Author: Andrew Taylor

On 17 May East Grinstead Town Mayor Danny Favor attended a leaving dinner celebration organised by the  East Grinstead  Catenian Circle at Sweetwoods Golf Club for Fr Steven Purnell. The Catenians are an association of Catholic laymen who are committed to their Faith, their families, to those in need and to each other. The primary purpose is to establish a network of friends, which enhances their family life, strengthens their Faith and sustains them in difficult times. They support each other, the Catholic Church, young people and those in need.

The East Grinstead Town Mayor will lay a wreath on Thursday 6th June at 11 am at the High Street war memorial.  Please join us for 1 minutes silence to remember the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings  The traffic in the High Street will be temporarily paused for the silence.

Following meetings with the Chief Constable and the Local Policing Commander, East Grinstead Town Council are delighted that officers from the prevent team of Mid Sussex Police are once again working out of the Police Hub based at Chequer Mead.

The changed structure nearly 18 months ago saw all staff working out of Haywards Heath or Crawley stations, but following discussions and wishing to address the public concerns and perception over lack of police presence this has now been reversed to allow staff based in East Grinstead for community engagement to work from East Grinstead.

2 PCSOs will be based here reporting back to Insp Pete Dommett but visible and engaging with the community once more.

Chairman of the Public Services Committee Cllr Julie Mockford said “We are really pleased that the Police have listened to our concerns, reflecting the public feedback that the visibility of the Police in the town needed improving. We are hopeful that with the officers working from here the low level lawlessness of ASB, and open cannabis smoking can be addressed”

Conservative Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards was elected as the new Leader of Mid Sussex District Council at a meeting of full Council on Wednesday 22 May 2019, becoming one of the country’s youngest Council Leaders.

The leadership position was vacant after former leader Garry Wall decided not stand for re-election to Mid Sussex District Council.

At the meeting, Councillor Judy Llewellyn-Burke was appointed as Deputy Leader of the Council.

The following Cabinet Members were confirmed at the meeting:

• Cabinet Member for Community – Councillor Norman Webster
• Cabinet Member for Customer Service – Councillor Ruth de Mierre
• Cabinet Member for Economic Growth – Councillor Stephen Hillier
• Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery – Councillor John Belsey
• Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning – Councillor Andrew MacNaughton

Councillor Colin Trumble was elected as Chairman for the next civic year and Councillor Margaret Belsey was appointed as Vice Chairman.

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“Having lived in Mid Sussex all my life, I am delighted to have been elected to lead the District Council and grateful for the confidence that Councillors have shown in me. I am committed to public service and will work hard to make a positive difference for local residents, our towns and villages.

“The number one priority of my team and I is to deliver on the manifesto commitments we made in the local elections. This includes providing well run local services, protecting and enhancing the environment, supporting the local economy, working with the Government to get the sixth form college open and securing the biggest upgrade in our district’s infrastructure for a generation. We will ensure the Council’s finances are well managed, remembering that every penny spent belongs to the taxpayer.

“Mid Sussex is a fantastic place to live and work and the new Council will do everything it can to continue improving our district”.

Polling stations for the EU elections will open at 7am on 23rd May and close at 10pm; voters are urged to check their polling station on their poll cards. Postal voters cannot vote at the polling stations as their ballot paper has already been issued, but can hand in completed postal vote packs to a polling station.

Across the District 75 polling stations will be open for residents to vote in the EU elections. The polling stations are the same as those at recent local elections with the following exceptions:

Burgess Hill, Victoria – moving back to the Cherry Tree Centre (from the Kings Centre).

Lindfield voters – those who normally vote at King Edward Hall will instead find their polling station at Lindfield Evangelical Free Church.

East Grinstead – voters who normally vote at Halsford Park School will instead vote as St Peter’s Primary School. Halsford Park School is not available for this election.

Voters are not required to bring ID to vote in this election but please bring your poll card along if possible as it helps speed up the process at the polling station.