Author: Andrew Taylor
National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund is accepting applications for funding for community projects that require support through the COVID-19 outbreak.
East Court play park to remain closed
Although the Government has announced that play parks can open from Saturday 4th, it is only where the owners can comply with necessary safety measures and the Town Council is not able to do this yet. We are working on this and seeking advice, once we can open we will but please bear with us. the following advice has been issued:
- Children and parents must not interfere with closure measures where a playground remains closed. If it is closed then this will be for a good reason. Do not endanger yourself by breaching closure measures. Wait until the playground has been opened properly.
Once open:
- Maintain social distancing within the playground, according to the government’s latest advice and the signage or instruction in the playground.
- If the playground is too busy then find another playground in which to play.
- Wash your hands before entering the playground and after you have finished. Use hand sanitiser often.
We don’t know if Mid Sussex District Council are able to open their playparks yet either, so please just wait a few more days so that you can safely use the parks, please obey signage which is for your and your family’s safety.
East Grinstead Town Council reception is reopening from Monday 6th July
To ensure your safety, please follow the new guidelines. Our service remains the same and you can continue to contact us by email or telephone as we have been throughout lockdown. As the Government advice is still to work from home if you can, the office is being manned by a skeleton staff on a shift basis, the officer you may want might not be in on any given day, therefore you are advised to ring to make an appointment rather than drop in.
Visitors to our reception will see signage to help you find your way to avoid crossing in the corridors and on stairwells. Please follow the one way system in the building and maintain a 2m distance from others.
We are required to comply with the NHS Track and Trace system; All visitors to the office have to write down your name, address & contact number which we will keep for 21 days*
Do not enter the building if you are feeling unwell
Hand sanitisers will be at the entrance of East Court and in reception, please use them.
Our Reception has been fitted with a protective Screen; you must stay your side of the screen, if you are attending for a proof of life certification you will need to remove any face covering for ID to take place.
Opening hours; Reception will be open reduced hours 09:00 – 12:00 midday. You can continue to contact us between 9:00 – 16:00 Monday – Friday by phone on 01342 323636 or email us on: towncouncil@eastgrinstead.gov.uk
Public toilets are situated in the car park, there are facilities available in the building.
*our privacy and data protection statements are available here . If you are not willing to leave your contact details, please do not attend the offices in person, as this is a government requirement.
COVID-19 update from West Sussex County Council
- Most recent Government Announcements – the new guidance for social distancing to be implemented from 4 July. This included changes to the two meter distance rule, the relaxing of rules for certain shops and venues, plus changes for those in the shielding category. This is good news that many have been waiting for but we would urge everyone not to jeopardise the good progress our county has made so far in slowing the spread of the virus. Support our businesses and make the most of the relaxation, but please continue to take the necessary precautions at all time
- Bereavement support during COVID-19 – The Sussex Bereavement Helpline has been set up to provide information and guidance Please call: 0300 111 2141 (Monday to Friday: 8am to 5pm). Find out more.
- Ceremonies – WSCC Ceremonies team will restart marriage and civil partnership services from 4 July Find out more.
- Local suppliers: new listings – Do you know which organisations and shops are delivering food and other essential goods in your area? Find out here Does your business deliver essential goods but isn’t listed? Please email us and we’ll add you to our website
Community hub (COVID-19)
- Request for support
- Updates on Services
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Local suppliers and organisations
- Updates from District and Borough Councils
- Resources and data
- COVID19 Testing
- Schools and Education
- Social care, health and wellbeing
- Business and employers
- Emergency PPE requests
- Scams and fraud
Request support
Wherever you live, if your request is urgent, for example, you are going to run out of food or medicine within the next three days, please phone 033 022 27980 so that we can make sure you get the help you need as quickly as possible.
We are focused on making sure we continue to support the most vulnerable people in our community.
Four support options are currently available to residents, depending on their medical circumstances, location and needs:
- Government support – For residents identified as medically vulnerable by the NHS. Register through Link GOV.UK.
- Support from district and boroughs – For residents who do not meet the criteria for receiving direct Government support, but still need help.
- Adur & Worthing Councils – Community request form
- Crawley Borough Council – Community request form
- Horsham District Council – Community request form
- Support from the County Council’s Community Hub – The team are coordinating all other support requests across the county and arranging help.
Request support via our form (external link)
- Carer’s support – A dedicated service that offers general guidance and a provides a listening ear.
Public Rights of Way service update & info
Please note WSCC has suspended the 15 month Inspection and Maintenance Cycle, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, and is currently only taking action on Public Rights of Way where reported issues require work to ensure public safety on the network. Should any enquiries received not be of this nature it will be logged so it can be prioritised and addressed in the future when normal working practices are resumed. We are currently reviewing when we can re-start inspections in line with government guidance and ask you for your patience in dealing with issues that arise. It is also important to note that our summer clearance programme for surface vegetation has now begun on selected paths and is running between the 1st June and mid-August.
- At this time it is important to remind people that public footpaths are for use by the public on foot only and cycling on these routes is a trespass against the landowner. This unlawful use risks conflict on the paths themselves and considerable challenges for people trying to keep the necessary 2m apart whilst enjoying the countryside.
- It is also important to note that landowners are responsible for any side vegetation encroaching onto the path and any structures on the PROW network, such as stiles and gates. If appropriate to do so please contact the landowner, if known, directly to make them aware of the issue but if not you can continue to report such issues by following the link below.
- A final reminder is the need to ensure good hygiene when using the PROW network including regular hand washing along with social distancing in line with government advice.
Beat the heat: keep cool at home checklist
Improvement works on the Uckfield and East Grinstead Lines
Weekend engineering work June – July 2020
Passengers who must travel between East Grinstead/Uckfield and stations to London are being asked to check their journey plans over the next four weekends when Network Rail will undertake strengthening, repair and refurbishment work to the Oxted Viaduct.
The viaduct comprises eight arches carrying railway lines over the A25 road and the river Eden. Significant maintenance work has been planned such as steel and masonry repairs, as well as replacement of walkways.
This means lines will be closed on the following dates in June and July when train services will not run, with buses linking to Purley station:
- Sat 20 – Sun 21 June (between South Croydon and Hurst Green)
- Sat 27 – Sun 28 June (between South Croydon and East Grinstead/Uckfield)
- Sat 4 – Sun 5 July (between South Croydon and East Grinstead/Uckfield)
- Sun 12 July (between South Croydon and East Grinstead/Uckfield)
Rail replacement buses will run, or rail tickets will be accepted on suitable TfL bus routes, or on Southeastern services via Tunbridge Wells. More information on alternative arrangements is available at the planned engineering work calendar.
Further work will be confirmed for a later date.
In response to Covid-19, we are also reminding passengers to wear a face covering on all journeys, and to consider if their journey is necessary, and if they can travel another way.
Safe Reopening of the High Street
The attached image is the sign that is due to appear from next week in the Town Centre in East Grinstead, as a reminder at some of the narrower passing places in the town centre to try to keep your distance. West Sussex County Council contractors will be putting the signs up which have been purchased by Mid Sussex District Council (utilising a government grant).
Virgin Media Information Stall
