THERE will be free parking in East Grinstead’s short stay car parks on Friday 16 December after 3pm.
Shoppers will be able to stay all day in the town’s long term car parks for a £1 on December Saturdays up to Christmas.
Author: Andrew Taylor
East Grinstead wins Google eTown award
Google UK saluted East Grinstead’s internet savvy companies who have boosted the town into the nation’s top 20 towns with the highest rate of growth through the Internet.
Statistics show that local businesses are turning to online opportunities to drive growth during the present difficult trading conditions. East Grinstead came in 16th with almost 24% growth in 2010 to 2011.
Accepting the Google e Town trophy, Town MP Nicholas Soames said. “East Grinstead will be proud of its Google eTown award – I hope that this award encourages other local businesses to get on line and grow online.”
Town Council Tourist Information Officer Simon Kerr also reported a huge surge in enquiries on the Town Council Accommodation web pages “We have thousands of visits through the year and new visitors forming around 70% of those viewing our pages during the last 12 months”
Townsfolk rejoice, the Christmas lights are back again
Unlike many neighbouring towns East Grinstead’s Christmas lights remain undimmed this year thanks to the efforts of the voluntary fundraising that pays for the bulk of the costs.
The hard work of erecting the cabling and displays is always undertaken in early November, but the lights are not switched on until after the Remembrance commemorations after the 11th of the month.
Bluebell Railway “The Big Give”
The Bluebell Railway still needs just under a million pounds to complete the extension to East Grinstead. As part of their fund-raising, they have been accepted for the Reed Foundation’s "Big Give" Christmas Challenge which enables them to obtain some match funding for the extension.
What they have to do is raise £30,000 in 5 days (starting at 10am on 5th December) through the Bluebell’s page on the Big Give web site. Any donation made in that week will be matched POUND FOR POUND by a combination of their major supporters and the Big Give’s sponsor funds.
If you are eligible for Gift Aid as well, this will, for example, turn a £10 donation into £22.50 for the extension project.
Do you use these bus routes?
- 270 East Grinstead Mon – Sat
- 271 Crawley – Haywards Heath Mon – Sat
- 281, 291 Crawley – East Grinstead Mon – Fri
- 601, 619 Storrington – Rydon School Schooldays only
- 684 East Grinstead – Crawley Schooldays only
West Sussex County Council are currently considering reducing or removing subsidy to these routes. They therefore need to hear your views if you are a user of the bus. To date the services that have been affected in phase one and two of the three phase review mostly centre around late evening, early morning or weekend services. The County Council is keen to ensure that the most used and necessary services remain funded and in place. The County Council are also keen to point out that even though they may remove subsidy this does not necessarily mean that services will be reduced as this is the decision of the bus operator.
If you have a view as to the services above you should tell West Sussex County County what you think. They are conducting surveys between 23rd November and 17th January. A web survey is available at www.westsussex.gov.uk/buses If you would like paper copies of the survey or alternative formats phone 01243 642105 or email buses@westsussex.gov.uk.
Further information on the routes affected by Phases 1 and 2 can be found at www.westsussex.gov.uk/buses
2 minutes silence for Remembrance Day
Additional Grit Bins Installed By Town Council
In preparation for the forth-coming winter the Town Council has purchased and installed 6 new grit bins; this bring the total number of bins around the town to 57. The new bins are located at:
- Kipling Way junction with Sheridan Place
- Oakhurst Gardens
- Browns Wood
- Elizabeth Crescent junction Greenestede Avenue
- The Dell
- Estcots Drive
It must be stressed that this grit is for use on the public highway and footpaths, should residents require to purchase salt or grit for their private use they should contact local builders merchants.
Wintery conditions are snow joke, so be prepared!
With weather forecasters predicting another cold winter, Mid Sussex District Council is encouraging residents to be prepared for snow and ice again this year.
The Government’s Chief Scientific Officer suggests that severe wintery weather is likely to become more common in the future and is advising residents to ‘Get Ready for Winter’. The Government has launched a new website www.direct.gov.uk/getreadyforwinter to provide practical advice about how to plan for winter and how residents can help themselves and the wider community when severe weather arrives.
The Government provides practical advice about clearing snow and ice from around properties such as:
- If possible, clear snow when it’s fresh as it’s easier to move
- Do not use hot water on snow or ice, as it can re-freeze making conditions more hazardous
- Apply salt sparingly – as little as a tablespoonful can treat as much as a square metre of ice
- Sand, grit or ash can be used but it will not melt snow or ice, it will simply provide more grip.
Residents may also wish to stock up with fuel oil as well as with non-perishable foods in case of emergency and it is wise to secure all loose objects outside the home and regularly check the roofing. When snow arrives, only travel by car when it is absolutely necessary but if the journey is unavoidable, then take warm clothes, food, boots, a torch and spade. Try to wait until the roads have been gritted before travelling and let someone know your route and when you’re expected to arrive.
In icy and snowy conditions, West Sussex County Council is the local authority responsible for gritting the roads and Mid Sussex District Council is working closely with the Town and Parish Councils to ensure the areas’ needs are recognised by the County Council. The District Council treats its key car parks and footpaths in highly used areas to make them as safe as possible for the community.
“When heavy snow falls it is inevitable that there will be some disruption, but as residents we can do our best to keep it to a minimum by being prepared and helping each other,” said Councillor Christopher Snowling, Cabinet Member for Health and Community. “There is no law to stop us from clearing snow and ice from the pavement outside our property, pathways to our houses or other public spaces.
“As long as residents use common sense and are careful not to make the surface more dangerous than it was before then they are free and encouraged to help out. Clearing the snow at the front of your house may seem like a small step, but if we all do it then together we can quickly get our communities moving again after heavy snow.”
To find out more about being prepared and planning for emergencies, please visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/emergencies to read the Council’s ‘Guidance for Severe Weather’ and the ‘Emergency Plan’.
In the event of severe weather, Mid Sussex District Council will provide up to date messages on the www.midsussex.gov.uk website, or residents can visit the www.direct.gov.uk/getreadyforwinter pages for more information.
Cut price Christmas parking
THE cost of staying in East Grinstead’s long-stay car parks will be reduced by Mid Sussex District Council on December Saturdays as a goodwill gesture in the run-up to Christmas.
The special tariff of £1 to park all day will be introduced on 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th December. Charges on other days will remain the same.
Special tariffs will also apply on the same days at the long-stay car parks in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.
Olympic Torch coming to East Grinstead
EAST Grinstead has been chosen as one of the towns on next year’s historic round-Britain tour of the Olympic Torch.
The torch will leave Land’s End on 19 May, one day after the flame arrives from Greece, and will then be carried by 8,000 “inspirational torch bearers” on a 70-day journey of celebration around the UK.
Town Clerk Julie Holden called East Grinstead’s inclusion on the torch route “an iconic moment in the town’s history, which will live on in the memory of everyone who witnesses it ”.
Full details have yet to be released, but the torch will pass through the town on 17 July.
The public will be invited to line the route, after which local school children will be invited to take part in a sports event at East Court.
Deputy Mayor Liz Bennett, who as next year’s Town Mayor will perform the official welcome, said she was thrilled at the prospect of taking part in such an historic event.
“The Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic Games will make next year one to remember for all of us, and I will be proud and honoured to represent the town during the events planned to mark both these landmark occasions.”
The torch, which is is being made by east London designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, will travel for 12 hours a day, for 70 days, before arriving at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony.
Thousands of people throughout the UK will have the chance to cheer it on its way, along a route which will be marked by concerts, shows and other celebrations.
Of the 8,000 torchbearers, 7,200 will be chosen from among people nominated by the public, and half the places are expected to go to young people between the ages of 12 and 24.
The origins of the Olympic torch relay go back to ancient Greece, when messengers were sent out from Olympia to announce the competition dates and call for a halt to all wars during the Games.
The relay was revived at the 1936 Berlin Games, and since then has grown into a popular curtain-raiser to the sporting events.
For the modern Olympic Games, the flame is lit in Olympia from the Sun’s rays using a parabolic mirror and then taken on a relay around Greece before going to the country hostingthe Games.
