EAST Grinstead Town Council has applied to Mid Sussex District Council for ‘winter supply packs’ to supplement its store of snow shovels and high visibility vests available for residents to borrow in the event of heavy snow fall this winter.
Rural areas are often the worst affected during heavy snow because compacted ice and snow on the roads makes it hard for support to reach isolated villages. The quickest way to get communities up and running again is for local volunteers to pull together and Mid Sussex District Council is supplying the equipment to help them do it.

The equipment can be loaned to any local resident who would like to support their community by helping to clear pavements and walkways or checking on vulnerable members of the village. The only requirements are that volunteers should be aged 18 or over, physically fit, suitably dressed for winter weather and able to make it safely to the local Town/Parish Council offices.
Winter equipment packs will be stored at Town and Parish Council offices so that they are at the heart of the community should heavy snow fall. The packs contain heavy duty snow shovels, warm hats, gloves, high visibility vests and emergency blankets.
“When heavy snow falls it is inevitable that there will be some disruption, but as residents we must do our best to keep it to a minimum by being prepared and helping each other,” said Councillor Christopher Snowling, Cabinet Member for Health and Community. “With these new winter supplies we can help to equip local people, and by working alongside volunteers we can make sure vulnerable people do not become isolated in times of severe weather.
“There is no law to stop us from clearing snow and ice from the pavement outside our property, pathways to our houses or other public spaces. As long as residents use common sense and are careful not to make surfaces more dangerous than it was before then they are free and encouraged to help out. Clearing the snow at the front of your house may seem like a small step, but if we all do it then together we can quickly get our communities moving again after heavy snow.”
The money for the winter equipment packs has been allocated from the government’s ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People Fund’. Local authorities from around the country were invited to bid for the funding, and a partnership bid by local councils and voluntary organisations in West Sussex secured more than £397,000 for the county. The money will be used to deliver a variety of innovative schemes that help vulnerable people keep warm and safe and to prevent any avoidable trips to hospital during the winter months.
The winter equipment packs are available to all Town and Parish Councils in Mid Sussex but the packs are going quickly and Parish Councils should order now to avoid disappointment. To order a pack call Ben Toogood, MSDC Emergency Planning and Outdoor Services Manager on 01444 477379 or email Ben.Toogood@midsussex.gov.uk.