From managing stress and anxiety to maths, easy-hand sewing to get ready for work, and afternoon tea baking to practical money management, Street Learning free courses return this January for Wealden and Eastbourne residents.

Street Learning is a partnership project providing access to a range of free courses designed to help residents develop new skills and enhance existing ones.

The aim is to reduce social, digital and financial exclusion and improve access to training.

Street Learning courses are provided in venues in the local community including East Sussex College in Eastbourne, Hailsham East’s Children Centre, Willingdon Trees Community Centre and many of the courses will be held online.

They are completely free of charge and are available to all Wealden and Eastbourne residents – aged 19 years and over.

There are practical courses like family cooking and sewing, arts and crafts courses to help with wellbeing and those that will help parents connect with their child through maths as well as those designed to help with career progression.

Wealden District Council leader Bob Standley said, “Learning is fundamental for economic prosperity, social well-being and personal fulfilment.

“Through learning, whatever the subject, we can gain greater confidence in our own abilities. And be better prepared to help those around us.

“These courses are very relevant to increasing self-confidence and helping with job opportunities. And for some, the opportunity to learn from the comfort of their own home may provide an additional incentive.”

Street Learning is a project run by Wealden District Council, in partnership with ACRES, East Sussex College, Sussex Community Development Association, East Sussex County Council Library, Job Centre Plus, GRH Training, Compass Community Arts and Sussex Recovery College.

Visit www.wealden.gov.uk/streetlearning or email streetlearning@wealden.gov.uk

New courses are being added online on a regular basis.

For further information:

This coming Monday, 17 January – the third Monday in January - is traditionally known as Blue Monday and this year Wealden District Council is supporting the Samaritans’ Brew Monday campaign to raise awareness of the positive things people can do to support their emotional health.

The council is encouraging people to get together over a virtual or in person ‘cuppa’, on the day that is thought to be the most depressing day of the year.

Blue Monday is rumoured to have got its name owing to the combination of post-Christmas blues, cold weather, dark nights and the arrival of the month’s bills. Others claim it was a stunt by a travel company to encourage people to look ahead and book a holiday.

Whatever its origins, the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic means that again this year, Blue Monday could be seen as bluer than usual. Additionally, people may find that Monday is blue because they are frustrated or lonely or are worried about their health, finances and other aspect of their lives.

Now more than ever, sharing a ‘cuppa’ is more than a drink – it’s about making contact, checking in and staying connected.

The council is asking everyone to join them this ‘Brew Monday’ by reaching out to someone for a virtual ‘cuppa’ and a chat.

It doesn’t have to be a Monday or a cup of tea, just taking time to really listen to another person could help them work through what’s on their mind.

Wealden District Council chairman Ron Reed said, “This is such a simple idea that could make a real difference, at a time when we all need a lift. It has been such a difficult time lately and I know many people are feeling anxious about what is happening in the world.

“I will be contacting people for a virtual ‘cuppa’ and a chat – I know it will do me good and them. I do hope everyone will spare a little time on Monday to pass this goodwill on.”

Samaritans branches across the UK and Ireland are hosting their own virtual Brew Monday events to help people learn how to be better listeners.

For more information on Samaritans Brew Monday visit https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/brew-monday/. You could make a donation while you’re there, which could help save a life.

If you are feeling anxious or depressed, CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably -offers a confidential listening service which provides a safe place to talk if you, or someone you know, is in distress. They can also give basic information about mental health and local support services. Visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/

Every Mind Matters also has a practical and easy to use guide, including a Mind quiz to help people make a Mind Plan: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ and a wealth of resources to help with anxiety and mental wellbeing can be found at https://www.mind.org.uk/

For further information:

Applications from businesses that are eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant are now being accepted by Wealden District Council.

The latest government scheme was announced on 21 December 2021 in recognition of the rise in the Omicron variant of Coronavirus and the subsequent impact it had and continues to have on those sectors.

The Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant is designed to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed Business Rated premises, within the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.

You can apply for the grant by visiting https://wealden.grantapproval.co.uk/

Applications close at midnight on 14 February 2022.

In addition to this grant, Wealden will be introducing a number of Discretionary Grant Schemes over the coming weeks to support other business sectors. Funds for these schemes are limited and at the discretion of the authority.

The council is also accepting applications for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant Top-up – an additional grant for those businesses eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.

As this is a discretionary fund, eligible businesses are required to make a separate application to the OHLG. Applications can be made through the same portal https://wealden.grantapproval.co.uk/

Applications for the top-up close at midnight on 14 February 2022

There is also a discretionary Personal Care Grant available for businesses which deliver personal care services, such as hairdressing or beauty therapies which have a rates liability and operate from that business premises.

You can apply for the grant by visiting https://wealden.grantapproval.co.uk/

Applications for the Personal Care Grant close at midnight on 31 January 2022.

For more information on the available grants and the eligibility for each of them, visit: Advice, support and information for businesses – Wealden District Council

For further information:

Happy New Year to All.

Here’s to 2022 being a bit less stressful for us all.

Local Planning Update.

This just an attempt to update you succinctly on where we all stand on producing a new Wealden Local Plan.

First of all, the Government requires Local Authorities to follow the standard method for producing a Plan.

This was produced some time ago and is based on Office of National Statistics (ONS) data from 2014.The Government gave us a figure of 1221 homes per year.

From this, consultants produced in 2021 a Local Housing Needs Assessment based on the 1221 dwellings per annum. We have about 70000 homes at present in Wealden, so this is an additional 24420 which is a huge increase. This is predicated on a 28% population increase over this period, including net migration.

A number of councillors questioned this assessment, and the government response was that this is their preference but not a target. They want to build 300,000 homes nationally, so this is our contribution. We can argue that we have many constraints and cannot sensibly build this number. It is up to the Council to produce a deliverable Plan.

As a result of last year’s Cabinet reshuffle, Michael Gove has said he will be reviewing the whole policy and process. When asked about the issue at the Lewes Association Dinner in late October he clearly stated he understood the concerns that people expressed and will change the policy.

In December, Councillor Standley and Councillor Newton met him online and he reiterated this positive message.

Officers have modelled how this 1221 dwellings per year number may play out and the proposals are not acceptable to councillors.

Officers have now been asked to work on a Plan with a reduced number making a case based on the constraints resulting from the AONB, National Park, Pevensey Levels and the overall lack of infrastructure.

This is now work in progress. This will need to take into account the government’s new policy, and we do not yet know when that will be announced.

I will keep you informed

Roy Galley

January 6^th, 2022

Your local Councilors:

Roy Galley. cllr.roy.galley@eastsussex.gov.uk

cllr.roy.galley@wealden.gov.uk

01825 713018

Peter Roundell. cllr.peter.roundell@wealden.gov.uk

01825 722030

Toby Illingworth cllr.toby.illingworth@wealden.gov.uk

Due to the success of previous sessions, West Sussex County Council are running more Safe Against Scams webinars. Please share the information about these sessions with your friends and family so we can prevent as many people as possible from becoming a victim of fraud.

For support with accessing the webinars from your own device, or for the opportunity to view the webinars on a library iPad at your local library – call for support or register your interest by contacting the Remote Digital Support Service on 03302 223455.

More than ever before, we have been relying on technology to enable us to work, learn and connect with each other. Inevitably, criminals have exploited and used our increased digital lives to their advantage. The pandemic has seen a rise in scams including telephone, courier and romance fraud which have all become an increased concern in West Sussex. Not only is there the financial impact on victims but the emotional impact can be even more significant.

To help raise awareness of these different types of scams, how to spot them, and what to do if you or your family become a victim, the West Sussex Community Safety & Wellbeing Team, alongside Trading Standards, are running free monthly scams awareness webinars for you to attend.

Thursday 27 January 2022: 10:00 – 11:30am Book here
Tuesday 15 February 2022: 1:00 – 2:30pm Book here
Monday 7 March 2022: 10:00 – 11:30am Book here

Please note that WSCC have received some reports of difficulty booking via Internet Explorer. Please use another browser or contact WSCC at CommunitySafety.Wellbeing@westsussex.gov.uk to reserve a place.

Police plan extra support for domestic abuse victims over holiday period

Sussex Police are launching a scheme to bring extra reassurance to victims of domestic abuse during the Christmas and New Year period.

In the week leading up to Christmas a number of known high risk perpetrators of domestic abuse will be receiving visits from police to remind them of the consequences of their conduct and that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

The scheme will also see officers visiting a number of people assessed as at high risk of becoming victims of further offending.

Operation Hope is part of the policing response for what can be a particularly tough time of year for those in controlling and abusive relationships.

Police officers, working with Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs), will visit the victims to assess their current risk, help ensure they have safety plans in place, and encourage them to engage with specialist support services if they have not already done so.

Other officers will visit the selected perpetrators and, as well as reminding them about their conduct, will encourage them to engage with one of the programmes available in Sussex that will enable them to examine and reconsider their own behaviour and life-style.

The victims and perpetrators being visited have been selected by specialist police officers, in consultation with domestic abuse partners including Worth Services, Change Grow Live (CGL), Victim Support and local authorities, through the local Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), identifying those considered to be highest risk.

Detective Superintendent Miles Ockwell of the force's Public Protection Command said;

"Existing tensions can sometimes be made worse at this time of year, due to excessive alcohol, increased family tensions and financial pressures, and currently Covid restrictions, but we need to be clear, these pressures do not excuse domestic abuse.

"Only abusers are responsible for their actions and we will hold them to account in order to reduce violence against women and girls. Domestic abuse can have a devastating impact on the whole family”

"Operation Hope is a well-planned multi-agency initiative aimed at supporting known victims of domestic abuse at times of increased risk and holding perpetrators accountable.

"Initially launched in Brighton and Hove in 2020, Operation Hope has now been deployed several times during the pandemic across the whole of Sussex”

"We will carry out follow-up assessments, working with partners, to see if the victims were further offended against, and if the perpetrators persisted in their conduct."

Meanwhile police continue to remind all victims - at home shouldn’t mean at risk of domestic abuse - #youarenotalone.

If you are controlled or physically, sexually, economically or emotionally abused by a partner, ex-partner or family member, this is Domestic Abuse. Contact us at sussex.police.uk or find support at safespacesussex.org.uk.

In an emergency always dial 999.

The Operation Hope initiative is just one of several undertaken by Sussex Police to combat domestic abuse. Work throughout the year includes:

- A multi-agency domestic abuse perpetrator project, focusing on the highest harm, most actively dangerous perpetrators, to reduce harm and repeat victimisation and offending:

- A dedicated team of domestic abuse investigators who can respond to victims via video calls, providing a quick, efficient and discreet response:

- Specially dedicated patrol units responding to emergency calls reporting domestic abuse.

The force has also launched a unique online survey herewhich runs until 7 January, seeking the views of people across the county on the experience of women and girls as victims of harassment, sexual and violent crime.

Whilst the survey focuses on incidents that have taken place in public, there is also an opportunity to share experiences of different locations including behaviour you have experienced online and in your home. The results of this survey, together with feedback from focus groups being conducted around the county, will be used to further improve what police do to making Sussex safer.

Help us keep Sussex safe

If you see or hear anything, or have any information about any incident we need to know about, please contact us online, or call 101.

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

You can also visit our website at www.sussex.police.uk where you can find our easy to use online forms to report all non-emergencies to us.

You can also find police advice to keep you safe and help you understand the law, and also browse our crime prevention pages for first-hand knowledge, industry best practices and practical crime prevention advice from officers and specialist teams all across the police.

Have you ever had a policing question that doesn't actually require direct police involvement to answer?

Ask the Police is a great online source of information for the most frequently asked policing questions, visit www.askthe.police.uk/ for more information.

Dear Stakeholder,

Work on major £160m upgrade continues over Christmas, to deliver improved reliability for passengers on the Victoria-Croydon line through South London

Network Rail engineers will be working through the entire festive period to bring greater reliability to passengers on the busy London Victoria to East Croydon route.

The ongoing project to replace worn-out 1970s signalling on the lines from London Victoria as far as Balham and Streatham Hill will see over 90 new signals erected, new points put in place, new train detection equipment installed along with upgraded power supplies and control moved to a state-of-the art control centre at Three Bridges.

A major part of this work will take place from Saturday 25 December to Monday 3 January 2022, when no trains will run between East Croydon and London Victoria, with most trains diverted to London Bridge.

How will this affect my journey?

Most trains will be diverted to London Bridge, and limited rail replacement bus services will run between East Croydon or Balham and Clapham Junction for local journeys.

To help you with your journey, tickets will be accepted on the following routes:

• South Western Railway between Clapham Junction / Vauxhall and London Waterloo London
• Buses between: London Victoria and Clapham Junction Balham and Streatham Hill
• Tube services between: London Victoria and Balham / Clapham Junction / Vauxhall / London Bridge / Euston London Bridge and Canada Water
• London Overground between Canada Water and Clapham Junction / Crystal Palace / West Croydon and between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction via Willesden Junction
• London Northwestern Railway between London Euston and Watford Junction / Milton Keynes Central.

Please follow the latest Government advice and always check every journey before you travel at National Rail or the Southern Railway website.

For more information on the Victoria re-signalling project go to networkrail.co.uk/VictoriaResignalling

Three Bridges to Brighton and Lewes closure, Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 February 2022

We would also like to take the opportunity to remind passengers that later in the New Year, from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 February 2022, Copyhold junction (near Haywards Heath) will be rebuilt with new track and points, and new track will be laid at Burgess Hill. The railway between Three Bridges, Brighton and Lewes will close for these 9 days, with supporting weekend work before and after the main closure. In total, over 1,000 metres of track, 7,000 tonnes of ballast and eight sets of points will be replaced with new, more reliable equipment.

On theses dates, buses will replace trains between Three Bridges, Brighton and Lewes. Find out more at networkrail.co.uk/BrightonMainLine2022

If you have any questions, please do get in contact with us at southernregionstakeholders@networkrail.co.uk.

Kind Regards and Merry Christmas!

Network Rail Southern

Brighton Mainline Improvement Project 2022 - Passenger Survey

Nine-day closure between Three Bridges, Brighton and Lewes from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 February 2022

Dear Passenger,

For nine days in February 2022, from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27, and several weekends before and after the main closures, Network Rail engineers will rebuild a key junction near Haywards Heath, replace track at Burgess Hill and build a new underpass at Hassocks.

This major project will deliver long-term reliability improvements for passengers who use the Brighton Main Line while improvements to line speed following the work will support service recovery when delays do occur.

Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey to help inform our planning ahead of the closure:

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY

We're working closely with our colleagues at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to plan alternative travel arrangements for passengers when lines are closed, which will be similar to the February 2019 Three Bridges to Brighton closure, including replacement buses and ticket acceptance on open routes.

Results from the survey will help us plan alternative travel options for passengers.

All responses provided will be used only for the Three Bridges to Brighton improvement project and in accordance with our privacy notice.

You can find out more about the project at networkrail.co.uk/BrightonLine2022

Thank you for your participation!

Network Rail Southern

We have received the following information from the Tree Health Officer at ESCC Highways:

We are currently undertaking a network survey of all the U roads in the county. You may therefore notice some spray painted dots on trees in you parish, the colour of the dots do not denote anything different, it simply depends on what colour is in stock. The dots signify that a safety defect has been spotted and that remedial works have been recommended for the tree. This maybe that the entire tree requires felling, having dead wood removed or could be simply to monitor the tree further. Both private and ESCC trees are being surveyed. If a private tree is marked, we will notify the land owner and make them aware of the works that are necessary on the marked tree(s), however, we will also suggest that they have the rest of their trees adjacent to the highway privately assessed for other issues. If the trees are owned by ESCC they will be entered into a works programme. We cannot specify what works are required on individual trees as to do so would take up a lot of time, so please pass on the information above if anyone asks about tree marking or felling within your area. If the owner of the tree contacts your parish council instead of us directly, please inform them that they will be written to by ESCC with instructions, and that until they receive a letter, there may not be the information available to pass to them. The survey results are sent in monthly, so information on trees surveyed and marked may not yet be on our database at the time of the enquiry.

We will aim to carry out works within the time frame given by the surveyor, which may include traffic management such as traffic lights or possibly road closures. We will always aim to minimise disruption to road users where we can do so safely and efficiently. Trees that are felled will only be felled if a high risk is associated with the fault detected, the risk can be increased by the level of occupancy of the road. Trees will not be felled if they are healthy or showing no significant faults, we will always leave what we can and carry out other remedial works such as thinning or reducing if it prolongs the tree’s life in a cost effective way. However, we may have to remove healthy trees if leaving them increases a risk of them being subject to windthrow/exposure. This does happen, especially with groups of ash which are generally shallow rooted and tend to grow very tall very quickly due to density.

We will be aiming to survey sections of the network annually, i.e. urban trees, A roads, B roads, C roads and U roads to ensure that they are resurveyed a minimum of every five years.

The deer population is increasing exponentially, during the period of Covid, venison demand and the extremely low price therefore of, has rendered the deer being left to breed completely unchecked and unmanaged. This has resulted in increased numbers of deer venturing onto our roads and sadly coming into contact with vehicles. Deer habited is also being pressured by the need to build more homes and I am personally being called to attend DVC’s (Deer Vehicle Collisions) in ever increasing residential areas.

Our High Risk Deer Crossing Areas Are;

· Buxted Park Entrance to Coopers Green

· Saxon Court (A272) to School Lane, Hadlow Down

· Budletts Lane

· The entire stretch of the A22 Uckfield by pass from Blackdown Roundabout to the East Hoathly Village Roundabout

· Blackdown Roundabout to Herons Ghyll

So Who To Call In The Event You Are Involved in a DVC?

· Deer Wardens on call 24/7/365– (contact via 101 or 999)

· Provide the best location you possibly can – the free app What Three Words -https://what3words.com/ is great and used by all the blue light services.

· Use your hazard lights and vehicle to protect the scene and exit the vehicle to a safe place and await the police / Deer Warden

There are 26 of us spread around East Sussex, we are all volunteers. The animal’s welfare is our primary concern to us and second only to when humans are injured at the same scene. We are trained by the police and other agencies to make dynamic risks assessments based on the known facts at the time. All of us have 10’s of years of experience in working with deer. Our decisions on the animals fate are at times not always agreeable to individuals at the scene, this is more so if those members of the public at the time have never been in such close proximity to deer before and had their car possibly written off. We are liability insured and have conditions on our firearms licenses signed by the Chief Constable (!) to humanely dispatch animals at the roadside (a public place after all) should this action be required. I cannot stress enough, the animal’s welfare is our primary concern, the decision to humanely dispatch is really hard on us.

We are called upon by Sussex Police when;

(i) Deer are involved in DVC’s on a public highway and are positioned in such a way on the highway that a further collision and or danger is possible - in this case please do call 999 for an immediate response.

(ii) Deer are suspected of being hit by a vehicle and lying inured at the edge of the highway

Ashdown Forest Rangers – 01323 823583 if you have a non-urgent concern over animal welfare.

They will or should only deal with injured deer within the confines of Ashdown Forest – see attached image showing boundary, if the deer/animal is a danger to other road users then call 999 and have the What3Words app (https://what3words.com) loaded on your phone to give a precise location. Have no worries about using this service, it’s there to be used in the right circumstances.

Animal Rescue Organisations – There are quite a few of these now which most folk are well aware of eg Kit Wilson Trust, WRAS / Folly’s etc, these organisations do a sterling job and definitely have their place in terms of preserving life and animal welfare, I totally commend the work they perform.

Sadly, what I will say here, is that deer hit by motor vehicles is usually fatal, stress on its own can take the life of a deer, broken limbs are very common. There is a general perception that injured deer can be rehabilitated even if just a broken limb, sadly this is not the case (fawns being the exception). This is where at times we have a difficult time in convincing the people at the scene we are doing what is ultimately humane for the animal. Taking it to an animal rescue will simply add delay and unnecessary suffering.

When To Call Animal Rescue?

1. Deer stuck in fences on private land (if Highway land call 101 / 999 depending on proximity to highway)

2. Deer seen on private land tangled up in rope / football netting / fishing line / washing lines (I kid you not!)

3. Deer seen on private land and you have concerns for its welfare e.g. underweight, damaged legs, visible injuries eg dog attack, head hanging low, lying down and not attempting to move when you are seen at distance by the deer.

Dead Deer At The Roadside – I use the enclosed form a lot (sadly) you will need a postcode of a nearby business or property, and if you can give a What3Words location in the comments then this will ensure the pickup crew find the deer quickly. https://my.wealden.gov.uk/en/AchieveForms/?form_uri=sandbox-publish://AF-Process-c5da1235-4c68-40aa-a371-31f381184fe0/AF-Stage-50e59fc8-5dfd-4b17-b5e6-5c31caacde6a/definition.json&redirectlink=%2Fen&cancelRedirectLink=%2Fen&consentMessage=yes

Ashdown Forest Rangers – Their Area (approximate) - see attached

Drive Safe

Regards Julian Butcher – Your Buxted and surrounding area Deer Warden

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Diversion via -A272 High Street – U7505 Limes Lane and vice versa.(please see map attached)

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

Kelly Traffic Management (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0247 664 2814

The Priority Services Register is a free support service to help people in vulnerable situations. Energy suppliers and network operators offer it. Each keeps their own register, although some share with each other.

We recommend that people who may be vulnerable or at risk during severe weather should be on a Priority Services Register. Parts of the UK have recently had severe weather – our turn may be coming! Friends and relatives can assist those who may be in need of a bit of help to register, such as the elderly or people with serious medical conditions, or those who may not have Internet access and therefore may not have received this message. Each operator can be contacted online or by phone. Please act now, don’t wait!

Power cuts don’t happen very often but if the electricity or water supply network is damaged or develops a fault, engineers work around the clock 24/7 to restore supplies as quickly as is safely possible. Being on a Priority Services Register will ensure that extra support will be received if the customer experiences an outage. Support is likely to include:

• A priority number that you can call 24 hours a day
• Text and voice message alerts, letting you know when they are aware of a large power cut in your area or should your water supply be interrupted
• Tailored support if needed such as home visits, hot meals, advice and keeping your friends and relatives updated
• Where possible they will send you text and voice messages when severe weather is expected, to help you prepare
• In certain scenarios they may also offer a free hotel overnight and transport to the hotel
• For complex power cuts, community welfare teams provide on-site support which includes hot drinks, hot meals, a Wi-Fi connection and charge points.

OFGEM has a summary at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/getting-extra-help-priority-services-register, and this includes help in finding the suppliers in your area. As various energy suppliers and network operators are active in Sussex, the following are the ones who cover most of the county, but there are some others. If you try to register with the wrong operator they will usually steer you in the right direction.

Electricity
UK Power Networks – most of the SE of England https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut/priority-services/about-the-priority-services-register
SSEN – parts of the West of Sussex https://www.ssen.co.uk/PriorityServices/

Water
Southern Water https://www.southernwater.co.uk/help-advice/join-our-priority-services-register
South East Water https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/get-help/help-for-priority-customers

Thank you for helping to keep Sussex safe.

Have a say on water company’s 25 Year Environment Plan.

A unique draft 25 year Environment Plan written by South East Water now needs feedback from local residents on its strengths and weaknesses before it is published.

South East Water is the first UK water company to produce such a plan, following an intensive period working with its customers, employees and other environmental organisations to shape it. The appeal for feedback from local communities is the final stage before it is published in early-2022.

Not only does the plan set out how the company will limit its own impact on the environment, but more importantly, how it will improve the overall health of the environment and increase its resilience to the effects of drought, flooding and growing demand for tap water.

Supplying drinking water to 2.2 million customers across the south east, the company maintains 83 water treatment works and 9,000 miles of underground pipes – enough to stretch from the South East of England to Australia - as well as 33 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, two local nature reserves, Lullington Heath National Nature Reserve and numerous Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The water supplier also works with farmers, landowners and other water users to protect the quality and quantity of the rivers and underground aquifers which are used to produce an average of 520 million litres of tap water each day.

The company is now looking to expand the work of its in-house team of environmental experts to work with other local companies and individuals to improve the environment within a generation.

The consultation runs from 29 November to 7 January. Read the plan and have your say on South East Water's website - corporate.southeastwater.co.uk/25YP.

Crowborough Christmas Nutcracker Trail

Crowborough town centre welcomes an army of “nutcracker kings” over the festive period thanks to Wealden District Council. Ten giant nutcracker king statues are positioned at pop-up locations around the town as part of the Crowborough Nutcracker Trail running from 20 November 2021 to 4 January 2022.

The Deputy Mayor of Crowborough Cllr. Matthew Street joined Cllr. Angela Snell, Vice-Chair of Wealden District Council, Trevor Scott, Chief Executive, Wealden District Council, Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden and Jeremy Woolger, President and Chairman of Crowborough and District Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the festive kings to Crowborough on Friday 19 November 2021.

According to German folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to your family and protect your home. The legend says that a nutcracker is a messenger of goodwill and represents power and strength – a watch dog, guarding from evil spirits and danger.

The Council is delighted to support the local initiative that encourages those taking part to visit Crowborough town centre and shop locally as they take on the trail to find all ten nutcrackers. Children can follow the trail using a specially produced booklet and enter a competition to win an iPad Mini.

Angela Snell, Vice-Chairman of Wealden District Council says of the trail: “We are delighted to be bringing the nutcrackers to Crowborough for Christmas. The trail will add some festive sparkle to the town centre and will be a great way to entertain the family in the run up to Christmas. We also want to give people an extra reason to visit the town centre and support its local shops and hospitality outlets during the festive period.”

How to take part in the Crowborough Nutcracker Trail

1. Look out for the free Crowborough Nutcracker Trail booklets in the town and pick up a copy to take part. Crowborough Town Council offices and public library have some available in the reception area too, please feel free to pop in. Alternatively, you can view the map online via the pinned post on the Explore Wealden Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/ExploreWealden
2. Wander around the town to find the ten nutcracker kings marked on the map within the booklet.
3. As you find each one, write their individual name down on the Trail Sheet. Once you’ve found all the names, fill in your details and post the Trail Sheet into the special Santa’s Nutcracker post box located in Crowborough Library in Pine Grove.

One winner will be drawn out of the entries and will win an iPad Mini. For further information and competition terms and conditions visitwww.explorewealden.co.uk/shopanddine

The Trail runs from 20 November 2021 to 4 January 2022.

Loneliness is a serious problem in our communities and we all need to tackle it. As someone who works or volunteers directly with residents in East Sussex, we’d like to invite you to attend an online interactive workshop to gain your input about actions we can take.

Loneliness can have an enormous impact on people’s lives, their relationships and their wellbeing. In 2018 the followingproportions of people said they feel lonely living in their local area ‘often’ or ‘some of the time’:

• Eastbourne borough - 26%
• Hastings borough - 30%
• Lewes district - 25%
• Rother district - 24%
• Wealden district - 21%

While most of us experience loneliness at some point in our lives, there are some groups who are at particular risk of loneliness; for example, young people, older people, those who are out of work and people living with a health condition or disability. Those with a heightened risk of loneliness are also likely to have been hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Did you know?

You can help!

By tackling the root causes of loneliness, we can help people to feel more connected to the people and places around them – resulting in improved community health and wellbeing. Over the last few months we’ve been hearing from partners and residents about what makes them feel connected to their local area and what could be done to make them feel more connected. We'd like your help to make sense of what we’ve heard, bringing your experience to complement their insight.

We need the valuable knowledge and expertise you hold, through working or volunteeringdirectly with residents, to help develop new ideas of how we can – as a system – tackle loneliness in East Sussexin the future.

You can sign up onEventbrite and join one of our interactive online workshops for the area you work in, or would like to attend, on one of the following dates:

• Hastings -Tuesday 30th November (1pm-3pm)
• Eastbourne - Wednesday 1st December (10am-12pm)
• Lewes district -Friday 3rd December (10am-12pm)
• Rother -Tuesday 7th December (1pm-3pm)
• Wealden -Wednesday 8th December (10am-12pm)

At this workshop we’ll explore how we can create a more connected and less lonely East Sussex.

These events are part of the Community Wellbeing: Connected People & Places project. Through this project local authorities in East Sussex, the NHS, the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VSCE) sector and others are working together – with the support of Collaborate CIC – to improve community wellbeing and tackle loneliness.

If you have any questions please contact Taj:tajwar@collaboratecic.com

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Diversion Via - U7861 Fowley Lane - Tibbs Mill Lane – U7503 Burnt Oak Lane – C402 Hurstwood Road and vice versa.(Please see maps attached)

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

Kelly Traffic Management (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0247 664 2814

Message from Sussex Police:

Changes To Operation Blitz ASB Patrols

Over the last decade this operation has had massive successes and is a key part of what we do to work to keep our communities safer.

However we are going to be changing the way we work Operation Blitz and the times we patrol to make it more relevant and appropriate for the current climate and crime trends.

What isn’t changing is the way you can report anti-social behaviour and youth disorder. The phone number which we advertise each week will still be monitored, and is still available to you to report what is happening in your community at the time.

Residents can continue to speak directly to officers, but between the new times of 15:00pm and 22:30pm on 07770 700642.

What is changing is how those officers patrol. We will now be using more current and accurate information and intelligence to target the two or three most vulnerable areas each Friday and Saturday.

We will also be moving around the district to different areas each night.

These locations will changed each week, and be driven by community reports, as well as being nominated by your local police community support officers and areas identified from our neighbourhood intelligence team.

For example they could be locations where we have seen an increase in burglaries or car crime, or locations where we are undertaking specific police operations to look at anti-social driving or drug dealing.

This will make Operation Blitz more efficient, and look to achieve greater results for you and your community.

In the coming weeks we will be giving you more in depth updates on how these changes to Operation Blitz are working, and importantly the results of how we are doing via our weekly community alert on In The Know.

We hope you will see that these changes are to reflect closer what is happening in our town and to target those areas that need our support most.

Your local teams

What's happening in your area?

Get the latest crime statistics and advice, help us with appeals for information and find out what we’re doing to tackle crime in your area, as well as details of your local PCSOs and your local Neighbourhood Policing Teams online here.

Follow your local Police team on social media, click below:

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East Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council and the South Downs National Park Authority (the Authorities) are jointly updating planning policy for the production of minerals, safeguarding minerals facilities and minerals in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove. The update also includes revisions to a small number of other policies in the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan, and Waste and Minerals Sites Plan. The Revised Policies Document sets out which policy changes are being proposed to the existing Waste and Minerals Local Plan, which encompasses both the Waste and Minerals Plan, adopted in February 2013, and the Waste and Minerals Sites Plan, adopted February 2017.

We are now seeking representations from all stakeholders and members of the public on the soundness and legal compliance of the proposed Revised Policies. Representations may be made between Friday 29 October 2021 and Tuesday 4 January 2022.

The Revised Policies Document and its supporting documentation are available to view online at https://eastsussex-consult.objective.co.uk/ and at the deposit points detailed on the consultation notice. If you have any difficulties accessing the documents, please contact us on the details below.

How do I make representations?

Representations can be submitted:

• Online - https://eastsussex-consult.objective.co.uk/
• By Email - wasteandmineralsdf@eastsussex.gov.uk
• By Post - RPD Regulation 19 Consultation 2021, Planning Policy and Development Management Team, West Floor C, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE.

What does my representation need to contain?

Your representation must contain the following information:

• Name;
• Address;
• Clearly state which topic your representation relates to, (i.e. legal compliance, and / or soundness), and if in your opinion the Revised Policies document fails to meet either of these.
• Your comment, including any proposed modifications, and in the case of comments relating to soundness, how the plan should be altered to make it sound.
• If, in your view, you consider it necessary to attend the oral part of the Examination, and if so, why.

How will we use your representation?

Your response will form part of the public record. We will use it in the preparation of the review of the Waste and Minerals Local Plan. It will be shared with the Planning Inspectorate who will use it to carry out their duties. We and / or the Planning Inspectorate may contact you on the details provided. Your email address, telephone number and signature will not be placed on the public record. For more details on how we will use your data please see our privacy notice.

The deadline for representations is midnight on Tuesday 4 January 2022.

Contact Us

If you have any queries please email us at wasteandmineralsdf@eastsussex.gov.uk or telephone: East Sussex County Council, Planning Policy and Development Management Team on 01273 481846.

The Parish Council has received a consultation for a proposed 40 new dwellings in the centre of Five Ash Down. The Parish Council has until 12th November to send a response back to Wealden District Council, so this application will be discussed at the next Parish Council Planning Committee due to be held at 7pm in Five Ash Down Village Hall. An agenda for the meeting will be published next week. If you have any comments on the application please sent them to WDC and copy them to the parish clerk at clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk 

In the meantime please find the details of the Outline Application (so at this stage just the principle of development) on the WDC website at: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=154864

The Ashdown Forest Car Parking consultation is now live on our website: https://www.ashdownforest.org/home/index.php

Attached is a one page document that sets out the process as simply as possible for those who do not want to read further.

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Diversion Via - C402 Hurstwood Road – U7503 Burnt Oak Road and vice versa.(Please see maps attached)

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

Sunbelt Rentals Ltd (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 03700 500 792

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Diversion via - U7504 Framfield Road – U7863 Orchard Lane and vice versa.(please see maps attached)

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

Kelly Traffic Management(on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0247 664 2814

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Diversion via - A272 High Street – U7504 Framfield Road – U7505 Limes Lane and vice versa.(please see map attached)

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

South East Water on 0333 000 0365

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Diversion Via - A272 Station Road - U7118 Five Ash Down - A26 Five Ash Down - A26 Uckfield Road, Herons Ghyll - A26 Uckfield Road ,Poundgate - C402 Chillies Lane ,Crowborough - C402 Chillies Lane ,High Hurstwood and Vice Versa.(Please see map attached)

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

Sunbelt Rentals Ltd (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 03700 500 792

Earlier this year a resident approached Buxted Parish Council with the idea for a COVID memorial which would include planting cherry trees following a nationwide initiative to plant tree circles across the UK ‘to help signal reflection and hope’ following the Covid-19 pandemic. Nearly £500.00 was donated by enthusiastic local residents, the balance being paid by the Ionides Trust. A plan was drawn up to plant three specimen cherry trees on the Ionides land, near to the entrance of Buxted Surgery, where there already were some maturing cherry trees. A bench, slightly higher up on the slope, was included in the plan. On the 15th of October the trees were planted, and the bench installed. Two tree guards, which had originally been situated in the Millennium Wood, were also installed. The tree guards had specifically been made for Buxted and were donated as they were no longer being needed at the Millennium Wood.

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Diversion Via - C402 Hurstwood Road – U7503 Burnt Oak Road and vice versa.(Please see maps attached)

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

Sunbelt Rentals Ltd (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 03700 500 792

A call to action from East Sussex County Council today: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/projects-that-matter-east-sussex

Part of Crowdfund East Sussex this campaign seeks to identify and support community projects committed to being environmentally conscious.

Up to 6 projects will be chosen to receive a share of £25,000 match funding (Up to £5,000 per project) to go towards a crowdfunding campaign, one-to-one coaching support from our experts as well as zero platform fees.

To enter, project owners are asked to enter 100 words descriptions. Entries close on Monday 11 October at midday.

See the eligibility criteria for more info.

And a sports fund from Sport England -and other Crowdfunder partners for grassroots clubs that are crowdfunding: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/sports/extra-funding

Because of Crowdfund East Sussex there is extra support available for East Sussex Groups

Wealden District Council has three strands to its Community Grants Programme in this round for groups and organisations to benefit the people of the Wealden District. Editable pdf application forms for each can be downloaded from our website: CommunityGrantsProgramme

Organisations may only apply to one strand of funding. There are no capital awards available in this round, although groups looking to make improvements to the fabric of a building or community space such as a playground or recreation ground may make contact for general advice.

A Recovery Fund is open until 24^th October for Funding to be Spent by March 2022

A second round of Recovery grants is available to help any third sector organisation, which did not benefit from a Recovery grant in the last round. Groups can apply for between £500 and £3000, to be spent by the end of March 2022. Last year groups were supported with help towards equipment, measures to ensure safety, provision of alternative delivery methods, and help with utilities, rent and other expenditure which needed to be met when organisations were struggling with reduced income due to the pandemic. Expenditure for general activities to support communities was also provided. We are aiming to give decisions and start the procedure for releasing funding during December.

A Small Grants round is open until 30^th November for activities between April 2022 and March 2023

Grants of between £500 - £3000 are available to third sector organisations which are planning activities in the next financial year (April 2022 – March 2023) to benefit Wealden residents. Decisions will be given in March 2022 and the funding will be released in April.

Partnerships Service Level Agreements of 3 years are also available with a deadline of 30^th November

Three year funding is also available to key organisations which support residents in multiple parishes to be spent between April 2022 and March 2025. Please make contact if you are considering a Service Level Agreement application.

If you need any advice or have any questions after reading the guidance and application form, please emailcommunitygrants@wealden.gov.uk or call (01323) 443520

An in-house review on providing public health funerals has led to Wealden District Council being praised by an anti-poverty charity.

Quaker Social Action’s Down to Earth scheme, which offers practical support for people struggling with funeral costs, said Wealden council’s service and its informative and sensitively written website had reached the gold standard.

Under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, councils in England and Wales are required to provide public health funerals – often referred to as pauper’s funerals - to bury or cremate the body of anyone who has died alone in poverty, or whose relatives cannot afford a funeral.

Wealden carried out 11 public health funerals in 2020 and four so far this year – a higher number than many neighbouring authorities – and the service and the website the authority provides is enabling bereaved people to receive the right support when they need it.

Council officers undertook a review after a report from the QSA showed many local authorities did not carry out their legal duty to provide public health funerals and did not follow government guidelines.

In addition, some councils’ websites had no information on public health funerals on their website, while more than half of those that did offered incorrect or misleading information.

Council officers at Wealden had reviewed the service against the government good practice guidelines during the height of Covid-19 and when the QSA study was released, they contacted the charity to ensure its website was meeting the criteria.

The QSA said Wealden’s website was sensitively written and included much key information. The charity praised the work of officers saying it was encouraging to work with people who care so much about the service.

Wealden District Council’s community and public health portfolio holder Councillor Philip Lunn said, “Our officers contactedQSA after the study came out to quality check our website, worked on it with them until it met their standards and were praised for our approach to this area of work.

“Two thirds of local councils are not following good practice guidance but Wealden is among the top performing authorities and we are pleased with the endorsement from the Quaker Social Action.

“We reviewed our service at the height of Covid-19 to ensure that it met with the government best practice guidance. We found that it met all recommendations and we continue to review our standards in line with changing times.”

Councillor Lunn said that providing public health funerals is more than a statutory duty and it is a measure of our duty to community and society.

He said, “The council has a duty to arrange for the burial or cremation of any person who dies or is found dead in its area, where it appears that no funeral arrangements are being made or are likely to be made.

“The council is usually called upon where people have died either without family or without family who are willing or able to make the necessary arrangements.

“A council arranged funeral will comprise of a simple service. We will provide a celebrant or representative of the deceased’s faith, a coffin, transport of the deceased to the crematorium or cemetery in a hearse, and sufficient bearers to transfer the coffin to the chapel.”

People needing help with public health funerals should visit https://www.wealden.gov.uk/environment-and-pollution/public-health-funerals/

Memory cafes are set to re-open across Wealden this month (September) alongside a host of activities for those living with dementia and their families and friends.

The cafes, film screenings and dementia friend sessions are run by Wealden Dementia Action Alliance in partnership with community groups, volunteers and businesses to raise awareness of dementia across Wealden. All are working towards making the district dementia friendly.

The Memory Café in Polegate – on the first Thursday of every month and run in partnership with Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham – is opening on Thursday 2 September from 2-4pm at Polegate Community Centre in Windsor Way.

Hailsham Community Café – on the second Thursday of every month and also run in conjunction with Home Instead Eastbourne and Hailsham – opens on Thursday 9September from 2-4pm at St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, South Road.

The new Crowborough Community Café – held on the last Thursday of each month – will open on Thursday 30 September in Oasis Community Church, Beacon Road from 2-4pm.

All the cafes provide free refreshments and entertainment, light-hearted activities and support for families and carers.

Pine Grove Pictures is kindly hosting three new dementia friendly film screenings until the end of 2021 at Crowborough Community Centre, Pine Grove. Everyone is welcome to the relaxed afternoons. Doors open at 1.30pm with screenings starting at 2pm. Entry and refreshments are free and donations are welcome.

The screenings start on Tuesday 14 September with Calamity Jane starring Doris Day and Howard Keel.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers star in Top Hat on Tuesday 14 October and White Christmas will be screened on Tuesday 14 December.

In addition, Wealden's dementia local forums are still taking place. The forums consist of community organisations, carers and members within the community all working towards making their local areas dementia friendly communities.

The forums are in Hailsham, Crowborough, Polegate and Uckfield. Anyone wishing to attend any of the forums should contactcommunitydevelopment@wealden.gov.uk

There is also a new Friends of Wealden Dementia Action Alliance group on Facebook for members to chat and share news and ideas. Please join the group to keep up to date with local information on the activities and events going on around the district.

Dementia friend sessions are also available and anyone interested in becoming a dementia friend can contactcommunitydevelopment@wealden.gov.uk to arrange a session with a local champion. The sessions are great for everyone to be more aware of dementia and have a better understanding. We have worked with many local businesses across Wealden as well, so staff can support their customers better when using their service.

People can also visitwww.wealden.gov.uk/dementia for more information on other activities from partners of the WDAA including Sporting Memories, Sporting Moments, lots of other cafes and some great research projects you can get involved in.

Wealden District Council’s community and public health portfolio holder Councillor Philip Lunn said he was delighted to see activities resuming.

He said, “It is great to see these cafes reopening and activities starting up again following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. Memory cafes provide individuals living with dementia a safe, relaxed and friendly place to enjoy a chat, light-hearted activities and some tea and cake.

“In addition they provide a great support service for families and carers, who can get answers from health professionals and meet and learn from other people in similar situations.

“I am pleased that Wealden District Council is doing all it can to support this important community project.”

September is World Alzheimer’s Month and for more information visitWorld Alzheimer's Month | Alzheimer's Society (alzheimers.org.uk)

The deadline to apply for a Parish Council Grant for April 2022 is this Friday 3rd September.

See attached documents for more information

Afghan refugees arriving in the area will be provided sanctuary as Wealden District Council has pledged support to help those fleeing the tragic war zone.

Councillor Ray Cade, the housing and benefits portfolio holder at the authority, said, “In Wealden we are committed to playing our part in providing a safe and welcoming place for vulnerable people coming to the UK.

“We are very proud of our diverse, multicultural community and place great value on the richness people from all over the world bring to life in our district. We are also proud to have been among the first councils to commit to the resettlement scheme for refugees from Syria, in 2015, and to have supported many other refugee families to settle happily in the district.

“We are well placed to support the Afghan refugees due to our experience and success gained from resettling Syrian refugees.

“Like many other local authorities, Wealden stands ready to provide sanctuary for those fleeing the terrifying events taking place in Afghanistan, but the government must ensure we are properly resourced to provide the safe haven and specialist support that these people need and deserve.

“As we have watched the traumatic events unfold over the past week, our thoughts have been with all those affected - particularly women and girls, the LGBT+ community, civil rights activists and all others fearful of what the future may hold.

“We work in close partnership with local organisations, including the NHS, to support the health and wellbeing of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants, and enable them to fully participate as valuable members of the Wealden community.

“However, resettlement of refugees, with the appropriate support needed to ensure they can live healthy and fulfilling lives, is a complex process that requires leadership and coordination at national level, as well appropriate funding.

“We are in discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about how we can support the emerging scheme for refugees from Afghanistan, and call on the government to ensure councils are properly funded to undertake this vital work.

How can I help?

Wealden residents who want to do something to help at this early stage can donate to the following charities:

Emergency relief charities, such as The International Rescue Committee and the British Red Cross, are still working on the ground in Afghanistan.;

Women for Women International helps female survivors of war rebuild their lives

Charities such as Care4Calais are preparing to support refugees arriving in the country by collection clothes donations

FurnitureNow supports refugees in our district

Afghanaid provide kitchen kits that allow people who have left their homes to cook and safely store food.

Wealden residents are being warned not to lose their voice on decisions that affect them by making sure their electoral registration details are up to date.

The annual canvass ensures that Wealden District Council can keep the electoral register up to date, identifying any residents who are not registered to vote so that they can be encouraged to do so.

Trevor Scott, the electoral registration officer at Wealden District Council said:

“It’s important residents look out for messages from the council so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Wealden. We will send you a form/email for you to respond to. To make sure you are able to have your say at elections, simply follow the instructions sent to you.

“If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the messages we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you information explaining how to do this in the post.

“As we carry out this important work to update the electoral register we continue to follow public health guidelines, including respecting social distancing.”

People who have moved recently are particularly encouraged to look out for the voter registration messages from Wealden District Council and check the details.

Research by the Electoral Commission, published in 2019, indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time.

Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.

Melanie Davidson, head of support and improvement at the Electoral Commission, said:

“It’s really important that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so. Checking the messages that you will get from your local authority is the easiest way to see if you’re registered to vote.

“If you’re not, make sure you provide the necessary information to your local authority when it is needed and register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”

Information on registering to vote is available on the Electoral Commission website.

Any residents who have any questions can contact their local registration team at Wealden District Council – elections@wealden.gov.uk or 01892 602417.

Supporting local charities as well as businesses and organisations is at the top of the agenda for newly elected Wealden District Council chairman Councillor Ron Reed.

Councillor Reed, a councillor for Crowborough Central since 2015, has announced Dementia Support East Sussex and The Children’s Respite Trust will be the two charities he will support throughout his term of office.

The former mayor of Crowborough - and also currently a member of the town council - said he is also looking forward to attending various events across the district now that lockdown restrictions have been lifted following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillor Reed, a former operations director with a major engineering company and who

has been married to his wife Lyn for 45 years, has been a member of the Bluebell Railway for 25 years where he has volunteered and worked his way through the ranks to porter, a station master and a guard.

He is also a member of the Lions Club and a past president. In his spare time he and Lyn enjoy cruises and he is a keen gardener having turned half of the garden at his home in Crowborough into a wildlife area.

Councillor Reed said the chairman’s charities he had chosen to support did ‘fantastic work’ within the community.

He said, “The team at Dementia Support East Sussex has started to return to care homes/centres with their singing sessions and it is clear to see their clients have missed them and are delighted to be able to connect with them again - long may it continue.

“They continue to run sessions online as well as one-to-one ‘chat and sing’ sessions over the phone. I hope to attend more of their sessions and promote their fantastic work so they can reach even more of our residents across the district.”

The Children’s Respite Trust, based in Uckfield, has supported some 34 families in the district and county through its charity work.

It gives families much-needed respite from the strain of caring for a disabled child 24 hours a day and this respite takes many forms. For most, it means regular support at home from a Children’s Respite Trust carer. For others it involves attending a regular activity or it can mean a day session at the new Children’s Respite Centre.

Councillor Reed said, “I would encourage everyone to have a look at the amazing fundraising events on the website to not only help raise funds for this fantastic charity but to raise awareness of the work it does and how children with disabilities and their carers/families can be supported.”

In addition to supporting the charities, Cllr Reed is keen to help support and promote local businesses and organisations in the district.

He said, “I am pleased to report the Civic Office is getting busier, invitations are coming in, and it is great to be able to get back out in to the community and support local events, particularly local businesses as they ease out of lockdown.

“I urge people to contact the Civic Office at Wealden District Council if they are planning special events that I can support and help to promote.”

Stepping up the role of vice chairman of the council is Councillor Angela Snell, a Polegate town councillor and Wealden councillor representing the ward of Polegate North since 2015.

Councillor Snell is also a former mayor of Polegate, was a school governor for three years and works part time as a wedding celebrant and a registrar.

To find out more about the chairman and to invite him to an event you can complete an online engagement form athttps://www.wealden.gov.uk/councillors-and-committees/chairman-of-the-council/ or contact the chairman’s PA, Miss Amy Clemens on 01892 602435 or emailamy.clemens@wealden.gov.uk

Solar Together Sussex is being run by councils in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove in conjunction with group buying experts, i-Choosr. The council-supported scheme is gives residents in East Sussex the chance to install high quality solar panels and battery storage on their homes at a competitive cost.

By generating electricity from the sun, homeowners could reduce carbon emissions by around 1 tonne each year and help East Sussex to become carbon neutral.

· Homeowners can register their interest in Solar Together Sussex from 23^rd August until 27^th September 2021, giving details of their roof size and position.

· Homeowners who register will receive a no obligation proposal including the cost of the installation and the likely return on investment from the electricity they generate. This will help them to make an informed decision whether to go ahead with the installation.

· The solar panels will be installed by pre-vetted contractors and at a competitive cost because of the volume of installations being carried out across Sussex.

· The scheme is being run by a company called iChoosr, who have run many successful schemes across the UK, including in East Sussex last year. All information is on the website at https://solartogether.co.uk/eastsussex/home including FAQs

Please see attached for information a briefing from NHS East Sussex CCG on the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

From managing stress and anxiety to maths, yarn making to yoga, and pizza and bread making to practical money management, Street Learning free courses return in September for Wealden and Eastbourne residents.

Street Learning is a partnership project providing access to a range of free courses designed to help residents develop new skills and enhance existing ones and also achieve GCSEs in English and maths.

The aim is to reduce social, digital and financial exclusion and improve access to training.

Street Learning courses are provided in venues in the local community including East Sussex College in Eastbourne, Uckfield College, Uckfield Civic Centre and many of the courses will be held online.

They are completely free of charge and are available to all Wealden and Eastbourne residents – aged 19 years and over.

There are practical courses like family cooking and pizza and bread making, arts and crafts to courses to help with wellbeing to those that will help people get to grips with computers and the internet as well as those designed to help with career progression.

Councillor Roy Galley, Wealden council’s cabinet member with responsibility for employment opportunities, said, “Learning is fundamental for economic prosperity, social well-being and personal fulfilment.

“Through learning, whatever the subject, we can gain greater confidence in our own abilities. And be better prepared to help those around us.

“These courses are very relevant to increasing self-confidence and helping with job opportunities. And for some, the opportunity to learn from the comfort of their own home may provide an additional incentive.”

Street Learning is a project run by Wealden District Council, in partnership with ACRES, East Sussex College, Sussex Community Development Association, East Sussex County Council Library, Job Centre Plus, GRH Training, Compass Community Arts and Sussex Recovery College.

Visit www.wealden.gov.uk/streetlearning orstreetlearning@wealden.gov.uk

New courses are being added online on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, from Monday 6 September, there will be a reduction in the middle of the day to services to and from Uckfield. This is part of a wider change across the network and is enabling us to reintroduce school time services on other Southern routes, but I did want to be clear that from the Uckfield / Edenbridge Town perspective, it does unfortunately mean fewer trains on weekdays. There is no change on weekends or to services between Tonbridge and Redhill.

In terms of the specific change, as today, services from Uckfield will continue to be half-hourly between 06:30 and 07:30 to support the schools on the route. The service will then remain as hourly throughout most of the day, but will reduce to every two-hours in the middle of the day when trains are quieter in the following periods:

• Uckfield to London Bridge: 10:30-16:30
• London Bridge to Uckfield: 09:07-15:07 and 21:07-23:07

In terms of why this change is taking place, as you know on the 26 July, we reduced services across five Southern and Thameslink routes in response to the effect of coronavirus on our people. With the return of schools and colleges, we now need to ensure that all of our routes have their school trains running and this is why we are making the changes on the 6^th September and with it to our Uckfield to London Bridge services. We do have a significant long term impact from the eighteen months of coronavirus in terms of absence and delays to regular training, which will take our driver resourcing some time to recover from – although the change in advice to track and trace isolations is helping us to make progress. The new timetable will help us to ensure that our services are as reliable as possible with the train crew we have available.

In terms of the future, we will continue to monitor demand and will add additional services where needed, when crew availability improves to the point where we are confident it can be delivered consistently - our first priority being to return Uckfield’s services to hourly thoughout the entire day. I recognise this will be disappointing news and if you would like to discuss these changes in more detail, please do let us know.

Southern

Wealden District Council have appointed Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP) to undertake research to gather information to understand our current public open space provision and whether this meets the needs and aspirations of Wealden’s local residents, workers and visitors. The open space study once completed will assist to inform the Local Plan and its open space policies.

As part of this is a general short survey aimed at gathering wider views on open spaces from a broader range of residents, organisations and other stakeholders. This wider, more general survey started this week and is open until 28^th September 2021. You can access the survey Wealden Open Space Survey with further details available on our website: Wealden Open Space Consultation.

Wealden DC would be grateful for residents of Wealden to complete the survey.

Buxted Parish Council has a policy of councillors not responding to social media posts (unless factual information), however as Proper Officer and Responsible Financial Officer of Buxted Parish Council, Claudine and I as clerks have felt that some recent posts have brought into question our integrity of running the council and its finances, therefore it is important for us to provide as much accurate information to parishioners as possible, in this case in relation to the status and historical facts regarding the Reading Room.

Redevelopment of the Reading Room in Association with a New Hall

In 2006 parishioners gave a clear steer to the Parish Council via the Parish Plan that a new hall was desired in the village of Buxted. The Parish Plan gave leverage to the Parish Council to request funds towards a new hall from the redevelopment of the Grampian site, Five Ash Down (which is now Ashdown Place). The new hall would be situated on the Ionides Trust site and be fit for purpose for all types of user groups, surrounded by open green space with full disabled access. Funds were secured from the developer of £108,000 which were tied by legal agreement to be spent on or associated with building a new hall for Buxted. As part of this project, the Parish Council agree to support a community led project wherever possible, which included eventually selling the Reading Room for redevelopment to provide funds for the new hall. To this end and when it seemed that the new hall would be going ahead the Parish Council secured planning permission for semi-detached houses on the site of the Reading Room in preparation for when the funds were needed.

What Changed? Why Then Refurbish the Reading Room?

The new hall was always a community led project, supported by the Parish Council, but sadly a number of circumstances eventually led to the Buxted Community Hall Trust folding in 2019. By this stage, the footings for the new hall had been completed which means the project could still be taken forward at any future time. At this point the Parish Council were left with a situation where they could either take up the hall project or look to refurbish the existing Reading Room. As enthusiasm and drive for a new hall (or at least the one which had permission) had dissipated, the Parish Council decided to refurbish the Reading Room. A survey was sent to each user group and every household in the village and advertised online. This questionnaire asked for what improvements/changes could be made; however, it did not give the option of the closing the hall as this was never the intention. We received a very small response of 3% which mostly highlighted the improvements which were already thought to be necessary.

Once a decision was made, it was always the intention of the Parish Council to refurbish the Reading Room, and this is reflected in the working party notes from 2019 to the beginning of this year. Professional advice was sought, and fire and electrical wiring surveys were undertaken, highlighting some serious issues. It was only when the surveyor provided total estimated costs of £200,000 for works, that a refurbishment was brought into question. The Parish Council initially budgeted £50,000 of public money towards the project, with a total possible spend of up to £100,000. However, when the estimate of £200,000 was provided this presented the Parish Council with a very difficult decision, given that it does not have this much money to spend.

Parish Council funds are public money, and the Parish Council has a responsibility to provide best possible value for that money. Can the Parish Council therefore justifiably spend parishioners’ money (or money raised by grants if available) on a village hall that is grossly underused and even if modernised and would always have a limited usage due to its design, layout, and lack of parking?

Current Usage of the Reading Room

In the last ‘normal’ year, 2019, the regular user groups were the daytime Art Club (once a week), Evening Art Club (once a week), W.I. (once a month), Horticultural Society approx. 6 times per year and Buxted Players (2 weeks, 2 times per year in addition to rehearsal times). There were four other ad hoc hires of the hall that year. Two groups use the Reading Room free of charge, this is a long-standing arrangement. All of this is very different to the thriving hall in Five Ash down and a well utilised hall in High Hurstwood.

Costs for the Reading Room for financial year 2018-19 were £3,693 revenue and £6,159 expenditure

Yes, the hall is a community asset and is heavily subsidised by the Parish Council, but is this enough usage to warrant a £200k spend on the hall without a guaranteed increased income?

The Parish Council has knowingly allowed the Reading Room to get into a state of disrepair?

This is untrue, the Parish Council has continued to maintain and repair the hall, when necessary, which has included a new heating system, various roof repairs and very recently the installation of a telephone and internet line. What it has not done however is to replace the entire wiring system or replace the roof and windows with all up to date requirements at a large expense when it was the intention to demolish to hall to provide capital funds for the new facility.

The estimated costs of £200,000 now include all the above in addition to the requirements for the fire regulations and installation of a new kitchen and toilets (all of which can be viewed on the agenda details for the 10 August 2021 parish council meeting)

What Happens Next?

Armed with the knowledge from the surveys, the Parish Council remains very uneasy to continue to use the hall in the long term until further advice has been received from our insurers which is the position, we are currently in. The safety of the hall users is paramount which in part explains why the estimated costs are so high. It is also important to note that that those volunteer Cllrs would be personally liable should something happen and we were considered deemed not to have taken action to prevent it following the receipt of the surveys. At the current time and until clarification is sought from the insurance company the hall will not be available for hire.

As mentioned above, Parish Council money is public money, your money, and councillors are unpaid, volunteer custodians of these funds with a responsibility of spending where necessary and for best value.

Finally, I would comment that all parish council finances are audited both internally (by an internal auditor outside of the parish council) and externally by a government appointed auditor and are also available to any member of the public on request.

The National Lottery Community Fund is investing £2 million into this second round of funding to fund hundreds of ‘microgrants’ between £300 and £2,500, so small, local organisations (with an annual income of £50,000 or less) can bring people and communities together.

If you received funding in Round 1, you will not be eligible for funding in Round 2.

What the funding's for

The funding is aimed at bringing people together in safe and secure ways, making people aware of what services are available to reduce loneliness and to build lasting connections to help make:

• people and communities feel more connected
• individuals feel supported and less lonely or isolated
• people more aware of services available that help them to connect with others and get involved

As the COVID-19 restrictions start to ease, we want to change the focus of this funding for Round 2. We know the dangers of COVID-19 are still present, so it’s important applicants demonstrate how they can adapt to meet any restrictions which may be put in place at short notice. For Round 2, we want to focus on:

• activities which physically brings people together in a safe and secure way
• remote activities but where this is the best or only way to build connections for that particular community - this might work well for people who are geographically isolated, those with illnesses or disabilities, or those who are not quite ready to meet people face-to-face
• helping individuals to get out of the ‘lockdown mentality’ and meet people in their communities again for activities which will be a positive experience for people
• helping organisations who work to reduce loneliness restart activities - this might be getting volunteers or service users to clean and refresh their meeting space or grounds, or refreshing materials and ensuring equipment is ready to be used.

Applications close - 6 August 2021 at 5pm

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/local-connections-fund-round-2

Festival programme coming soon...!

ESCC will be carrying out drainage works on A272 Buxted Road, Coopers Green.

This work will include installing new drains, replacing two inspection covers, installing new drainage pipes and ensuring our drainage outfall is working correctly.

Work will start on Wednesday 21st July 2021 and continue until Thursday 29th July 2021.The road will remain open with temporary 4-way traffic lights in place.

Please also see their website for information about this work: https://www.eastsussexhighways.com/highway-schemes/buxted-road-coopers-green-drainage

ESCC will be carrying out drainage works on the Buxted Footpath 67 (next to Britts Farm Road). Work will start on Monday 19th July 2021 and continue for 3 days. Footpath 67 (highlighted in red) will be closed for the duration of the works.

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Royal Oak Lane is a no through road, a diversion route is not applicable.(please see map attached)

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

Kelly Traffic Management (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0247 664 2814

Due to the global pandemic Op Blitz for the last financial year has given us slightly different results then we would have expected during a standard year. Due to officers being deployed to operations around Covid and also other high priority operations. The money provided by the partnership has ensured that officers were available for Op Blitz over every weekend.

Half way through the year we started to include anti-social driving into the direct taskings for Op Blitz. This included the opportunity to run 5 dedicated operations targeting those using the roads in a dangerous and/or anti-social manner.

As part of these operations we were able to secure additional resources from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), Neighbourhood Enforcement Team (NET), Roads Policing Unit (RPU) and the newly formed Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU). These 5 dedicated ops have given the following results, with more ops being planned for this year:-

• 2 arrested for Possession with intent to supply

• 67 vehicle stops

• 4 Section 59 warnings for anti-social driving

• 5 Traffic offence reports (tickets)

• 1 Court summons for a motoring offence

• 2 vehicle seizures and tickets for no insurance

• 2 arrests for drink driving

• 2 investigations for drug offences

Over the past year officers have dealt with the following, whilst patrolling the areas highlighted as being ‘hotspots’:-

• 95 calls to the dedicated Blitz phone

• 23 calls made to the Police switchboard

• 158 people stopped

• 10 alcohol seizures

• 1 person dealt with for drug offences

• 31 vehicles stopped.

Following a suggestion and funding raising from a local resident, the Parish Council is pleased to be able to support a COVID Memorial to be situated on the Ionides Trust land in the centre of Buxted. The local resident raised nearly £500, and together with funds from Ionides Trust, three cherry trees will be planted alongside the existing cherry trees on site together with a reflection bench. The trees and bench have been ordered and it is hoped to be able to complete the project in the autumn. Please see the attached plan of the site.”

MAY 2021

Diary Date: South East Open Studios … 4th to 20th June 2021

Government guidelines permitting, South East Open Studios, one of the most established annual arts events in the South East, will be going ahead from the 4^th to the 20^th June.

For the first time several artists from Fairwarp, Nutley and Lindfield are participating at Black Shed Studios and Ashdown Pottery in Fairwarp. There are over 200 artists who are involved in the region. All 200 members feature on the South East Open Studios website, www.seos-art.org and on social media platforms. The event is supported by a full-colour, high-quality guide. Around 30,000 copies will be printed and distributed to targeted outlets across the South East. It will also be available to view online.

SEOS is a not-for-profit organisation. Members practise painting, printmaking, pottery and ceramics, jewellery, glass and woodwork, sculpting, textile art, digital work, illustration and mixed media. Many artists choose to demonstrate their techniques during the two-week event.

Follow @seopenstudios on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and join the mailing list to receive news about the event and artists.

For more information please contact: Gabrielle Argent, SEOS Co-ordinator Tel: 07887812346

www.seos-art.org

Clerks: Beccy Macklen & Claudine Feltham

PO Box 202, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 1BN

t: 01435 812798 e: clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk w: buxtedvillage.org.uk

13 April 2021

MINUTES

Minutes of the REMOTE meeting of the Council held on Tuesday 9^th February 2021 at 7.00 p.m.

East Sussex County Council Ongoing Matters:

Ionides Trust Update:

1. Scout Lease – signed and completed, emailed the solicitor for digital copies. Are we agreed Dawson Hart, solicitors keep the originals in which case it should be noted where they are held.
2. COVID Memorial –

Prior to the meeting the clerk circulated a plan and example cherry trees for the COVID Memorial. If agreed, it was suggested that the trees are ordered now to ensure delivery by autumn planting. The bench can be installed prior to the trees being planted. What shall the engraving be? – Cost for trees approximately £600-£700.00 and bench £500.00. The additional funds can be sourced from either parish council funds or Ionides funds. However, we must make it clear where the monies are coming from, public donations and covering the extra cost and that the trees will be planted on Ionides Land, but it is the parish council, as managing trustees, who carry out all the planning and work. Agreed and details would be included on the website. The quote for the bench would be “In Memory of all those loved and lost or severely affected during the Covid Pandemic”.

1. Now that we have lost both our previous groundsman and councillor who used to help maintain the Ionides Trust land, the chairman requested that a new self-employed grounds person/handyman to help maintain Ionides Trust land (and Parish council land) be sought. This would include strimming around the fencing, maintaining the hedges, picking litter, checking, and oiling play equipment. This person could also carry out the work in looking after trees that have been planted over the years by the chairman as it is time someone else carried out the work on a regular basis! – agreed.

DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS TO GATWICK AIRPORT COMMUNITY TRUST

Don’t miss out on the chance to receive project funding for your community group or charitable organisation.

This year’s deadline for grant applications to Gatwick Airport Community Trust is fast approaching – 21 May 2021.

As local community groups and charitable organisations start to plan more activities and offer more services after the challenges of the last 12 months, now is the time to apply for a grant.

The process is simple. Check the website www.gact.org.uk to make sure the project is eligible and falls within the Trust’s area of benefit which covers parts of East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Download the application form, complete it fully and send it to the address on the form to arrive no later than 21 May 2021.

With some £200,000 up for grabs, the normal level of grants awarded is between £1,000 - £5,000 to ensure the benefits are spread far and wide throughout the communities most affected by airport operations.

The Trust supports schemes that benefit diverse sections of the local community and are targeted towards the development of young people, the arts, sporting facilities, environmental improvement and conservation, improvements to community facilities, volunteering, the elderly and the disabled.

Grantapplications are assessed by a board of volunteer trustees who all bring local knowledge and expertise to the Trust ensuring that the money is used to the maximum benefit of the local community.

Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-

Diversion via: - U7864 Nan Tucks Lane – U7505 Limes Lane – U7504 Framfield Road – A272 High Street - Pound Green and vice versa. 

Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works

If you need to discuss this further please contact:

South East Water on 0333 000 0365

Our annual event will be going ahead this year, but not in May as it usually is. The Rector & Churchwardens have decided to defer the event until after 21st June, when remaining restrictions are due to be lifted. The new date is Saturday 10th July, from 12.00 until 6.00.

As many of you will be aware the 2021 Census is due to take place this March and Census Day falls on Sunday 21^st March 2021.

Uckfield Town Council

As if we haven’t all had enough to deal with and worry about since the outset of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the situation has unfortunately been exploited by fraudsters with fake offers of vaccinations. At times of disasters and other crises, there is invariably an increase in fraudulent activity, for example, bogus charity donation requests. The current pandemic, unprecedented in its effects and global reach – is no exception. A massive increase in reliance on the internet and people’s concerns about their and loved ones’ health, wellbeing and finances have combined to create ideal conditions for fraud.

Over the last year, commonplace COVID-19-related scams have included fake advertisements for PPE to priority online shopping slots, HMRC monetary grants to travel refund services, and fake NHS Test & Trace messages informing recipients that they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, and need to buy a home testing kit. A more complete list can be found at

www.getsafeonline.org/news/coronavirus-scams-you-should-be-aware-of .

With the UK vaccination programme in full swing, the most recent wave of scams has focused on fraudulent offers of vaccinations, attempting to persuade recipients that they can ‘jump the queue’.

The scams, which are perpetrated via email, text or telephone call, either request payment for a vaccination, or link to authentic looking but fake websites which harvest your confidential information. Those who fall for such scams fall victim to financial fraud, identity theft or both.

Avoiding COVID-19 Vaccination Scams – Top Tips:

Remember that COVID-19 vaccines in the UK are available only via the NHS of England, Wales and Scotland, or from Health & Social Care Northern Ireland.

Remember that the NHS will never:

• Charge you for a COVID-19 vaccination
• Ask you for your bank account or card details
• Ask you for your PIN or banking passwordor memorable details
• Arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine
• Ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as passport, driving licence, bills or payslips.

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.

How you will be contacted to get your COVID-19 vaccination

The NHS will contact you when it is your turn to have the vaccination, by letter, text or email, with information on how to book your appointment. The vaccination is free of chargewithout exception. The vaccine is being offered at larger vaccination centres, pharmacies and some local NHS services such as hospitals or GP surgeries.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, don’t be embarrassed but report it immediately to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 (if you’re in Scotland, Police Scotland on 101). Report any assaults to the police. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded free of charge to 7726.

Get Safe Online is the UK’s leading source of information and advice on online safety and security, for the public and small businesses. It is a not-for-profit, public/private sector partnership backed by law enforcement agencies and leading organisations in internet security, banking and retail. For more information and expert, easy-to-follow, impartial advice on safeguarding yourself, your family, finances, devices and workplace, visit www.getsafeonline.org.

Small Electricals – Kerbside Recycling

Recycling your electrical items just became easier! You can now recycle your small electrical items on your waste or recycling collection day. Please place the items in a carrier bag and place them on top of either your black or green bin. Please do not place items inside your black or green bins.

If the electrical items won’t fit into a carrier bag then it is too large to fit into the compartments on our collection vehicles and you should take it to a Household Waste and Recycling Site. Check the table below for examples of items you can present for collection.

Yes please:

• Anything with a plug.

• Anything battery operated.

• Cables, plugs.

• Only items that can fit in a standard size plastic carrier bag.

• Batteries (if removable) in a separate bag please.

No thanks (Please take these to a Household Waste Recycling Site):

• Items too big to fit in a standard size plastic carrier bag.

• Traditional old style light bulbs, low energy light bulbs and fluorescent tubes.

Batteries

Batteries are hazardous waste and should never be placed in your black bin or your green bin. Batteries cause fires within waste collection vehicles and at Waste Transfer Stations.

Please place batteries in a separate bag on top of either your black bin or your green bin.

Please remove batteries and battery units from any small electricals that you are putting out for collection. Integrated or built in rechargeable batteries do not need to be removed.

Alkaline, Silver-Oxide and Zinc carbon and lithium batteries can all be recycled through our kerbside battery collection service. Rechargeable batteries and power packs can also be recycled through this service.

Lead-acid, mercury and other types of industrial and vehicle batteries cannot be recycled through this collection services.

What happens to small electricals and batteries placed out for kerbside recycling?

Once taken back to depots, small electricals are collected by MDJ Light Bros in Lewes for reprocessing and recycling on its site at Greystone Quarry facility. There, the items are separated into the various different components for recycling. The separated components are then sold to customers depending on demand and market conditions.

Household batteries collected at the kerbside are taken to a facility in Garforth, Leeds, where they are bulked and sent on for recycling. The bulked batteries are taken to one of two specialist facilities owned by Revatech in Belgium. Here at either the Monsin or Engis facility, the batteries are sorted by type before going through mechanical treatment to crush and screen the material. The material goes through a chemical treatment process before being recycled. Base metals and plastics are recovered. The resources gained from recycling batteries are the very same materials being mined in other parts of the world.

NOTICE OF NEW PLANNING APPLICATION(S)

AND UPDATES ON APPLICATIONS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED.

The Planning Applications below are to be considered by members of the Parish Council Planning Committee via email consultation. This email method for consultation is a temporary measure due to the Corona Virus outbreak. The parish council will advertise this notice on their website.

If any member of the public would like to comment on any of the new applications being considered, please email your comments by to clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk and also to Wealden District Council by email:planning@wealden.gov.uk

Claudine Feltham - clerk to the Parish Council

Copy to ESCC Cllr R Galley, WDC Cllr Illingworth

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, in partnership with the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners (APCC), has launched today (19 February) a national survey, designed to understand public perception of dog theft, enforcement and the prosecution of offenders.

The Home Secretary is currently reviewing the issue of pet theft, and what future enforcement may look like with potentially tougher penalties for perpetrators.

The responses to this survey will help inform the discussions that PCCs will have on this issue nationally, and allow police forces to better understand the public's views on this crime and how they might improve their response to those concerns.

Demand for dogs as pets has increased during the coronavirus pandemic. The cost of some puppies, on Pets4Homes, is currently as high as £3,000, making them a valuable commodity to criminals.

According to Dog Lost, the UK's largest lost and found dog service, it is estimated thefts have risen by 250 per cent, with criminal gangs involved.

PCC Bourne says: “I am incredibly eager to get more detail around this issue and understand residents’ views and if they feel more could be done to respond to their concerns or for more preventative measures to be put in place to better protect their pets."

"I hope that the results of this survey will give the Government the evidence it needs to take more robust action against perpetrators."

The 60-second survey will be open until 17:00 on Friday 12th March. Make sure to have your say today: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/dogtheft

Some of the stiles and footpaths, where there is heavy footfall, are in a poor state given the increase in footfall and the extremely wet weather.

It would be helpful if councillors, or any members of the public, can report broken stiles and other problems to the clerk, so this can be passed onto the correct authority.

The image below shows all the footpaths in the parish and further details of footpaths can be found on the ESCC website:

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/countryside/rightsofway/map/

Please report any broken/damaged stiles direct to ESCC or to clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk

Local Update

February 2021

Covid

Cases of Covid 19 continue to fall quite steeply across East Sussex and Wealden.

Over 90% of Care Home residents and staff have been vaccinated. All over 70s will be offered a vaccination by mid-February and over 65s by the end of the month.

The Community Hub continues to operate for those with food or medicine deliveries problems.

A series of Government grants are still available for local businesses and over £45million has been passed on to businesses since the pandemic began. Full details of what is on offer are on the Wealden website.

Council Tax.

East Sussex County Council has now decided to increase Council Tax by 3.5%. This is made up of 2% on basic Council Tax and 1.5% for the Adult Social Care precept. The government has allowed care authorities to levy 3% extra over two years. It could all be levied in one year or spread over two years. East Sussex has decided on the latter course. About 70% of Council Tax goes to fund County services.

The Fire Authority had agreed to a 1.99% increase for the Fire and Rescue Service while Wealden will be freezing tax for 2021/22. We are expecting a hefty increase from the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Policing.

This increase in the Police precept will, however, be put to good use.

Already 100 more PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) have been recruited across Sussex with 17 new neighbourhood policing sergeants heading up local policing activity.

I have observed more police presence in recent weeks including more speed check activity and hope you have too if you’ve been able to get out and about.

In parts of Wealden Anti Social Behaviour patrols have been having noticeable impact and there has been a successful drugs busting operation.

As ever, overall crime levels are comparatively quite low.

Roy Galley

February 12th 2021.

03 February 2021

This is a briefing to provide information and resources in community languages to support ethnically diverse communities during COVID-19 and to provide factual information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. If you want this briefing to be in any other community language, BSL, Braille or other format, then please get in touch with us by using our contact details at the bottom of this briefing.

Supporting People at their COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment

Where can I have my vaccination?

You will receive an invitation to book your vaccination appointment by telephone, text or by post and there are several places you can choose to go to receive your vaccination:

· Visiting service – the vaccine is being taken into care homes and into people’s own homes if they cannot attend a vaccination site; and

· Hospital hubs – larger hospitals across the country are offering vaccination to health and care staff.

In Crawley a new mobile vaccination site has gone live to reach communities that are vulnerable:

https://abcltd.org.uk/2021/01/28/local-gp-federation-launches-mobile-vaccination-unit-for-hard-to-reach-and-vulnerable-community-groups/#more-3542

What support is available for language needs?

Patients can self-refer for face to face interpretation at their appointment – please contact local interpreting providers:

If you have an urgent interpretation need you can contact:

info@vandu.co.uk

urgent@sussexinterpreting,org.uk

Telephone interpretation is available for those have language needs and do not have an interpreter. This will be arranged by the team where you have your vaccine.

Translated Materials

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Contact Details

Dispelling Misinformation

FACT: No patient so far has suffered from irreversible side effects from the COVID-19 vaccination- in trials or in the population. This myth was spread by misreading a presentation which actually said 3000 of those vaccinated suffered with temporary and reversible side effects.

FACT: The speed of approval of the COVID-19 vaccination was mainly due to cutting red tape rather than cutting corners. There has been worldwide scientific collaboration and funding to create the COVID-19 vaccine. This global effort has allowed scientists to work at record speed, and complete years of work in months.

FACT: There is no material of foetal or animal origin in either COVID-19 vaccine. All ingredients are published in the healthcare information on the MHRA’s website.

• The British Islamic Medical Association have produced a helpful guide for the Muslim community.

• The Catholic Church offers reassurance messages that Catholics may “in good conscience receive any of these vaccines for the good of others and themselves”.

• The Church of England information on the vaccine isathttps://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/COVID%2019%20Vaccines%20update%20v1.0.pdf.

• The Hindu Forum of Britain has issued a COVID-19 Vaccine Information Guidehttps://twitter.com/hfbritain/status/1354512544321458179

If and when further vaccines are approved we will publish information about known allergens or ingredients that are important for certain faiths, cultures and beliefs.

FACT: The Covid-19 vaccine should protect you from becoming sick, but it won’t stop you from infecting other people. So, it is really important that you continue to remember hands, face, space. Wash your hands, cover your face and keep your distance from people. During the winter when people tend to spend more time indoors, it is a good idea to have a flow of air, for example by opening windows sometimes.

FACT: Unlike the flu jab, you cannot currently pay for a COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 vaccinations are part of the national NHS vaccination programme and the vaccines are provided free by the NHS. You will never be asked for your bank details to pay for it.

Accessible Information in Community Languages

Sussex Health and Care Partnership have published a page with helpful translated information around COVID-19 and the vaccination programme:

www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/keepsussexsafe/sussex-covid-19-vaccination-programme/translated-covid-19-resources/

To support people to access health care services during COVID-19 Sussex NHS Commissioners have produced a “Right Care, Right Place” booklet which has been translated into Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Turkish

Sussex Interpreting Services (SIS) have developed pages in a range of community languages including; Arabic, Bengali, Simplified Chinese, Farsi, Polish and Portuguese to support people to find out information about health and social care needs. The pages can be accessed directly and easily from the SIS home page www.sussexinterpreting.org.uk and are being updated on a weekly basis.

Video resources

Celebrities have come together to counter disinformation about the vaccine amongst ethnically diverse communities by producing a short video :Meera Syal and Moeen Ali star in video urging BAME people to take vaccine | Coronavirus | The Guardian

Siphelile Williams is a proud Learning Disabilities Nurse and a proud Muslim woman. Here she talks about why the Covid19 vaccine is suitable for her and people of Islamic faith, as well as vegetarians and vegans https://youtu.be/NZOTKz2C_2I

Siphelile Williams, a Staff Nurse from Learning Disability Services, is currently working as a trained vaccinator at The Mount. She addresses concerns about the safety of the vaccine, its side effects and how she’s had to counter disinformation within her own family who’ve been worried about things they’ve seen onlinehttps://youtu.be/A2zgOsFjNZw

An expert team of NHS vaccinators answer some of your main concerns about the vaccine, including: Is it safe? Can it be trusted? What about allergic reactions and side effects? Does it contain animal products? Is it worth it?https://youtu.be/pHvu_b55Dk0

Mental Health Nurse Steve Dawson is one of our professional Covid19 vaccinators working at The Mount. Steve understands why people might be worried but says it’s now our best hope of returning to a normal lifestylehttps://youtu.be/b0_5DdJi_vg

Further information and links to support an informed decision

Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation – information on eligibility criteria for the vaccine:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950113/jcvi-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-dec-2020-revised.pdf

Information for UK healthcare professionals (Pfizer/BioNTech):https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940565/Information_for_Healthcare_Professionals_on_Pfizer_BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine.pdf

Information for UK healthcare professionals (Oxford/AstraZeneca):https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca/information-for-healthcare-professionals-on-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

Priority groups for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination: detailed information https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020

Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on time between first and second dose:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers-on-the-prioritisation-of-first-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines

NHS Sussex Commissioners Public Involvement Team Contact Details

If you have any questions, or if you need this briefing in an alternative format, please contact the Public Involvement Team:

Email: sxccg.involvement@nhs.net

Telephone: 01903 708 411

Post: FREEPOST RTUZ-ECYG-ERRK

Attn: Public Involvement Team, NHS Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group

Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Brighton, BN3 4AH

SignLive: Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us between 09:00-17:00 Monday- Friday through the Video Relay Service (VRS) ‘SignLive’. Simply download the SignLive app, register your details, and search for NHS Brighton and Hove in the Community Directory. If the call goes to answerphone please leave a message, with your name and SignLive ID code and we will call you back as soon as possible.

Previous versions of the briefing can be accessed via the news section on the CCGs websites: NHS Brighton and Hove CCG, NHS East Sussex CCG, and NHS West Sussex CCG.

In late Autumn 2020 works to Community Parking area were carried out. The car park was enlarged to increase capacity and a tarmac surface laid down. At the same time drainage works were carried out around the children’s play area, connecting in with drainage laid down for the car park. The excess spoil from the car park works was spread over the valley created by the bund from the surgery works, thus creating a flatter landscape and hopefully a more useable one. Grass seed was laid down over all disturbed areas and it will be Spring 2021 before the success of this part of the works can be evaluated. More work may have to be carried out during 2021.

Please click on the link below for detailed information regarding where the coronavirus vaccine is being delivered across Sussex.

Very disappointingly we have been advised by Wealden District Council that neighbour notification letters are no longer going to be sent out from 1st November. Instead, neighbours will have to rely on a site notice, their website or social media. We were advised as follows:

Dear Parish/Town Clerk

The methods that the Council use to publicise applications considered to be valid on or after 1st November 2020 is changing.

From this date, the Council will no longer notify adjoining properties by letter. This change is following the adoption of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), which was adopted on 22nd July 2020 at Full Council.

There is to be reliance on Site Notices together with the website and social media. Where required by legislation, adverts will continue to be placed in the local newspaper

This change will not affect how the Council notify statutory bodies such as Town and Parish Councils.

For more details please visit: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-advice/update-on-how-we-notify-on-planning-applications/

If you are on the internet, the parish council would urge you to sign up to the My Wealden Alerts at https://my.wealden.gov.uk/en. You would then be notified via the weekly Wealden update (at the bottom of the email) of any new planning applications in your area. In addition to this, the parish council will try its utmost to inform residents of new application as they arrive via its website, Facebook and BPEC. However, this does by no means cover the many residents who are not on the internet, so we would please ask everyone to spread the word as new applications are submitted.

Starting on Friday 28th August (approx 12.30 pm), the play equipment in Buxted and High Hurstwood Recreation Grounds and Ashdown Place, Five Ash Down will be sanitised on a 30-day rolling basis for a trial period of three months.

This sanitisation is in conjunction with both Uckfield Town Council and Framfield Parish Council who also have a three-month trial.

The sanitisation provides 30 days of residual and anti-microbial protection on hard surfaces and soft furnishings with a single application. The equipment can be used 15 minutes after application. It invisibly bonds to surfaces and provides ongoing residual protection, it cannot be cleaned off, even with chlorine cleaning.

We would be grateful if you could refrain from using the equipment while the sanitisation is in process and leave for 15 minutes following application.

Please find below all relevant information regards to the service. Products used are water-based with no impact on the environment.

HPS Protect Anti-Microbial Protection Services

Zoono London Underground Trial Report

FINAL REPORT Zoono Trial 14Forty Fluor 2019

14476 germfree[1][1] Bespoke BS EN 13697 30 days BS EN 1276 Report BS EN 1650 BS EN 13697 Report Coronavirus screening report[1][1] EN 14476 Report Vaccinia Eurofins Lab 28 Day Test Result[1][1] J001347 14476 Report Vaccinia[1][3] J001430 Microbe Shield[1][1] PAS 2424 SDS GermFree24 Hand Sanitiser Final V3[1][2][1][1] SDS ZOONO Z71 Microbe Shield Surface Sanitiser Final V2[2][1][1][1] Zoono Ebola (RSV) antiviral test[1] Zoono test results brochure May 2019[1] Zoono Z71 PAS2430 Test Results[1][1]

Millions of pounds paid to Wealden District Council by developers to help provide infrastructure is set to be spent on sports and health facilities.

The council is recommending £9 million of Community Infrastructure Levy it has received be spent on projects including a new Community Sports Hub on the outskirts of Hailsham, a new training pool at Crowborough and a new indoor leisure centre and integrated healthcare facilities in Hailsham town centre.

Community Infrastructure Levy – known as CIL – is a charge that local authorities can set on new developments to raise money to help fund a wide range of infrastructure including roads and transport, flood defences, schools and educational facilities, medical and social care facilities, district heating systems, sporting, recreational or cultural facilities needed to support development of areas.

The details of the funding for sports and health facilities has been revealed in Wealden council’s annual Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Councillor Ann Newton said, “The council’s current evidence base for both indoor/ built sports facilities and playing pitch and outdoor sports needs outlines that areas of the district, including Hailsham, have deficits in such facilities.

“We are currently bringing forward plans to deliver a new Community Sports Hub on council owned land at Knights Farm East near Hellingly; carrying out improvements at Crowborough Leisure Centre including providing an additional teaching pool; and delivering a new indoor leisure centre and integrated healthcare facilities in Hailsham town centre as art of the Hailsham Aspires project.

“Given the projects due to get underway in Hailsham, Crowborough and Hellingly and in order to ensure that these projects can proceed without unnecessary delay and in line with the budget projections built into the council’s medium term financial strategy, it is recommended that an initial £9 million be allocated to these projects.”

In addition, £4million has been allocated to highways improvement projects in south Wealden and tens of thousands of pounds provided for Suitable Alternative Green Space (SANGs) projects - such as Walshes Park in Crowborough - and Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMS) schemes.

More than £750,000 has also been passed to parish and town councils to fund the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area.

For further information:

Wealden residents consulted on council tax increase

A six week consultation is now underway over a proposal to increase council tax for the first time in two years.

Wealden District Council announced a freeze on a council tax increase last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year the authority is proposing a 2.53% increase on council tax bills from 2022/23, which is equivalent to £5 a year – or 9p a week – for a Band D property.

The consultation launched this month following approval by the council’s Cabinet committee. It will run until Thursday 20 January 2022.

Wealden council’s share of the council tax bill is 10% and the money helps pay for refuse and recycling collections, planning, street cleaning, environmental protection and free car parking.

The remaining 90% of council tax bills is set by and distributed among East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service as well as local parish or town councils.

Wealden’s part of the District’s overall council tax helps pay for refuse and recycling collections, planning, street cleaning, environmental protection and free car parking.

Council leader Bob Standley said, “Nobody wants council tax to rise but a £5 a year increase – which equates to 9.6p a week for a Band D property; 20p a week for the highest band and 6p a week for the lowest band – is a reasonable amount to ensure we deliver good services to our residents.

“The main reasons for the increases are is that there are financial challenges ahead so we have to be reasonably prudent.”

Councillor Standley said those challenges include having to save £500,000 off its annual budget; uncertainty over business rates; a potential increase in costs due to a rise of planning appeals and possible charges associated with new rules concerning both garden waste and food waste collections.

The council leader said, “We are also investing in projects including Wealden Crematorium and Knights Farm West Employment Park. These projects will take some years to fully deliver but will contribute to the council’s income and help in keeping future council tax increases as low as possible.

”We have been prudent in previous years and it has borne fruit. Wealden council is in a strong position compared to a lot of other authorities across the country which are struggling.”

To take part in the consultation visithttps://www.wealden.gov.uk/consultations/budget-2022-23/

For further information:

For further information: