Please note that Blackwell Hollow will be closed between 9.30am and 3.00pm on Monday 11th May to allow urgent treeworks to be carried out. Diversions will be put in place
As part of the Town Council’s annual Revenue Grants, Town Mayor Dick Sweatman presented a cheque for £100 to the Meridian Short Mat Bowls Club on Monday. The Club’s Secretary and Treasurer Bob Lane, warmly welcomed the Town Mayor and voiced the Club’s appreciation. The Club meets every Monday afternoon at the Meridian Hall on the East Court Estate, and new members are always welcome.
Mid Sussex District Council is providing all-day town centre parking for £1 on the weekends leading up to Christmas.
The Council is supporting shoppers and traders with discounted parking on Saturdays in the towns of Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath. The £1 parking offer will only be available in long stay car parks owned by Mid Sussex District Council.
Parking in Mid Sussex is completely free on Sundays, so that’s a whole weekend of shopping for less than the price of a loaf of bread. The parking discounts will be available from Saturday 5 December at the following locations:
The Council is also encouraging families to visit the town centre Christmas Festivals by making car parking free after 1pm on the day of each event. In Burgess Hill children can meet The Gruffalo, Father Christmas and his real reindeer on 21 November. In Haywards Heath there’s a lantern procession and firework display on 28 November and the offer is available in East Grinstead on 5 December, with the Christmas Festival taking place the following day.
“This is the most important time of the year for local retailers and we’re showing them our support by offering town centre parking all weekend for just £1 in the run up to Christmas,” said Councillor Gary Marsh, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Property.
“You can join us and show your support for the local economy this Christmas by shopping in your local town. Popping into town is quick and convenient way to pick up gifts for friends or family and with the great range of shops we have in Mid Sussex, there’s no reason to go anywhere else.
“I hope our parking offer encourages even more people to shop locally and attracts shoppers from other areas to spend their money in Mid Sussex.”
For more information about parking across in Mid Sussex visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/parking.
From budding entrepreneurs to established owners, the West Sussex business community are being invited to attend a drop-in Business Information Session in East Grinstead.
Staff from West Sussex Libraries’ Business Information Service will be at East Grinstead Library, 32-40 West Street, between 10am and 4pm on Tuesday 1st December, demonstrating some of the services that West Sussex County Council are able to offer local businesses.
Whether you are thinking of starting a business or looking to expand, they will supply the information you need to help you along your way.
You’ll be able to find out how the council’s use of specialist databases (some of which are updated daily), printed resources and desk research can provide you a comprehensive and confidential service covering:
(Some of these services may require a small charge)
The drop-in session is free to attend and for more information, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/bis or call 0330 222 4744.
The Town Mayor led Cllrs, Staff, visitors and the Chair of Town Twinning shared a minute’s silence to mark the events in Paris over the weekend. The European flag was lowered to half mast in respect for the victims and in unity with Europe, for the duration of the silence and remains flying, all day at East Court.
6 teams competed in the Rotary Youth Speaks competition at Chequer Mead last night. The public speaking contest had 5 entries from Lingfield Notre Dame, Sackville and Worth in the senior section and one from Worth in the intermediate section.
The judges (Brian Aps Julie Holden and Hillary Waddingham) heard arguments on a range of topics from why video games are bad for society through to the population explosion. The Winners were announced as Worth Team A ; Eli Barratt(chair), Olivia Wilson (speaker) and Isabella Lee (proposer of thanks) who persuasively argued that Advertising should be regulated due its harmful subliminal effects under the title Bombarded and Brainwashed; Advertising Really Hurts.
Clive Brooks asked a question of each team from the floor and Town Mayor Cllr Dick Sweatman presented the prizes.
In announcing the winner The chief adjudicator Julie Holden said “It was a tough decision as all the teams presented confident, well researched arguments. It is greatly appreciated that the schools support this annual event, which develop skills for use later in life”
The Winners, along with the intermediary entry (Hareen Ahmed, Kitan Ojo and Jessica Piraino) also from Worth School will move along to the regional heats in February.
As temperatures reach their coldest and we’re spending most of our time indoors, there is an increased risk of fire in the home.
Some people, especially the elderly, can become vulnerable during the winter, as they struggle to stay warm.
However, there are some simple things everyone can do to help them stay safe this winter.
Heating the home
Using an electric blanket
Do
Don’t
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms are the best way to alert you if there is a fire in your home and allow you to get out in good time. Test your smoke alarm weekly, to ensure that it is still working efficiently.
Recommend a Home Safety Visit
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is urging everyone – particularly the friends, family and neighbours of older people – to recommend a free Home Safety Visit.
A Home Safety Visit involves firefighters visiting people in their home to give them fire safety advice, discuss escape routes and fit smoke alarms and other specialist detection equipment free of charge.
To request a Home Safety Visit call 0845 872 9719 or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire
Following another successful local sports initiative, East Grinstead Sports Council is pleased to announce the conclusion of their latest funding programme for the sports community. Schools and Sports Clubs associated with the Sports Council have been given assistance over the last 18 months to identify and secure funds to assist them with the running of new sports activities and programmes. In all over £150,000 has been raised with 15 organisations benefitting from the initiative.
Successful projects included one for Dunnings Squash and Racketball Club for the introduction of coaches to help with the junior development programme. Estcots School created a programme for healthy eating and Sackville School are using their funding to develop a cycling programme aimed at fitness and healthy lifestyles.
Initial grants to allow the scheme to start were provided by East Grinstead Town Council and Mid Sussex District Council. Bob Shelley, Chair of the Sports Council said “without the initial support of the Councils and some other benefactors, we would not have been able to start this initiative. We are delighted with the amount raised, which has gone directly to the Schools and Sports Clubs in the town. We are considering running the initiative again as we feel there are still many organisations who were not able to benefit this time round.”
Steve Hill, the Sports Development officer at Imberhorne School who has been instrumental in delivering the initiative and has worked on many of the projects with the local schools, commented “this has been a fantastic project for the town, I am delighted so many children and clubs have been involved and I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future. I am very grateful to the Head at Imberhorne School and the East Grinstead Group of Primary Schools (EGGS) who have endorsed the project and given me the support to assist the community”.
Bob Shelley added “with the future in mind we would be pleased to hear from any organisation that didn’t benefit this time round or who would like to become involved with the Sports Council. Any sports club or activity based organisation is welcome to come along, as well as any businesses who provide physical activity in or out of the workplace for their employees.
Some of the clubs and schools who benefitted from the initiative include:
East Grinstead Sports Council is run by the Sports Clubs in East Grinstead and the surrounding area with free membership available to all. It has been operating for over 10 years and meets quarterly with the objective of sharing best practice and considering how best to assist clubs with their growth, sustainability and community involvement. A principal emphasis is on finding links between the primary and secondary schools, coaches and clubs to broaden opportunities for young people.
For further details about the project or the Sports Council please contact Bob Shelley on 07738 513721 or bobshelley@btinternet.com
The Town will once again be decorated for the Festive period to help the long nights and the Christmas shopping have a bit of cheer!
The map shows (in blue) the roads that have been decorated by the Council. Please note that the Christmas lights committee are once again decorating the area from the High St / London Road roundabout down to Kings St.
Next year the council will cover that stretch as well, however it is the last time that the Christmas Lights Committee are decorating a part of the town. After many years and grateful thanks are given to the committee for their commitment over many years.
The town council lights will be installed on Friday 13 November and will all be on by Sunday. If you notice any out along the High St / London Road (Kings St to Clock tower) or Railway Approach please do let the community service team know so that they can be rectified! Call us on 01342 323636.
The Rotary Christmas Tree will be switched on Saturday 5 December in the High St. Carols from 3pm.
From next year a new community group will be adding more lights to the ones provided by the Council and if anyone wants to get involved with fundraising please ask at the Council to be put in touch with Emma Tindley the organiser.
Following the town’s Remembrance Sunday, there is a smaller gathering in the High Street on the actual day that commemorates the ending of the first World War.
Town Mayor Dick Sweatman together with colleagues and townsfolk joined together for a simple short silent vigil at 11 o’clock this morning.
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Town Promotions Manager Dawn Spalding has been joined at the Tourist desk in the Library by Roger Gwatkin. Roger has worked for East Grinstead Town Council since 2009 as a carpenter/handyman, and also has a previous a background in Advertising and Marketing.
“I think Roger brings some interesting skills and lots of enthusiasm to the Town Promotion Officer role and I am looking forward to working with him” said Dawn. “Please come in and make him feel welcome!”
The new Tourism team are already hard at work getting a new season of events and promotions ready for 2016 “I’m most looking forward to getting to know more about what East Grinstead has to offer, and to get more involved with the local community”. Roger commented
