Category: News

Mid Sussex is set to take part in the next round of the 2019 Voter ID pilots along with 10 other local authorities across England.

The pilots will take place at the 2019 local elections, providing further insight to the Government into how best to secure the voting process.

At the last local elections in May, five local authorities took part in the first round of Voter ID pilots, which are being run by the Cabinet Office. The evaluation following the first trials showed they were a success, with the overwhelming majority of people able to cast their vote without a problem.

To verify that voters are who they say they are, each of the 11 local authorities in the 2019 pilot will test one of four models of Voter ID checks. In Mid Sussex, voters will be asked to present their polling cards as a means of identification.

Anyone who does not have their poll card with them on polling day will be asked to present another form of photo ID including a UK or EU photo-card driving licence (full or provisional) or a valid British, European or Commonwealth passport.

Local authorities will provide alternative methods of ID to individuals who do not have a specified form of ID, free of charge, ensuring that everyone who is registered has the opportunity to vote.

Mid Sussex Returning Officer Tom Clark said:

“We want to give everyone the maximum amount of notice that Mid Sussex is going to be one of the government pilot areas for voter ID. The government see this as a crucial step in ensuring the integrity of voting processes across the country and we are happy to be involved.”

Minister for the Constitution, Chloe Smith MP said:

“I am pleased to see Mid Sussex District Council is taking part in the 2019 pilots. Their participation will help us gain a deeper understanding of how voter ID will work on a wider scale ahead of a national rollout, and see what works best for voters.

“We want people to have confidence that our elections are safeguarded against any threat or perception of electoral fraud.

“People are already required to show ID to pick up a parcel from the Post Office, rent a car, or apply for benefits and this is a common sense next step to securing the integrity of our elections.”

To contact Mid Sussex electoral services about the 2019 Voter ID pilot or any other election matter, please call 01444 477003 or email elections@midsussex.gov.uk

Cards with a conscience, Charity Christmas card shop is open in east Grinstead library until 15th December.

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Town Mayor Rex Whittaker joined Weston Homes and Sharron Davies in welcoming the launch of the show flats within the Queens Walk development.

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Following a recent tender, WSCC Children’s and Young People Joint Commissioning Team are delighted to announce from 1^st November 2018, blended counselling services for young people in West Sussex will continue to be provided by YMCA DownsLink Group (YMCA).

The service offers face to face counselling at various locations across the county to young people aged 11-18 years who present with mild to moderate emotional wellbeing and mental health needs.

The service also offer online counselling via a new counselling and mental health support platform called “e-wellbeing”.

A new development within the service will be the delivery of a group work programme.  YMCA will be working with key partners in developing an integrated group work programme for young people which should be available in specific locations towards the end of the year.

Referrals to the counselling service can be made via the find it out centres, self-referrals, CAMHS panel and via the contact details below:

Dialogue, YMCA DownsLink Group

The Y centre, Albion Way

Horsham RH12 1AH

T 07739 893707        E community.counselling@ymcadlg.org

Please note there has been a change to the online resource young people have been accessing, the Kooth website will no longer be available in West Sussex after 31^st October.

Instead Find, Get, Give is a YMCA produced national website that supports young people, parents and carers and professionals around mental health. The site has been co-produced with young people and provides access to a range of self-help tools, resources, guides and blogs as well as a service directory of national mental health services that young people can rate and review:

• Find, Get, Give https://findgetgive.com/

For information and advice about mental health support the following websites are also available for young people, parents and carers and professionals:

Young Minds: Includes resource booklets, self-help guides, service directory and a parent and carers helpline:

• Young Minds https://youngminds.org.uk/

Your Space: West Sussex’s site for young people, includes information on Find It Out centres and other local support services

• Your Space https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/your-space/

More than 110 singers joined voices when three choirs combined for a very special concert at St Mary’s Church, East Grinstead.

East Grinstead Choral Society hosted a visit by Coral Cypsella from East Grinstead’s Catalan twin town Sant Feliu, and they were joined at the concert by children from St Mary’s C of E Primary School Choir on Saturday 3 November.

The sell-out audience, which included East Grinstead Town Mayor Rex Whittaker, were treated to a wide range of music ranging from Oliver! and choral masses, to traditional Catalan songs and even Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade sung in Catalan.

The children from St Mary’s performed two solo numbers Oleo, a traditional African chant, and Londonderry Air, which is also known as Danny Boy.

The three choirs came together for the final song, John Rutter’s The Lord bless you and keep you.

East Grinstead Choral Society Chair, Gill Olliver, said it had been a very special occasion and the audience gave the three choirs a lengthy ovation at the end.

“‘We had a wonderful evening,” said Gill. “East Grinstead Choral Society was proud to welcome Coral Cypsella from our twin town St Feliu and the children from St Mary’s C of E Primary School Choir to sing in our joint concert. The blending of the choirs was a truly uplifting experience.”

Musical directors from each of the choirs – Richard Jenkinson from EGCS, Visi Diaz from Coral Cypsella and Tanya Johnston from St Mary’s – all conducted during the evening.

The concert was the culmination of a long weekend visit to East Grinstead by around 70 singers, friends and families from Sant Feliu. On arrival, East Grinstead Town Twinning Society hosted a reception at East Court and Town Mayor Rex Whittaker presented them with Meridian Line certificates to confirm that they had stood astride the famous line of longitude that runs through East Court.

East Grinstead Choral Society’s year will be rounded off with a Family Christmas Concert at Imberhorne Lower School on Saturday 8 December, when they will again by joined by St Mary’s C of E Primary School choir.

East Grinstead Choral Society rehearses every Thursday evening during term time from 7.30pm to 9.45pm at the Jubilee Community Centre, East Grinstead, and new members would be made very welcome. To find out more, visit www.egcs.co.uk or find them on Facebook.

IN HARMONY: The three choirs filled St Mary’s Church, East Grinstead, with music.

This year we mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Join us at East Court at 10am or the High Street at 11am on Sunday 11 November to mark this anniversary.

The 11am service will include the parade from King St, act of remembrance and singing of hymns and the national anthem accompanied by the Choir from St Swithun’s and the East Grinstead Concert Band. During the 2 minutes silence a big screen stationed on the market square will show the earlier lighting of the East Court beacon as part of the National Battles Over Beacon lighting.

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The East Grinstead Concert Band will form up around the jubilee fountain and the parade will form in the road by the war memorial. After the service the band and parade will move off to Chequer Mead Car park where they will disperse.

If you are not joining us, please be aware that the High St will be closed to traffic from 10:15am and will not reopen until the parade has cleared the high st. All will be open by 12pm.

• Service timetable
• Service sheet
• Road closure map

Beacon lighting

The Council have decided to light the Beacon at East Court twice on Sunday, once before the 10.00 service at East Court and again in line with the national lighting at 7pm. East Grinstead has been listed to be part of the national beacon lighting for over a year, but had opted for an earlier time so that the flame could be screened during the main act of remembrance at 11am.

The Chairman of Amenities and Tourism said:  This earlier time was welcomed by residents who are not able to come out at night time, but other residents had stated that it was a shame that East Grinstead would not be lighting at the same time as many other Mid Sussex Parishes.

Members of the public who wish to attend East Court in the evening are advised that car parking will be extremely limited as the beacon is in the car park, and there is a private event in the Meridian Hall. They are also advised to take extra care when walking around the estate in the dark, bringing a torch would be advised.

The Council have decided to light the Beacon at East Court twice on Sunday, once before the 10.00 service at East Court and again in line with the national lighting at 7pm. East Grinstead has been listed to be part of the national beacon lighting for over a year, but had opted for an earlier time so that the flame could be screened during the main act of remembrance at 11am.

The Chairman of Amenities and Tourism said:  This earlier time was welcomed by residents who are not able to come out at night time, but other residents had stated that it was a shame that East Grinstead would not be lighting at the same time as many other Mid Sussex Parishes.

Members of the public who wish to attend East Court in the evening are advised that car parking will be extremely limited as the beacon is in the car park, and there is a private event in the Meridian Hall. They are also advised to take extra care when walking around the estate in the dark, bringing a torch would be advised.

Mid Sussex District Council is inviting local independent retailers to take advantage of free training that will help them fight back against online retailers and keep Mid Sussex high streets vibrant and alive.

Retail experts Martec International will deliver a series of six free training sessions from Monday 19 November. The workshops will cover important topics such as honing a retail strategy, marketing, range planning, presentation, sales and customer service and inventory management.

Attendance at one of the events will make independent retailers eligible for a free coaching and mentoring session with a Martec consultant in their own store. These one-to-one sessions will enable the consultants to tailor advice to the specific needs of each business.

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Deputy Leader of Mid Sussex District Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development said:

“Independent retailers provide a unique shopping experience to our local towns and villages. We believe this free training will provide practical, down to earth training that will enable local retailers to increase profits and compete more effectively with the chains. We expect demand for places to be high and urge owners of independent shops to sign up now.”

Brian Hume, Managing Director, Martec International said:

“We look forward to helping independent retailers fight back and find out new ways to boost sales and increase profitability. Mid Sussex District Council is a very forward looking local authority and by offering this free training to independent retailers it will help shopkeepers make the most of Christmas trading and ensure New Year profitability.”

Local retailers can register and learn more about the training at www.martec-international.com/services/114/free-training-for-independent-retailers