Author: Andrew Taylor

• Lockdown easing comes with risks of further outbreaks. To help us manage any new outbreaks in the county we have developed a ‘local outbreak control plan’ which includes details about the public health response and what actions businesses and residents might be asked to take – please take a look.
• Stay safe as pubs and restaurants reopen – Leaders from local authorities, blue light services and health have come together to urge people to stay alert to Covid-19 and avoid placing strain on local services as businesses reopen. Read more.
• More items allowed at recycling sites- From Monday (6 July) residents will be able to deposit more items at our Household Waste Recycling Sites. For full details read our release online. 
• ‘Select and Collect’ service coming to a West Sussex Library near you! – From Monday (July 6), West Sussex Library service is introducing a ‘Select and Collect’ service
• Help keep our county clean  As lockdown restrictions are relaxing more people are visiting public spaces and areas of natural beauty.  Keep our countryside, beaches and parks clean by taking a bag for your own rubbish in case you cannot find a bin, or the bin is full.
• Coronavirus updates – Visit our website for the very latest service updates. Visit the webpage.
• Birth registrations open for 2,000 West Sussex babies born since lockdown – Find out more.

Even though lockdown is easing if people still need support it is available

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.​

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)

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. 

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. 

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.

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/public-paths-and-the-countryside/public-rights-of-way/report-a-problem-with-a-right-of-way/#report-a-problem

• 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.