Category: News

Mid Sussex District Council is encouraging people to shop locally and support their community by reducing parking to £1 every Saturday in December.

In the run up to Christmas, shoppers won’t have to worry about parking prices in specific long stay car parks across Mid Sussex. Mid Sussex District Council is providing discounted parking on Saturdays to support local shoppers and traders. As parking on Sundays is already free, it will cost just £1 to park in the Franklynn Road, Queens Crescent, Station Road, the Vicarage or Norton House car parks for the whole weekend.

“Christmas is a really important time for local shops and it’s vital that we show them our support by doing our present shopping locally in our towns when we can.,” said Councillor Gary Marsh, Cabinet Member for Service Delivery. “We are aiming to spread Christmas cheer and good will to residents and those visiting from outside of Mid Sussex, so take advantage of our £1 offer and shop locally this Christmas.”

Short stay car parks in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath will also be free after 1pm on the day of the Christmas light switch-on. To support these town events you won’t have to pay during the afternoon on:

• Saturday 19^th November, at
  • The Martlets, Burgess Hill
  • Church Road, Burgess Hill
  • Cyprus Road, Burgess Hill
• Saturday 26^th November, at
  • The Orchards, Haywards Heath
  • Hazelgrove, Haywards Heath
  • Haywards East, Haywards Heath
  • Gower Road, Haywards Heath
  • Haywards West, Haywards Heath
  • Queensway, East Grinstead
  • Kings Street, East Grinstead
  • Chequer Mead, East Grinstead
  • Christopher Road, East Grinstead

These free Christmas celebrations will feature some great Christmas activities such as a free ice rink, funfair rides, live entertainment, craft stalls and the opportunity to meet Father Christmas.

For more information please contact our parking team on 01444 477212 or at parkinginfo@midsussex.gov.uk  or visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/xmasparking.

East Grinstead Town Mayor Cllr Bob Mainstone will switch on the Rotary Tree of Light and the Christmas lights on Saturday 26^th November 2016.

The lights (provided by the town council) are set to timers to start coming on 3.59pm from the High St, along London Road and Railway Approach.   All lights will be lit by 4pm at which point the Town Mayor will press the button to light the tree.

This year is the first time that the lights have been co-ordinated with the Rotary Clubs tree of light.

There will be activity in the Market Square from 3.15 with music from the East Grinstead Concert Band and singing of carols led by local choirs.   The Chequer Mead panto characters will be in costume and Santa’s elves (courtesy of poppies parties) will also be there to entertain.

Members of Rotary in official tabards will be present throughout the town centre during the day collecting for local Rotary charities as part of their Annual Christmas Appeal.

Mid Sussex District Council have granted free parking from 3pm in their short stay car parks for that afternoon.

East Grinstead Rotary Clubs will be undertaking their santa sleigh ride around the town in the evenings leading up to Christmas to raise funds for local charities. Full details of where and when they will be visiting can be found on their website www.meridianrotary.co.uk

Other Festive activities in East Grinstead will include

• the High St “Big Reveal on Friday 18^th November (at 5pm),
• Elf the Musical at Chequer Mead (Friday 25^th and Saturday 26^th November),
• the London Road Christmas market (Sunday 4^th December),
• EGConcert Band at St Swithuns church (Sunday 11^th December)
• ‘Twas the Sunday before Christmas on the High St (Sunday 18^th December).
• Dick Whittington pantomime  –  Chequer Mead Saturday 17^th –  Thursday 29^th December

http://www.eastgrinstead.gov.uk/whats-on/festive-east-grinstead/

East Grinstead is attempting to become more dementia friendly.  Come along to an awareness session (Free of charge) to hear more about what being a dementia friend means and how you can help make the town more caring and aware for people with Dementia.

There are 2 sessions on 14^th November at East Court, you can book a place by contacting the town clerks office 01342 323636  or emailing w.mackenzie@eastgrinstead.gov.uk  marking the email “Dementia Friends”.   You can just come along but booking helps with number expectations.

Andy Perry,the Trusts and Legacies fundraiser for St Catherine’s, seen in the photo with Town Mayor Bob Mainstone, received a cheque from the Town Council’s Community Grant Scheme. “It was a pleasure to meet Cllr Mainstone and to have the opportunity to explain the ways in which St Catherine’s provides end of life care to meet the needs of local people.” said Andy.

Last year, St Catherine’s Hospice cared for more than 2,000 patients and their family and friends. Offering practical and emotional support, the care St Catherine’s provides is free to patients and their families. Receiving less than a third of their running costs from the NHS, St Catherine’s relies on the generosity and support of the local community.  A donation of £300 from East Grinstead Town Council is helping make a real difference to terminally ill people in East Grinstead, where each year St Catherine’s cares for about 150 people and those closest to them.

Town Mayor Bob Mainstone and Mayoress Christine Mainstone joined the celebrations held to celebrate the East Grinstead and District Lions Club at Chartham Park.  Bob praised the work done by the club raising money for local good causes and supporting other town events by bringing their popular catering facilities to events such as the May Fair. Many of us will have passed by their book trailer in Queens Walk on Saturday’s which is one of their major fund raisers. More on the work of the Lions on their website http://www.eastgrinsteadlions.co.uk

East Grinstead Tadpoles, the Swimming Club for the Disabled, welcomed Town Mayor Bob Mainstone at the poolside of the Kings Centre. The Town Council has donated funds from their Community Grants Scheme to aid the Club in the outstanding work they do. Alan Rees, seen here in the photo with Mayor Bob Mainstone, said “We were very pleased to see the Mayor and very grateful for the cheque. We appreciated the time he spent with our members and helpers”.

The Club which was founded 34 years ago, helps those with disabilities over a wide age range to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of swimming. You can read more about their work on their website  http://www.tadpoles.info.

As in previous years a road closure will be in effect both in London Road and the High Street, this will start at 10.30 finishing at 11.45 am. Other roads affected will be Church Lane, Hermitage Lane and Portland Road as well as Cantelupe Road. Please note that vehicles turning into and exiting these roads will be controlled by staffed points throughout the proceedings.

The parade leaves from Little King Street and proceeds up London Road into the High Street at 10.40am assembling in the High Street opposite the War Memorial. Wreaths are to be laid by The Deputy Lord Lieutenant for West Sussex, Sir Nicholas Soames MP, East Grinstead Town Mayor Cllr Bob Mainstone, Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council Cllr Peter Reed as well as the Men and Women’s section of the Royal British Legion.

IN a regular feature on the Town Council website, we will be remembering, on the anniversary of their deaths, the East Grinstead soldiers who died during WWI,  and who are named on the High Street War Memorial.

This month we recall (as recorded on The Roll of Honour website):

Cecil Keith HARRIS

Private TF/2115 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Died of diptheria in military hospital in Ismailia, Egypt. 8.11.16. Aged 19.

Son of Joseph and Alice Harris of West Hoathly. Born in Horstead Keynes and enlisted in Horsham.

Buried Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

Frederick WESTGATE

Private G/16183 12th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division.

Died of wounds in base hospital at Rouen 26.11.16. Aged 21.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. E.M.Westgate of 24, Stockwell Road, East Grinstead. Born and enlisted in East Grinstead

Buried St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen F. 146.

 

Free Halloween posters are being provided by Mid Sussex District Council and Sussex Police to show ‘Trick or Treaters’ if they are welcome to call.

Many young children will soon be putting on their scariest costumes and taking to the streets to celebrate Halloween. There will be lots of fun activities taking place right across the District but there are members of the Mid Sussex community who do not wish to participate in the celebrations.

Mid Sussex District Council and Sussex Police are asking revellers to be respectful of people who do not wish to take part in the trick or treat ritual. The Council is making ‘No trick or treat’ and ‘trick or treaters welcome’ posters available from the District Council offices, Town Council Help Points and online.

“Dressing up for Halloween and asking for sweet treats is great fun for children but there are members of the community who are nervous about people calling at their home after dark,” said Councillor Norman Webster, Cabinet Member Community. “We want everyone to enjoy the evening of 31st October so we’re encouraging people to display one of these posters in their front window to either welcome trick or treaters to call, or to ask them not to stop this time.

“It only takes a minute to download one of the posters or to collect one from the Council offices so make sure you’re ready for Halloween and grab one today.”

The District Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator has visited a number of local schools alongside representatives from Sussex Police to raise awareness among young people about how they can be perceived at this time. Groups of young people in high spirits and scary costumes can be intimidating for some residents and students were asked not to approach properties displaying the ‘no trick or treat’ signs.

In recent weeks a small minority of people have tried to scare or intimidate other people whilst dressed as clowns. Those celebrating Halloween this year are advised to avoid dressing up as clowns as it is unlikely to result in a positive reaction from the public.

To download the free Halloween posters visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/halloween

For more information on Community Safety contact Emma Wyborn, ASB Coordinator on 01444 47 7489or email antisocialbehaviour@midsussex.gov.uk.