Category: News

Parts of Worth Way, a footpath which links East Grinstead and Crawley, will be closed to the public during September and October.

The route between East Grinstead Station and Gullege House, will be shut for improvement surfacing work.

The section between Gullege House and Cob Close, Crawley Down, will also be closed between 9.30am and 3pm to allow access to construction vehicles.

The closures will last for the duration of the work, which is expected to take around six to eight weeks.

Residents will be able to follow an alternative route, using a public bridleway which runs parallel to Worth Way. Maps and signs will be clearly displayed on site to guide people.

David Barling, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “The work is being undertaken because the path has become very rough and uneven, and parts of the path are not draining properly because the camber has being worn down.

“We know this section of Worth Way is extremely popular with residents and is used by around 90,000 people each year.

“It’s inevitable that this work will cause some disruption while it is being carried out but we’ll do our very best to keep this to a minimum.

“We thank people for their patience while the work is carried out and hope they will agree the work will lead to better journeys along this route when it reopens.”

Heidi Brunsdon, County Councillor for Imberdown, added: “I am extremely pleased that this section of Worth Way is being improved.

“We have been working very closely with the contractors to ensure residents and people who use the path suffer as little disruption as possible.

“The path has worn away through the constant use and I think once the work is finished we will all be very pleased with the new surface.”

For more information about the route and how you may be affected, please contact Simon Rowledge at simon.rowledge@westsussex.gov.uk

A confirmed start date for the work will be announced in the next few weeks.

• When and where will the route be closed? The works will take place in September and October this year. The route will be completely closed between East Grinstead station and Gullege House for the duration. And between Gullege House and Cob Close in Crawley Down Between 9.30am and 3pm daily whilst stone is delivered.
• How long will the work take? The work should be completed in 6 – 8 weeks however weather conditions will be a factor.
• Why does the route need to be closed? During the works heavy machinery will be tracking up and down the path, due to the narrow nature of the site it would be unsafe for people and animals as there would not be a safe passing space.
• Is there an alternate route? An alternate route using the public bridleway that runs parallel to Worth Way from Gullege to East Grinstead via Imberhorne farm will be available. Maps and signs on site will guide you.
• I commute/travel to school this way will I still be able to? Yes, the stone delivery times have been specified so as to cause minimal disturbance to commuters and pupils travelling from Crawley Down to East Grinstead.
• The current surface is fine why is money being spent on a new one? This section of Worth Way has over 90,000 visitors per year which has resulted in the topdressing of the path wearing out leaving the surface un even and unpleasant to use particularly for the elderly and for cyclists and wheelchair users. The camber of the path which allows it to drain water effectively has also worn away. These works are being paid for with s106 money as mitigation for housing developments in the area not public money and will restore the camber and top dressing of the path.
• I am running a sponsored event in September/October can it still go ahead? Contact simon.rowledge@westsussex.gov.uk and he will do his best to help you.
• Will the remainder of the route from Gullege to Crawley Down be resurfaced in the future? Additional s106 funds have been applied for, the remainder of the path will be resurfaced if they are awarded.
• For all other enquiries please forward to: email: simon.rowledge@westsussex.gov.uk, Tel: 0330 222 6730

Closures and diversions

Update from WSCC:

Work on Imberhorne lane has been going well and the contractor (Clancy Docwra) has reported that they are in a position to advance their works ahead of programme. This means that they will be starting works on the A22 on Monday 10th of August instead of 17th August. Work will still be taking place at the northern end of Imberhorne Lane and this section will last until the completion of the project.

So, the advised completion date is now Friday 28th August.

This is positive as this will mean that all works are well clear of the start of the new school term on Friday 4th September and also the A22 will flow unhindered by temporary traffic control for the weekend of the Edenbridge and Oxted show, which we know is popular with residents south of the Surrey border.

I must warn that there is a small implication with bringing these A22 works forward and that concerns the A264 Moat Road, East Grinstead. A developer has already been granted roadspace to carry out approximately 3 days of carriageway work under temporary traffic signals. This may cause some additional congestion for traffic close to the town centre next week and those heading north in particular. However, we feel that on balance, completing the A22 works earlier would be a widely popular choice.

Variable message signing has already been deployed in Surrey and today this has been updated to reflect this change.

The Imberhorne Lane diversion route will continue to be in place.

On behalf of South East water and Clancy Docwra may I thank you for your continued patience during this important works.

Seen here with Town promotions Manager Dawn Spalding at the Tourist Desk in the Library, is Duncan Evans who will be joining Dawn as temporary Promotions Assistant to help out for the peak summer months.

Duncan, who is studying at the University of Warwick, hopes to be able to widen his appreciation of local history while working to help promote the town. “I aim to learn more about East Grinstead’s rich past. After university I am hoping to get involved in politics/government in some capacity, hence my interest in working for East Grinstead Council”.

Duncan is also a keen cyclist, so he will be sure to give a special warm welcome to the many cyclists who pass through the town these days.

Town Mayor Dick Sweatman was at the town’s Bluebell Railway station on Monday to officially declare the new platform canopy open.

Welcomed by Roy Watts, the Chairman of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society, The Town Mayor unveiled a plaque commemorating the event and was also asked to ‘unlock’ the facilities for public use! The platform canopy also includes a disabled person’s facility and the project came in at a cost of just under £50,000.

Dick Sweatman stated how important for promoting tourism in the town the Bluebell Railway connection had been, and that the benefits of increased visitor numbers were much appreciated by the town’s businesses.

Roy Watts echoed this and said how The East Grinstead link had indeed changed the dynamics of where people were joining the Bluebell for a day out, and also how they travelled here The ongoing commitment and support of the people of East Grinstead and East Grinstead Town Council were gratefully acknowledged.

Photo provided courtesy of Martin Lawrence

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):

Frederick MARDEN

Private TF/ 1505 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Killed in action at Suvla Bay 29. 8.15.

Born in Lingfield, Surrey and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Included on Lingfield War Memorial Buried Green Hill Cemetery, Suvla.

Patrick Joseph O’DONNELL

Private TF/ 2111 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Killed in action at Suvla Bay , Gallipoli 17th August 1915. Age 24.

Son of John and Mary O’Donnell of 53, York Road, Aldershot. Born in Dublin and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. MR.4.

Frederick PAVETT

Private TF/ 1523 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Killed in action at Suvla Bay 10. 8.15. age 32. Son of Henry and Mary Pavitt of 9, Nesbitt Road, Brighton.

Husband of Mrs. Daisy Pavett of East Grinstead. Born in Brighton and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Helles Memorial, Gallipoli MR. 4.

Leslie Douglas Harold RAVEN

Private TF/2112 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Killed in action at Suvla Bay 10. 8.15.

Born in Brighton and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Helles Memorial, Gallipoli MR.4.

 

At a Special Council last night East Grinstead Town Councillors approved the draft Neighbourhood Plan for consultation.

The Plan, accompanied by a sustainability appraisal, sets out the policies the Town Council will require to be adhered to for all development until 2031. A Working Group of Councillors has revised the plan following an earlier round of consultation in the autumn of 2013. Since then the responses to that consultation and emerging results of other inspections, more national statistics and guidelines have informed this second draft which will now go forward for an eight week consultation period starting on Monday 27th July. The Council will be making copies of the Plan available at the Library and East Court and is available to download at the Councils website www.eastgrinstead.gov.uk.

All residents are urged to read the Plan and to submit comments before the closing date of 21st September. All comments will be collated and considered, and then, the Plan will come back to Council to be approved before going forward for independent examination against the Mid Sussex Plan and the National Plans. The final step will be a referendum for East Grinstead residents to decide whether to adopt the Plan which will set out the policy requirements for future planning applications.

Cllr Rex Whittaker, chairman of the Working Group, said: “This plan is the result of considering the responses to the first draft and building on the strengths of that plan but in accordance with experience from other regional plans which have passed to inspection stage. This plan is less aspirational and more focused on planning policy, to make sure that the character and setting of the town is preserved while recognising that sensible housing growth is required together with much needed investment in infrastructure. It is important that East Grinstead residents read for themselves the document and understand what is and what is not in then plan”.

Town Councillors will be holding a surgery every Saturday between 10am and noon during the consultation, to answer questions. They will be in Queens Walk (Iceland end)

Changes to local bus services