Category: News

EAST GRINSTEAD Commemorated the Battle of Britain on Sunday 15^th with a dedication to the McIndoe Memorial; followed by films and lectures at Chequer Mead. Later in the Day the Town Mayor hosted a Civic Service at St Swithun’s Church.

John Williams DL and Danny Favor Town Mayor place the Lancaster bombers in to the display during the Dedication ceremony and marking of Battle of Britain Day.   

The Town Council organised the dedication (blessing) of the statue which was unveiled in 2014 by HRH Princess Royal.   The Service was opened by the Town Mayor and short speeches followed from Air Commodore Rich Withnall (QHS) who spoke of the modern military hospital work, still drawing from the work of Sir Archibald McIndoe. He was followed by Squadron Leader Nick Olliver who spoke of the Battle of Britain and the role of the RAF, then Tom Cochrane (Consultant Plastic Surgeon to the Guinea Pigs) spoke of the club and its members.

Representatives of the Guinea Pigs were in attendance along with Bob Marchant the Clubs Secretaty.

During an anthem by the St Swithuns Church Choir, Deputy Lieutenant John Williams and Town Mayor Danny Favor placed the final two Lancaster Bombers in to the model airplane display of Lancasters and spitfires, with one single Hurricane.  There were 65 models representing 10 Guinea Pigs each, they fluttered in the slight breeze bringing movement to the display. The bright sun casting their shadows on the ground perhaps no dissimilar to the day, 79 years previously.

Following the dedication the Mayor hosted a brief reception at Sackville College and then Chequer Mead showed films and hosted a lecture during the afternoon. The Spitfire Society along with a local group of volunteers had organised this to raise funds for the society and the QVH.

The evening concluded with the Mayors Civic Service at St Swithuns, 143 guests and worshippers attended the service which included a solo from soprano Mervic Monocillo, A collection was taken for the Town Mayors Charities of the EG Streetpastors, EG First Responders and QVH Foundation.

EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL are celebrating the Town’s success at the South and South East in Bloom Awards 2019.

The awards held last Friday (13^th) proved that the hard work of the community had finally paid off when the Town as a whole was at last awarded GOLD.   East Grinstead has been awarded Silver Gilt since 2011 with the elusive Gold always just a few points away.

The entries are co-ordinated by East Grinstead in Bloom who also work hard organising Litter picks, encouraging residents to have beautiful displays in their gardens and maintaining the Compass Garden and beds at the station.  They are chaired by Town and District Councillor Julie Mockford.

Julie Mockford and Christine Mainstone receiving the Gold Award at South and South East in Bloom

Councillor Christine Mainstone (Chair of the Councils Amenities and Tourism Committee who look after the High St Beds, East Court Estate, Hanging Baskets, town wide planters and roundabouts) said “We are thrilled, East Grinstead looks so beautiful in the summer months with so many displays, private, community and civic. We knew we were worthy of the Gold, and now finally have it!”

East Court Estate, in its Sestercentennial year (250^th anniversary) and the East Grinstead Town Centre were both awarded a Silver Gilt and St Marys Church retained their Gold award and won the Churchyard category.

Congratulations are also sent to Haywards Heath were the other Mid Sussex Community who picked up awards; two Silver Gilts (Town and Western Road Cemetery).

Mid Sussex District Council has approved the sale of land at Blackwell Farm Road in East Grinstead to ensure the delivery of 10 new homes for local people in housing need.

The Council’s Cabinet met on Monday 16 September and agreed to sell the land to the Guinness Partnership for £400,000 subject to the grant of suitable planning permission.

The Guinness Partnership works in 165 local authority areas across England to provide homes for rent at prices significantly lower than those charged in the private market and on tenancy terms which offer far greater security. Any profit they make helps them to invest in and build more affordable homes.

Councillor Judy Llewellyn-Burke, Deputy Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“There is currently a serious shortage of social housing in East Grinstead for local people in housing need. The Common Housing Register has 291 people from East Grinstead on the waiting list and for 268 of those people their first choice preference is to remain in the town.

“Under the current planning system we are reliant on housing developers to provide Affordable Housing as part of their new housing schemes. However, private developers are

Mid Sussex District Council has published a Site Allocation Development Plan to identify how the Council plans to meet the District’s housing and employment needs up to 2031.

The draft Site Allocations Development Plan will be considered by the Council’s Scrutiny Committee for Housing, Planning and Community on 11 September and by Full Council on 25 September. If approved, the document will be subject to a six week public consultation from 9 October.

The Mid Sussex District Plan 2014-2031, which was adopted in March 2018, sets out in broad terms what, where, when and how development will take place in Mid Sussex up until 2031. Whilst the majority of development sites are already planned for in the District Plan, the Planning Inspector required the Council to identify more sites to ensure the housing and employment needs of the District are met.

The draft Site Allocation Development Plan Document addresses that requirement and recommends 22 housing and 7 employment sites, at locations across Mid Sussex.

Councillor Andrew MacNaughton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning said:

“The preparation of this draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document is one of the final steps we must take to finish our work on the 2014-2031 District Plan.

“Housing delivery has exceeded our forecasts over the past 18 months, which is excellent news because we can reduce the number of sites we need to allocate for housing in the Site Allocations Development Plan.

“This work is vitally important to ensure Mid Sussex can continue to demonstrate a rolling five-year housing land supply in order to protect the District from additional spectulative developments. The preparation of this Document will take several years and there will be two rounds of public consultation and an Examination in Public before it can be adopted. This is an important first step.”

Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) is consulting on proposed changes to its Council Tax Support Scheme.

Pensioners and those who are unable to work, such as people with disabilities and lone parents with children below school age, are exempt from paying Council Tax under the support scheme. However, everyone else of working age is required to make some contribution towards their Council Tax.

The Council Tax Support Scheme offers a discount that helps low income households of working age to pay their Council Tax. There are currently about 3,200 people of working age in Mid Sussex who are eligible for a Council Tax reduction under the MSDC support scheme.

Mid Sussex District Council is now required to make changes which will bring the Council Tax Support Scheme into line with the Government’s Universal Credit benefits.

“Since June 2018, Mid Sussex has been covered by the roll out of Universal Credit and this means changes to the way we calculate support levels for those people who are helped by our scheme,” said Councillor Ruth De Mierre, MSDC Cabinet Member for Customer Services.

“We’re proposing to introduce an income banded scheme for all working age applicants to ensure that weekly variations in income don’t lead to frequent changes in the amount of help claimants receive through the Council Tax Support Scheme.

“We’re hoping this proposal will make the scheme easier to understand, and to administer, alongside Universal Credit. It should also reduce the effect that changes in income can have on the Council Tax that people have to pay.”

The Council Tax Support Scheme consultation will run from Friday 6 September until Friday 1 November and online consultation forms are available at www.midsussex.gov.uk/consultation.  For people without internet access at home, paper copies and computers are available for the public to use at the Council’s offices at Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath.

For more information telephone 01444 477264 or email cts-consultation@midsussex.gov.uk

Calling all walking enthusiasts and nature lovers! Join St Catherine’s Hospice on Sunday 13 October for a challenging hike through the picturesque Sussex countryside.

Starting at a new venue, the South of England Show at Ardingly, this hike will take you through Sussex fields and past historic landmarks including; the Balcombe Viaduct, Ardingly Reservoir and Wakehurst Place Seedbank, this cross country hike will allow you to enjoy the changing colours of Autumn whilst raising funds for your local hospice.

This event is suitable for everyone – even the dog! Take part in either our family-friendly nature trail (approximately 3 miles), 6 or 9 mile routes, or the full 13 mile hike.

There will be plenty of parking, and hot food and entertainment at the end of your hike. Plus, lots of delicious cake!

Advance registration is £8 for adults (£10 on the day – registration open from 8.30am) and £5 for children. Ready to make your steps count? Gather your walking buddies and register online today!

Further information is available at www.stch.org.uk/slh.