Category: News

The East Grinstead Town Council has raised the flag of Ukraine in the High St, alongside the Union Flag and will continue to fly this during the conflict following the Russian Invasion of Ukraine’s
borders.

Many residents are asking what they can do to help, we have provided some information below.

Donations

Current Government guidance about how people can help, especially with donations can be found on the Government website.

Refugees arriving in the UK

There are a number of programmes emerging from Government to support refugees who wish to come to the UK.

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows family members of British nationals and people settled in the UK to come to the UK. From Tuesday 15 March, Ukrainian passport holders will be able to travel to
the UK without having to attend a visa application centre in advance. The Ukraine Family Scheme visa will last for 3 years.

We are aware there are a number of Mid Sussex families who this scheme will apply to and Mid Sussex Councils will provide appropriate support. In addition, the Government has made clear that people who arrive under this scheme will be able to work and study in the UK and access public funds to support them if required. You can find more information about the Ukraine Family Scheme.

There will also be a Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukrainians without any family ties to the UK and we understand that more details will be announced by Government. This scheme will allow sponsors such as charities, businesses and community groups to come forward to be matched to a Ukrainian individual or family who need refuge. There will be no limit to this scheme and those who arrive in the UK will be granted an initial 12 month leave to remain and be able to work and access public services. Further details on this scheme will be published soon with information about how people and organisations can apply to be sponsors.

We know that East Grinstead residents want to help, the best thing to do is donate through the organised charities who are already set up and on the ground in Poland and other countries. We will play our part over the coming weeks and months offering support to the refugees and making them welcome while on our shores.

West Sussex response to the conflict in Ukraine

Following the launch of the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme, We urge those residents who have already been in touch with the County Council to offer support for families or individuals, or are able to do so, to now register via the online portal.

WSCC are delivering wraparound support for those arriving under this scheme, as they are for recently evacuated Afghan families, and those who fled from other global conflicts under the current UK Resettlement programmes.

Further information, links and the dedicated email address please visit West Sussex County Council website which will be updated as new information becomes available.

• Homes for Ukraine
• Online portal to register

We are looking to see how we at the Town Council can directly help with the resettlement of refugees. If you have language skills which may be helpful please get it touch with our Community and Tourism Manager Alice Fletcher at communityandtourism@eastgrinstead.gov.uk

There are currently several groups litter-picking in the town including the Ashplats Residents Group, the TAG group and a group organised by What’s Happening in EG (Facebook Page).

East Grinstead Town Council, when asked, co-ordinate bags, gloves and pickers for these picks and we send councillors and staff to go along to them. We also arrange for the bags to be taken away. In recent times due to the pandemic and there have understandably been less litter picks. However, the Council looks to increase this as part of Keep Britain Tidy Spring Clean each year.

Bins and litter come under MSDC but we are trying to encourage them to split the bins into rubbish and recycling and we do ask WSCC to access their land to clear the rubbish.

As you may be aware, UK Power Networks manages the local power lines and substations which distribute electricity to over 8.3m homes and businesses across London, the South East and the East of England.

Storm Dudley will arrive tomorrow and is forecast to have a minimal impact on our network. However, Storm Eunice is expected to arrive on Friday 18th and is expected to bring stronger winds and unsettled weather.

Our electricity network is built to be resilient but strong winds and heavy rain can bring down branches and trees, damaging overhead power lines. Where this happens we work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

We have organised for additional staff in our contact centre and more engineers on the ground, particularly for Storm Eunice, to be available to help customers whose electricity supply might be affected by the predicted weather.

Residents will be able to find regular updates and information about individual power cuts on our website www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk. We will also be posting general updates on Twitter @UKPowerNetworks.

Anyone experiencing a power cut should:

• Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut and type in their postcode to view our live power cut map, with details of individual power cuts
• Call 105 free of charge to speak to our customer service team, report a power cut or damage to the electricity network
• Tweet @UKPowerNetworks to report a power cut or to receive updates
• Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk for the latest updates

We advise people to stay clear of power lines and report damaged power lines immediately by calling 105 free from either a landline or a mobile phone. If you see electricity lines that are down or causing significant risk to the public they should call 999.

We provide extra help to customers on our Priority Service Register during a power cut. Households with older or disabled people, those with children under five, or where someone uses medical or mobility equipment that requires electricity as well as other reasons can join the register. You can find out more information about our Priority Service on our website: ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority

A couple from Hurstpierpoint have been convicted of benefit fraud after dishonestly claiming over £60,000.

David Aston and Eugina Wallis of Willow Way, Hurstpierpoint fraudulently claimed £62,930 in overpaid benefits after providing false information to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Mid Sussex District Council.

The couple made separate claims for Income Support on the basis that they were single and living alone. However, an investigation by Mid Sussex District Council produced evidence that David Aston and Eugina Wallis were in fact married and living together in Hurstpierpoint.

Mr Aston also dishonestly claimed Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit for a property in Bognor Regis, which he said he was living in with his carer. That property was occupied by his daughter Kelly Aston, 31, who was living in the property rent free.

On 3 December 2021, David Aston, Eugina Wallis and Kelly Aston pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court to 11 of the 19 indictments brought against them.

Judge Janet Waddicor said: “There is overwhelming evidence of dishonesty over a number of years. The amount of work by the investigators on this case is truly impressive.

“The amount of work that has gone into this investigation is astonishing. The degree of careful investigation was truly exceptional.”

Sentencing took place on 28 January 2022 and David Aston received 22 months in prison. Eugina Wallis was sentenced 36 weeks in prison and Kelly Aston received 12 months community service, comprising 100 hours work.

Councillor Ruth De Mierre, Cabinet Member for Customer Services said:

“The Council will always take firm action against the very small minority of benefit claimants who seek to cheat and be a drain on the wallets and purses of our law abiding Mid Sussex residents. Members of the public can help us catch these cheats by reporting suspected fraud anonymously via the Council’s website www.midsussex.gov.uk/revsandbens/benefits/fraud or the National Fraud Hotline 0800 854 440.”A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman added: “We constantly review how we tackle benefit theft. We are committed to deterring those considering fraud; to detecting fraud when it does occur and to making sure those who commit benefit theft are brought to justice.”

Cllr Danny Favor has been awarded The Pamana ng Pilipino Award as part of the 2021 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO). There were 117 nominees from 31 countries around the world with 53 being awarded the honour.

This award is conferred on Filipino overseas, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honour and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.

Cllr Favor who has been a Town Councillor since 2011 and was Town Mayor 2019-2021, was previously awarded the Presidential BANAAG Award 2014. Speaking about the honour Cllr Favor said “I Just want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you all (Town Council, Staff, Councillors, Residents, Community groups/organisations and others) for making this happen. This would not have been possible without the support of everyone. This award is for all of us.”

The Town Council offers its sincere congratulations to a very hard working and humble Councillor. As well as his Councillor role; Danny is a nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital, and gives many additional hours along with his wife Maribel, organising a volunteer group of medical practitioners offering wellbeing checks for residents.

Dear Residents of East Grinstead,

Your Local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be holding a drop in Surgery at:

East Grinstead Library, 32-40 West Street, East Grinstead, RH19 4EY

On the following date:

Thursday 27th January 2022 – 16:00 – 17:00

If there are any issues you would like to discuss please pop along to meet your local officers and speak to them.

We will also have the Community Speed Watch co-ordinator in attendance.

We look forward to seeing you.

Kind Regards,
PCSO Lengyel

Please note these dates and times may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Come and support the Town Mayor’s next charity event on Tuesday 8th February for his charities St Catherine’s Hospice, Crawley and Cardiac Risk in the Young. The Copthorne Players will be presenting their Murder Mystery in the Meridian Hall.

Again Harbour Fish & Chips has kindly donated all the fish and chips.

At Monday’s Council Meeting the Town Mayor met some of the recipients of the Youth Sports Grant: Ashurst Wood Junior Football Team – AWJFC, East Grinstead Swimming Club, TS Resolution NTC and the 4th EG Scout Group.

The Town Mayor held his first charity event on Tuesday evening. Despite being a slightly scaled down event this year, the Mayor raised nearly £1,500 from ticket sales and a raffle. Thanks goes to Cllr John Belsey as quizmaster, Rick of Harbour Fish Bar for donating the food and all the helpers that made the event possible.

Look out for the Mayor’s next charity event in February – a murder mystery.