Remembrance Sunday 13th November 2022

This year’s Remembrance Services are being held on Sunday 13^th November and the Town Council plays a part in these.

There are two poppy wreath laying services.  The first is at 10am at the East Court Memorial.  Any members wishing to attend this Service must arrive at the East Court Memorial no later than 9.50am.  This Service will last no more than 10 minutes and consists of the Town Mayor and RBL laying a poppy wreath on the East Court memorial.  The service will be conducted and a few words spoken by a member of the East Grinstead Parish Clergy.  At the conclusion of this service, Members should make their way to Kings Street where the parade will start this year, please wait on the pavement until told otherwise.  Any Councillors not coming to East Court should meet at Kings Street, no later than 10.20am.

The Town Mayor will lead Councillors in procession up London Road and on to the High Street to gather by the High Street War Memorial.  There will be a parade marshal and Members will be instructed on when to move off.  Councillors should please march together and should be wearing their Town tie or scarf and/or any military ties, badges, regalia etc as appropriate.  Also please wear appropriate clothing for the weather, no umbrellas please, but hats may be worn if it is wet or cold.  Medals awarded may be worn on the left, medals of relatives worn on the right.

The Deputy Lieutenant for West Sussex, Mr John Barclay DL, Town Mayor, Cllr Adam Peacock and many other organisations will lay wreaths.

After the service the procession will then continue along the High Street, turning down Church Lane and will disband at the Chequer Mead car park.

Councillors may be accompanied by members of their immediate family i.e. spouse, partner, children who can walk the route and following the service the Royal British Legion will attend the Ex-serviceman’s Club (opposite the Fire Station) and Councillors will be most welcome to join them.  There is a pay bar in the Club.

On Friday 11^th November at 11am, the Mayor will be laying a wreath at the High Street Memorial, if you wish to mark the 1 minute silence please be at the High Street Memorial by 10:55am.

SGN Presence in Blackwell Rd and Lewes Rd

Streetworks from WSCC have given us the following update regarding Blackwell Road (with thanks to Cllr Jacquie Russell who let us know about this)

I can confirm that the TTL’s at the Blackwell Road roundabout were removed by the end of 21.10.22. It was necessary to have these lights in place as there was an open excavation in the carriageway and the lights were there to protect the road users whilst works were being carried out.

There are still remaining works in the footway that need completing ( approx. 9-12 services to properties still need to be installed) but this will be done without the need for any positive TM so there will be no clash with the works that starting at the Beeching Way roundabout.

Latest update I have received from SGN in respect of the next phase of works is;

• Cranston Road – works to start 24/10/2022 until 23/12/2022 under Give & Take only.
• Cranston Road Junction with Blackwell Road – there will be a need for 3-way temp traffic lights for a duration of 2 weeks to excavate in the c/w and mains connections  – my understanding and the current agreement with SGN is that these will be Off Peak Only (09:30 – 16:00) but still manually controlled during these times.  Dates currently proposed for these works are 14^th – 25^th November 2022.
• The works will be completed at Beeching Way roundabout by this time with the works moving further away along Lewes Road to the East.

Unfortunately, we had problems at the start of the week as we had some illegal works in progress at a property near Cranston Gardens where the contractors has pick ups etc in the carriageway causing significant congestion and safety issues with the passing traffic.  This was actually brought to our attention by SGN and we were then able to rectify the situation and remove the illegal works.  (Weds 19^th Oct).

Planning Applications & Decisions

Rail Travel on Remembrance Sunday Weekend

(Sent by GTR to Key Stakeholders)

We are writing to let you know about the free travel available for serving military personnel and veterans to and from Services of Remembrance, as well as give early warning about important engineering work which will affect some rail passenger services on our network (Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express) over the weekend of 12-13 November.

Please note that our services for that weekend have been updated in journey planners such as www.nationalrail.co.uk however we are aware that some other operator’s services are yet to be updated. The information noted in this email is the latest position and should be used for planning purposes until journey planners have been fully updated.

Free Travel
We are delighted that we can confirm that Train Operating Companies will be offering free travel for serving military personnel and veterans to and from Services of Remembrance across Great Britain.

For those travelling to attend the Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, free travel on National Rail services will be available on either Saturday 12 or Sunday 13 November from a home station to any London Terminal station. It’s important to note that free return travel will be available on Sunday 13 November only.

For those travelling to attend a Service of Remembrance anywhere else in Great Britain, free travel on National Rail services from/to a home station to the closest rail station to the service will be available on Sunday 13 November.

Full details are available here – National Rail Enquiries – Remembrance Sunday

Engineering works 12-13 November – Midland Mainline
It is also important to note that there will unfortunately be some engineering work taking place on Remembrance weekend. Works on the development of the new station at Brent Cross; a new footbridge at St Albans and an upgrade of the overhead power lines south of Bedford require the railway to be closed to trains between Luton and London St Pancras on three forthcoming weekends including Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November. The line will also close on 5-6 November and 10-11 December.

Rail replacement buses will run between Luton and West Hampstead Thameslink via Harpenden; between Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin via Luton; and between Harpenden and Potters Bar via St Albans.

Thameslink will run limited rail services from Kentish Town and West Hampstead to London St Pancras.

The work on the weekend of Remembrance Sunday was originally postponed from 17-18 September to allow people to travel to London to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II. In rescheduling the work, the industry aimed to make sure that passengers would have alternative means to travel to London, albeit via a diversionary route. Whilst we understand and share the importance of Remembrance weekend, after discussion it was found that the weekend of 12 and 13 November is the only available weekend where significant work was not planned on alternative routes and is therefore the only weekend when this work can be completed.

Engineering works Saturday 12 November – Brighton Main Line
Work is taking place between Three Bridges and Brighton, and between Three Bridges and Lewes on Saturday 12 November so rail replacement buses will run between these stations.

Some Southern trains will still run directly between London Victoria and Brighton, diverted via Horsham and Littlehampton with extended journey times. Services on the London Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour / Southampton route will run to an amended timetable and they will split and join at Barnham instead of Horsham. Southern trains will run to an amended timetable between Brighton and Eastbourne/Ore. A reduced number of trains will run between Brighton and Hove.

Thameslink services will not run between Three Bridges and Brighton.

Gatwick Express will not run.

Engineering works Sunday 13 November – Arun Valley
Work is taking place between Pulborough, Horsham and Three Bridges on Sunday 13 November so rail replacement buses will run between these stations. The Southern service between London Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour will run to an amended timetable via Hove and the London to Horsham Thameslink service will terminate at Gatwick Airport.

Other works
As well as the three larger areas of work noted above, other local changes may affect journeys and we suggest that you check journey planners before booking tickets or putting together travel plans.

Check before you travel
Where journeys require a rail replacement bus, they will of course take longer than normal. For those travelling on the weekend of Remembrance Sunday the advice is for passengers to check their journey at www.nationalrail.co.uk, and to check again nearer the time for any further changes.

Charters Court Care Home Open Afternoon

Charters Court Care Home are having an open afternoon on Wednesday the 2^nd of November between 2pm-5pm as they have had a recent refurbishment.  The Mayor is attending but the invitation extends to all other councillors who wish to visit.

Welbeck Land – Land South and West of Imberhorne Upper School

Warmer Homes for Residents in Mid Sussex

(Excerpt taken from PR 2471 by MSDC)

Mid Sussex District residents are asked to check if they are eligible to receive a new grant to help them heat their homes, lower their carbon emissions, and save money on their fuel bills.

In partnership with other Councils Mid Sussex District Council has secured funding from the Government to improve the energy efficiency of eligible homes. Warmer Homes funding is available until March 2023, to install the following energy efficiency measures:
• Insulation
• solar PV panels
• air source heat pumps

Up to £25,000 is available per home if you meet the following criteria:
• Your home has an EPC rating of E, F or G (limited funding is available for EPC D rated properties).
And either:
• You have a total household annual income of £30,000 or less (before housing costs/bills)
Or:
• You receive a means-tested benefit

Residents can check the EPC rating of their home online at www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

This funding is available to owner occupiers and those living in privately rented homes on a first-come, first served basis and it only takes 5 minutes to make an application.

Councillor Norman Webster, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Community said:

“With energy bills almost tripling in just one year, our residents are already being affected by the growing cost of living crisis, and the colder winter months are fast approaching.

“This Warmer Homes Programme can offer vital energy efficiency improvements for those on low incomes. The range of measures available can help people to stay warmer, reduce their energy use and therefore lower bills whilst also making their homes greener by cutting carbon emissions.”

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said:

“The Council is delighted to have successfully secured this funding to help support many of our residents during this challenging time. I would encourage as many local people as possible to check if they are eligible, either by visiting the Warmer Homes website or calling the freephone number provided and reap the benefits of this scheme without delay.“

For further information about the programme and to apply online, residents should visit the Warmer Homes website: www.warmerhomes.org.uk/programme and click ‘apply now’ or email: retrofit@warmerhomes.org.uk
Alternatively, call 0800 038 5737 (freephone) Monday – Friday during office hours to find out more and apply by phone.

Mid Sussex District Council to Seek Investment Partner and Cultural Anchor Tenant for Modern Venue on Clair Hall Site

(Excerpt taken from PR 2470 by MSDC)

MSDC’s Cabinet met on Monday 17 October to review the final report of BOP, the Council’s lead specialist cultural and creative advisors.

At this Cabinet meeting MSDC agreed to proceed with the recommendations outlined in this final report. These are to produce a brief for the site in order to seek an investment partner and cultural anchor tenant for a new, modern venue on the Clair Hall site.

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“I am grateful to BOP for the expertise that they have provided to our project to revitalise the Clair Hall site. Following careful consideration, we will be taking forward the recommendations in BOP’s final report.

“BOP’s report outlined the challenging economic climate that creates significant risks to investment in cultural facilities. However, they also outlined the positive findings from their investigations and confirmed that they are cautiously optimistic about the approach the Council is taking.

“Our goal remains to secure a cultural anchor tenant who can deliver a cultural and community offer for the whole of Mid Sussex now and in the future in a modern, fit for purpose venue on the Clair Hall site”.

MSDC Officers will now start work to commission a specialist broker/agent to develop a detailed briefing and legal pack for the site. This pack will build on the resident engagement and consultation, and all the information gathered by BOP and other specialists commissioned by the Council to improve the chances of successful delivery of this project.

The briefing pack will outline the expected deliverables for interested parties and it is anticipated that officers will feedback on progress of this work early in the new year.

Ofsted report: West Sussex Children’s Services Continues to Improve

(Sent by Press Office at WSCC)

West Sussex County Council’s Children’s Services continue to make improvements to the lives of vulnerable children and young people in the county, but more work is needed to increase the pace of progress.

These are the findings of a recent Ofsted report into the Council’s service, published today following a monitoring visit in September. Read the Ofsted report in full.

The visit focused on the quality of social work practice to support and protect vulnerable children and young people and the effectiveness of child-in-need and child protection plans.

Findings from the report include:

• There is evidence and a clear vision for ongoing improvement
• The quality and impact of social work is variable, although some practice is strong
• All children that Ofsted spoke to felt listened to and were visited on a regular basis
• Children’s Services have strong corporate and political support to improve practice
• Staff are enthusiastic about the new family safeguarding practice model
• There has been some fluctuation in performance due to the challenges in recruiting social workers, which is a national issue
• Increased demand and complexity have meant some children are waiting too long for help
• Children’s Services have been relentless in their focus and approach to recruiting social workers
• Ofsted saw evidence of positive social work to improve outcomes for children and families
• Children who have the same social worker have seen positive change and benefit from this consistency

Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Everyone in our Children’s Services teams is committed to putting children first and building strong relationships with our children, young people, and their families. This is at the heart of everything we do and a core part of Our Council Plan.

“We actively support more than 5,500 vulnerable children and young people and have made significant progress over the last few years to redesign and improve our services, with a determination to provide the standard of service our communities deserve.

“So, it’s encouraging to see that Ofsted has recognised the progress we’re making and highlighted areas where we need to maintain our focus.

“As part of our Children’s First practice improvement plan, we are working hard to address the variability within some of our practice that the report references. I am very conscious of the need to increase the pace of our improvement work, which is impacted by the increased demand and complexity of cases we’re managing. Recruiting to our teams remains a priority and I’m pleased to say that, following an overseas recruitment drive last month, we are looking forward to welcoming 36 new social workers to West Sussex in the new year. They will bring their knowledge, expertise, and experience, and provide much-needed support to help us deliver the best service to our children, young people and families.

“I would like to express my personal thanks to staff across the Council’s Children’s Services who work tirelessly to put children first.”

South East Water Invests Further in East Grinstead

(Sent by SEW to Key Stakeholders)

Following early completion of our £470,000 project to lay a new water main in Turners Hill Road and West Hill, East Grinstead, we’re now investing a further £350,000 in the area to replace 350m of aging, burst-prone main in Queen’s Road.

If you are interested in speaking to our engineers, we’re holding a public drop-in session in November where they will be on hand to answer any questions you may have (details at the end of this email).

The pipeline upgrade will take place between the junction with West Hill and Dallaway Gardens. The main will be installed in stages, with the road being returned to its original state upon completion of each stage before work progresses to the next section. This will prevent too many residential parking spaces being inaccessible at any one time.

As a safety precaution for pedestrians, motorists and our workforce, we’ll need to close Queen’s Road to undertake these works. Advanced warning signs will be in place along the road before it is closed. The diversion route, which has been agreed in conjunction with the local highways authority, will be clearly signed for the duration of the work.

Access to homes or businesses will be maintained throughout this project, although we are advising customers to park elsewhere to avoid delays.

Throughout the project can find the latest scheme news on our website: southeastwater.co.uk/queensroad

Drop-in session details

When: Monday 14 November between 4.00pm and 7.00pm

Where: Glen Vue Community Centre, Railway Approach, East Grinstead, RH19 1BS

We look forward to seeing you there.

Sussex Police National Road Safety Week

(Sent by Katy Bourne OBE)

This week it’s National Business Crime Week of Action, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

Sussex Police’s dedicated Business Crime Team has been visiting premises to offer crime prevention advice, highlighting the importance of reporting and sharing information to target prolific offenders.

Sussex Police will be publishing the outcomes of the week from Monday and I’m sure the results will be of great interest to everyone.

You can read more about the initiatives in Sussex that help to tackle business and retail crime on my website.

This week is also Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death) week of action.

Project EDWARD is the UK’s biggest platform showcasing best practice in road safety. Working alongside partners such as the emergency services, National Highways and British businesses, they promote what is being done around the four nations focusing on: safe vehicles; road use; speed; safe roads/roadsides and post-crash care.

It was a privilege to help launch the Project EDWARD national week of action in Brighton earlier this week. Not only does it provide a space to come together and discuss the good work that’s being carried out to make our roads safer but it’s also an opportunity to discuss what more we can do to really drive forward progressive and lasting change on our roads.

In today’s webcast Performance and Accountability Meeting with Chief Constable Shiner and Deputy Chief Constable McLaren, I scrutinised the progress on officer recruitment, how the force deal with unauthorised encampments and its response to tackling anti-social behaviour.

Following the HMICFRS inspection report on burglary, we also discussed how police locally were responding to criticisms of a national postcode lottery for victims and implementing criminal justice scorecards which look in particular, at the timeliness of police and CPS investigations and prosecutions.

Chief Constable Shiner was able to reassure me that Sussex is still on track with its recruitment programme.

With further intakes this year and in January and March, Sussex is adding 163 police officers from the national Op Uplift programme, an additional nine for the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit and a further 20 officers funded by local taxpayers through the precept.

This will take the headcount to 3,186 full time equivalent police officers by March 31st 2023.

I asked what financial and well-being support measures were in place to help officers with the cost of living and work pressures. I was pleased to hear there was positive dialogue between between Chief Officers and the Police Federation, Unison and the Superintendents’ Association and I was delighted that Sussex were winners in the national Oscar Kilo Wellbeing Awards.

Chief Executive’s Bulletin

Mayor’s Reception

What a superb evening! The Town Mayors’ reception celebrating some of our unsung community heroes.

Half Term Activity Day

Seventy Happy and Glorious Years

East Grinstead Museum are thrilled to announce their latest temporary exhibition which explores Royal memorabilia from Queen Victoria to King Charles III.

The exhibition showcases an eclectic array of items from the museums archive including a delicate Victorian clip from 1897, made to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, to more everyday keepsakes such as Coronation mugs and commemorative coins.

The exhibition also includes a selection of items loaned by local museum volunteers, including a wonderful scrapbook handcrafted in 1953 at the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation and a trinket tray from the Balmoral Estate.

The exhibition is free to enjoy and runs until January 2023.

East Grinstead Museum is open Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm.

Planning Applications & Decisions

Warm Coats – Glen Vue Community Hub

The Rural Bulletin – News Section Updated

Please follow this hyperlink to access the last news from the Rural Services Network :- https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/category/news (this will open a new tab)

St Swithuns New Aerial Photos

We would like to thank John Chisholm for these excellent new photos of the highest point in Town!

Gatwick In Touch Quarterly Newsletter

Please follow this hyperlink to view (this will open a new tab) – https://view.sfmail.gatwickairport.com/ 

Support and activities for West Sussex families this half-term

Recycle Week 2022 Special Edition E-Letter

Welcome to our special edition eNewsletter to highlight Recycle Week which this year runs from 17 to 23 October.

We know many of you are already doing a great job at recycling, but there is always more that can be done. Currently we are all recycling around 54% of our household waste on average, but a staggering 60% of the waste which is thrown into rubbish bins could in fact have been reduced, reused or recycled. And over 14% of the materials thrown away were items which could have easily been put into your home recycling bin.

We are always looking at ways we can help you to help us recycle more, and reach our target of recycling 55% of household waste by 2025 and some of our new initiatives are detailed below. If you’re unsure about what can and can’t be recycled at any time, then you can always refer to our handy A to Z guide to recycling where you’ll find out what waste items you can recycle, the bin you need to use, or which Recycling Centre you can take it to.

And don’t forget when recycling at home all items should be:

• clean – free from food and drink leftovers
• dry – keep your recycling bin lid shut
• loose – no plastic bags.

Hard plastics can now be recycled

Unwanted walking aids? Return them during Recycle Week

New scheme to reduce food waste and promote food rescue

Food waste collection trial

Winter opening hours at our Recycling Centres

Find out more about waste prevention

Consultation – Gambling Act 2005 Policy (Statement of Licensing Principles – Gambling Act 2005)

Mid Sussex District Council is currently reviewing our Gambling Act 2005 Policy (Statement of Licensing Principles – Gambling Act 2005).

The consultation phase is open until the 10th November 2022.

The draft Policy may also be accessed via the Mid Sussex District Council website or in local libraries and Council Help-Points.

Any comments on the Policy should be received by the Licensing Team no later than 10th November 2022.

Your comments about the revised policy can be provided by post to:

Licensing Team
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS

Or by e-mail to: licensing@midsussex.gov.uk

All responses will be acknowledged but will not receive an individual reply.

Link:

• Gambling Policy Statement of Principles 2022 Draft (340kB PDF) 

Press release 2465 STEM challenge inspires future generations

Students from every local senior school and college gathered in the Mid Sussex District Council Chamber on Friday 30 September for the launch of the Mid Sussex STEM challenge 2022.

STEM education, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics provides an excellent grounding for students who wish to pursue a career in medicine, scientific research, chemistry or engineering. There is currently a STEM skills shortage in the UK workforce, so engaging activities like the STEM Challenge have an important role to play in inspiring the next generation to develop these important skills.

Each year, talented students from schools across Mid Sussex and beyond compete against each other to complete a challenge that tests their technical engineering skills. In 2022, they must research, develop, and build a remote-control vehicle that is capable of navigating a large and complicated obstacle course. Teams are provided with a list of specifications they must meet, such as artificial intelligence, camera attachment and a motorised chassis, to ensure their vehicle is up to the test.

Eight teams from Burgess Hill Academy, Downlands Community School, Imberhorne School, Millais School, Oathall Community College, St Paul’s Catholic College, Sackville School and Warden Park Academy will battle it out to create to most agile and robust remote control vehicle, before it’s put to the test on 19 May 2023 at the South of England Showground.

Students taking part in the STEM Challenge 2022 will be supported by local engineering and medical companies who will act as mentors, working with the school to share their knowledge and show the students what it’s like to work in the industry. Staff from Flowserve, PSM Marine Engineering, Adelphi Nuffield Hospital, Bike Smart, Edwards Vacuum, Quantum Technologies, and Balfour Beatty will all be providing their advice and support to the challengers.

The STEM Challenge was launched by Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, Professor Winfried Hensinger from Quantum Technologies and Mr James Whitmore, The High Sheriff of West Sussex on Friday 30 September 2022.

Councillor Ruth de Mierre, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parking said: “Our annual STEM challenge is a fantastic way to get local school children excited and inspired about the practical application of scientific and technical knowledge, and realise the huge range of careers open to them.

“Mid Sussex District Council is a strong supporter of the event and it’s going to be wonderful to see the students starting with nothing, and working together as a team to design and create a remote control vehicle that will be capable of traversing a testing obstacle course.

“The students taking part are the future, not only for our economy but our environment and for our health. You never know, some of them may well be part of the breakthrough to find more cures to eliminate cancer – or allow us to say ‘beam me up Scottie’ (for those of us old enough to remember!)”

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said:

“A key priority in our local plan for economic growth is a regionally significant Science & Technology Park to the west of Burgess Hill. This will help create more high skill jobs in STEM subjects locally, so it has never been more important to engage young people in these areas. I wish all the students the very best with their project”.

Invite to The Swing Ninjas

PR 2466 New open space at Hill Place Farm, East Grinstead will support Bluebell Railway improvements

New open space at Hill Place Farm, East Grinstead will support Bluebell Railway improvements

Mid Sussex District Council has agreed a one-off payment of £692,500 to the Bluebell Railway that will enable the creation of a new Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) at Hill Place Farm in East Grinstead.

In Mid Sussex, developers seeking to build new homes within 7km of Ashdown Forest must pay towards the creation and maintenance of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces. Those developer payments will then gradually repay the Council’s investment in the Hill Place Farm SANG.

The policy, which is supported by Natural England, helps residents to access green spaces that are close to their homes and protects Ashdown Forest from excessive visitor numbers, which could affect the protected bird species that nest in the forest.

The new SANG, which is just off Turners Hill Road in East Grinstead, has been provided by developers Taylor Wimpey and Vistry as part of plans for 200 new homes at Hill Place Farm. The SANG is divided into two parts, with the Bluebell Railway line running through the middle of the site.

Mid Sussex District Council is providing the Bluebell Railway with a funding advance of £692,500 to provide safe access to the SANG and to support the development of the line. Visitors will be able to access all areas of the SANG by using a tunnel underneath the Bluebell Railway to cross the line.

The Hill Place Farm SANG features grassland habitats, natural woodlands, and benefits from stunning views of the historic Imberhorne Lane viaduct. The SANG has been enhanced by a programme of planting that, will complement the existing natural environment as it matures and a new walking route around the edge of the site makes it easier for people of all abilities to enjoy the space.

Councillor Robert Salisbury, MSDC Cabinet Member for Planning said:
“Natural England has advised the Council that one of the best ways to protect Ashdown Forest from increasing visitor numbers is to provide alternative areas for people to visit. That’s why, whenever developers want to build new homes within 7km of Ashdown Forest, they are required to provide Suitable Alternative Natural Green space or funding towards the improvement of an existing one.

“The new SANG at Hill Place Farm is a wonderful place for local people to relax, exercise and enjoy the natural surroundings. It’s fantastic for people to have such beautiful green spaces right on our doorstep, and it will only get better over the years as more improvements are made.

“We’re grateful to the Bluebell Railway for supporting public access throughout the SANG site and I hope this funding helps the railway in its efforts to switch to more sutainable energy sources. The Bluebell Railway is one of the foremost tourist attractions in our District and plays a vital role in preserving our heritage.

“The Council has provided funding to the Bluebell Railway in advance, so they aren’t required to wait for developer funding to come through and are able to progress immediately with their plans to improve the railway. The Council will then retain the financial contributions made by developers until the advance has been repaid.”

Geoff Mee, Chairman of Bluebell Railway PLC said:
“We have always prided ourselves on looking after the environment along the line in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We will use this money to improve our environmental credentials by placing solar panels on top of some of our buildings in order to reduce our rapidly increasing business energy costs.”

Welcome to our Bus it! special

Every day, thousands of people across West Sussex use buses. Buses are a sustainable way to travel and help you…

• Save money on fuel and transport running costs
• Keep in touch with friends and family
• Travel to school, work or the shops
• Maintain your independence

We’ve pulled together all you need to know in this special newsletter, including two fantastic opportunities to win £100 supermarket vouchers and an invitation to let us know what you think about bus travel in West Sussex!

Get onboard for new adventures!

Where will you travel by bus? We have some great tips and ideas of where to visit by bus on our Experience West Sussex website.

Then check your most convenient bus routes and timetables using our handy route planner below. We also have a page with the latest discounts on bus and coach travel.

Cracking down on waste crime – an update from Katy Bourne

At the start of the week, I joined the Rural Crime Team, Commercial Vehicle Unit and the Driver Standards and Vehicle Agency (DVSA) at Newhaven Port as they took part in a joint operation led by the Environment Agency (EA).

The aim of the operation was to tackle illegal waste carriers operating outside of the law, not following environmental regulations and not processing waste responsibly.

Waste crime can be detrimental to our county and can harm wildlife and the overall environment. The clean-up of hazardous substances that are dumped into country lanes continue to cost taxpayers and private landowners including farmers.

If waste crime isn’t tackled it can also lead to safety issues such as fire hazards and health risks.

It was a successful day at Newhaven as the teams worked together to check all vehicle documentation along with waste types that were going to permitted sites.

Throughout the day, 17 vehicles were taken off the roads, 10 prohibition notices were given out and 6 fines were issued ranging from £100 to £300. One driver was also given 9 points on their licence.

The EA’s Environmental Crime Officers found one illegal waste site in operation and has since escalated enforcement action.

This is yet again a great example of partnership working as our county’s protective services continue to tackle irresponsible, selfish and unlawful behaviours.

Over the past two weeks, my team have been attending various Fresher’s fairs at local universities to speak with students about safety, hear their concerns and provide advice and guidance.

We’ve been reminding students about my Safe Space Sussex App and our work with night-time venues to provide staff with additional training. My office has also funded night safety marshals and street pastors to help people get home safely.

Earlier in the year, I funded 250,000 drinks protectors known as ‘StopTopps’ to hand out to local venues and businesses. StopTopps can be secured to glasses or cups to deter predatory opportunists from spiking drinks.

Last weekend, members of my team attended ‘Boundary’ – the South Coast’s biggest electronic dance festival – to hand out anti-spiking StopTopps and remind people of my Do The Right Thing Campaign.

The drink covers were very popular, with young people speaking about their own experiences of spiking and many telling us that they appreciated being able to access a safety tool like this for free whilst out and about.  

Luke Ralph, Boundary Festival Organiser, said: “We want our events to be spaces where people can feel comfortable and have fun. Initiatives like this and proactive reminders throughout the day can make a huge difference.”

Press Release 2463 – New home for Quarry Café and Community Fridge

A popular community café in the Stone Quarry area of East Grinstead has been saved after Mid Sussex District Council provided them with a new home.

The Quarry Café and Community Fridge has been supporting the local community for over five years, initially as a community café, and expanding when the pandemic struck to providing a community fridge by collecting surplus food, creating ready meals, and sharing them with local people in need of a helping hand.

The future of this vital drop-in centre and food distribution facility was put in doubt recently when the group found out they needed to vacate their existing premises on Holtye Avenue. However, Mid Sussex District Council has now agreed a 30-year lease for the former Post Office in Hollands Way, that will enable the café and community fridge to continue providing services for Stone Quarry residents and the wider East Grinstead area, including nearby villages.

Sarah Howland, Director and Executive Manager for the Quarry Café and Community Fridge said:

“There are lots of local people who rely on the services we provide at the Quarry Café and Community Fridge, so it’s fantastic that we’ve been able to find a new home in the same area.

“We have a wonderful team of volunteers who help us to run the café, which provides a place for the community to meet up and enjoy quality food and drink at affordable prices. We also help to prevent food waste by collecting surplus food, sharing it amongst the community and making meals for those who need a helping hand.

“All of this great work can continue now that we have secured a long-term base in the Stone Quarry area and we’re grateful to Mid Sussex District Council and Clarion Futures for the help and support they have provided.

“We’re a key member of the Mid Sussex Food Partnership and we will be working together to further expand our reach and meet demands. The Food Partnership is creating a strong support network for all projects involved in helping alleviate food poverty within Mid Sussex.

“Renovation work at the new Café and Community Fridge is already underway and we’ll be working flat out to get it ready to open in late October or early November.”

Councillor Norman Webster, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Community said:

“When I heard that the Quarry Café and Community Fridge needed to find a new home, I immediately thought of the old Post Office building. The building has been empty for over three years and was close to being sold, so we had to move quickly and work hard to secure the building for this vital community service.

“The old Post Office has the potential to enable the Quarry Café and Community Fridge to expand their existing services and it’s located very close to their old premises, so they will remain right in the heart of the community.

“This project will bring an empty property back into use and will safeguard the long-term future of a vital community facility. The Council won’t be charging any rent for the first five years of the 30-year lease, which will afford the Quarry Café and Community Fridge some financial breathing room while they renovate their new home and turn it into a vibrant community hub.”

Charitable Foundation, Clarion Futures is contributing approximately £70,000 towards the refurbishment, furnishing and decoration of the new café, with the help of one of their contractors United Living, who will deliver a significant amount of the refurbishment work through Social Value.

Nicky Dodds, Regional Communities Manager – South Region for Clarion Futures said:

“We have been working with the community in Stone Quarry for about 10 years now and have built very strong relationships with Sarah Howland, her fabulous team of volunteers, local residents and also with local Councillors who have always been very supportive of the work that we do.  Clarion Futures are very proud to be a key stakeholder in this development and have been committed to seeing this project come into fruition for some time now. It demonstrates what fantastic achievements can be made by listening to the needs of the community and working in partnership to address them.”

Clarion Futures will be hosting a community event at the Hollands Way play area, next to the new Quarry Café and Community Fridge from 11am – 2pm on 25 October to shine a spotlight on the new café opening. Refreshments will be provided and there will be the opportunity for local residents to meet representatives from Clarion Housing, Clarion Futures, Mid Sussex District Council, United Living and The Quarry Café and Community Fridge.

WSCC Response to Road Management Complaint

(Please note – this response was a reply from WSCC following our letter of complaint)

Dear East Grinstead Town Council,

Thank you for your email sent to Councillor Joy Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, on 14^th September about traffic chaos in East Grinstead. I have been asked to respond on her behalf.

Streetworks team have endeavoured to support the needs of the travelling public and the conflicting needs of the Fibre to the Premises Broadband rollout that Central government has been promoting for some time and we do agree that a tipping point has been reached with the recent emergency and urgent works that have also occurred on the Highway network.  This crescendo of works is happening across the whole of the county with at last count 13 different Fibre to the Premises Broadband installers working simultaneously across the major conurbations and business centres.

These fibre installers are all Statutory Undertakers with legal powers to dig up the Highway and install their ducts and cables and it is very difficult to refuse their access if the road space is available and indeed they can and already approach the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport when we try to reduce their activities on the Highway saying that we are blocking the Broadband rollout so desired by government.  They also lobby MP’s and local members in some areas too suggesting that if we do not allow them to install the ducts and cables in the urban/busy areas they won’t install in the rural areas as the business plans won’t stand up.

It’s a very commercially sensitive and aggressive situation currently and this is why you see one provider finish in an area just for another one to come in and dig up all the same roads again, it is very frustrating that they do not tell Streetworks earlier of their intentions as then we could make the 2 or more suppliers works together and lay multiple ducts at one time.

Streetworks have spoken to Cllr Denis who has empowered Streetworks team to reconsider our approaches to booking road space not only in East Grinstead but in all residential and business districts.  In future we will endeavour to keep a greater degree of capacity free in the road network thereby hopefully allowing for those unforeseen emergencies to occur without causing a whole town or city to grind to a halt.  This approach is not without risk and will also be a best endeavours approach but it is something that will be employed in coming weeks and months when road space bookings are agreed.

As you suggest longer duration working and ensuring site occupation is kept up are always priorities for the Streetworks team but we must also be mindful of health and safety regulations (working time directives) and environmental health factors (noise pollution etc) when we offer instructions to works promoters.   We also state to all works promoters that when they have to leave a site unattended for concrete curing or manufacture of bespoke repair equipment etc. they leave signage on site to inform all of why the site is empty and when it will not be but we know this doesn’t always happen.

One last point to note is that Streetworks do deliberately plan to allow more works during the school summer holidays on roads with schools in them or indeed routes to schools and this is not great for the area concerned but the works have to happen, we cannot delay them forever (as mentioned above) so the pain is inflicted when it will not disrupt children’s education.  Streetworks team can only apologise for the disruption caused but disruption is going to occur and planning this for the summer holidays is offering best endeavours to reduce said disruption.

I hope this reply offers some explanation and also provides some positives for the future and please do come back to the Streetworks team with any further questions, queries or reports of unattended sites that you may wish us to look into.

Yours sincerely,

Gill

Network Permit Officer

Next Police Beat Surgery

The date and time of our the next Police Beat Surgery at East Grinstead Library will be on the 24^th between 10:00-11:00. There should be two policing representatives there as well as the addition of the local Speed Watch co-ordinators.

Adam Dabell Annual Memorial Football Match

(Please note – this is an invitation sent from Cllr John Dabell)

Dear All,

I’m delighted to be able to tell you that, thankfully, we shall once again be celebrating this terrific event for our young people, in memory of my dear son.

As I’m sure most of you will now well know, on the 10th March 2004 our wonderful son Adam, tragically and without any warning, collapsed and died whilst playing in a local five-a-side tournament with his friends.

He was 26.

At that time, working on a suggestion made originally by Steve Hill (Sussex School Sports Coordinator) and Simon Bunn, one of Adam’s close friends, plus his peers and friends from schooldays, we, with his extended family and his many good friends, decided that the best memorial to a young, fit man, so full of life, would be a living memorial.

Therefore contributions were made that provided for a Memorial Cup and Trophy in Adam’s name which are presented to the winning team from an annual football match between the two Schools/Sixth Form Colleges in East Grinstead;

Sackville, which Adam attended, and Imberhorne which many of his friends attended.

Both teams receive commemorative medals, normally presented by our Town Mayor and also, hopefully as last year, by our own local MP Mims Davies.

The event is increasingly heavily supported, particularly by the young people of the Town. All are very welcome.

It is a very joyous celebration!

This is to say a personal thank you to those who contributed to this living memorial, who continue to make it happen each year and to let you know that the 18th annual match will take place on Thursday 13th October at the East Grinstead Town F.C. ground.

Once again, at the match we shall be looking to promote and seek, entirely voluntary, contributions to CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young.

CRY was founded in 1995 to raise awareness of conditions that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD); Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS, SADS), in the young and I would encourage you to visit their website:- http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/

We still lose far too many of our lovely young people, every year, to undiagnosed heart conditions!

Those of you that can make it, I would like to warmly invite you to join us there to cheer on the two young teams, as we remember Adam and those other young people that have fallen victim.

For more information, please refer to Adam’s website:- http://adamdabell.net/ and that of EGTFC to whom we continue to be hugely grateful for their support of this match:- http://www.egtfc.co.uk/

My apologies if I have inadvertently missed anyone – please pass the invite on.

I would reiterate, All are most welcome to come along.

Very kind regards,

John

Could you be eligible for the Warmer Homes programme?

The County Council is urging residents not to miss out on funding to make their homes more energy efficient.

The Government-funded Warmer Homes programme is offering energy efficiency measures such as insulation, solar panels and air source heat pumps to eligible households on a first come, first served basis.

The funding is available subject to eligibility, technical feasibility and your home’s energy efficiency rating shown on its Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

You must meet the following criteria to qualify:

• Your home has an EPC rating of E, F or G (limited funding is available for EPC D rated properties).

And either:

• You have a total household annual income of £30,000 or less (before housing costs/bills)

Or:

• You receive a means-tested benefit or meet additional eligibility criteria specified by your local authority (this is known as the ECO flexible eligibility ‘statement of intent’).

Homes with a mains gas supply could receive up to £10,000 while those that are off gas could receive up to £25,000.

Councillor Deborah Urquhart, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “This is a significant opportunity for eligible residents to make changes at home that will have an impact on the twin challenge of rising energy costs and climate change. We would encourage our residents to take a close look at this opportunity and to pass on the information to friends and family they feel could qualify.”

The Warmer Homes programme is available to owner occupiers and private rental tenants only. If you are a private rental tenant, your landlord will be required to make a financial contribution.

To apply online visit www.warmerhomes.org.uk/programme and click ‘apply now’. You can also call 0800 038 5737 to see whether you are eligible.

Planning Applications

WSCC Newsletter

NALC Newsletter

Latest EGTC updates as we mourn Queen Elizabeth II

As the nation remains in a state of mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this is an update as to the activities in the town this week: the Union Flag will be flown at half-mast on the East Court building and in the High Street until 8am the day after the funeral.

An official Book of Condolence from the town is available at East Court for the public to sign with messages of condolence, from 10.00 – 16.00 Monday to Friday this week. Anyone that wishes to make an entry at a time outside of the opening hours should contact the Mayor’s Secretary on 01342 323636 or email towncouncil@eastgrinstead.gov.uk for availability. The books will close the day after the funeral. There is an online link from the Town Council’s website (below) to the National Book of Condolence maintained by Buckingham Palace.

Other books are available in other public buildings, such as St Swithun’s Church.

On its closure, the hard copy here, will be sent away for binding and then kept here as an official record.

Floral tributes that the public wish to lay should be taken to the wall of remembrance at Mount Noddy Cemetery, please remove cellophane first and place in the rings or by the wall. The Town Mayor laid a wreath from the Council on Friday morning.

The Town Council is not leading on any other events during the period of mourning. A national minute’s silence is to be held at 8pm on Sunday 18 September. You may wish to mark this at home or in local places of worship. The Town Council encourages people to watch the funeral from home with family and friends at 11am on Monday 19 September, if they are not travelling to the capital to watch the events in person.

The Town Council will be arranging celebratory events for the new King’s coronation in due time, however at this sad time of mourning it is felt that residents and the Councillors and Staff, should be with their families and close friends as we all pay our respects to our former Sovereign.

Civic engagements will be reconsidered and those that are deemed appropriately sober during the period of mourning will be attended as planned. Event organisers where it is not deemed appropriate to attend during the period of mourning will be contacted with apologies relayed from the Town Mayor.

Latest WSCC updates as we mourn Queen Elizabeth II

We join the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The government has announced that Monday 19 September, the date of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral, will be a national bank holiday.

You can find more details about the bank holiday and the funeral on the government’s website here.

On the link below you’ll find local information about the bank holiday, including who you can contact at the county council if you need to. Please circulate this information to your residents.

On this link you can also see footage of the County Proclamation of the Accession of King Charles III which took place on Sunday on the steps of County Hall, Chichester.

Bereavement support

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II may be an emotional time for many.

Her Majesty had been a central part of our lives for so long and the period of national mourning is a chance to reflect on loved ones we’ve lost over the years.

How people experience grief, loss and bereavement is very personal, and ahead of the funeral, please let your residents know they can access a range of support:

• If people are deeply affected by the death of The Queen, they are not alone. Read more here from Cruse Bereavement Support.
• Residents can hear from Nicky Hitchcock from the As You Are Centre in Southwick on the stages of grief.
• Here are some ideas about having a conversation with someone who is recently bereaved from Hospice UK.

Rescheduled council meetings

The county council postponed formal meetings as a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for the period of national mourning.  This ends on Monday (19 September), following which all meetings will be held as usual and as published in the Council’s calendar of meetings.

Meetings which were postponed have been rescheduled as follows:

Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee: 23 September at 10.30am

Governance Committee: 27 September at 2.15pm

Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee: Date to be confirmed. Check updates here.

Business due to be considered at the cancelled meeting of the Cabinet on 13 September is being rescheduled to its next meeting on 18 October.

Keeping in touch

Please share the information in this eNewsletter widely within your communities.

We welcome any comments or suggestions about the eNewsletter – email townandparishcouncilnews@westsussex.gov.uk.

For daily updates, residents can follow us on social media @WSCCNews and @WestSussexCC.

We are also now on Nextdoor, the app designed with communities in mind. Your residents can follow the link and join the conversation.

Thank you for your support.

Weekly List of Planning Applications

Food Waste Scheme

East Grinstead Town Council’s Statement on the Late Queen Elizabeth II

The East Grinstead Town Councillors and Staff are deeply saddened to hear the announcement of the death of Her Majesty. I will be writing to the Palace to express our condolences in the coming days.

As a mark of respect, the Union and Town Flags will be flown at half-mast until the day of the funeral. On Proclamation Day (Saturday 10th) the flags will be returned to full mast from the point of the National Proclamation in London of the New King, at 11.00 am and lowered again at 15.00 on Sunday 11th. On Sunday all are welcome to attend a church service at St Swithun’s Church at 12:00 noon and then at 15:00 the Proclamation will be read on the terraces at the rear of East Court Mansion.

An official book of condolence from the Town will be set up from Friday 9th September at East Court and is available for the public to sign with messages of condolence from 10.00 – 16.00 Monday to Friday and on the day of the funeral. Anyone that wishes to make an entry at a time outside of the opening hours should contact the Mayor’s Secretary on 01342 323636 or email towncouncil@eastgrinstead.gov.uk for availability. The books will close the day after the funeral. There will be an online link from the Town Council’s website to the National Book of Condolence maintained by Buckingham Palace.

On its closure, the hard copy it will be sent away for binding and then kept here as an official record. My letter of condolence will indicate this fact for the palace records.

Other books may be opened in other public buildings.

Floral tributes that the public wish to lay should be taken to the wall of remembrance at Mount Noddy Cemetery. The Town Mayor has laid a wreath from the Council.

Civic engagements will be reconsidered and those that are deemed appropriately sober during the period of mourning will be attended as planned. Event organisers where it is not deemed appropriate to attend during the period of mourning will be contacted with apologies relayed. I hope that I will be able to attend a later event for your organisation.

This is a sad time for the Country as a whole, residents of East Grinstead are encouraged to share their feelings with others, use the books of condolence and attend the civic service.

Cllr Adam Peacock
Town Mayor

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II (West Sussex CC)

West Sussex County Council joins the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The flags on public buildings around the county have been lowered to half-mast.

The Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard, and The Chairman of West Sussex County Council, Cllr Pete Bradbury have released statements speaking of their sadness following the announcement that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, died peacefully yesterday at Balmoral.

Details for the reading of The Proclamation and where to find Books of Condolence are also provided below.

Statement from the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard

Statement from the Chairman of West Sussex County Council, Councillor Pete Bradbury

Reading of The Proclamation outside County Hall on Sunday

Memories of our Queen

Her Majesty The Queen visited West Sussex on many occasions.

The first was when she was almost three, staying with her grandfather King George V, who was convalescing in Bognor. The young Princess delighted in making sand pies with her grandmother, Queen Mary, and watching her have fun on the beach provided a tonic for her grandfather who later bestowed a royal suffix to the town, making it Bognor Regis.

The most recent visit by Her Majesty was in November 2017, when she visited the Canine Partners charity in Midhurst. The charity trains dogs to assist people with physical disabilities. In the afternoon The Queen was at Chichester Festival Theatre where she watched a production by the Youth Theatre.

Other places she has visited included Crawley, Goodwood, Felpham, Gatwick, Durrington, Burgess Hill and Christ’s Hospital.

Pictures from some of these visits can be seen online.

If you would like to view other historic photos of the late Queen please visit West Sussex Pictures and search for ‘Queen Elizabeth II’.

Books of condolence

An online book of condolence has been opened on Buckingham Palace’s website: www.royal.uk

Residents who do not have online access can post a message of condolence to the Chairman’s Office, Room 102, West Sussex County Council, County Hall, Chichester PO19 1RQ.

Our 36 libraries across West Sussex can support anyone who would like to use a public computer to access the online book of condolence.

If you would prefer to record a written message then we are able to collect these in our libraries and they will be collated with other written messages received by the Chairman of the County Council.

CGR Final Recommendations

The CGR final recommendations report due to be considered by the Scrutiny Committee for Community, Leisure & Parking on 14^th September, is being published later today. Please see attached link.

NALC Newsletter

Planning Applications & Decisions