Author: Andrew Taylor

East Grinstead ranked fourth in the country in the Feed with Confidence Awards 2018

The Feed with Confidence Awards are determined by a public vote for the venues where breastfeeding is welcomed and those needing to breastfeed are made to feel comfortable.
The awards were sponsored by Lansinoh following research that quashed misconceptions; revealing that the over 65’s were most accepting and that men were more comfortable with it than women. Witnessing a woman breastfeeding in a café restaurant or pub was uncomfortable for 46% of people.
The awards are aimed at celebrating places and people across the country who supported breastfeeding mums and were voted for by the public.

The Top 10 places in the country were:

• London
• Birmingham
• Norwich
• East Grinstead
• Manchester
• Chester
• Hessle
• Barnsley
• Bristol
• Caterham

The Town Mayor Cllr Mrs Julie Mockford said “Isn’t it wonderful, that East Grinstead is the highest placed town, proving yet again, but in a different context that East Grinstead is the town that didn’t stare. That we have cafes and public venues where mothers feel not just comfortable but welcome to feed their babies is a testament to the great town we live in.”

The Mug Tree on Ship Street was a stand out venue which advertises on social media that breastfeeding is welcome and received high praise from those who were voting.

The Town Council will be making window stickers available to public venues in the town who wish to embrace this to make sure that mums know that they are welcome to feed their child in the most natural way on the premises.

Local skateboarders, BMX enthusiasts and scooter riders in Haywards Heath can enjoy some of the best facilities in the area thanks to a brand new skate park, which has been provided by Mid Sussex District Council.

Councillor Gary Marsh, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Cabinet Member for Resources and Economic Growth formally opened the new skatepark at Victoria Park, Haywards Heath on Tuesday 20 March 2018. They were joined by local Ward Members, Councillor Anne Boutrup, Councillor Howard Mundin and Councillor Sujan Wickremaratchi.

The facility has been designed by the experts at Maverick Industries, a skater run business that has installed some of the best skateparks in the UK. It has been made of concrete to ensure users have a fast and perfectly smooth ride with plenty of flow lines to choose from.

The new skatepark design features a mix of ramp and street elements, designed to flow effortlessly together yet also function as 3 distinct ‘zones’. At the entrance is an open-plan ‘street’ area featuring a hipped bank with inset grind ledge. The central zone has a 6ft roll-in, leading to a unique, hipped box-jump, and a 6ft quarter pipe extension. Towards the rear of the site is 2 x 4ft half pipes linked by a spine ramp.

There is a circuit around the main space utilising the street bank, the roller between the spine and box jump, and the corner pockets in the transitions, which gives the feel of a ‘bowl’-type setup. The new skatepark has been designed to ensure it is suitable for all ages, abilities and disciplines, and can be shared safely by multiple users at any one time.

Councillor Gary Marsh, Cabinet Member for Service Delivery said:

“It’s fantastic to see this new skatepark completed so quickly and open in plenty of time for young people to enjoy this Easter and throughout the warmer months ahead. It’s so important that we provide modern recreational facilities that encourage young people to make the most of the wonderful outdoor spaces we have in Mid Sussex.”

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, cabinet Member for Resources and Economic Growth added:

“This skatepark is going to serve the local BMX and skater community well for many years and I’m delighted that so many of them got involved at the design stage to help us shape the wonderful facility we have here today.”

For more information about parks and open spaces in Mid Sussex contact the Mid Sussex District Council Landscapes Team on 01444 477439 or email parksopenspaces@midsussex.gov.uk.

Please note that the meeting of North Mid Sussex County Local Committee that was to have been held on the 1 March has been rescheduled to 7 pm on Wednesday 21 March. The meeting will be held in East Grinstead Library, 32-40 West Street, East Grinstead, RH19 4SR.

You are invited to an event from 6pm, prior to the Meeting, to speak to Officers about proposed changes to the way that the Council will deliver community funding, using a crowdfunding model.

IN a regular feature on the Town Council website, we will be remembering, on the anniversary of their deaths, the East Grinstead soldiers who died during WWI,  and who are named on the High Street War Memorial.

This month we recall (as recorded on The Roll of Honour website):

James Alfred ALDERTON

Lance Corporal G/17766 7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 12th Division.

Killed in action near Aveluy Wood during the March Retreat 27. 3.18.

Born in India and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Pozieres Memorial MR. 27.

Francis James COOPER

Private G/21791 10th Battalion, The Royal West Surrey Regiment. 41st Division.

Killed in action 26. 3.18. Aged 25. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Cooper of “The Rocks” Ashurstwood.

Born in Slough, Bucks and enlisted in East Grinstead. Formerly with the Northamptons.

Commemorated on The Arras Memorial MR. 20

George Samuel HINVEST

Corporal 132117 197th Siege Battery The Royal Garrison Artillery

Killed in action during the March retreat 23. 3.18. Aged 36 Husband of Mrs. Louisa Hinvest of 3, Jellicoe Avenue, Gravesend, Kent.

Born in Eastleigh, Hants and enlisted in Gravesend Connection with East Grinstead, unknown.

Buried Mindel Trench British Cemetery, St. Laurent-Blagny F. 729

Walter MARTIN

Private G/2380 8th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 18th Division.

Killed in action 22. 3.18.

Born in East Grinstead and enlisted in Guildford Surrey.

Commemorated on The Pozieres Memorial MR. 27

Josiah Garland W.M. J.A. WRIGHTON

Private TF/200628 9th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 24th Division.

Killed in action during the March Retreat 24. 3.18. Aged 23. Son of Alfred and Martha Wrighton of 3, Florence Villas, Torr Park, Ilfracombe, North Devon.

Born in Ilfracombe and enlisted in Horsham. Included on Ilfracombe War Memorial. (4th Batt. SDGW Part 40.)

Commemorated on The Pozieres Memorial MR.27.

Mid Sussex District Council has successfully prosecuted a private hire driver who was operating illegally in the District.

Mr Raja Masood from London Road Crawley was prosecuted for plying for hire without a Hackney licence, which meant his vehicle was uninsured. Mr Masood was found guilty at Brighton Magistrates Court on 8 January 2018.

Mr Masood is a Private Hire driver licensed by Wealden District Council. As a private hire driver he can only take passengers that are pre-booked, otherwise he is plying for hire and his vehicle insurance would not be valid for that trip.

A Mid Sussex District Council Licensing Officer witnessed Mr Masood dropping off a customer at East Grinstead Railway Station; he then picked up another member of the public. Enquires by the Licensing Team revealed that this customer was not pre-booked.

Mr Masood was interviewed and admitted that the passenger was not pre-booked. He was prosecuted by Mid Sussex District Council, six penalty points were added to his Driving Licence and the Council was awarded total costs of £1500.

“Mid Sussex Council takes passenger safety very seriously,” said Councillor Norman Webster, Cabinet Member for Community. “The laws and licensing standards that we enforce are in place to ensure that passengers are safe.

“People should be aware that if they use private hire vehicles without booking in advance then the vehicle will not be insured if an accident occurs.

“Each vehicle is required to have its licence on display and drivers invariably carry identification, which passengers can inspect. Residents can help by checking the taxi or private hire vehicle they are using to make sure it is fully licensed by the District Council. If you suspect something is wrong, contact our Licensing Team on 01444 477344”.

Over 80 local children attended an afternoon of sport and recreational activities at Court Bushes Recreation Ground, Hurstpierpoint on Thursday 15 February.

The Skatefest event brought the local skater community together to show off their freestyle tricks. A live DJ kept the tunes flowing throughout the afternoon and offered DJ workshops so young people could have a go for themselves.

There was a range of other activities for younger children to enjoy with a Fire Engine, bouncy castle, basketball coaching and the chance to learn some circus skills with the help of trained circus performers.

The Skatefest event was organised to provide positive activities for young people to take part in during the half-term holidays. The activities were arranged by Mid Sussex District Council with support from Clarion, West Sussex County Council, Places for People Leisure, West Sussex Fire & Rescue and the local Co-op in Hurstpierpoint, which donated fresh fruit for the children to enjoy.

For more information about community events in Mid Sussex contact Regina Choudhury, MSDC Community Development Officer on 01444 477495 or email regina.choudhury@midsussex.gov.uk