Author: Andrew Taylor

East Grinstead Town Council held its Annual Town Meeting (With Special Speaker – Dr Mark Lythgoe) via Facebook & Zoom. The meeting was a remarkable success with over 1,600 views on Facebook.

If you wish to watch or rewatch the Annual Town Meeting, please click the following link: https://www.facebook.com/egtowncouncil/videos/130894035635513

If you do not have a Facebook account, please click the following link to view on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAwoHi4dajA

The Town Council will mark the anniversary of the day that lockdown started by The Town Mayor, Cllr John Dabell, laying a wreath of daffodils and spring flowers at the Memorial Wall at Mount Noddy and just for the 23rd March a bouquet will rest on the Covid remembrance bench by the McIndoe Statue.

Nationally Marie Curie are calling for a day of reflection back over the lost year of 2020,  to take place on the anniversary of the Prime Minister placing the country into lockdown on 23rd March.  A time to collectively think back over all who have been lost or suffered at the hands of the pandemic.

The Daffodil is the emblem of the Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The Covid remembrance bench was unveiled on 24th February and has been a point for people to sit and reflect, on this reflection day the hand-tied bouquet will sit on the bench to mark the anniversary while the Town Mayor will then lay a wreath at the cemetery’s memorial wall.

The Memorial Wall at Mount Noddy is the focal point for any town-wide or national grieving, and anyone is welcome to place flowers in remembrance there at any time.

Following the Station to Statue route the monoliths and heritage panels will provide historical information and walking distances to landmarks such as the Museum,  High Street, Railway Station and Forest Way. Each sign will have a QR code (which can be scanned by a smartphone) and link you directly to a page on the Visit East Grinstead website or the Museum to tell you more about the spot.  There is also a digital map embedded on the Visit East Grinstead website which will advise of the route and the stops along the way.

The initial phase has five monoliths (the Railway Station, two on London Road, the McIndoe statue and the entrance to the Forest Way) and five heritage panels (St Leonards Park, Whitehall Buildings, Sackville House, Sackville College and McIndoe Statue).

If this is successful we will be looking to add more to this trail linking the Worth Way and adding more information about hidden historical treasures in East Grinstead. As well as fun for visitors it is hoped to encourage the Bluebell Railway users to venture into East Grinstead during their day trips. Councillor Helen Farren (Chairman of the Amenities and Tourism Committee) said “As we start to open up again, we hope this trail will encourage people to explore our towns diverse history.”

The links will all go through to visiteastgrinstead.com or the Museum website and will be maintained by the Town Council.   The Monoliths and panels will be in place by the end of April.

East Grinstead Town Council has set its budget and precept for the 2021/2022 year.  The precept, which is 0% change from last year is set to drop marginally to £88.11 per year per band D property. The annual charge ranges from £58.74 for a Band A to £176.21 for a Band H property.

Council Leader Dick Sweatman said: “the Council being mindful of the hardship and uncertainty of finances for many this year has reworked the budget to have no increase in the precept, yet still be able to deliver projects during the next year (such as space-saving in the Cemetery and upgrading some play equipment at East Court) along with the usual services include graffiti removal/public works for the County Council/civic planting/street furnishings/town events and promotions.   The Council also gives financial support to business initiatives and many local community organizations.”

The total East Grinstead Town Council band D council tax, equates to  £1.69 per week, comparing favourably with other consumer costs such as a dozen large eggs at £1.80, or a pint of beer at £3.93.

On Saturday 6th February, East Grinstead Town Mayor, Cllr John Dabell, had his vaccination at Meridian Hall in East Grinstead.  John, who is 71, is encouraging everyone when they receive their invitation to get their vaccination, to go along and not to worry as he didn’t feel a thing.  John, and District Councillor Norman Webster who coincidentally was having his vaccination at the same time, thanked all the staff and volunteers for their hard work. The Town Mayor said “It was all so simple and efficient, it was jab a dab a doo.  The clinicians and volunteers are all doing a super job. ”

The Meridian Hall is the vaccination hub for the East Grinstead Area, encompassing the East Grinstead surgeries of; Judges Close, Moatfield and Ship Street along with Crawley Down Health Centre. The Centre started vaccinations on 14th January and have (as of Saturday 6th February) vaccinated over 6,500 people with their first shot.  NHS Alliance who run the centre say that they are well on track to have offered vaccines to all residents in the top four groups (through to the over 70s or those living with chronic underlying illness) by 17th Feb. This week the centre is operating on Wednesday and Thursday, for those with appointments.

Home visits are also ongoing for those identified or identifying when contacted that they need to have a home visit to receive the vaccine. This is carried out by a different team and maybe slightly behind the Meridian Hall roll out.

The roll out will then continue with the next set of groups, while also starting the second shots by the end of March. Residents are not urged to contact their surgery to find out when they will be vaccinated but wait to be contacted.  They are also reminded never to give their bank details to anyone purporting to offer the vaccine,  there is no charge and no need for bank details to be given.