Category: News

THE Town Council has had its IIP (Investors in People) reaccreditation approved.

IIP is a standard open to any business which employs people to show that they develop their staff by training and support.

Town Clerk Julie Holden said: “IIP standard is nationally understood to show an employer cares about their staff and is interested in them: happy staff are motivated and do their best for the organization.

“East Grinstead Town Council is a great place to work, but we also take employment roles seriously to keep motivated and competent staff who strive to improve and develop their role and service to the residents in order to provide best value.”

She added: “IIP Standards are about training, recruitment and ‘golden threads’ – the ethos of the organization understood at all levels, so everyone knows where they fit into it, and how they can contribute to its aims and goals.”

* Launched in 1991, Investors in People is the UK’s leading people management standard. It specialises in transforming business performance through people. Over a third of the UK’s workforce use Investors in People today because they see a number of real business benefits.

Journeys of Differing Realities – Friday 19 April to Wednesday 24 April:

AN exhibition of paintings, prints and mixed media by Jillian Eldridge and Sarah Flack.

Jillian’s imagery researches migration both of humankind and the animal insect world and reflects on journeys made by living things in their efforts to ensure the survival of future generations.

Sarah explores communication with the spiritual realm and the possibility of multiple dimensions, by means of an automatic approach to imagery, using print and mixed media.

For more information contact the box office on 01342 302000 or see www.chequermead.org.uk

The Equine Lameness Prevention Organisation presents Dispelling the Myths on Wednesday 10 April at 7:30pm:

AN evening of talks by leading equestrian industry professionals to clarify fact from fiction in areas affecting your horses soundness and well-being.

Foyer opens at 6pm to meet the professionals for one-on-one advice. Talks include question time.

Photo courtesy of Dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Jukebox and Bobbysox Show on Friday 12 April at 7:30pm:

THIS colourful show will take you back with two hours of jukebox hits. With a live band, fabulous costumes and fantastic footwork from the Bobbysox dancers this is an evening out which will appeal to all audiences.

The Bohemians present A Night of Queen on Saturday 13 April at 7:30pm:

THE Bohemians are the most dynamic and exciting Queen Tribute Band currently touring the UK, Europe and the world.

A Night of Queen was established in 1996, and re-enacts the group’s glory days, with full staging, lighting, backdrops, pyrotechnics and a baby grand piano.

Chequer Mead Friends Quiz Night on Wednesday 17 April at 7:30pm:

HOSTED by Chequer Mead Friends you can come alone, bring a friend, or a whole team (maximum 6) for a fun evening of general knowledge brain teasers.

There are prizes for the winners and all proceeds are in support of Chequer Mead.

Bob Drury presents The Neil Diamond Story on Friday 19 April at 7:30pm:

IN his acclaimed one-man show Bob Drury celebrates the music of Neil Diamond, tracking his remarkable journey from unknown songwriter to international mega-star through five decades of blockbuster hits!

Cuisine Studio presents Jazz Café on Thursday 25 April at 7pm:

ENJOY the best of live Jazz with the John Gowers Jazz Quartet combined with finest Bistro menus at Cuisine Studio’s regular Jazz Café evenings.

Whole Lotta Led presents Four Become Five! on Friday 26 April at 7:30pm:

ON 28 March 1973 Led Zeppelin released their long awaited fifth album – Houses of the Holy.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its release, Whole Lotta Led will be performing the album in its entirety as the second half of this show. The first half and encore will contain further classic Zeppelin songs.

A presentation on the new Avenue Verte route between London and Paris will be given by a spokesman for Mid Sussex District Council at East Court starting at 6.30pm on 28 March.

The talk will include the consultation being launched by MSDC to improve signage and promotion of the Avenue, and how it can be improved in East Grinstead.

The ‘green’ route linking two of Europe’s capital cities uses traffic-free public rights of way and disused railway lines wherever possible.

In East Grinstead it is on a route along the Worth and Forest Ways with a passage between them through the town.

The idea of the Avenue Verte was to promote green tourism by providing walkers, cyclists and horse riders with as safe a route as possible starting at St Paul’s cathedral in London and ending at Notre Dame in Paris, via ferries from Newhaven to Dieppe.

The path gives various options to travellers, with the shortest route 250 miles or 400 kms long – and the opportunity to return by train.

THE Bluebell Railway has shared a triumphant picture of the first steam engine to approach East Grinstead from the South in 55 years, with a group shot of the volunteers who made it happen.

Taken on 16 March it was a forerunner to the inauguration of a regular service along the extension into East Grinstead by the end of this month.

Picture courtesy of Michael Hopps

Notice is hereby given that

A vacancy exists in the Office of Councillor for East Grinstead Town Council in the Town South ward.

Read more…

MP Nicholas Soames joined Town Mayor Liz Bennett for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new East Grinstead mainline railway station.

Welcoming the completion of the building Council Leader Norman Webster said: “The new station is a significant improvement on what we had before, and during the next financial year work will begin on improving the bus depot with better disabled access, real time information boards and more modern shelters.

“Cyclists are very well supplied with safe and secure storage in an area protected from the elements, and once inside the station there is an excellent coffee shop run by a local businessman. We are hopeful that disabled access to both platforms will be improved in time.”

* THE new station should be put to good use during the coming summer by visitors from London arriving to take a step back in time on the Bluebell Railway. The first steam train is scheduled to arrive by the end of March after the completion of a 30 year project to extend the line into East Grinstead.

Mid Sussex District Council is requesting views on proposals to change the electoral wards for East Grinstead Town Council.

The proposals on which the Council is consulting on are:

• The movement of the Imberhorne/Baldwins ward boundary to bring it in line with the District Council boundary.
• The merger of the Town North and Town South back into a single ward known as Town.

Any changes to be made would come into effect at the next full election of Town and Parish Councillors in May 2015.

Information about the review can be found on the Council’s website at http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/communitygovernancereviews . Reports are also available to view at the offices of Mid Sussex District Council and East Grinstead Town Council.

You can submit your view by email to elections@midsussex.gov.uk or by writing to:

The Chief Executive
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex.
RH16 1SS

The closing date for responses is Friday 31 May 2013

We are doing our best to clear pavements and MSDC staff are also helping. We are unable to refill salt bins today – we need more supplies from WSCC and the time to get to the bins.

Please note that from 1 April the Town Council will no longer be able to offer you the service of administering free bus  passes/alternate free railcard  for senior citizens or disabled persons.

The Town Council has been an access point for many years however from 1 April 2013 we have been advised that these can only be applied for  by downloading an application form from the WSCC’s website (buspasses@westsussex.gov.uk) or collecting one from any WSCC library/Help Point, and all District and Borough Council Offices.

Once these forms are completed residents will need to submit their form along with copies of the required documentary evidence and a recent passport sized photo to PO Box 212, Waterlooville, PO7 6ZN (this address will be printed on all forms).

A new dedicated phone line for bus pass/free railcards queries will be available to all residents after 1 April 2013 (0845 0751018).

Please note that this does not apply to the  senior persons/disabled persons subsidised annual rail cards which can still be obtained from the Town Council offices for the reduced cost of  £20.50 rather than the full £28.00.  The reduction is met partly from Mid Sussex District Council (£4.20) and East Grinstead Town Council of (£3.30) per pass.