matters mid sussex Mid Sussex together living, working, supporting News and features from Mid Sussex District Council

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1 Issue 74. Winter 2011 matters mid sussex News and features from Mid Sussex District Council Mid Sussex together living, working, supporting Inside this issue: Have your say on the draft District Plan meet some volunteer stars combating recycling contamination Christmas bin schedule what s on and lots more WIN Bluebell Railway family tickets, Freedom Leisure memberships for a year and a very special Wakehurst Place treat. See inside for more details.

2 Contents Comment Welcome Local news 8 Green matters Your community Out and about Draft District Plan Health and wellbeing 19 Welcome to the latest edition of Mid Sussex Matters. Time certainly moves quickly the winter and festive season will soon be upon us, which means we must all prepare for the possibility of bad weather. Mid Sussex, along with its County, Parish and Town Council partners, has learnt from previous years, and is well prepared, should extreme weather hit us again. Please take some time to look at our feature on page 11. Better Mid Sussex 20 Your Council Members Allowances Seasonal shopping 21 Sport Your council 22 What s on guide Your neighbourhood 24 Key contacts At this time of year the Council begins work on budget planning. These are certainly challenging times for all of us and next year we again face severe cuts in Central Government funding. However, with our recent record in controlling costs, together with improved efficiency, I feel confident this Council is best placed to face the challenges presented in the current financial climate. Our aim, as in previous years, is to protect and maintain frontline services and deliver real value for money to our residents. Mid Sussex Matters is free to all residents and provides you with information about our services. Published by the Communications Team, Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1SS. Designed by Spring Marketing, ,000 copies are distributed free to Burgess Hill, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Mid Sussex villages. This magazine is delivered by the Royal Mail according to local postcode boundaries. From time to time these exceed the authority boundaries, but we hope that even if you live outside of Mid Sussex, you will still find something of interest within these pages. Editorial Advertising msm@midsussex.gov.uk Next issue out on 18 March Inclusion of advertisements does not constitute a recommendation by Mid Sussex District Council of the products or services offered or the organisations involved, nor will the Council incur any liability whatsoever for any claim relating to them. If you need this publication in another language or format please call Another major piece of work in progress concerns planning for the future. The Council is working towards a new District Plan, formed with help from Towns and Parishes, which in turn will produce their own Neighbourhood Plans. By working together, the District Plan will provide the vision and platform for growth within the District for the next 20 years. Please take time to read, research and comment on the proposals on pages Everyone s opinion is important and we want as many residents as possible to be part of these plans for the future. The festive season also brings communities closer together the sense of community spirit has always been strong in Mid Sussex, especially when times are increasingly difficult for many of us. Working together, and harnessing the strengths that already exist in our communities, I feel sure that we have a recipe for the future that will continue to ensure Mid Sussex has a healthy, vibrant and caring community. I wish you all the best for the festive season. Cover - Celebrating some of our local stars - volunteers from across the District s Citizens Advice Bureau branches. Cllr Garry Wall Leader, Mid Sussex District Council 3

3 Local news Local news Electric car so good so far Mid Sussex is now home to three electric car charging points. The three electric charging stations in Mid Sussex are part of a network of 20 charging points located all across West Sussex. Any resident who wishes to make use of the charging points can do so by becoming a member of the Charge Your Car scheme. For an annual payment of just 50, residents will receive unlimited access to every electric charging point in the West Sussex network and other recharging posts that form part of the wider Charge Your Car network. - Burgess Hill - Cyprus Road Car Park - East Grinstead - Chequer Mead Car Park - Haywards Heath - Hazelgrove Road Car Park. The points have been provided by SSE Contracting in partnership with West Sussex County Council and support residents towards more sustainable transport. To use the new electric charging points, simply register with the scheme by calling or visit Consultation with residents The Council s Statement of Community Involvement setting out best practice for the Council to use when engaging with the local community has been published and consulted on within the community. Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment. The Statement of Community Involvement establishes six key principles - being timely, inclusive, transparent, respectful of the views of others, efficient and clear about results. The Council agreed the new approach at its meeting on 19 October. To read the Statement please see Sign up for planning e-updates Protecting services The Council is well advanced in developing its service and budget proposals for 2012/13. The emphasis is again on looking at new ways of working; finding efficiency savings and protecting frontline services. The process is however, very challenging, as we have to absorb a further 15% fall in our Government Grant (on top of the 15% reduction in this year s budget). The Council s proposals will be published at the end of December and considered first by the Performance and Scrutiny Committee on 17 January Broadband funding award Charity revamps garden for local children Rockinghorse Children s Charity supports a number of children s hospitals and respite centres across Sussex, including Chalkhill Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit in Haywards Heath and Orchard House Short Break Unit in Cuckfield. Recently, the charity redeveloped the garden at Orchard House, which is a fantastic centre for children and young people with complex and severe disabilities. The new 20,000 garden includes an interactive water play area and an accessible pathway and bridge, which will enable the children to explore all areas of the space securely and safely, while enjoying a full range of sensory experiences. For more information about how to support Rockinghorse visit Tinsel Towns Father Christmas visits The Orchards Shopping Centre in Haywards Heath to switch on the lights and begin festivities at 4pm on Saturday 26 November. He ll be assisted by the winner of the Mid Sussex Times Child Superstar competition. The day will end with a spectacular firework display in Victoria Park at 6pm sponsored by the Town Council. On Thursday 1 December Burgess Hill s Christmas lights will be switched on at 6pm, followed by an evening of late night shopping - with participating shops open until 8pm. East Grinstead Christmas High Street will be hosting a Victorian themed shopping day Twas the Sunday before Christmas on Sunday 18 December from 10am-4pm. Residents can now sign up to receive s notifying them of planning applications received in their local ward or parish. To sign up you need to - go to - create a user account using a simple registration process. Once this has been set up you can create and save a search for your ward or parish. When new planning applications are received within that area, you will be notified by . TV switchover help at The Life Show Over 600 people enjoyed The Life Show at the Martlets in Burgess Hill earlier this year. Charities and voluntary groups were well represented with local organisations on hand to offer advice on topics such as developing a healthy lifestyle, keeping warm and volunteering. Pictured is the stall giving help for the TV switchover where elderly and disabled people may be eligible for free help. For more information about the TV switchover help scheme call or visit Textphone users can call For general advice about the digital switchover you can go to West Sussex has been awarded 6.26 million towards improving broadband connections in the county. The funding will be used to cover the gaps in the county which will miss out on superfast broadband in the commercial roll-out. Mid Sussex District Council will be working to maximise this boost for local residents and businesses. West Sussex County Council is co-ordinating the project and a community website is being set up to provide a forum for residents and businesses to get involved and share their broadband experiences. See for more information. 4 5

4 Your community What have you been up to this week? Are you one of the 19 million people who volunteer in their community in the UK? If not, are you aware of the range of amazing possibilities available and what you might be missing out on? Many people already have a clear vision of how they want to get into volunteering and have a defined plan of what they want to achieve and how they intend to achieve it. For others, however, they might be very committed to the idea of volunteering but may not know exactly what they want Where would we be without volunteers? I have over 100 staff of which only nine are paid staff; my centres could not run without the volunteers enthusiasm and commitment not only to the service but to their communities. The CAB service started with volunteers and still continues over its 75 years of service to recruit and train for the numerous roles within the service. Volunteer staff commit a day a week and can stay for a short time and develop more skills to move into employment or stay for long while - one of my advisers has been with CAB for 24 years but on average they stay for about 10 years. There are always opportunities for new volunteers so I am always on the lookout. If you are interested please nicky.shute@westsussexcab.org.uk What the volunteers say I get the satisfaction of helping people, also meeting such a diverse range of people whether clients or colleagues, I wanted to give something back and found I benefited more from it than I feel I put in. Nicky Shute, Advice Centre Manager Mid Sussex South and Central Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to do or how to make sure they find an opportunity that specifically suits them. Lending your skills Think about the types of skills combined with personal qualities you possess and how they might be transferred to the voluntary sector. Although a commitment to, and enthusiasm for, a particular cause are the most highly sought after qualities by any voluntary organisation along with an understanding, patient and cheerful approach to your work, there may be specific skills and knowledge you have that might be more relevant to a particular organisation. Meeting people Voluntary work brings like-minded people together in a common setting where they ll all be working towards a common goal. As a result, they re likely to have a certain empathy with the organisation they are helping, which means you are more likely to forge friendships in a working environment. For many people, it s this bond of friendship that draws them towards volunteering. I just like being with these people they are a mine of information, and tell you some wonderful things! Pam, Age UK, Haywards Heath I like to keep my brain working and it is good company. We are pleased to see new volunteers, giving however much time they can - they are always welcome. Vera, Age UK, Haywards Heath The Mid Sussex Volunteering Service holds information on hundreds of opportunities and can help you to find the volunteering opportunity that s right for you. East Grinstead CVS Volunteer Centre, loral.vb@egcvs.co.uk or call all other areas are covered by Mid Sussex (South) CVS Volunteer Centre, vc@msscvs.org.uk or call Health and wellbeing Welcome to Wellbeing The new, free, Wellbeing Service acts as a one-stop-shop for health and wellbeing for adults and families. Wellbeing Advisor, Jann Palmer, will provide signposting and advice to health and wellbeing services in Mid Sussex using resources like the Community Connections Directory (see below). Meet Jann Palmer - Wellbeing Advisor We asked Jann what she was looking forward to about her new post. It is great to be involved in this exciting new service, which is so varied and will be able to support people in so many areas of health and wellbeing - from eating healthily, losing weight, giving up smoking to becoming more active, cutting down on drinking or managing stress. I m very much a people person, I enjoy working on a one-to-one basis and providing the support and advice people need. I will also be able to refer residents of all ages on to appropriate medical or fitness services like family centres, carers advice and fitness referrals, if that is required. Having lived, worked and brought up my family in Mid Sussex, I m well-grounded in the area on a personal and professional basis and I have first-hand experience of the great range of services out there for our residents. I see my role as supporting people to make valuable changes which will have a positive impact on their lives. healthy@midsussex.gov.uk The Community Connections Directory of Services for Older People is now available. The aim of the directory is to provide information about organisations that are here to help and forms part of the new Mid Sussex Wellbeing Service. The Wellbeing Team - Jann Palmer, Paul Turner and Elizabeth Carter The Community Directory will be distributed to older people themselves and to professionals (statutory and voluntary) working in the area. The Community Connections Directory of Services, is also distributed to Help Points and other information points around the District. The Directory is also available online at 6 7

5 Green matters Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? The festive period can mean an increase in the amount of waste that we generate. Not only do we buy more food and drink, there are cards and trees and not to mention all the presents! By mid-afternoon on Christmas Day we are usually surrounded by a mountain of paper and packaging - so what can you do with all that rubbish? You can put some of it in your recycling bin. Please recycle Plastic bags, food or any other rubbish. Please remove the plastic fronts and put all cardboard boxes from presents inside your recycling bin to keep them dry. Remember - no old electrical items, broken fairy lights or toys in your recycling bin! For more information please visit wastematters@midsussex.gov.uk or call Help your neighbours stay warm this winter With rising fuel bills and a squeeze on income it is likely that more people will experience difficulties paying their bills this winter. We are holding training sessions for people who are involved in their local community so they can offer simple advice to those that are at risk of being cold this winter. If you are interested, please warmth@midsussex.gov.uk. In October, Mid Sussex District Council, in partnership with other organisations, was out and about giving advice to local people. Rising prices and confusing tariffs mean that you may not be getting the best deal, and communications from providers mean that it is not always clear what you are signing up to. For useful advice and information visit If you, a friend or a neighbour is of pensionable age, living with a disability or chronic illness, or with a visual or hearing impairment, we advise you to ensure that they are on the Priority Services Register which entitles you to extra support and benefits from your energy supplier. Contact the Home Heat Helpline on Green matters Did you know? Each person in the UK uses 150 litres of water a day on average. The energy used to pump, treat and heat the water in the average family s home produces the carbon equivalent of a return flight from London to New York. A running tap uses 6 litres of water a minute, a shower can use anywhere between 9 45 litres per minute, a hosepipe uses as much as 1,000 litres per hour. Toilet flushing accounts for 30% of our daily water use with old toilets using as much as 14 litres per flush compared with new dual flush models which use as little as 2.6 and 4 litres per flush. Fixing a dripping tap can save as much as 5,000 litres a year if everyone in the UK fixed their dripping taps we would save enough water to supply 120,000 homes for one day. Water good competition Thanks to everyone who entered our Water good competition from the last edition. Lots of you are very keen on collecting the water that is usually wasted whilst waiting for the water to heat up, whether it is in a sink or a shower a great tip! Our two lucky winners have passed on some great tips - Tania Sowebutts of Burgess Hill says, When it rains I keep all pots and pans outside. I have a leaking gutter and heave a huge pot under it to preserve the water for hot weather, to water my plants and my home grown veg. Joan Harding of Copthorne sent in this helpful poem - Have a water meter fitted, it s free! This could cut your bills in half, It did for me. And by bathing with a friend, And using the water to flush the loo You will help the environment for me - and for you. Remember South East Water will be installing meters across the District, for more information visit or call

6 Out and about Supporting community needs The District Council will soon be seeking expressions of interest from local businesses that wish to take part in a pilot Community Toilet Scheme. By working in partnership with local restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops we hope to be able to provide a wider choice of clean, safe toilet facilities for the general public in the District s main towns and villages. There will be no charge to the customer or obligation to make a purchase. And because the premises are always staffed, they are clean and safe to use. Those premises taking part in the Community Toilet Schemes receive a small annual payment from the Council to ensure they keep regular opening hours. Every scheme member would be inspected by the Council before being entitled to join, ensuring a satisfactory level of service. Similar Community Toilet Schemes are already running in other parts of the country and these are helping reduce the cost of vandalism which ends up being paid by the taxpayer. Agreements will be for a fixed period, normally three years. Businesses will have the option to withdraw from the scheme, if necessary. Visitors to our towns expect well-run toilet provision, which will hopefully encourage more shoppers and other visitors to Mid Sussex towns. Businesses interested in learning more about the Mid Sussex Community Toilet scheme should contact Stuart Brown, Outdoor Services Officer, on stuart.brown@midsussex.gov.uk or Adastra Hall The old sports pavilion in Adastra Park was in need of on-going repairs and Hassocks Parish Council decided to raise the funds needed to demolish the building and build a new sports pavilion. Mid Sussex District Council awarded a grant of 119,214 toward the cost of the new building. This contribution was funded through the Council s Facility Grants scheme and Section 106 leisure funds, received as a result of new housing development. Further funding for the project was provided by the Parish Council and generous contributions from Viridor, Keymer and Hassocks Cricket Club. The Parish Council had planning permission to go ahead in 2009 and the new, energy efficient pavilion was officially opened on 26 June 2011 by Jonathan Pearce, BBC Football commentator and local resident. The Adastra Park Community Pavilion has changing rooms for sports teams, a small kitchen and a lounge/bar area. This flexible venue can be used by the many sports clubs - cricket, football, stoolball, tennis and croquet clubs and can be hired out for community use and social functions. We are delighted to be back at our home pitch in Adastra. The new changing rooms and provision of a separate referee s room are impressive - all finished to a high standard. It is a significant improvement on the old pavilion. Our visitors for our first home game also commented very favourably on the design of the building, said John Raftery, Keymer and Hassocks Football Club. For further information about the pavilion, please contact Hassocks Parish Council on To find out about grants, please visit or contact Elaine Clarke, Community Leisure Officer, on Planning for severe weather Advice from the Government s Chief Scientific Officer suggests that we should all plan for more severe weather events in the future. Mid Sussex District Council is working with partners to plan for severe weather events in an attempt to minimise the impact. Be prepared We have worked closely with the District s Town and Parish Councils ensuring the areas needs are recognised by West Sussex County Council, which is the lead authority with responsibility for road gritting and making sure that supplies for the District are available. The District Council receives severe weather warnings from the Met Office and passes them on to local partners as a matter of urgency. Guidance for residents is also published on the front page of the Council s website at and this includes links to other important websites, as well as useful contact telephone numbers. If you would like to know more about being prepared and planning for emergencies, then please see where you can read the Council s Guidance for Severe Weather and the Emergency Plan....do your bit You may wish to stock up on non-perishable food in case of an emergency. It is good to secure loose objects outside your home and to check your roofing regularly. If you have to travel, make sure you have warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade, and let someone know when you expect to arrive and your route. Try to wait until the roads have been gritted before travelling. Have a list of emergency contact numbers handy you might not be able to access the internet when you need to. Snow and ice Out and about The District Council treats its key car parks and footpaths in more highly used open spaces to make the areas as safe as possible for the community. Gritting roads is the responsibility of West Sussex County Council and additional arrangements are in place with local agencies to help deal with the most extreme conditions....do your bit The Government has advised us to Get Ready for Winter (see and has previously published The Snow Code which gives practical advice about clearing snow and ice from around your property and helping your neighbours. Here are a few tips for snow clearance: If possible, clear snow when it s fresh as it s easier to move Stock up on fuel oil Do not use hot water as it can re-freeze making conditions more hazardous Apply salt sparingly - as little as a tablespoonful can treat as much as a square metre of ice. Table salt or dishwasher salt can be used to melt snow and ice. Sand, grit or ash can be used but it will not melt snow or ice, it will simply provide more grip. The County Council is preparing a scheme by which farmers may be covered for helping clear roads, contact ben.toogood@midsussex.gov.uk for details. After the snow... Rainfall and river levels are monitored 24 hours a day by the Environment Agency to help forecast the possibility of flooding. The Flood Line Service on gives flood warnings and general advice. You can register to receive flood warnings from the Environment Agency website - Remember your neighbours - a friendly knock on the door to check all is well could make a huge difference

7 Draft District Plan Have your say on the future of Mid Sussex Mid Sussex District Council, in partnership with the Town and Parish Councils, has been working on a Mid Sussex District Plan. The role of the Plan is to say broadly what, where, when and how development will take place in Mid Sussex over the next 20 years. The District Council is seeking views about how local people want their areas to evolve to meet the needs of residents and businesses, whilst protecting the unique character of local towns and villages and the countryside of Mid Sussex. The overall strategy of the draft District Plan is to increase the self-sufficiency of communities within Mid Sussex, and reduce their dependence on other areas for employment and other facilities. The draft strategy seeks to support sustainable communities which promote the local economy, and provide the opportunity for residents to work within their communities and access other necessary services and facilities close to home. The draft District Plan aims to: Protect the valued landscape, historic and ecological heritage of Mid Sussex, including the unique identity and character of Mid Sussex towns and villages Significantly reduce new housing growth by over a third, compared to the South East Plan targets Burgess Hill and neighbouring areas Burgess Hill Town Council recently approved its Townwide Strategy. The draft District Plan supports the development proposals in the Townwide Strategy, and shows them as a strategic allocation. This includes 3,500-4,000 new homes to the north and east of the town, a 40-hectare business park and new sporting facilities at the A2300 corridor and other infrastructure. Much of this development is on land outside of Burgess Hill Town Council administrative boundaries, in the parishes of Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common, and Ansty and Staplefield. East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and the Villages The other towns and villages in Mid Sussex are also working up their ideas on the amount of development appropriate to their areas, and what infrastructure benefits should accompany it. The Town and Parish Councils will be encouraged to carry out their own consultation with their communities over the next few months to establish whether or not their ideas are supported by local people. It is hoped that these proposals can then be included in the final District Plan to be considered by Council next spring. Promote economic vitality, by supporting the rural economy, tourism and vibrant, attractive and successful town and village centres Support the provision of more local job opportunities and reduce the need to commute Improve infrastructure provision, such as leisure facilities, by funding through a new Community Infrastructure Levy (a contribution from developers to community facilities) Create sustainable communities that reduce our carbon footprint. Find out more and have your say We want to know what you think about the District Plan please send your responses by Friday 13 January 2012 You can view and comment now on-line at Paper copies of the draft Plan and comment forms are available at libraries, Help Points, District Council offices (Main and Planning Receptions) and Town and Parish Council offices. You can comment by ing LDFConsultation@midsussex.gov.uk or by writing to District Plan Consultation, Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands, Haywards Heath, RH16 1SS. A series of displays and leaflet drops are planned across the District during the consultation period. See for further details. You can also complete the short comments form overleaf and send it to the above address

8 Mid Sussex District Plan your comments You can also complete the consultation form online at Please add a separate sheet if your comments exceed the boxes Name 1 How important is it to you that the Plan commits to protecting the District s natural environment and the distinctive characters of our towns and villages? Address Postcode 4 It is proposed that a significant proportion of the new homes will be built in and around the Burgess Hill area of the District. Do you agree this is the best place in the District for it? If not, where do you think this development should take place? Progress continues to be made in moving forward development schemes for the District s three town centres. Burgess Hill The head lease holders for Martlets Shopping Centre, New River Retail, has advised the Council s Better Mid Sussex Advisory Group of the intention to invest in the centre. It is proposing a major fashion retailer and new food store to be at the centre of a multi-million pound scheme to transform the town centre. The Council understands they are currently reviewing the viability of the scheme and that this work will take around three months to complete. The Council, as freeholder of the land affected by the New River Retail proposal, will have both a property and planning role in whatever scheme is proposed by New River Retail. The Council is keen to continue exploring opportunities for improving the retail offer in the town centre. 2 Do you agree that the Plan should encourage local jobs, businesses and the use of our town and village centres so that the local economy is healthy and we are less reliant on other areas for jobs and services? 3 The Plan has calculated that the District needs about 10,600 new homes over the next 20 years to meet local needs. Over one third of these already has planning permission or is on allocated sites. This compares with the South East Plan that said the District needed to build 17,100 new homes over a similar period. Do you agree that the new figure is about the right level of housing development the District needs? 5 If you wish to see new services and facilities in your local community, would you be willing to see new homes built in suitable locations in your town or village to fund them? 6 Please add any other comments or suggestions you have about the draft District Plan. East Grinstead - Queens Walk Earlier this year, the major landowner at Queens Walk announced he had entered into an agreement with a developer, Frontier Estates. The developer has recently advised the Council that it has appointed architects, Broadway Malyan, and they attended the meeting of the Better Mid Sussex Advisory Group on 20 October 2011 to explain their scheme. The Council, as freeholder of part of the land affected by their scheme, will have both a property and planning role. East Grinstead - Railway Station Southern Rail has now started work on the new station building and the platform is now being extended to accommodate 12-car trains. Haywards Heath - Railway Station Solum Regeneration (the 50/50 joint venture between Network Rail and developers Keir) presented ideas, including redevelopment of the station area which would include a new supermarket and a medium class hotel with a café and other small retail outlets alongside, to the Council in July The ideas for the site require planning permission and the Council understands that Solum Regeneration intends to work up their ideas over the next 6-9 months and be in a position to submit an application to the Council in the summer of next year. The information gathered from this form will only be used by Mid Sussex District Council for the purposes of this consultation, in accordance with the Data Protection Act Any personal details given will not be used for any other purpose. What will happen next? The results of this consultation will be reported back to the Better Environment Advisory Group in March 2012 and a revised District Plan will be reported to Council for approval in May / June Following this decision, the Government requires a further six-week public consultation to be undertaken, with all responses being submitted with the draft District Plan to the Planning Inspectorate for Examination. The Inspector is expected to report back in early 2013 with the final adoption of the District Plan potentially taking place in spring Haywards Heath - Victoria Park The opportunity to provide a café/restaurant scheme at Victoria Park was advertised in the summer. Despite over 20 requests for further information being received by the Council, no expressions of interest from the private sector were received. The Better Mid Sussex Advisory Group considered this matter at their meeting on 22 September The Group re-affirmed their support for the scheme and has asked that the options available be reviewed. Haywards Heath - Town Centre The head leaseholder of The Orchards Shopping Centre has expressed an interest in working with the Council to improve the retail facilities on offer and has agreed to attend the meeting of the Better Mid Sussex Advisory Group on 17 November Haywards Heath Town Council is leading on proposed environmental enhancements in the town centre and has recently completed a survey of existing street furniture, such as benches and guard rails, some of which is redundant or in a state of disrepair. The shortterm intention is to remove redundant street furniture. Consideration is being given to preparing a scheme to deliver longer term improvements to the appearance of the town centre

9 Seasonal shopping Your council Shop local! Mid Sussex has an exciting choice of shops and markets across the district for residents and visitors alike. As well as strong high street chains, there is a great selection of independent businesses where you can buy some slightly more unusual items. There are so many interesting places to eat and socialise too, so whatever you are looking for, you ll be spoilt for choice! While the three main towns in Mid Sussex bustle with shoppers, the villages also provide lively high streets where you can buy anything from antiques and art to zips and zebra toys. We need to support these businesses, so if you have the choice, why not shop and spend your money within the district. This keeps the Mid Sussex economy strong and makes sure that the communities thrive. To read about supporting the local economy and economic development, please see To support shoppers and businesses in the lead up to Christmas, we are introducing special parking prices for December. - 1 in specific long-stay car parks on Saturday 3, 10, 17 and 24 December (as previously offered in 2010). - Free parking after 3pm in short-stay car parks on one day in each town details to follow on Competition time three great competitions Bluebell family fun on the Santa Special! We have three family tickets to be won for Sunday 11 December at 11.45am Win tickets to to the Bluebell Railway, a heritage Steam Railway running through the glorious Sussex countryside. Santa Special services include a visit from Santa, Victorian Street entertainers and traditional fairground stalls. At Sheffield Park, you can take a look around the new museum, visit the engine shed, enjoy some refreshments or do some Christmas shopping in the gift shop. How to enter We have three Freedom Leisure Centre memberships to be won Gold Family - 2 adults receive free gym, free swimming, free classes, free racquet sports, use of health suite, up to 3 children receive free swimming, free children s activities, free off peak use of the sports hall and squash courts. Everyone needs to be living at the same address for this membership. Gold Concession - 1 Adult over 60 years of age receiving the benefits above. Gold Single - 1 Adult receiving the benefits above. Please note - in MSM, we will be following the winners as they use their memberships in 2012, providing updates in each of the publications, please be aware of this when you enter the competition. Indicate which competition you wish to enter below (select only one per entry) Wakehurst Christmas treat / Bluebell Family ticket / Freedom Gold Family / Freedom Gold Concession / Freedom Gold Single Win a festive dinner or lunch at Wakehurst Place We have three prizes of lunch or dinner for two in the mansion at Wakehurst Place on selected dates in December. Win one of three rare opportunities for lunch or dinner for two in the 16th century Wakehurst Mansion. Enjoy the fantastic surroundings, including the Christmas tree lights of the country s tallest Christmas tree as Wakehurst s 118-foot giant redwood is festooned with 1,800 lights. Answer the following question you can find the answer in this edition of MSM... How many children attended birthday parties in the Leisure Centres last year? Send your entry and your name and contact details to MSM, Communications, Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands, Haywards Heath RH16 1SS, or the details to msm@midsussex.gov.uk Closing date Thursday 1 December. Your Council in action Meetings of the Council are open to the public and are held in the Council Chamber, Oaklands, Haywards Heath RH16 1SS Nov Council 7pm 17 Nov Better Mid Sussex 10am 17 Nov North Area Planning Committee 7pm 23 Nov Performance and Scrutiny Committee 7pm 24 Nov Central Area Planning Committee 7pm 30 Nov Audit Committee 7pm 1 Dec District Planning Committee tbc 1 Dec Standards Committee 7pm 5 Dec Cabinet 4pm 7 Dec Licensing Committee 7pm 8 Dec South Area Planning Committee 7pm 14 Dec Council 7pm 15 Dec Better Mid Sussex 10am 15 Dec North Area Planning Committee 7pm 16 Dec CenSus Joint Committee 10am 22 Dec Central Area Planning Committee 7pm Jan South Area Planning Committee 7pm 9 Jan Cabinet 4pm 10 Jan Better Environment Advisory Group 7pm 11 Jan Standards Committee 7pm 12 Jan Better Mid Sussex 10am 12 Jan North Area Planning Committee 7pm 17 Jan Performance and Scrutiny Committee 7pm 18 Jan Better Lives Advisory Group 7pm 19 Jan Central Area Planning Committee 7pm 25 Jan Council 7pm 26 Jan District Planning Committee tbc 1 Feb Better Services Advisory Group 7pm 2 Feb South Area Planning Committee 7pm 6 Feb Cabinet 4pm 9 Feb Better Mid Sussex 10am 9 Feb North Area Planning Committee 7pm 15 Feb Performance and Scrutiny Committee 7pm 16 Feb Central Area Planning Committee 7pm 23 Feb District Planning Committee tbc 29 Feb Council - Budget 7pm More information on meeting dates can be found at or by contacting Committee Services on MSP change of date The next MSP Conference event will be on 12 January It is open to all groups and organisations with an interest in the District. For more information or to book a place, community.strategy@midsussex.gov.uk or phone One of the projects supported by the Mid Sussex Partnership is the Family Intervention project, working with families who are experiencing particular difficulties. The project makes sure that families who seek help get the right combination of support from local services, which could mean anything from advice on managing their finances to help with being an effective parent. The aim of the project is to improve the quality of life, not only for the families involved and their children, but also the communities they live in. To find out more, ioni.sullivan@midsussex.gov.uk or call Councillor attendances on line To help residents see how the Council works we are now publishing details of the Councillor attendances. This is available on line at

10 Your neighbourhood Motiv8 for young people In 2011 the popular Motiv8 local holiday programme was expanded across Mid Sussex, giving young people the chance to try out something new and exciting in their break. Local youngsters between 11 and 19 years old have had the chance to have a go at a range of activities, from paintballing and rock climbing to cinema nights and art projects. The project is being supported by the Mid Sussex Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership to make sure young people are able to do something constructive with their time in the holidays, which might spark a new interest or help them expand an existing one. NEW LARGER SHOWROOM NOW OPEN! Branches at Worthing, Hove, Brighton, Polegate & Seaford YOUR LOCAL MOBILITY EXPERTS Scooters Riser recliners Stairlifts Wheelchairs Bath lifts Profiling beds Incontinence Commodes Living aids PICK UP YOUR COPY OF OUT NOW! OUR FREE CATALOGUE OUR NEW ADDRESS: 21 ALBERT DRIVE BURGESS HILL, RH15 9TN STILL THE SAME PHONE NUMBER: OPEN: 9-5PM MON-FRI Shop online at Planting a seed In a recent project over the summer holidays, young people took part in a series of free drama workshops at Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill. A specialist theatre company, Goat and Monkey, provided the workshops that taught the young participants about all aspects of a dramatic production. Choreographed fighting, stage and costume design, scriptwriting, film camerawork, lighting and sound design are just some of the production techniques that the local youngsters had the chance to try out. The drama activities on offer were based around the creation of an exciting theatrical project and Alternate Reality Game (ARG) called The Seed, which is due to launch at the Mid Sussex Great Gardens in the summer of I m incredibly impressed with the short films that have been produced, said Paul Ackerley, Creative Producer for West Sussex Arts Partnership. They ve been offered the opportunity to work with world class artists and every young person has seized their chance. Brilliant! The drama workshops were organised by the Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex Arts Partnership as part of Motiv8, with funding also coming from the Arts Council, Affinity Sutton Housing Association and the John Thaw Foundation. 101 nonemergency Police number launched Sussex Police has launched a new phone number for nonemergency calls. Members of the public can now call 101 to contact the police to report non-emergency situations or to get in touch with local officers. This new number is being rolled out across all Forces in the UK to make it easier for people to make contact with the local police. You can also report crime or incidents in Sussex by logging on to Always dial 999 in an emergency - when life is in danger or a crime is in progress. The 101 number will eventually replace the current non-emergency number. 19

11 Your Council Members Allowances Mid Sussex District Council is open about expenses and allowances. Listed here are the details for 2010/11. Allowances paid to Councillors include any costs they incur for IT equipment and telephone lines and use. Councillor Start End Basic SRAs Childcare, Travel and Subsistence Total ASH-EDWARDS, JC 08/05/2007 4, , , BALLS, I 23/01/2009 4, , BALSDON, E 08/05/2007 4, , BARNETT, SJ 12/05/1999 4, , BARRETT-MILES, AJ 06/05/2003 4, , , BATES, RS 06/05/2003 4, , BENNETT, EA 08/05/2007 4, , BROCK, AN 08/05/2007 4, , BRUNSDON, HA 08/05/2007 4, , CALLAGHAN, J 25/07/2008 4, , CHAPMAN, CW 12/05/ /05/ CUTLER, PA 09/05/1995 4, , DEFILIPPO, A 10/05/2010 4, , DE MIERRE, AJ 02/08/2010 3, , DIXON, ICH 12/05/1999 4, , DUMBOVIC, KM 12/05/1999 4, , GILLBARD, BA 06/05/2003 4, , , GLYNN, JM 06/05/1991 4, , HALL, B 06/05/2003 4, , HARRISON, S 08/05/2007 4, , HATSWELL, DA 08/05/2007 4, , HATTON, S 08/05/2007 4, , HENRY, PJ 06/05/ /12/2010 3, , HENWOOD, J 04/07/2008 4, , HERSEY, CAC 06/04/1987 4, , , HERSEY, MA 09/05/1995 4, , , JERREY, C 08/05/2007 4, , JONES, AF 09/05/1995 4, , , JOYCE-NELSON, JW 06/05/2003 4, , KEEL, JM 08/05/2007 4, , , KEMP, S 11/05/1999 4, , , KING, DE 11/05/1999 4, , KNIGHT, G 04/07/2008 4, , , LANDRIANI, JA 08/05/2007 4, , , LEA, AC 08/05/2007 4, , , LIVESEY, EM 06/05/2003 4, , , , MACNAUGHTON, AG 07/05/1987 4, , , MARPLES, GH 06/05/2003 4, , , MARSH, G 06/05/2003 4, , , MARTIN, PR 12/05/1999 4, , , MATTHEWS, EA 09/05/1995 4, , , MCMENEMY, S 10/05/2010 4, , MOORE, P 08/05/2007 4, , , NG, S 10/05/2010 4, , PEARCE, I 08/05/2007 4, , REED, PM 08/05/2007 4, , , ROSS, HJ 06/05/2003 4, , SALISBURY, R 10/05/2010 4, , SEWARD, SJ 18/11/1996 4, , , SNOWLING, GCE 06/05/1991 4, , , THOMAS-ATKIN, MM 08/05/2007 4, , , THORPE, J 08/05/2007 4, , WALL, GH 08/05/2007 4, , , WATTS, MJ 08/05/2007 4, , Total , , , , Total , , , , Certified by Peter Stuart, Head of Finance and IT, Mid Sussex District Council Notes. Special responsibility payments were made to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Cabinet members, Chair and Vice-Chair of Committees and Advisory Groups and also to political group leaders. Councillors were restricted to two Special Responsibility Allowances. For further information please contact Member Support on or joseph.pearson@midsussex.gov.uk At your leisure Make the most of your leisure time there are so many things to help you make the best use of your leisure time, here are a few. Aqua aerobics - more toning potential because water has 12 times the resistance of air Gym use our gyms as part of your membership or pay as you go, no contract just what suits you Memberships - offer excellent value for money, ask for more info at your local centre Swimming 295,000 swims were enjoyed in our Leisure Centres from Jan Aug 2011 Yoga a great way to relieve the stress of your day and bring a sense of wellbeing to your life Badminton 25 courts to choose from in the district Holiday activities for kids N etball Trampolining the kids love it, but how about trying it out yourself? There are classes for all ages and abililities Zumba classes go from strength to strength - watch out for more classes in 2012 Cycle 3 Guinness World Records for indoor cycling achieved at The Dolphin in June Inch loss - with the Freedom Lite weight loss programme Olympics counting down to next year s celebration of sport in London Uni hoc great fun for the kids Contact us on: The Triangle Dips great exercise for working the triceps Jacuzzi, sauna and steam Parties over 9,000 children attended birthday parties in the last year at our Centres V olleyball Kings Centre Sport Would you like to win a leisure centre membership for yourself or your family? See page 16 for an exciting competition. Entertainment Clair Hall and Martlets Hall provide a vast variety of shows and events (see the What s On pages for more details of what s coming up) K arate Quest our centres are all accredited, meaning high quality service and care for customers Website it s easy to book classes and activities on the website at www. freedom-leisure. co.uk Fencing - is one of four sports to have featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games Line dancing - sequence dancing exercise fun for all Roller disco available at Kings Centre and The Dolphin exercise Referral 677 people have been through our schemes in the last year The Dolphin

12 What s on in Mid Sussex There s lots going on, this is just a small selection. For more events in the area please see Chequer Mead De La Warr Road East Grinstead, RH19 3BS An audience with Tony Strudwick 20 Nov, 7pm, 12 / 10 Tony Strudwick returns to his home town with his versatile band for an evening of music and fascinating insights. Copthorne Players presents - Allo Allo! Nov, 7.30pm Can René, the hapless French café owner, meet the demands of the German occupiers, the Resistance, his wife and his waitresses whilst keeping at bay the attentions of Lieutenant Gruber? Ultimate Genesis 29 Nov, 7.30pm, 15 Ultimate Genesis aim to capture the excitement of a live 70s Genesis concert. The Jackie Generation 70s Christmas Special 3 Dec, 7.45pm, 14 / 12 This amazing 6-piece band perform all the chart hits from the 1970s in a sensational tribute to the era when pop was at its peak. Last Night at the Christmas Proms 10 Dec, 7.30pm, 13 / 6 Begin your festive season with East Grinstead Choral Society and children s choir, directed by Richard Jenkinson, in their Christmas Concert. Celebrate Christmas with Choirpower! Dec, 6.30pm, 4 / 3.50 Join in with your favourite carols and Christmas songs around the Chequer Mead Christmas tree in the Pavillion. Snow White Dec, various times 15 / Comedy in abundance, stunning sets and costumes, Snow White is great entertainment for kids of all ages! LDN Wrestling 25 Jan, 7pm, 12 / 10 Championship wrestling, full of sparkly costumes and audience participation, is back in East Grinstead and features new British Heavyweight Champion Alan Lee Travis. Stalin s Favourite 1 Feb, 7.30pm, 12 / 9 In 1941, the huge popularity of his poem, Wait for Me, projected Konstantin Simonov into the literary stratosphere of the Soviet Union. But what price becoming Stalin s favourite writer? Defying Hitler 2 Feb, 7.30pm, 12 / 9 Adapted from the awardwinning memoir of the same name, Defying Hitler is the candid, witty and extremely moving account of a young man growing up in the shadow of Hitler s Third Reich. A Night of Queen 4 Feb, 7.30pm, 17 / The Bohemians deliver their high energy Queen tribute act show. Clair Hall Perrymount Road Haywards Heath, RH16 3DN Paul Daniels 18 Nov, 8pm, / Undoubtedly one of the most successful TV magicians in the country is joined by the wonderful Debbie McGee. The Comedy Club 24 Nov, 8pm, 9.50 / 8.50 Three hilarious comics bring over two hours of mirth and mayhem - starring Prince Abdi, Imran Yusef and special guest. Colin Fry 7 Dec, 7.30pm, Psychic Medium Colin Fry returns to Clair Hall for another engaging show. The Dylan Project 9 Dec, 8pm, 15 The Dylan Project presents an exhilarating tribute to the work of arguably the greatest postwar songwriter in the English language. The Jackie Generation 16 Dec, 8pm, 12 The ultimate tribute to the sensational 70s. When pop was at its peak! The Phoenix and The Carpet 1 Feb, 7pm, 8 / 6 Join four children on their adventures as they are whisked away on their new magical carpet. Martlets Hall Civic Way Burgess Hill RH15 9NN An Evening of Burlesque 2 Dec, 8pm, / Traditional burlesque given a modern-day tweak as sultry vocals, breathtaking choreography, mischief, magic, frivolity and fun collide. Absolute Bowie 9 Dec, 7.30pm, 15 Absolute Bowie is Europe s premier David Bowie tribute band, faithfully interpreting the great man s music with uncanny accuracy. Joe Brown 10 Dec, 7.30pm, 22 Rock and Roll legend Joe Brown has had over 50 years experience as a professional entertainer and continues to produce the goods with his latest live performances. Steeleye Span 18 Dec, 7.30pm, Steeleye Span bring their unique folk-rock sound to Martlets Hall. Re-Take That 30 Dec, 8pm, 16 Re-Take That are a dynamic tribute to one of pop s greatest bands. Superb sound, dramatic lighting and dizzying dance routines, complement breathtaking versions of all the greatest hits. The Mod All Star Band 18 Feb, 8pm, / Based around the Mod era and and featuring Chris Farlowe, Steve Ellis and Lorraine Silver with tracks from bands like The Small Faces and The Who. The Ratpack Vegas Spectacular 22 Mar, 7.30pm, 22 A fabulous tribute to the sensational Ratpack, includes an 8 piece orchestra! Other Events Copthorne Scouts and Guides Gang Show 19 Nov, 4pm and 7.30pm, 6.50 A variety show performed by around 300 members of the 1st Copthorne Scout and Copthorne Guide Units. The Hawth Theatre, Copthorne Winter Bird Walk 19 Nov, 9am, Free Help spot and identify the many species of birds that can be found in this area at this time of year. Bedelands Nature Reserve, Burgess Hill St Catherine s Hospice Santa Run 20 Nov, 8.30am, 5 A fancy dress fun run in aid of St Catherine s Hospice. Chartham Park Golf and Country Club, East Grinstead A night of music and song 23 Nov, 7pm, 4 / 2 A choir and orchestra from Hurstpierpoint College will be performing a varied programme of music and song. Adastra Hall, Hassocks Healthy Walk 3 Dec, 10am A free 1.5 hour Healthy Walk on unsurfaced paths. The walk may include some stiles and hills. Meet at Friar s Oak Pub car park, London Road, Hassocks Advent Concert 3 Dec, 7.30pm, 15 / 12 Sussex Chorus presents an evening of Vivaldi, Bach and Advent Carols. Hurstpierpoint College Chapel Christmas Concert and Carols 10 Dec, 7.30pm, 13 A festive concert with musicians performing pieces by Brahms and Rutter. St Andrew s Church, Burgess Hill Healthy Walk 14 Jan, 10am A free 2-hour Healthy Walk over stiles and hills. Meet at The Bolney Stage Pub, London Road, Bolney Come and Sing Messiah 10 Mar, 7pm, 10 Soprano Katherine Nicholas, mezzo soprano Hannah Summers, tenor John Grave and baritone Douglas Rice- Brown perform with Sussex Chorus. St Andrew s Church, Burgess Hill The Little Big Club 31 Mar, 12noon and 2.30pm / / A fantastic family show featuring Bob The Builder, Thomas The Tank Engine, Pingu, Angelina Ballerina, plus more of your favourite characters! The Triangle, Triangle Way, Burgess Hill Book online at Planning a street party? 2012 will contain both the Olympics and the Golden Jubilee. If you are planning a street party or fete, remember to contact us to let us know about your road closure. You can do this online at roadclosures or by calling There is more helpful advice about organising outdoor events at gov.uk/streetparties Great Haywards Heath Bike Rides Again The Greater Haywards Heath Bike Ride 2012 will take place on Sunday 1 April A new 73-mile Etape de Heath route has been added to the challenge. See for more details

13 Issue 74. Winter 2011 Inside this issue: Have your say on the draft District Plan meet some volunteer stars combating recycling contamination Christmas bin schedule what s on and lots more Key contacts for Council Services: Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1SS A full listing of services and contact details is published yearly in the A-Z Guide delivered free to every household. Available online at: enquiries@midsussex.gov.uk Reception is open Mon-Thurs 8.45am pm, Fri 8.45am pm Main switchboard same hours as Reception. For emergencies outside office hours call Christmas and New Year Waste Collections 2011/2012 Collection dates over the festive season will alter and the crews will leave you a handy bin hanger with details nearer the time as another reminder. Due Collection Date New Collection Date Monday 26 Dec Tuesday 27 Dec Tuesday 27 Dec Wednesday 28 Dec Wednesday 28 Dec Thursday 29 Dec Thursday 29 Dec Friday 30 Dec Friday 30 Dec Saturday 31 Dec Monday 2 Jan 2012 Tuesday 3 Jan 2012 Tuesday 3 Jan Wednesday 4 Jan 2012 Wednesday 4 Jan Thursday 5 Jan 2012 Thursday 5 Jan Friday 6 Jan 2012 Friday 6 Jan Saturday 7 Jan 2012 Garden Waste Collections There are no garden waste collections Sunday 25 December Sunday 8 January 2012 inclusive. Christmas Tree Recycling You can take your real Christmas tree to be composted to sites across Mid Sussex from 3 18 January Full details of sites will be available on our website at NOTE: Collections return to normal from Monday 9 January You can also see collection calendars for your house at any time of the year by entering your postcode and address on For more information contact wastematters@midsussex.gov.uk or call in your next Mid Sussex Matters read about green news, town centre progress, events, the District Plan progress, competitions and lots lots more...