

This article and attached Frequently Asked Questions sheet seeks to inform you about the preparation of a new Minerals Local Plan for West Sussex.

The adopted West Sussex Minerals Local Plan (2003) includes strategic and development management policies; it also allocates sites for sand and gravel extraction.  The adopted Plan is now out-of-date.  In addition, the need for a new Local Plan is a requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework.

In May 2011, the County Council agreed to prepare a new Minerals Local Plan (MLP) for West Sussex in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority.  A commitment to produce the MLP is set out in the County Council’s approved Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (the statutory management plan).  Work on the new MLP has not progressed until recently as the priority has been to prepare the West Sussex Waste Local Plan, which is nearing adoption.

The new MLP will set a strategy for mineral development to 2031, safeguard resources, allocate sites considered suitable for the production of minerals, and include a range of land use-specific and generic policies to manage future mineral development.  The allocation of sites is important as it provides communities and the minerals industry with certainty about where mineral development can take place.

Work on the new MLP has commenced by gathering technical evidence which will be used to inform the emerging Plan.  The timetable for the development of the MLP is set out below.

Key Stage	When
Begin evidence gathering	Autumn 2013
Early Engagement on Mineral Planning Issues	Winter – Summer 2014
Public consultation on Draft MLP following approval by the Cabinet Member & South Downs National Park Authority	Autumn 2014
Public consultation on Proposed Submission MLP following approval by County Council & South Downs National Park Authority	Autumn 2015
Submission of MLP to Government	Winter 2015
Examination in public	Spring 2015/16
Public consultation on Modifications following approval by County Council & South Downs National Park Authority	Autumn 2016
Adoption by County Council & South Downs National Park Authority	Winter 2016

The County Council and South Downs National Park Authority are committed to listening to customers and ensuring that the diverse needs of our communities are taken into consideration throughout the decision making process. To that end, we will be actively seeking your views or the views of those you represent during the MLP preparation process, particularly at the consultation stages highlighted in the timetable above.

Please contact the Planning and Transport Policy Team on 01243 642118 or email the team via mwdf@westsussex.gov.uk

CLLR Danny Favor and his wife Maribel represented East Grinstead’s Filipino community at a rally held in Trafalgar Square on 12 January.

The event was organized by the Philippine Jury Campaign (Philjury) and the Philippine Embassy in London, and attended by Filipino-British community members, Ambassador H.E. Enrique Manalo and his staff, representatives of the UK Government and the office of the Mayor of London, and Matthew Warnock-Parkes of the Disaster and Emergency Committee (DEC).

“The event highlighted the sincerest appreciation of the Filipino People to the government and people of the UK, and the world, for unselfishly and whole-heartedly extending their assistance and support to the Philippines in response to the devastation caused by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda),” said Danny.

The occasion included remembrance and prayers for all the unfortunate victims of the calamity, and their families.

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TOWN Clerk Julie Holden (below left) attended the formal opening of new play equipment at Mount Noddy when it was opened by Cllr Pru Moore, the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability at Mid Sussex District Council.

The new ‘adventure’ equipment links to form an obstacle course which passes over grass mounds and ends with a Tarzan swing, via netting, rope bridges and stepping stones which enable children to go from one item to another without touching the ground.

The upgrade to the play area – which also has a roundabout, slides, springers and swings, included extra monkey bars after a consultation with parents who said they were very popular with chldren using the site.

Extra outdoor gym equipment has also been installed to help adults improve their health and fitness levels. It is hoped that the equipment, which is free to use, will encourage more grown-ups to take regular exercise.

“I’m so pleased with the way this new playground has turned out,” said Councillor Moore. “The swing, rope bridges and monkey bars will give local children lots of new ways to play and the natural look of the new adventure equipment helps it to blend in nicely with the surrounding area.

“The weather may be pretty rotten at the moment but that’s the beauty of making these improvements during the autumn and winter months. We have got all the work done while it’s quiet and the new equipment will now be ready to go when things brighten up in the spring.”

* For more information about parks and playgrounds in Mid Sussex visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/openspaces.

TOWN Mayor Margaret Belsey has presented cheques from the Town Council to five of East Grinstead’s sports clubs.

Margaret, third from the left, is pictured below with (left to right) Jacqui Russell of the Felbridge Amateur Boxing Club, Neil Watts from The Meads FC, Steve Love representing the St Hill Blue FC, Andy Hayes who belongs to the East Grinstead Cricket Club and Ben Knight from Chartham Golf Club.

Each received £240 cheque for their organisation following the awards at the Finance and General Purposes committee in December.

AFTER its highly successful inaugural competition last year the Mid Sussex Battle of the Bands competition is back.

Promising to be bigger and better than ever, it is jointly promoted by Hereward Kaye of Rok Skool and Robert Eggleston of Snowdrop Music with strong backing from Freedom Leisure.

Download the flyer here

The competition is being opened up to a wider pool of local talent this year with four categories which will cater for solo artists as well as bands.

Soloist categories are:
11 – 16 year olds
17 and over

Bands (two or more members) are for:
11-16 year olds
17 – 21 year olds

To be eligible, soloists must live in Mid Sussex and the bands must have at least one member living in Mid Sussex.

The winners in each category will get three opportunities to perform at live gigs as well as a trophy and cash prize.

Applications close on Friday 14 February 2014. Auditions will be held on Friday February 28 February and Saturday 1 March with four successful finalists from each category going through to the final.

The final of Battle of the Bands will be in the Martlets Hall on Friday 14 March 2014 when 8 bands and 8 soloists will compete to be the District’s top young performers.

Application forms are available by email from snowdropmusic@talktalk.net and more information can be found on the Battle of the Bands website at www.battleofthebandsmsx.com

For more information contact Robert Eggleston at snowdropmusic@talktalk.net or ring him on 0794 779 2033.

Mid Sussex District Council has announced by-elections for the Town North Ward of East Grinstead Town Council and the Crawley Down Ward of Worth Parish Council. The by-elections will be held on Thursday 13 February and nominations are now being sought.

The by-elections will be held to fill two vacant positions, one seat on East Grinstead Town Council and one seat on Worth Parish Council. The candidates for the election are yet to be determined and nominations can be made until 12 noon on Friday 17 January 2014.

The by-elections only concern registered electors in the Town North Ward of East Grinstead and Crawley Down Ward of Worth Parish Council; residents living in other areas of Mid Sussex will not be eligible to vote.

Any residents who wish to vote in the forthcoming elections but have not yet responded to the annual canvass of electors must submit a voter registration form without delay. The form can be downloaded from the Council website at www.midsussex.gov.uk.

Guidance about being an election candidate and the various election procedures is available online from the Electoral Commission at www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

For any questions regarding nominations, voter registration or the electoral process then contact the Mid Sussex District Council Electoral Services team on 01444 477003.

THE town museum in Cantelupe Road is available for private hire as a venue to host meetings and receptions.The facilities on offer include lavatories and a small kitchen area with a fridge, sink and kettle.

For further information contact the museum on 01342 302233 or email info@eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk.