Category: News

Local businesses are being urged to ensure their premises are sufficiently protected during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Sussex Police believe there could be an increase in organised acquisitive crime across the county – including burglaries of business premises – and have increased police patrols and proactive targeting of known local criminals.

Officers are also advising residents to make sure that their valuables are secure, especially as warmer weather may well result in opportunistic crooks taking advantage of properties left insecure.

You can find crime prevention advice for protecting your business from the inside out and keeping high value items safe at home on the Sussex Police website.

Detective Chief Inspector Alasdair Henry, burglary prevention lead for Sussex Police, said: “We take burglary very seriously. Staff across the force are working hard to prevent an increase in burglary and we are ready to respond to any spikes in such criminality.

“We are urging business owners to ensure that they have sufficient and robust security features in place and that they are in full working order. Security cameras should be checked and owners need to make sure that any service doors are both secure and locked. Don’t store cash in premises whilst they are closed.

“Owners of high value jewellery are encouraged to ensure it is securely locked away in the house, ideally in a safe or similar secure storage, rather than being left in drawers or cupboards. Residents should ensure that doors to their homes are kept locked, especially overnight, but also when they might be out enjoying their gardens, and that they have measures in place to keep their residence secure.

“It is vital that we all work together to disrupt organised crime and prevent opportunistic burglaries. Our Sussex Police website provides some excellent detailed advice on how to protect your property from crime.

“Please do not hesitate to report suspicious activity to us. This includes reporting people trying to sell items that you suspect are stolen. If you have any information concerning burglary or people selling stolen goods please get in touch with us immediately online or by calling 101. You can also report anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“In an emergency, such as a crime in progress, please dial 999.”

Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner said: “It is important to remember at this time that, whilst our police officers are having to provide support to protect the capacity of the NHS, they are still committed to protecting our communities because criminals are not staying at home.

“As many businesses have been forced to close due to the ‘lockdown’, the vacant premises are more vulnerable to being targeted by criminals seeking to make a profit from this pandemic. So, I’m urging business owners to heed the preventative advice that Sussex Police have released today and take simple measures to better protect themselves and their livelihood.

“The police are still there for us when we need them most, so if you see something suspicious or have been a victim of any crime type, please still report.”

Communities can work together to prevent crime. By joining an existing Neighbourhood Watch scheme or becoming a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, your community can be stronger together.

Along with East Grinstead Emergency Action Group is being co-ordinated by the Town Council / the Mug Tree via our switchboard number (0342 323636) you can pay for shopping by card over the phone or bank transfer, only if necessary for you and being your choice will we take cash.   All our volunteers have ID and will leave your shopping on the doorstep and ring the doorbell we will not enter your home for any reason.

Please stay safe.

Easter will be a difficult time this year as we move through the Covid-19 pandemic. Separated from friends and families at a time we are used to togetherness and celebration. For regular church-goers this will also present challenges as services are now no longer available to a physical congregation. As more and more of us stay connected through a digital world, East Grinstead Churches have moved online to bring their services directly to their parishioners.

Here are the ones we have heard of so far:

Catholic

• www.churchservices.tv
• Worth Abbey Mass services (Audio only for Good Friday and Easter Sunday service) and Arundel Cathedral. Live streaming on YouTube

Church of England

• St Swithun’s East Grinstead
• St John’s Felbridge
• Trinity Methodist Church East Grinstead

In line with the government’s official guidance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 we have temporarily closed some of the park’s services.

The following closures have been put in place to safeguard you:

• East Court play equipment
• East Court Toilets

East Court’s open space is crucial for exercise and mental wellbeing but you must stay at least 2 metres away from other people at all times.

• You can go to a park for exercise, but you must stay at least 2 metres away from other people at all times.
• The open space should be used for daily exercise only.
• You should only go outside alone or with members of your own household. Team sports, social activities should not be taking place as gatherings of more than two have been banned.

Measures announced over recent weeks to tackle the coronavirus have seen people’s day-to-day life drastically alter. These changes are essential to beat coronavirus and protect the NHS, but are requiring families to spend unusually high amounts of time together at home.

The economic effects of the pandemic are also causing hardship, anxiety and placing additional stress on individuals and families.

The government acknowledges that the order to stay at home can cause anxiety for those who are experiencing or feel at risk of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is unacceptable in any situation, no matter what stresses people are under.

Domestic abuse is more than physical violence. It can also include, but is not limited to: coercive control, economic abuse, online abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and/or sexual abuse.

If you or anyone you know is worried about or experiencing domestic abuse, services remain open and we have extended the availability of specialist help, support and advice on the following telephone number.

Call Worth Domestic Abuse Service: 0330 222 8181 (Monday to Friday, 9am- 5pm) or 07834 968539 (weekends, including Bank Holidays, 9am – 5pm)

Please see the following link which provides information about what you need to do if you need urgent police help through the silent 999 service.

Dear residents,

Over the last few weeks all of us have experienced change which could never have been predicted. We have all had to adapt to protect ourselves and others, and some people – including NHS and many local government workers – have had to step up to help others in extremely difficult circumstances.

I want to thank everyone for playing their part in the fight against coronavirus, and this includes everyone who is staying at home to help prevent the spread of the disease.

With the warmer spring weather looking like it’s set to stay, I know how tempting it can be to get outside. Many of us are lucky enough to have private outdoor space we can enjoy. But for many others a daily walk, run, or bike ride in their local area will be the only chance they get to enjoy the outside environment.

If you are planning to venture out for your one form of exercise a day, please remember to adhere to the current government advice and stay at least two metres away from people who are not from your household.

Where possible please start and finish your exercise from home, using nearby greenspaces and don’t travel unnecessarily. Be careful when walking out and about and stick to designated footpaths, obeying the rules of the countryside. Don’t forget to thoroughly wash your hands when you get home.

For more advice on the current situation please visit our website.

I wish you all a safe and peaceful Easter and ask that you spare a thought for the many colleagues and partners who will be working hard over the weekend to care for our residents.

Mid Sussex District Council will pause garden waste collections from Monday 13 April to protect staffing levels for the collection of rubbish and recycling.

As part of our national response to the COVID-19 emergency, the collection of rubbish and recycling is an essential service and must be maintained in the interests of public health. The Council has therefore paused the collection of garden waste to focus on the collecting of rubbish and recycling.

The garden waste service will be paused initially for a period of 12 weeks, at which point the situation will be reviewed, with a view to resuming the service as soon as is practically possible. The Council will contact all customers to inform them when collections will resume.

To ensure that nobody is financially disadvantaged by the suspension of the garden waste collection service, the Council will add time onto the end of each subscription period to cover the number of collections missed.

Councillor John Belsey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery said:

“The Council is responding to a national emergency and we are doing everything we can to support our residents through this very difficult time.

“Our priority is to maintain our services for as long as possible but neither ourselves as a Council nor our service provider Serco are immune to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Serco staff are having to work differently, for example through social distancing, and collections are necessarily taking longer and causing additional pressures on staffing. Accordingly, we believe it is now appropriate to suspend garden waste collections. This has not been an easy decision, but it is an essential one if we are to safeguard our rubbish and recycling collections.

“I appreciate that this suspension will be an inconvenience for many, particularly at a time when you are being asked to stay at home and are no doubt making the most of your gardens. However, it is absolutely the right decision to ensure our crews can meet the basic needs of all residents during these unprecedented times.

“With the Government’s advice to stay at home it is going to be tempting to do some gardening but please try to avoid creating any unnecessary waste until the current restrictions are lifted. If home composting isn’t an option for you, please consider delaying plant trimming and pruning until the collection resumes.

“We strongly advise against burning your garden waste to avoid causing a smoke nuisance in your neighbourhood.

“Thank you for your understanding and support.”

For more information, visit the garden waste collection page at www.midsussex.gov.uk/gardenwaste where there are answers to several Frequently Asked Questions. Anyone who is unable to find the answer to their query online should email gardenwaste@midsussex.gov.uk.

It is essential for our local economy that this money reaches Mid Sussex businesses as quickly as possible. We have today launched the process for local businesses to register for these grants if they are eligible, having received the funding and final guidance from Government in the last couple of days.

There are two separate grants available for qualifying businesses:

• Small Business Grant – businesses will receive a £10,000 grant if they were in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief on 11th March.
• Retail, Leisure & Hospitality Grant – businesses in these sectors will receive a £10,000 grant (if they have a rateable value of under £15,000) or a £25,000 grant (if they have a rateable value between (£15,000 and £51,000).

Letters are being sent to businesses we believe qualify asking them to register online and we are working with our local business associations to ensure the information reaches businesses. I would also be very grateful for your support in publicising these grants to businesses in your towns and parishes.

We intend to make the first batch of grant payments next week.

Full information and a link to the website where businesses can register can be found at: www.midsussex.gov.uk/revsandbens/business-rates/new-grants-for-business-rates/

Cllr Jonathan Ash-Edwards
Leader of Mid Sussex District Council