Category: News

Mid Sussex District Council is reminding residents that waste and recycling collection days will change over the Christmas and New Year period.

Collection changes begin on Saturday 21 December and end on Saturday 4 January 2020.

Christmas flyers with details of collections over the festive period and other recycling information have been posted to all Mid Sussex homes in the run up to Christmas.

Householders can also access personalised information about their collection days online by entering their postcode at www.midsussex.gov.uk/collectioncalendar .

The festive collections are as follows:

Normal collection date	Festive collection date
Monday 23 December	Saturday 21 December
Tuesday 24 December	Monday 23 December
Wednesday 25 December	Tuesday 24 December
Thursday 26 December	Friday 27 December
Friday 27 December	Saturday 28 December
Monday 30 December	No Change
Tuesday 31 December	No Change
Wednesday 1 January 2020	Thursday 2 January 2020
Thursday 2 January 2020	Friday 3 January 2020
Friday 3 January 2020	Saturday 4 January 2020

There will be no garden waste collections between Monday 23 December and Friday 3 January 2020. Garden waste collections will return to normal from Monday 6 January 2020.

Householders with a real Christmas tree can recycle it in their garden waste bin as long as the lid can be closed.  Alternatively there will be temporary sites where residents can drop off real Christmas trees for recycling. These sites will be open between Saturday 28 December and Friday 10 January 2020 and locations can be found at www.midsussex.gov.uk/treerecycling.

For more information about festive waste and recycling collections visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/recycling, email wastematters@midsussex.gov.uk or call 01444 477440.

Proposals include; to make a change to the catchment area for the residents of Kilnwood Vale Development, give priority to children of staff and to give priority to children placed under a Special Guardianship Order who have not previously been in local authority care.

www.westsussex.gov.uk/schooladmissions2021-2022

The consultation will close on 31 January 2020. Responses should be sent to admissions.north@westsussex.gov.uk.

Mims Davies (Conservative Party) was elected as Parliamentary Member for the Mid Sussex Constituency following the result of the General Election on Thursday 12^th December.

The General Election results for the Mid Sussex Constituency are as follows:

• Mims Davies (Conservative Party) 33,455 votes – ELECTED
• Robert Eggleston (Liberal Democrat Party) 15,258 votes
• Gemma Bolton (Labour Party) 11,218 votes
• Deanna Nicholson (Green Party) 2,234 votes
• Baron Von Thunderclap (Official Monster Raving Loony Party) 550 votes
• Brett Mortensen (Advance Together)  47 votes

On Election Day (12 December 2019), there were 60 polling stations in the Mid Sussex constituency, which were open all day from 7am -10pm. The total number of people eligible to vote in the Mid Sussex Constituency was 85,146 and the turnout was 74%.

Full election result details are also available on the Mid Sussex District Council website at www.midsussex.gov.uk.

May 2020 will mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, the unconditional surrender by Germany that brought a formal end to World War II in Europe. By the end of the conflict up to 80 million people had died.

The 75th anniversary will provide an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people who lived through this dark and terrifying period. It is likely to be the last at which those who actually served in the war will be present in any significant numbers.

Friday 8 May 2020 has been designated as a Bank Holiday, to give as many people as possible the opportunity to pay tribute to those who gave so much to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today, and to joyously celebrate, as people did in 1945, the arrival of peace in Europe.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that the War in Europe was over at 3pm on 8 May 1945 and people are encouraged to take part in ‘The Nation’s Toast’ – an opportunity to raise a glass, wherever they are at 3pm on 8 May 2020, to the heroes of World War II.

To mark this landmark in the country’s history, the Town Council will be hosting a VE Day commemoration event at East Court on Friday 8 May, with a Mayoral Reception from 2.30pm to 4pm for East Grinstead residents who remember taking part in the VE Day celebrations of 1945. Guests will be invited to the Meridian Hall for refreshments and entertainment, where they will take part in The Nation’s Toast and share their reminiscences.

The day will have many elements, which are currently taking shape but will follow a national format. At 3pm a piper will play Battle’s O’er, a traditional air performed on the bagpipes at the end of a battle, followed by The Nation’s Toast.

From 4pm, entertainment will be provided in the Meridian Piazza and a pay bar will be available. Members of the public will be able to attend this free outdoor event.

At 6.55pm town criers around the world will take part in a special international Cry for Peace, and at 7pm East Grinstead church bells will be rung in celebration of peace and friendship.

Entertainment will continue throughout the evening, culminating in a firework display at 9pm.

Anyone with memories of VE Day 1945 who is willing to be recorded recounting their stories, is invited to apply for spaces at the Mayoral Reception by contacting the Mayor’s secretary mayorssecretary@eastgrinstead.gov.uk or 01342 335055

The Christmas Family Festival had fairground rides, charity and craft stalls and a French Market taking over the London Road. It was a very busy day and marks the last of the big town events for 2019.

Town Mayor Danny Favor arrived on the back of an open top car, to open the event with Father Christmas and the May Princess.

Whether you are on your way to visit Santa’s grotto, shopping in County Mall or going for a winter walk in Tilgate Park, children travel free on the bus every weekend in December, starting this Saturday (30 November).

The Kids Travel Free deal is for up to three children under 16 who are accompanied by an adult, including adults with concession passes, and it’s valid across the bus company’s entire Metrobus and Brighton & Hove network.

Brighton & Hove and Metrobus’ Managing Director Martin Harris said: “Kids Travel Free is a great incentive to go out and have fun and to leave the car at home. The lead up to Christmas is probably the busiest time of the year, so using public transport means less congested city centres and takes away the stress of finding a parking spot. Not only that, it’s better for the environment too.”

An extra weekend has been added this year so people can go to the Boxing Day Sales and new cinema releases.

The dates of Kids Travel Free are: 30 November & 1 December; 7 & 8 December; 14 & 15 December; 21 & 22 December and 28 & 29 December. The offer is not valid on night buses and children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information: https://www.metrobus.co.uk/kids-go-free/

After 36 years as Chairman of East Grinstead Town Twinning, Ken Averill has decided to step down. A reception was held in his honour  at the Town Council offices at East Court with over 80 people in attendance. Town Mayor Danny Favor presented Ken with a Town Shield as a thanks for his enthusiastic commitment to fostering relationships with the people of our five twin towns.

A Celebration 3 course dinner followed in the Meridian Hall. Guests included former Town Clerk – Chris Rolley and his wife Sue. Representatives from Mindelheim , included The Mayor Stephan Winter and  guests from Schwaz, Verbania and Sant Feliu.  Greetings and best wishes were sent from Bourge de Peage  who unfortunately had been unable to attend.

Many tributes were paid to Ken and many memories shared of his 36 years as Chairman of East Grinstead Town Twinning. Some very personal gifts included a beautiful stone bird bath and two stunning photo books. Particular mention was made of Ken’s wife Sheila who has supported him throughout his time as Chairman and worked so hard at his side

In true Town Twinning style local members and guests were able to ‘re kindle’ old friendships and create some very happy memories of what was a wonderful evening.

The new chairman will be Nick Hodges.

For more information on Town Twinning.

The Met Office have issued a Level 2 Cold Weather Alert from 0600 hrs 3/12/19 to 0900 hrs 5/12/19

 View the full warning at the Met Office Cold Weather Alert site.

Cold weather can affect your health. The people most likely to be affected are the elderly, the very young, and people with pre-existing medical conditions.

If you know or look after someone that may be susceptible to the effects of this cold weather period please help make sure that they stay warm and well, and if possible check in advance that they are prepared for this cold spell.

• Stay tuned in to weather forecasts
• Check room temperatures and maintain it at 18C or warmer
• Keep warm and active and if you have to go out dress warmly and wear non slip shoes.
• If you are concerned about your own health or welfare or that of others please alert the emergency services.

For more information

• Met Office Cold Weather Alert
• NHS Keep Warm Keep Well leaflet
• WSCC Dealing with extreme weather
• WSCC Preparing for emergencies
• WSCC Report a road and footway issue
• WSCC Safer Seasons: Winter
• Follow us on Twitter for regular updates @WSCCNews @WSCCResilience @wspublichealth

Please be advised that West Sussex County Council has received a request for Temporary Traffic Regulation as follows:

Road Name	Garden Wood Road
Village / Town / Parish	East Grinstead
Specific Location	Approx. 25mts west of the railway bridge with Road Closed signs to be in place either side of the closure at the nearest appropriate junctions
Type of TTRO	14.2 Road Closure
Reason for TTRO	To undertake repairs to the carriageway and footway
Proposed start date/Time	Date: 24/02/2020	Time: 09:30
Proposed End date/Time	Date: 24/02/2020	Time: 16:00
The restriction will be effective
	Day-time only     from 09:30     to 16:00
Diversion route	The alternative route for traffic will be signed on site
Access arrangements	Access maintained for emergency services ,residents and pedestrians
Applicant name	Balfour Beatty on behalf of WSCC
Applicant contact tel number	01243 642105
Any other details	For more information and diversion route please visit https://one.network/

 The application is currently being processed, please be aware that the details are subject to change.

East Grinstead Town Twinning are holding their annual Charity Christmas Raffle during their regular Saturday morning coffee sessions in December from 10-12.30   This year the local charity who will benefit is

The East Grinstead and District Association for Mental Health . Tickets on sale at £1 a strip

Coffee mornings take place in the meeting room, upstairs in East Grinstead Library, 32-40 West Street, East Grinstead RH19 4SR 01342 332900 www.egtwinning.org.uk.

During the Library Festive event on Saturday December 6th the Coffee morning will be located downstairs instead of in its usual upstairs home. Come and enjoy some of the cheapest coffee in town and some great homemade sausage rolls, cakes and mince pies.