Category: News

Update from WSCC:

Work on Imberhorne lane has been going well and the contractor (Clancy Docwra) has reported that they are in a position to advance their works ahead of programme. This means that they will be starting works on the A22 on Monday 10th of August instead of 17th August. Work will still be taking place at the northern end of Imberhorne Lane and this section will last until the completion of the project.

So, the advised completion date is now Friday 28th August.

This is positive as this will mean that all works are well clear of the start of the new school term on Friday 4th September and also the A22 will flow unhindered by temporary traffic control for the weekend of the Edenbridge and Oxted show, which we know is popular with residents south of the Surrey border.

I must warn that there is a small implication with bringing these A22 works forward and that concerns the A264 Moat Road, East Grinstead. A developer has already been granted roadspace to carry out approximately 3 days of carriageway work under temporary traffic signals. This may cause some additional congestion for traffic close to the town centre next week and those heading north in particular. However, we feel that on balance, completing the A22 works earlier would be a widely popular choice.

Variable message signing has already been deployed in Surrey and today this has been updated to reflect this change.

The Imberhorne Lane diversion route will continue to be in place.

On behalf of South East water and Clancy Docwra may I thank you for your continued patience during this important works.

Seen here with Town promotions Manager Dawn Spalding at the Tourist Desk in the Library, is Duncan Evans who will be joining Dawn as temporary Promotions Assistant to help out for the peak summer months.

Duncan, who is studying at the University of Warwick, hopes to be able to widen his appreciation of local history while working to help promote the town. “I aim to learn more about East Grinstead’s rich past. After university I am hoping to get involved in politics/government in some capacity, hence my interest in working for East Grinstead Council”.

Duncan is also a keen cyclist, so he will be sure to give a special warm welcome to the many cyclists who pass through the town these days.

Town Mayor Dick Sweatman was at the town’s Bluebell Railway station on Monday to officially declare the new platform canopy open.

Welcomed by Roy Watts, the Chairman of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society, The Town Mayor unveiled a plaque commemorating the event and was also asked to ‘unlock’ the facilities for public use! The platform canopy also includes a disabled person’s facility and the project came in at a cost of just under £50,000.

Dick Sweatman stated how important for promoting tourism in the town the Bluebell Railway connection had been, and that the benefits of increased visitor numbers were much appreciated by the town’s businesses.

Roy Watts echoed this and said how The East Grinstead link had indeed changed the dynamics of where people were joining the Bluebell for a day out, and also how they travelled here The ongoing commitment and support of the people of East Grinstead and East Grinstead Town Council were gratefully acknowledged.

Photo provided courtesy of Martin Lawrence

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):

Frederick MARDEN

Private TF/ 1505 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Killed in action at Suvla Bay 29. 8.15.

Born in Lingfield, Surrey and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Included on Lingfield War Memorial Buried Green Hill Cemetery, Suvla.

Patrick Joseph O’DONNELL

Private TF/ 2111 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Killed in action at Suvla Bay , Gallipoli 17th August 1915. Age 24.

Son of John and Mary O’Donnell of 53, York Road, Aldershot. Born in Dublin and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. MR.4.

Frederick PAVETT

Private TF/ 1523 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Killed in action at Suvla Bay 10. 8.15. age 32. Son of Henry and Mary Pavitt of 9, Nesbitt Road, Brighton.

Husband of Mrs. Daisy Pavett of East Grinstead. Born in Brighton and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Helles Memorial, Gallipoli MR. 4.

Leslie Douglas Harold RAVEN

Private TF/2112 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.

Killed in action at Suvla Bay 10. 8.15.

Born in Brighton and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Helles Memorial, Gallipoli MR.4.

 

At a Special Council last night East Grinstead Town Councillors approved the draft Neighbourhood Plan for consultation.

The Plan, accompanied by a sustainability appraisal, sets out the policies the Town Council will require to be adhered to for all development until 2031. A Working Group of Councillors has revised the plan following an earlier round of consultation in the autumn of 2013. Since then the responses to that consultation and emerging results of other inspections, more national statistics and guidelines have informed this second draft which will now go forward for an eight week consultation period starting on Monday 27th July. The Council will be making copies of the Plan available at the Library and East Court and is available to download at the Councils website www.eastgrinstead.gov.uk.

All residents are urged to read the Plan and to submit comments before the closing date of 21st September. All comments will be collated and considered, and then, the Plan will come back to Council to be approved before going forward for independent examination against the Mid Sussex Plan and the National Plans. The final step will be a referendum for East Grinstead residents to decide whether to adopt the Plan which will set out the policy requirements for future planning applications.

Cllr Rex Whittaker, chairman of the Working Group, said: “This plan is the result of considering the responses to the first draft and building on the strengths of that plan but in accordance with experience from other regional plans which have passed to inspection stage. This plan is less aspirational and more focused on planning policy, to make sure that the character and setting of the town is preserved while recognising that sensible housing growth is required together with much needed investment in infrastructure. It is important that East Grinstead residents read for themselves the document and understand what is and what is not in then plan”.

Town Councillors will be holding a surgery every Saturday between 10am and noon during the consultation, to answer questions. They will be in Queens Walk (Iceland end)

Changes to local bus services

East Grinstead Town Council is seeking a meeting with Affinity Sutton following their announced review of elderly social housing in Packer Close and Dart Court.

It is understood that 43 units which have been dedicated to house elderly residents are to be considered for remodeling in to family units.  While more family units are welcome the Council are concerned for the existing residents who Affinity Sutton will seek to move and as nationally populations are getting older, the number of social rented units in East Grinstead which will be available for the elderly.

Affinity Sutton have advised that the units are in need of modernization and they are struggling to let them as they stand. As part of a wider review they are considering the best use of the two schemes.

Cllr Liz Bennett, chairman of Public Services Committee said “If the proposal goes ahead, the remaining residents will be relocated and this brings concerns for elderly residents who will find the prospect of a move distressing.   The Council wish to discuss the options and ensure that vulnerable residents are heard before final decisions are made.”

South and South East in Bloom Judges were back in town again today touring the town.

The Town Council has its own separate entry for the Town Centre, which features our acclaimed floral displays.

The judges toured the town with members of the Town Council staff after viewing a presentation about the Town Council’s involvement and commitment to the In Bloom competition.

Town Mayor Dick Sweatman later joined the judges and staff at East Court for lunch.

Town Mayor Dick Sweatman cut the ribbon at the opening of the new Family Shopper store in London Road yesterday.

Seen here with co-­owner Yati Rawat with his family and friends, Dick said how pleased he was to see yet another new retail enterprise bringing back life and further job opportunities to this part of the town.