Author: Andrew Taylor

Do you know someone who helps out with sports clubs, is a green champion, puts on or supports community activities, volunteers or is vital in your community? – please take five minutes to tell us more.

Mid Sussex Applauds aims to highlight the fantastic work of individuals and organisations across the district, recognising our connections and celebrating our community. With eight categories covering a huge range of possible activities we hope to highlight great projects, work and support happening across our area.

Residents and local groups are being urged to think about who they could nominate in the follow areas –

Good Sport Award – a club or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to supporting activity or sport in Mid Sussex

Lifetime Achievement Award – an individual who has made a substantial commitment to the community in their lifetime

Young Achiever Award – against all the odds, someone who has overcome significant obstacles and made a positive difference to their own lives or to other young people through education, campaigning or helping another overcome a difficult situation or personal problem

Take Pride in Mid Sussex – This award will recognise residents who dedicate their time and energy into keeping Mid Sussex clean and green, take pride in their local area by creating community gardens, painting local spaces, upcycling or encouraging others to recycle.

Business in the Community Award – recognising a business which supports or makes a positive contribution to benefit and enhance community life

Young Volunteer of the year – recognising those young people who have made a difference in their local community

Stronger Together – an individual who has helped to bring together cultures and communities through a local project or community activity

Stronger Communities – a community group or organisation that has helped to bring together cultures and communities through a local project or community activity.

Mid Sussex District Council Chairman Councillor Colin Trumble said, “We have had a good response so far and as we are getting very close to the deadline I just want to make sure we are reaching right across the community. I would urge everyone to nominate their local stars by filling in the form online – we have made the process very straightforward and five minutes should be enough to add all the information needed. However, the deadline is approaching and we need the nominations by the end of August, so don’t put it off!”

To nominate visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/applauds

Mid Sussex District Council is urging residents that have not already responded to the 2019 electoral canvass to do so as a priority.

By law, every resident in Mid Sussex must register, whether or not they intend to vote at future elections.  So far over 72% of households have responded, a tremendous return, but it’s vital that the other 28% respond now. Final reminders have been sent to the remaining properties and doorstep canvassers are preparing to make personal visits if a response has not been received.

It is a legal requirement that every household either confirms or updates the details for their home and doing so could not be easier, with the option to respond online, over the phone and even by SMS text message. To date 65% of responses have come through digital channels.

Tom Clark, Electoral Registration Officer for Mid Sussex said:

“We want to help the residents of Mid Sussex to have their say, maintain their credit rating and ensure they do not miss out on the opportunity to vote. Registering to vote only takes a few minutes but really is important. Elections can be held at short notice”.

For more information about registering to vote or elections contact the Mid Sussex District Council Electoral Services team by emailing elections@midsussex.gov.uk or calling 01444 477003.

A couple in East Grinstead have been prosecuted after renting out a property that contained a number of serious hazards and defects.

Mr Hamedur Choudhury and his wife Mrs Roshon Choudhury let out two flats and staff accommodation above the Nizam restaurant at 42-44 High Street, East Grinstead. Environmental Health Officers from Mid Sussex District Council inspected the property in February 2018 and discovered a number of serious issues with the accommodation, including unsafe electrics, a lack of adequate heating, substandard kitchen facilities, unsafe stairs, faulty fire alarms and the majority of windows were either cracked or broken.

Mid Sussex District Council Environmental Health Officers offered to work with Mr and Mrs Choudhury to help bring their attention to the deficiencies of the property and to highlight the repair works needed to bring the accommodation up to the required standard. When the Choudhurys did not carry out any of the repair work voluntarily, they were issued with an Improvement Notice that legally required them to carry out certain improvement works. The majority of these essential repair works were not carried out and the Council took the decision to prosecute the landlords for their negligence.

On 15 August 2019 Mr Hamedur Choudhury and Mrs Roshon Ara Choudhury were found guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court of failing to comply with the terms of an Improvement Notice (s.30(1) Housing Act 2004). Additionally, Mr Choudhury was found guilty of four offences under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2016. The Magistrates’ Court fined Mr and Mrs Choudhury a total of £55,568, including the Council’s costs.

Mr and Mrs Choudhury have previously been found guilty of similar housing standards offences relating to a separate House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at Grove House in Copthorne. Horsham Magistrates’ fined them £87,996 for failing to address a number of serious defects within the property that led to damp and mould growth, excess cold, electrical hazards and fire safety issues.

“It’s totally unacceptable for landlords to expect their tenants to live in the squalid conditions our Environmental Health Officers found at 42-44 High Street, East Grinstead,” said Councillor Norman Webster, Cabinet Member for Community. “The living conditions were not just unpleasant; they actually put the safety of the occupants at risk and that clearly cannot be tolerated because people should be able to live in a safe and decent home.

“All rented accommodation must provide a safe and healthy environment for tenants and their visitors. If these standards are not being met our advice is always to inform the landlord first, to give them the opportunity to fix any problems. However, if a rogue landlord refuses to take their responsibilities seriously then we won’t hesitate to take action against them to ensure that they comply with the law.”