Category: News

PRINCESS Anne will visit East Court to meet Mayor Stephen Barnett and other civic dignitaries when her helicopter lands on the estate on 22 March.

The Princess will be in East Grinstead to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Blond McIndoe Research Foundation of which she is patron.

Her visit will be marked by the unveiling of a painting donated by the conservationist and painter David Shepherd, who lives just outside the town, and with a Spitfire fly-past

Blond McIndoe’s chief executive Jacquie Pinney said: "Having The Princess Royal as our patron is an honour and we are absolutely delighted that she is able to join us in celebrating this very auspicious anniversary.

"The Princess takes a real interest in the work of the charity and her patronage is invaluable.

"We are celebrating 50 years of innovative research but also showcasing our research strategy going forward and her support is a real endorsement of the value of the work that we do which has direct clinical relevance.

"We rely solely on regular donations for us to continue our valuable research into the repair of skin wounds, especially burns.

"We are determined to continue the pioneering work started by Sir Archibald McIndoe for the benefit of future generations."

The party at East Court Mansion is for specially invited guests and has been paid for entirely by business sponsorship.

The mayor, who chose the research foundation as one of his charities for his year in office, said he was "delighted" about the visit.

* Sir Archibald McIndoe’s dream to open a research centre in the grounds of the Queen Victoria Hospital became a reality with the help of close friends Neville and Elaine Blond, shortly after his death in 1961.

ACOUSTIC Sussex will present AHAB on 7 February, an exceptional group featuring four-piece harmonies and an impressive repertoire of self-penned songs.
They stole the show at last year’s Cropredy festival in front of a crowd of 15,000 and are predicted to be the “next big thing” in 2011. All tickets £10.

Bullfrog Productions present RENT on 11/12 February, the rock opera which tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive in New York City under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Tickets £11/concessions £9/family £35.

Bullfrog Productions presents Annie Junior on 12/13 February at 3pm. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie, and boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, Annie is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. Tickets £11/concessions £9/ family £35.

Imberhorne School presents An Evening of Dance on 16/17 February. Celebrating talented dancers throughout the school, the evening will include a collection of choreographies produced by GCSE dance students as well as dances performed by Lower and Upper School dance clubs. Tickets £7/concessions £5.

Guilty Pleasurez with music from the Jackie generation will be appearing at Chequer Mead on 18 February with a live performance of the biggest hits from the 70s, when pop was at its peak. Tickets £12/concessions £10.

Acoustic Sussex presents Cara Dillon on 19 February. Winner of Best Album for Hill of Thieves in the 2010 BBC Folk Awards, Irish songstress Cara Dillon is an unmissably rare talent. Tickets £17.50.

The popular Chequer Mead Lunchtime Concert returns on 22 February from 1.30pm to 2.15pm with Choirpower. With more than 80 concerts behind them, Choirpower perform the music their audiences love to hear with a repertoire including songs from the shows, jazz, pop, folk and modern. Tickets £4/concessions £3.50 or £3 when buying three concerts in the series.

Wednesday 23rd February from 7.00pm sees Jazz Cafe in the Cuisine Studio. For details and to prebook tickets or a meal call 01342 324860.

THE High Jynx Magic Roadshow brings half-term fun to town at lunchtime on 24 February. As featured on Tricky TV, this amazing magical circus show is packed with awesome illusions, dangerous escapes, interactive panto-style comedy and pop. Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year Michael Jordan guarantees a thrilling half term treat for the whole family. Tickets £7.50.

Roger Hind’s Charity Jazz Concert in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice is on 25 February. Following his sell-out concert last year, Roger presents over 20 marvellous arrangements of Gershwin favourites with guest vocalists Ruth Fahie and Gary Wright. Tickets £17/ concessions £15 (including programme).

Chris Black presents C’mon Everybody on 26 February. The greatest stars of the 50’s and 60’s come alive in this spectacular, vibrant, action packed, nonstop, live, rockin’ show. Tickets £15/concessions £13.

THE town’s tourism team has produced a new leaflet promoting many of East Grinstead’s attractions including places of historic interest, restaurants and Chequer Mead theatre, as well as attractions further afield such as Heaven Farm at Danehill, Tulleys Farm at Turner’s Hill and Drusilla’s Park near Alfriston.

“East Grinstead is not only a very pleasant town to visit in its own right,” said tourism officer Simon Kerr, “it is also an ideal jumping-off point for a great many other places within very easy reach.”

Simon’s comprehensive list of what-to-do and where-to-go, is available from the library’s tourist information desk, the museum and at tourist information points across the south east.

He will also be handing it out at the Group Visits Fair which will be held in the town on 18 February, which is an annual event for organisers of group visits and the owners of B&Bs across the county.

COUNCILLORS have rejected a report by the Mid Sussex Independent Committee which looked at the expenses paid to county, district and town councillors, and have agreed to accept a lower rate than that recommended.

In 2010/11 town councillors received a sum of £1085 pounds to cover out-of-pocket expenses including travel, telephone costs and postage.

But they have agreed to take a 5% reduction in the coming financial year, bringing the sum payable to £1030, slightly below that recommended by the committee.

Next year’s mayor will also receive £1,270 to off-set some of the expenses attached to being the town’s first citizen.

THE Council-owned Small and Upstairs Parish Halls opposite Chequer Mead theatre are to be restored thanks to the intervention of a local church group.

Jesus Living Water Christian Church, which already hires the Parish Halls on a regular basis, has agreed to lease the building in De la Warr Road for the coming 28 years.

The rent paid for the rear portion of the building, which will include the use of the upstairs hall, meeting room, kitchen and toilets, will finance the renovation of the Large Parish Hall in the front.

Council leader James Baldwin said he was delighted that the matter had finally been resolved after previous schemes to make it a centre for Age Concern, and to pull it down and build new flats, had both come to nothing.

“This proposal will result in an improved facility for the whole town to enjoy,” he said.

"We don’t want to waste any more time in terms of restoring the building to a state that the public rightly expect, so we are pleased that we can now go ahead as quickly as possible.

"This solution is a win three times over: a win for local residents, a win for better community facilities and a win for the local taxpayer."

TOWN Councillors received copies of the Station Quarter Master Plan, produced by Optimum Consultancy, at a presentation in January. The Plan can be viewed by clicking on the Notice Board pages of this site.

Neil Bowsher and his colleagues Dan Accorsi, Ron Terry and Mike Goddard presented the Plan and answered questions at last month’s meeting of the Public Services committee, which was also attended by representatives from West Sussex County Council and Mid Sussex District Council.

They told councillors that Optimum regards the development of the Station Quarter both as “an exciting opportunity” in its own right, and one which they hope will inspire landowners and local authorities alike to progress other much-needed developments in adjacent areas.

For the purposes of the Station Quarter development, the site was divided into three key parts – the station area itself; the land to the west of the railway line which includes the high level car park and surrounding area, including land owned by Sustrans; and the area to the east of the Station site including the western end of Railway Approach and the commercial area immediately to the north of the A22 Beeching Way.

The proposals for zone 1 and the station forecourt will provide for a new car park with a closer association with the station, all parking in a single area, with linkage from the car park to the pedestrian bridge link and west of the rail track.

The key developments will include a remodelled station forecourt area, enhanced bus interchange and the development of a landmark building (a new hotel with café, bar and restaurant facilities was identified) with minor residential use.

The zone 2 proposals provide for residential use with the relocation of the existing car parking, and zone 3 proposals include both a potential residential solution and meaningful commercial opportunities which might, if commercially attractive, result in the relocation of the petrol station if the landowner felt this could be beneficial.
The scheme would also allow for some realignment of the relief road as it comes into Station Road, which would create more commercially viable parcels of land for development.

Replying to the presentation, councillors welcomed the plan and thanked the consultants for their work on it.

They recognised that the current economic climate is not altogether favourable for major schemes, but felt the plan would offer real opportunities for ambitious landowners, including Network Rail, the County Council, Sustrans and the commercial sector, when the economy picks up.

They also agreed that the work on the Station Quarter Master Plan could be embraced within a future Neighbourhood Plan, which would need to be produced in accordance with planning guidance and in conformity with the Local Development Framework, and that this tied in well with the Localism agenda which would be the subject of “extensive public engagement and consultation”.

Note: Grateful thanks are recorded to Graham Flight, Chairman of Bluebell Railway plc for permission to use his photograph on page 2 of the Plan. He retains copyright of the photograph, which is not to be reproduced without his express permission in writing.

THE date of the Annual Town Meeting has been changed from that previously publicised (6 April) and will now take place at East Court on Tuesday 5 April starting at 6.30pm.

MAYOR Stephen Barnett joined Council colleagues and the local business community for the official opening of the Sussex Arms on 21 January.

Stephen is pictured cutting the ribbon watched by Tony Blackburn of Inns4You, the company behind the rebranded pub. He commended Tony on the transformation of the pub and the investment that has been made, which he observed showed real commitment to, and confidence in, the Town’s economy.

AN exhibition celebrating the work of East Grinstead’s volunteers will be at the town museum in Cantelupe Road until 27 February.

It has been arranged in partnership with East Grinstead’s Council for Voluntary Services, which helps volunteers find places where their particular skills and talents can be best employed, as well as providing advice and help to local voluntary and community groups.

The exhibition concentrates on the work of several local groups and tells their stories using objects and images from their own archives.

Volunteering has enjoyed a long history in the town. In the 19th century the cottage hospital was started by volunteers, and the railway was brought to the town by public-spirited people who realised that an economic decline in the 1840s had been caused by the railway through Three Bridges which took trade away from East Grinstead.

While their efforts may not be a classic example of what most of us think of when considering the work of volunteers, those involved gave their time and efforts to a local concern which made a real difference to the town community.

The definition of volunteering is the free offering a service to others without expectation of reward. However most volunteers say they get as much if not more out of the experience than they put in, including the opportunity to use old skills or learn new ones, make friends, work alongside like-minded people and the satisfaction of feeling they have contributed to their community.

The museum is open from Wednesday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm, and on Sundays and Bank Holidays between 2pm and 5pm. Entrance is free.

THE many new businesses which have opened in East Grinstead during the past few months have seen the number of town centre premises standing empty drop to 6.8% compared to a national average of 14%.

The figures show a continuing downward trend from a previous survey in October carried out by Cllr Bob Mainstone of the Council’s Business Support Group, when 8% of the town’s shops were vacant.

“East Grinstead seems better placed than many similar sized towns,” said Bob, “and the influx of new business is a very welcome sign that we can hope for growth in 2011.”

Among the new shops which have opened over the past year are the Casablanca cafe, Market Square, Bluebells, Wear it Again Sam, Gmail, The Works, Master Fryer, the Print Shop, Matthew Hole and Fellows Bakers.

The town has also welcomed two new chain stores, Pound Stretcher and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

“The Town Council is always delighted to welcome new traders and if East Grinstead continues to respond quickly to consumers’ needs the town will thrive.” said Bob.