News and features from Mid Sussex District Council...Work Helpline. present to local shoppers in the...

www.midsussex.gov.uk | Issue 80 Winter 2013

Councillors Allowances, Award for Crawley Down housing Rethink your Drink and lots more… £200 of W

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News and features from Mid Sussex District Council

Firm f u ati sfor the futBridge Road de t

Firm foundationsfor the futureBridge Road depot takes shape

Welcome to the latest editionof Mid Sussex Matters.It is once again the time of year when theCouncil turns its attention to planning itsbudget for next year. The economy maybe showing signs of recovery but weknow that we still have some difficultyears ahead as cuts to our funding fromcentral government continue. We need tosave a further £2.8million over the nextfour years.

However, in Mid Sussex we continue toaddress these challenges, to ensure wecan maintain the quality services ourresidents expect whilst continuing toprotect the Council’s valuable communityassets for future generations.

This past year has been hugely importantfor the Council, despite these challengeswe have made good progress towardsfinalising the District Plan which will putin place local planning and developmentguidance in Mid Sussex. As theGovernment’s Independent Inspectortakes this process on to the next stage I just want to pause and thank everyonein our Communities, Parishes and Townswho have been involved in getting us tothis crucial stage.

On the front page of this edition you willsee our hard working refuse teamcelebrating the development of the newdepot at Bridge Road. With the improvedefficiencies expected, the new depotrepresents our commitment to this keyservice which affects all of us. I am proudwe have been able to invest in thisproject despite the tough financialoutlook of the past few years. Thescheme will also see the development of

a number of starter units for smallbusinesses, a project we are delivering inpartnership with the County Council,which will provide employmentopportunities for up to 100 people.

These projects, along with our newGrounds Maintenance contract (see page12), are examples of developing plans toinvest, improve and protect services forthe future.

So yes, times are hard, and we will haveto face tough decisions, but the Councilis committed, not only to deliver theservices our residents expect in the shortterm, but to plan properly for the future.

I wish you all a lovely festive period.

Cllr Garry WallLeader, Mid Sussex District Council

ContentsComment

Mid Sussex Matters Winter 2013 3

Strong foundations for the future

If you need thispublication inanotherlanguage orformat please call01444 458166.

Mid Sussex Matters is free toall residents and provides youwith information about ourservices. Published by theCommunications Team, MidSussex District Council,Oaklands Road, HaywardsHeath, West Sussex RH16 1SS.

Designed and Printed by Treetop Design and Print.www.treetopdesignandprint.com

70,000 copies are distributed free toBurgess Hill, East Grinstead, HaywardsHeath and Mid Sussex villages.

This magazine is delivered by the Royal Mailaccording to local postcode boundaries. From time totime these exceed the authority boundaries, but wehope that even if you live outside of Mid Sussex, youwill still find something of interest within these pages.

Editorial: 01444 477240 Advertising: 0845 3010 888.Email: [email protected] can find Mid Sussex District Council on Facebookor on Twitter @MSDCnews.

Next issue out on the 31 March 2014. Inclusion of advertisements does not constitute arecommendation by Mid Sussex District Council of the products or services offered or the organisationsinvolved, nor will the council incur any liabilitywhatsoever for any claim relating to them.

Diane Field, Don Oberdries, Ian Field and Shane Latchford

at Bridge Road Depot.

4-56789

10-1112131415

16-181921

22-23

Local news

Community matters

Out and about

Film project

Green matters

Your community

Waste matters

Wellbeing matters

Mid Sussex Marathon

Town Developments

Your Council

Service improvementsmatters

Sport

What’s on

Mid Sussex Matters Winter 20134

Do you need help – Managing your money?Getting into work?Coping with benefit changes?

In Mid Sussex the new Into Work helplinecan help you find the right support, fromtraining courses to help with managing your money.

For free, local, confidential help call ourfriendly staff on

01444 447378Phone line is open Mon – Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 8am - [email protected]

Mid Sussex District Council and WestSussex County Council have funded SussexOakleaf to provide this Mid Sussex IntoWork Helpline.

present to local shoppers in the town centres withdiscounted all-day parking for just £1 on Saturdaysin the run up to Christmas.

The discounted parking will apply on Saturday 7th,14th and 21st in its long-stay car parks of BurgessHill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath. You canalso save money by purchasing season tickets forlong stay car parking.

For more details [email protected] or call 01444 477212.

District Plan moves forwardThe draft District Plan, setting outstrategic guidance on what, where,when and how development willtake place in Mid Sussex over thenext 20 years, is now at the stage ofbeing formally inspected.The draft District Plan has been prepared in partnershipwith the Town and Parish Councils in Mid Sussex to makesure it reflects the views of our local communities, andlocal residents and businesses, whilst protecting thecharacter of our local towns, villages and countryside.

As the draft Plan progresses you can keep up to date withfull details on the following web pages:

www.midsussex.gov.uk/districtplanexamination

Local news

Christmasparking

Back to work, back inthe black...

Local news


Oaklands office receptionNext time you come to visit us in person you will find thatthe main Mid Sussex District Council office at Oaklands,Haywards Heath has been refurbished. Due to therelocation of some staff and services the new receptionarea includes the Planning enquiries service as well as all the same Council services, with drop in sessionsincluding Benefits, Building Control, Housing Advice and Inland Revenue.

Wheely usefulDisability Access works in the EastGrinstead and surrounding area and haswritten with the following appeal

“We would be most gratefulif you could help publiciseour mobility equipment loanservice including manualwheelchairs, the demandfor which is increasing allthe time. If anyone has anunused wheelchair or canhelp fund a new one couldthey please get in touch.”

If you can help please contact Cliff [email protected] or on 01342 322242.

A new home for your bulky goods?Did you know that the British Heart Foundation offersfree collection of furniture and electrical items if theyare in good condition / have a fire label attached?If you have bulky items which need to be removed butare still useable then please do get in touch.

www.bhf.org.uk or call 0844 334 1414

p p p g 'The Americas,' the new development that has replacedthe former Wilmington Way estate in Haywards Heath.

Affinity Sutton and Linden Homes worked with Mid Sussexto create 186 new homes, of which nearly 40% areaffordable. The homes are designed to a highenvironmental standard, for example, energy is generatedfrom south facing roofs with solar panels.

The event, celebrating the new artwork and play area onthe site, marked the completion of the project.

Pho

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Jim H

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Welcome to 'The Americas'

Celebrations of the 41 local people receiving CommunityAwards for 2013 took place earlier this year. The group includedChristmas lights campaigners, refreshment servers andmarathon runners honoured alongside litter pickers, snowclearers, mowers of churchyard grass and many others whogive their time to local and national organisations and charities.

Presentations were made by the Council Chairman, CouncillorGordon Marples and the High Sheriff of West Sussex, PatrickBurgess, MBE. Cllr Marples notes that “many recipients hadno idea they had been nominated until they arrived. This helpemake the Party very special.”

Each year, the Council supports local charities and groups by Awards are for individuals and are nominated through local co community life, helping to make Mid Sussex a great place to liv

Community awards

Visit www.midsussex.gov.uk for a full list of winners.

Community matters


Volunteer packsRural areas of the District can beworst affected during heavy snowbecause they can become isolated ifroads become impassable. Thequickest way to get up and runningagain can be for local volunteers towork together to clear walkways andcheck on fellow residents.

Winter supply packs are being provided to Townand Parish Council offices to help localvolunteers pull together. The packs includesnow shovels, high visibility vests andemergency blankets.

If you are interested in becoming a wintervolunteer for your community, please contactyour Town or Parish Council.

Some tips from the Snow Code are:Clear the snow and ice early in the day

Preventing slips• Pay extra attention to clearing snow and ice from

steps and steep pathways - more salt will be needed on these areas

• Use salt or sand - not water. If you use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and turn toblack ice.

• You can melt snow or prevent black ice byspreading salt on the area you have cleared -ordinary table or dishwasher salt is fine. Sand orash can also be used but aren’t quite as effective.Be careful not to spread salt on plants or grassas it may damage them.

Take care where you move the snow

When you're shovelling snow, take care where youput it so it doesn't block people's paths or drains.

Offer to clear your neighbours' paths

If your neighbour will have difficulty getting in andout of their home, offer to clear snow and icearound their property as well. Check that anyelderly or disabled neighbours are alright in thecold weather.

For the full Snow Code and tips on how tostay safe and warm this winter visitwww.metoffice.gov.uk/getreadyforwinter

The snow code gives tips on clearing snow and icefrom pavements or public spaces

Don't be put off clearing paths because you're afraid someonewill get injured. Follow the advice below to make sure you clearthe pathway safely and effectively.

Out and about


Grass cutting, goal linepainting, strimming,pruning and planting…

Earlier this year the Council completed the process of finding a new contractor for maintaining outdoor spaces across the District.The Landscape Group was the successful winnerafter a rigorous tender process and they will takeon their new role from 1st January 2014.

The new arrangement has the potential to save taxpayersover £1.5 million during the 14 year contract. TheLandscape Group is already familiar with much of our areaas they currently maintain the Council’s sport pitches. Withthis new arrangement they will be branching out to includeparks, open spaces and sports grounds - totalling over 350sites.

As the partnership develops and grows it is believed that,in addition to saving money, there will be opportunities forinvestment in the parks and open spaces, helping them tothrive. The new contract will also enable the Council todevelop innovation for sustainable working and takeadvantage of industry developments for parksmaintenance.

www.midsussex.gov.uk/parks

Recent events supported by the Council

The Life ShowEast Grinstead 11 September Around 20 residents picked up advice on how to get the most out of later life.

Play DayVictoria Park Haywards Heath 7 AugustYoung residents joined in sport and crafty fun designed to celebrate the importance of play.

Open4BusinessClair Hall Haywards Heath 18 SeptemberBusiness representatives gathered from across the District to get find practical advice and new contacts.

Follow us on Twitter @MSDCnews to make sure you don't miss out on local events.

Beech Hurst Gardens scooped the prestigiousGreen Flag Award for the 7th year in 2013.


Film making opportunity for local people

• Would you like to learn more about film and film-making?

• Are you passionate about the environment?• Would you like to learn more about your area?• Then we have the project for you!In the next few months we are planning a film projecttalking to local people about environmental changes inthe Mid Sussex area. You could be involved inorganising filming, shooting, editing and promoting thefilm – working alongside professionals to pick up skilland experience.

Have you lived in the area for a while and could talk to us about your memories?In the next few months a local film group will be gettingtogether to make a film about changes in Mid Sussex.We would like to talk to people who remember a timeand when things were done differently. Changes to howthings are made, used, bought and disposed of affect usall – but it wasn’t always the way it is now. Are therelessons to be learnt from the past?

If you have lived in the area for a while and could talk tous about your memories we would like to hear from you.

For more details contact [email protected] or call 01444 477518

Get involved

Green matters


Scrase Valley Orchardenjoys bumper harvestTowards the southern end of the Scrase Valley NatureReserve in Haywards Heath is an orchard, the origins ofwhich are uncertain. The Nature Reserve itself was farmedin the past, with horses and donkeys allowed to graze theland up until the 1960s. The apple and pear trees, whichappear to be 40-50 years old, have recently been rescuedfrom brambles and weeds and brought back intocommunity use.

Work has been carried out on the orchard over the last fewyears to transform it from an overgrown and impenetrablearea to what you see today. A team of volunteers led byUrsula Glass have worked to clear around the trees - aformidable task! MSDC then helped level the ground andcontinued to strim the area and remove unwanted self-sown species.

Ursula and her team continue to clear and prune whileencouraging the community to use the fruits available. Aswell as their friendship and satisfaction in their work thereare amazing sights and new skills to be learnt.

Cathy once saw a deer inthe orchard, munching ahealthy breakfast. Shealso enjoyed a workshopday about pruning andtaking care of maturetrees – “it was freezing,but once you’ve climbedup a few trees you dowarm up!”

If you know about the history of the orchard or would liketo get more involved, you can contact Ursula [email protected] or by calling 01444 451861 or 078 086 61981.

The reserve is managed by a Steering Committee set up byMid Sussex District Council with the assistance of theFriends of Scrase Valley.

Nature reservesAcross the area there are thefollowing groups who help maintainlocal nature reserves (LNR) andnature conservation areas. Ashenground and Bolnore Woods LNR Haywards Heath

Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow LNR Haywards Heath

Eastern Road LNR Lindfield

Green Circle Network Burgess Hill - acollaboration of conservation areas in BurgessHill, the Friends group is the Friends of BurgessHill Green Circle Network (FOBHGCN).

Ashplats Wood East Grinstead - a Site of NatureConservation Interest (SNCI)

Herontye Ponds, East Grinstead - managed for nature conservation.

If you would like to volunteer you can find contact details at www.midsussex.gov.uk/natureconservation or call 01444 477392.

after

before

Your community


“The NHS belongs to the people” - those are the words ofThe NHS Constitution and a mantra at the heart of the newlocal NHS organisation set up to lead health care in MidSussex.

While it is the doctors and nurses who now lead our NHS,it is the involvement of you - the public and patients usingthe services - that can really define the future of MidSussex health services.

Dr Minesh Patel is thelead GP for NHSHorsham and MidSussex ClinicalCommissioning Group(CCG). Theorganisation plans andbuys local services, aswell as checking up onthe safety andaccessibility of care toensure it is of a highquality.

“It is the partnership ofGPs’ medical expertiseand local insight, aswell as the patient voices that are making a realdifference,” said Dr Patel. “In the new NHS patients havethe opportunity to help us design services around localpriorities. We have already involved the public in helping toredesign services for joint and muscle conditions, as wellas end of life care and dementia.”

Public events were hosted recently in Haywards Heath andthe feedback gathered is being implemented to reducewaiting times and give more choice over where patientsreceive care. See the ‘get involved’ section of the CCGwebsite for more details.

Early successes include the redesign of services fordermatology (skin complaints) to help people access a one-stop skin clinic in their local area. Patients can be assessedby a specialist and receive treatment in a singleappointment, with follow-ups for those with ongoing needs.

Dr Patel added: “Our focus is to look after our patientsbetter in the local community, including doing more withinGP surgeries, at community hospitals and in patients’homes. We’re also working more closely with socialservices and the voluntary sector to make sure care isjoined up.”

Get involvedIf you live locally why not sign up with theClincial Commissioning Group (CCG)? Youwill receive a regular newsletter and be

kept up to date with chances to share yourviews and experiences of care. These will

help to develop local health services.

email [email protected]

or call01293 600300 ext 3965

Our current focus ison making sure that:• you are seen by the right health

professional, in the most appropriate place first time

• you can receive high quality care in thecommunity and are not admitted tohospital when you don’t need to bethere

• people can receive proactive care, notjust reactive after they become ill

• people in Horsham and Mid Sussex canreceive advice and support to live a healthy lifestyle

• our providers continue to improveservices and make sure our patientsare receiving the best possible care.

Health services in Mid Sussex

www.horshamandmidsussexccg.nhs.uk

Dr Minesh Patel


In the last edition of MSM we featured a new housing scheme offering a free package for landlords letting out property in Mid Sussex. The scheme, which provides

a free matching service for tenants and landlords with advice and support to both parties, is proving popular. To date 15 landlords have provided properties.

Nigel Moyler is a local landlord who got in touch with Access PRS, who run the scheme, says

“I saw the article in MSM and thought I would find out more. The process was verystraightforward and we found tenants surprisingly quickly! Doing it through Access

PRS gave me real confidence in the tenancy, which I hope will prove positive for everyone involved.”

The aim of the scheme is to increase accessibility to the private rented sector whilst offering a quality and

professional lettings service. Access PRS is delivered by Southdown in partnership with

Mid Sussex District Council and is funded through the Crisis PRS Access Development Fund.

For more information about the scheme contact:

[email protected] or call 07972 732396

You can also call 01903 867320 and ask for Access PRS.

www.southdownhousing.org

Your community

Landlords for communities

Award winning housingat Crawley DownCongratulations to one of our housing partners, Hastoe,which was recently awarded a National Housing Awardfor the rural housing scheme in Crawley Down.

Providing affordable rural housing can be challengingand this project was delivered by a partnership withWorth Parish Council, Hastoe and the District Council.The homes were created to allow local people andfamilies to stay close together in affordable localhousing and the successful project has now won thisnational ‘Best Rural Innovation’ award.

Mr and Mrs Byrne, residents of the Crawley Down development, said:

“We would like to say how much we appreciate theopportunity given to us by Hastoe. We werepreviously private tenants and spending a fortuneon our rent - having this new house has beenabsolutely wonderful for both my husband and I andour two sons. The house is lovely, a good size, haslots of windows providing great natural light, andbest of all in Crawley Down which has meant wehave not had to move our children away from theirfriends, schools and clubs in the area.”

New year,new buildingproject? If your New Year plans include somerenovation or building workremember MSDC’s Building Controloffer a friendly, speedy andcompetitive service to help you getthe job spot on.

For more details [email protected] 01444 477570

Waste matters


A solid start for the new Bridge Road Depot

When the fleet of refuse and recycling vehicles yousee across the district have finished their roundsBridge Road depot in Haywards Heath is wherethey come to be maintained, cleaned and stored.

Ground works on the site have nearly beencompleted and in the next few months a new depotwill rise up, supplanting the old area which hasreached the end of its functional and economic life.The more modern, greener and cleaner site is aninvestment in the future and will allow expansionof popular services like the green waste collection.

In addition to the work at the depot it is plannedthat part of the site will be developed as businessstart-up units.

You can follow the progress of the work atwww.midsussex.gov.uk/depot

Paper, bows, bags and bottlesThe festive period will soon be here!

We have put together some tips to try and help youto plan ahead and reduce the amount of rubbishcreated when Christmas shopping -

www.midsussex.gov.uk/recycling

Bag it - try to take your own bags with you when shopping- keep some in your bag or car to be there when needed.Say no to carrier bags.

Beyond the box - why not consider giving experiencesrather than things - money, vouchers or IOUs can bethoughtful gifts instead, with no waste involved!

A gift that keeps giving - If you give an electronic gadgetthis Christmas, why not give a set of rechargeablebatteries and a charger too.

Think packaging– try to avoid items in excessive packagingand choose items packaged in recyclable material.

Wrap it friendly - use reusable wrapping paper or a giftbag. You could even wrap things up in another presentsuch as a scarf, tin or tea towel?

Avoid foil wrapping paper - it cannot be recycled. Test the paper by scrunching it, if it holds the scrunch it can be recycled.

Funding for the work at Bridge Road as part of the Kick-Start project.Kick-Start is a partnership between West Sussex County Council and all seven local district and borough councils to boostthe local economy. A wide range of projects have been designed to promote growth, maintain and create jobs, and attractnew investment from the private sector. Kick-Start will deliver real and sustainable benefits across a variety of sectorsfrom construction to retail, and business to tourism.

Wrap friendly - baking wrapped in a new teatowel can make a nice gift

Wellbeing matters


20% of adults in West Sussex are drinking at levelswhich can lead to increased risks to their health

almost 7% are drinking at a level which could put them at a high risk of damage to their health.

Research also found that working adults aged 35 to 55find it difficult to recognise that their drinking is puttingtheir future health at risk.

The ‘Rethink Your Drink’ campaign seeks to raiseawareness particularly among this age group with atriple wellbeing message:

• Daily drinking can be as bad for you as bingedrinking.

• Alcohol can cause weight gain and make you look old before your time.

• Drinking can impact on your children.

Three short films, available on the ‘Rethink Your Drink’website will help promote the campaign and askviewers to think about their drinking habits.

Although you might not think it, risky drinking can berelatively easy to do. For example, risky drinking forwomen is regularly consuming one large (250ml) glassof wine on five nights of the week and for men it’s twopints of beer on five nights of the week.

For information on the campaign seewww.rethink-your-drink.co.uk.

If you would like to speak with a WellbeingAdvisor about rethinking your drink and thelocal support available, please call theWellbeing Team on 014744 477191.

New Wellbeing posters Watch out for the Wellbeing campaignposters around the District.

Is it time to rethink your drink?The Mid Sussex Wellbeing team is supporting a new campaignhighlighting the risks from drinking every night at home and revealsthis can be as dangerous as binge drinking.

Mid Sussex Marathon


A marathon weekendThe 2014 Mid Sussex Marathon will once again be heldover the May Bank Holiday weekend on 3 – 5 May. This willbe the third time the event has been staged with entriesexceeding 1,200 entrants in both 2012 and 2013.

Saturday 3 May is the East Grinstead 10 mile race,

Sunday 4 May is the Haywards Heath 10 mile race

Monday 5 May is the Burgess Hill 10k.

The three races combined add up to the classic marathon distance of 26.2miles.

Competitors who complete all three races will receive aspecial Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend medal.

The races take place in the three main towns in Mid Sussex and are delivered through a partnership of Mid Sussex District Council, Burgess Hill, East Grinsteadand Haywards Heath Town Councils.

All three races are run under UK Athletics rules and theHaywards Heath 10 mile race is a Sussex Grand Prix Event.Each of the three race routes include roads, trails andpathways through the beautiful Mid Sussex countrysideover mainly traffic free routes.

For more information and registration contact Nice Work, the official race managers on 01797 230009or online www.midsussexmarathon.co.uk

Town developments


Local creativescommission station artworkHaywards Heath based arts consultancy Creative Reachhas been appointed by Solum Regeneration to help createtwo major art installations within the redevelopment of theHaywards Heath station site.

Artist Vanessa Dell will develop permanentwork within the public space.

Brighton based illustrator Carlos Garde-Martinwill create hoardings around the site.

Belinda Holden, Co-director of Creative Reach said ,”Thisis a fantastic opportunity to introduce some world class artto Haywards Heath.” The artists will also work with localschools and colleges to develop the content based aroundthe themes of life in ‘our town’ and ‘Sussex’. Works at thestation will commence early in the New Year.

voucher competitionThe development at Haywards Heathstation will bring a new Waitrosestore to the area, in addition to theexisting shops at Burgess Hill and East Grinstead.

To help with your festive season celebrationsthis year Waitrose is giving £200 worth ofvouchers. You could win one of two £50vouchers or a £100 voucher by answering thefollowing question -

What is the name of the HaywardsHeath consultancy who will be workingwith artists on the station artwork?

To enter the competition please send your answer [email protected] or to MSM, Mid Sussex

District Council, Oaklands, Haywards HeathRH16 1SS by Monday 16 December.

Your Council


Planning Committees A and B have replaced North Eastand South West Committees. Both Planning Committeeswill now look at applications from across the District.

More information on meeting dates can be found atwww.midsussex.gov.uk/council or by contacting Committee Services on 01444 477003.

Meetings of the Council are open to the public and are held in the Council Chamber, Oaklands, Haywards Heath RH16 1SS unless stated otherwise.

02-Dec Cabinet 4pm03-Dec Scrutiny Committee -

Planning and Economic Development 7pm04-Dec District Planning Committee 2pm05-Dec Planning Committee A 7pm12-Dec Planning Committee B 7pm18-Dec Council 7pm

201409-Jan District Planning Committee 2pm13-Jan Cabinet 4pm14-Jan Scrutiny Committee -

Planning and Economic Development 7pm15-Jan Scrutiny Committee -

Leader and Service Delivery 7pm16-Jan Planning Committee A 7pm21-Jan Scrutiny Committee - Leisure and Community 7pm22-Jan Council 7pm23-Jan Planning Committee B 7pm10-Feb Cabinet 4pm11-Feb Scrutiny for Leader and Service Delivery 7pm13-Feb Planning Committee A 7pm19-Feb Standards Committee 7pm20-Feb Planning Committee B 7pm26 Feb Council (budget) 7pm04-Mar Scrutiny Committee -

Planning and Economic Development 7pm06-Mar District Planning Committee 2pm12-Mar Licensing Committee 7pm13-Mar Planning Committee A 7pm18-Mar Audit Committee 7pm20-Mar Planning Committee B 7pm24-Mar Cabinet 4pm

Park run

July this year saw Clair Park inHaywards Heath become the latest tojoin parkrun, a national network offree, timed 5km runs on Saturdaymornings at 9am. As it is a run, not arace, the event is aimed at people ofall ages and abilities. You don’t need toworry that you would be too slow toparticipate and there are alwayspeople cheering the last person overthe line.

Neil Dawson, who organises theevent, said, “We have created a warmand welcoming atmosphere forpeople to get fit for free. Ouryoungest participant was 6 years oldand the oldest in his 70s.”

In the weekly events since welaunched we have completed over1000 runs with times ranging from justover 17 minutes to over 45 minutes.We have also had well over 150volunteers since July.

www.parkrun.org.uk/clair

or email [email protected]

Funding for the Parkrun has beenreceived from Mid Sussex DistrictCouncil and West Sussex County Council.

Greater Haywards Heath Bike RideAdvance warning that the GreaterHaywards Heath bike ride will takeplace on Sunday 18th May 2014. Youcan start training now!

Your Council

Cherish your voteWe take a detailed look at the annualcanvass and why it is important with thehelp of local resident Graham Howard ofBurgess Hill.

What is the canvass all about?

The annual canvass checks the information held on thecurrent Register of Electors. It is checked every year andwe started sending out forms on 1 October 2013 to everyresidential household in the Mid Sussex District Councilarea.

You need to respond to the registration form to ensure thatyou can vote in the European Parliamentary election on 22May 2014 and any other unscheduled elections that canarise at any time.

I guess I should have returned this form already then?

Ideally, yes, as it saves us from issuing reminders.Returning forms quickly means that we don’t have tochase you by sending out letters or follow up visits. It isn’ttoo late though. You can still confirm that the pre-printeddetails remain the same by using the telephone, internetor text registration systems – it tells you all about this onthe form.

Do I really have to…?

Yes. The law requires you to complete and return the form.If you do not register, it will not only affect your right tovote, but it may also affect your ability to open a bankaccount, get credit, a loan or a mortgage as the fullregister is checked by authorised credit agencies.

Don’t be tempted to register only when you need amortgage or finance as there are processes we need to gothrough, and it can take several weeks before your entry isvisible to credit agencies.

The revised Register of Electors will be published by 17February 2014 and you must return your form no later thanthe 31 January 2014 to be included.

What does it mean by Full and Edited versions of the register?

Two versions of the Register are produced; the full registerand the edited register.

The full register is for use by political parties, candidatesand their agents for election purposes; for lawenforcement, the prevention and detection of crime, andfor credit referencing purposes.

The edited register is available for any purpose such asdirect mailings and marketing. If you wish your name to beexcluded from the edited versions of the Register you cando so by marking the "opt out - edited register" option onthe registration form each year.

So can I permanently optout of appearing on theedited register?

Yes you can, Section 11 of theData Protection Act allowsyou to do this. You need tocontact us in writing sayingyou want to opt out of theedited register permanently(or until further notice) byletter or by [email protected]


If you did not receive an Electoral Registrationform or if you have a query about who is eligibleto register to vote please contact our helplineduring normal office hours on 01444 477003 oremail us at [email protected]

Your Council


Councillors’ Allowances for 2012/13Basic allowance SRAs Childcare, subsistence Total

and travelJC Ash-Edwards £4,500.96 £8,838.00 £52.50 £13,391.46SMM Banham £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96SJ Barnett £4,500.96 £468.46 £0.00 £4,969.42AJ Barrett-Miles £4,500.96 £3,861.96 £0.00 £8,362.92RS Bates £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96ED Belsey £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96MA Belsey £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96EA Bennett £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96K Bourne £2,625.56 £50.00 £0.00 £2,675.56HA Brunsdon £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96J Callaghan £4,500.96 £335.80 £396.00 £5,232.76C Catharine £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96P Coote £4,500.96 £0.00 £602.49 £5,103.45MJ Davies £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96AJ de Mierre £4,500.96 £8,238.00 £317.25 £13,056.21DF Dorking £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96KM Dumbovic £4,500.96 £0.00 £239.58 £4,740.54T Farmer £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96BW Forbes £4,500.96 £0.00 £566.10 £5,067.06R Goddard £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96S Hatton £4,500.96 £0.00 £9.80 £4,510.76G Heard £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96CAC Hersey £4,500.96 £977.04 £407.10 £5,885.10MA Hersey £4,500.96 £404.88 £65.73 £4,971.57CM Ingham £4,500.96 £0.00 £271.80 £4,772.76AF Jones MBE £4,500.96 £0.00 £636.75 £5,137.71DL Jones £4,500.96 £1,626.51 £0.00 £6,127.47G Knight £4,500.96 £127.12 £229.71 £4,857.79JD Knight £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96JA Landriani £4,500.96 £3,457.08 £47.10 £8,005.14AC Lea £4,500.96 £1,929.96 £0.00 £6,430.92EM Livesey £4,500.96 £0.00 £388.80 £4,889.76AG Macnaughton £4,500.96 £4,500.96 £766.35 £9,768.27R Mainstone £4,500.96 £0.00 £176.40 £4,677.36N March £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96GH Marples £4,500.96 £2,250.96 £555.14 £7,307.06G Marsh £4,500.96 £12,438.00 £1,102.85 £18,041.81PR Martin £4,500.96 £483.98 £216.00 £5,200.94EA Matthews £4,500.96 £4,500.96 £1,208.76 £10,210.68S McMenemy £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96P Moore £4,500.96 £8,238.00 £649.83 £13,388.79J O'Brien £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96PM Reed £4,500.96 £3,861.96 £778.44 £9,141.36R Salisbury £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96SJ Seward £4,500.96 £553.87 £0.00 £5,054.83I Simpson £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96GCE Snowling £4,500.96 £8,238.00 £0.00 £12,738.96R Sweatman £4,500.96 £0.00 £527.34 £5,028.30MM Thomas-Atkin £4,500.96 £6,572.04 £2,497.46 £13,570.46C Trumble £4,500.96 £0.00 £382.34 £4,883.30N Walker £4,500.96 £0.00 £389.01 £4,889.97GH Wall £4,500.96 £28,618.96 £474.62 £33,594.54N Webster £4,500.96 £0.00 £455.19 £4,956.15E White £4,500.96 £0.00 £0.00 £4,500.96

TOTALS £241,176.44 £110,572.50 £14,410.44 £366,159.38

Totals 2011/12 £263,074.50 £122,618.77 £14,960.76 £400,654.03

Certified by Peter Stuart, Head of Finance and IT, Mid Sussex District Council.For further information please contact Member Services on 01444 477003

SRA – Special Responsibility Allowances made to the Chairman, Cabinet members,Chairmen of Committees and Advisory Groups and also to political group leaders.

Service improvement matters


Connect andkeep up to dateMid Sussex residents can now access all their Council Taxand Benefit information instantly by using Connect, a newonline self-service system from Mid Sussex DistrictCouncil.

Connect self-service has been launched to give localpeople a quick and easy way to keep track of all theirCouncil Tax and Benefit transactions. The system iscompletely free and is incredibly convenient for users, whoare able to access their information 24 hours a day.

Landlords who rent property to tenants who are in receiptof Housing Benefit can also take advantage of the newonline connect service. They will be able to see how muchrent they are entitled to and when payments are due, sothey can check that the right payments are being made.

To use the new Connect self-service system residents can register online atrevsandbens.centralsussex.gov.uk/connectto set up an account.

For more information about using Connect for Council Taxand Business rates contact 01444 477564 or [email protected].

For more information about using Connect Benefits onlineservice please contact 01444 477264 or [email protected].

Competition winnersThe winners of our competition from MSM79 to win tickets to the Bluebell Railway were:

Brian J Beesley East GrinsteadMrs Z Birch Burgess HillTimothy Chatten Haywards HeathMrs D Dowd East GrinsteadDave Duley Haywards HeathNigel Gardner Burgess HillMr Graham Tate HassocksElaine Wardley East Grinstead

Do you think ourwebsite needsimproving?Us too! That’s why we need your help.

We’re looking at redesigning the way the informationis laid out on our website and want members of thepublic to help us to reorganise it so that it is easier tonavigate. Would you be willing to spare an hour ofyour time to come to the council offices and help withsome research?

There’ll be an opportunity for you to talk with thestaff that are responsible for the website too so thatyou can share any views with them. We’ll try toorganise the sessions at a time that suits the majority.

To register your interest simply [email protected]


The Triangle Tel: 01444 876000Triangle Way Burgess Hill RH15 8WA

Kings Centre Tel: 01342 328616Moat Road East Grinstead RH19 3LN

The Dolphin Tel: 01444 457337Pasture Hill Road Haywards Heath RH16 1LY

www.freedom-leisure.co.uk

Sport

Summer Fitness ChallengeThere was a definite buzz of activity throughout thesummer, especially among younger members of the localcommunity. Over 175 children took part in the FreedomLeisure Junior Summer Fitness Challenge, a completelyfree scheme which aims to motivate youngsters toincrease their levels of physical activity during the summerholidays and rewards them for having fun!

Fundraising Freedom Leisure staff and members at The Dolphin inHaywards Heath have also been busy fundraising for theBritish Heart Foundation. An impressive total of £19,021was raised for the charity through a series of sponsoredevents and collections. Meanwhile, Triangle member TimBest from Burgess Hill, who was originally referred to thecentre by his GP, has been inspired to train as a fitnessinstructor after losing nearly five stones in weight. Hehopes his new qualifications will help him to support otherpeople on their own weight loss journeys.

Winter can be fun, evenwithout the sun

As winter approaches,it’s not uncommon foractivity levels to fall, so avariety of new sessionsare being planned toencourage people of allages and abilities toremain active.

Boys Fitness Fun For boys aged 8-12 this five-weekexercise programme taking place at The Triangle inBurgess Hill. The programme aims to introduce boysto a wide range of ways to get fit. Plenty of activitiesfor all abilities will be on offer including circuits, bootcamp and fun team games. Freedom Leisure’squalified instructors will fully supervise the sessions,which will run every Monday from 4.00 – 4.45pm.

Tai Chi Those who enjoy ‘mind and body’ classesmight want to try Tai Chi at The Triangle. New classeswill take place giving a restful start (and end) to theweek. Classes will be Monday 8pm – 9.30pm andFriday 7pm – 8.30pm. Tai chi combines deepbreathing and relaxation with slow, gentlemovements to reduce stress, improve balance andgeneral mobility, and increase muscle strength in thelegs. It is low-impact and puts minimal pressure onbones and joints so it’s suitable for all ages andabilities.

Piloxing sounds interesting! The Kings Centre willhave classes on Monday 11am – 12noon. Piloxing is anew Pilates-meets-boxing phenomenon whichcombines the sculpting and flexibility of Pilates withthe speed, power and agility of boxing to burn fat,sculpt muscle and improve core fitness.

Sensory Art Disabled youngsters aged 18 years andunder and their families can enjoy a series of sensoryart sessions at King’s Centre until January 2014. Thesessions are being delivered by Time Aside and havebeen commissioned by West Sussex County Council(WSCC) as part of its Short Breaks scheme. The non-directive sessions provide youngsters with a uniqueopportunity to explore their creativity and expresstheir individuality in a safe and fun environment.

What’s on


Chequer MeadDe La Warr RoadEast GrinsteadRH19 3BS01342 302000

An Evening of Festive Songs26 November, 7.30pm, £9The Greenstede Singers andChoirpower perform popularclassics, Christmas songs andcarols.

Lucky Star – Chambrier’s L’Etoile 27 November, 7.30pm, £15New Sussex Opera presentEmmanuel Chabrier’sravishing and riotous 1877operetta.

Marks and Kennard – After a Decent Interval28 November, 7.30pm, £12Hilarious duo Marks andKennard return for anotherevening of musical humour.

A Touch of Holly at Christmas29 November, 7.30pm, £15.50A show full of classic songsand nostalgia.

Pink Floyd and David Gilmour Tribute30 November, 8pm, £16Perfect Alibi perform anincredible tribute to the musicof Pink Floyd and DavidGilmour.

Photography exhibition 5-11 December, freeEast Grinstead Camera Clubpresents an exhibition of thebest prints and projectedimages taken by groupmembers.

The Eagles Greatest Hits6 December, 7.30pm, £16.50Desperado pay homage to amusical phenomenon byfaithfully recreating all of yourfavourite Eagles songs.

Christmas CrackerZ7 December, 7.45pm, £16A poptastic journey throughthe best of Christmas musicfrom the Seventies.

A Winter Concert12 December, 7.30pm, £17.50The Band of the Life Guardsperform a Winter Concert inaid of The Soldiers, Sailors,Airmen and FamiliesAssociation.

Jack and the Beanstalk20-30 December, £15Company of Friends performthis classic pantomime.

Clair HallPerrymount RoadHaywards HeathRH16 3DN01444 455440

Phill Jupitus29 November, 8pm, £15Phill Jupitus performscharacter based comedy fromhis popular 2012 EdinburghFringe Festival show.

The Big Chris Barber Band6 December, 8pm, £19Chris Barber celebrates 60years in show business with aset of high quality jazz andblues.

Comedy Club12 December, 8pm, £9More madness and mayhemfrom the longest runningcomedy club in Mid Sussex.Featuring Mike Wilmot, Julian& Deane & Joe Wills (MC).Also with a chance to enjoy achoice of Chilli, Curry,Poppadoms or Nachos for just£15.00 (includes entry -minimum party of 8).

Elvis on Tour13 December, 8pm, £17.50Michael King, the only UKwinner of the prestigious ‘LasVegas Elvis Icon Award’, iswithout doubt the UK’sauthoritative touring ElvisShow.

Martlets HallCivic WayBurgess HillRH15 9NN01444 242888

Joe Brown30 November, 8pm, £25Rock ‘n Roll legend Joe Browndelivers a set packed withtimeless classics.

Whole Lotta Led13 December, 8pm, £14Whole Lotta Led keep thesound and spirit of LedZeppelin alive by performingtheir classic songs with powerand authenticity.

Re-Take That15 December, 8pm, £16.50Superb sound, dramaticlighting and dynamic lightingmake for a breath-takingtribute to the music of TakeThat.

Nine Lessons and Carols19 December, 8pm, £9The fresh interpretations ofGareth Davies-Jones breathenew life into classic Christmascarols.

A Very Snowy Christmas22 December, 11am, £9.50As Little Mouse’s world iscovered in snow, he discoversstrange things all around himin this jolly, holly, snowyadventure.

There’s lots going on, this is just a small selection. For moreevents in the area please see www.midsussex.gov.uk/events

Here in Mid Sussex we have good record for collecting highlevels of recycling, we currently recycle well over 40%,which is fantastic, but our target is 50% by 2020.

It is also true that the rates at which recycling loads arerejected has risen lately, which means we have to be moreand more careful that we are recycling the correctmaterial. Quite simply, the less we recycle the more itcosts!

Waste disposal is expensive. The better the quality of thematerials collected for recycling then the better value formoney the service provides. Materials collected throughrecycling are sorted into high quality products which arethen sold onto manufacturers. The reprocessors can onlyrecycle materials that are clean and dry.

West Sussex County Council, Viridor and all seven districtand borough councils in this area are working together toincrease recycling rates in West Sussex in the long-term.

We can all help to keep costs down. Please help us to keepthe quality of our recycling good, and the cost ofreprocessing down, by keeping your items for recycling:

• Clean. Free from food left overs, give cans and bottles aquick rinse and a drain.

• Dry. Wet paper and card clogs up the sorting machineryand small pieces of glass stick to it making it unsuitablefor recycling. Keeping recycling dry is challenging inwinter. Please keep cardboard and paper dry before itgoes into your bin and make sure your bin lid is closed.

• Loose. If your recycling is tied up in plastic bag it will berejected.

If you share a communal bin store and thereisn’t sign up about recycling, please ask yourmanaging agent to contact us.

www.midsussex.gov.uk/recyclingFollow us on Facebook and @MSDCnews onTwitter for recycling and winter service updates.


Other Events

The 'Big Switch On'Sun 1 Dec, from 4pm, freeThe Christmas countdownbegins as the lights on thecountry's tallest livingChristmas tree will be switched on.Wakehurst Place, RH17 6TN

Nymans Garden Advent Calendar1-24 December, FreeBold and daring new pieces ofart will emerge in the gardenevery day during Advent,culminating in the final pieceon Christmas Eve. Nymans Garden, Handcross01444 405250

Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival6-8 December, £4 adults, children free With 80 beautifully decoratedand lit trees on show.Supporting Action for deafness.Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield

Family Christmas Concert7 December, 3pm, £12Sussex Chorus present aChristmas concert for thewhole family.The King’s Church, Burgess Hill01444 412579

Christmas Craft workshops7 and 8 December, 10.30am, £30The price includes allmaterials and tea/coffee.Booking is essentialNymans Garden, Handcross01444 405250

That’ll be the Day Christmas Show8 Dec, 7.30pm, £22That’ll Be The Day is anentertaining rock ‘n’ rollspectacular featuring afantastic line up of knock-outhits from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.Triangle, Burgess Hill 01444 800045

Christmas Concert14 Dec, 7.30pm, £12 (£1 under 18)Seasonal music and carolsfrom Mid Sussex Sinfonia andguest choir Coro Nuovo.Methodist Church, HaywardsHeath. Tickets 01444 411470

Introduction to Gardening19 December, 1pm, FreeGet hints and tips that you canapply to your garden at homewith this informal gardenworkshop run by the GardenRangers.Nymans Garden, Handcross01444 405250

T'was the Sunday before Christmas22 December, 10am - 4pmThe historic high street takesa Dickensian theme,shopkeepers dress up and youcan too! Roasting chestnutsand the High Street ShopKeepers Choir will help keepthe chill at bay.High Street, East Grinstead

Talk: Wildlife of Botswana20 January, 7.45pm, £4Part of the regularprogramme of events from theEast Grinstead Natural HistorySociety.St Barnabas Church Hall, East Grinstead

The importance of gettingyour recycling right!

PLEASE RECYCLE IN YOUR BLUE LIDDED BIN

Inside this issue: Mid Sussex Marathon, Councillors’ Allowances, Award for Crawley Down housing, Rethink your Drink and lots more…

in your next Mid Sussex Matters… contact details for services, District Plan news, update on refuse and recycling, Council budget and lots more…

MID SUSSEXD.C

WEST SUSSEX

EAST SUSSEX

BURGESS HILL

EAST GRINSTEAD

HAYWARDS HEATH

HORSHAM

CRAWLEY

LEWES

WORTHINGBRIGHTON

KENTSURREY

www.midsussex.gov.uk | Issue 80 Winter 2013

Changes to Christmas and New Year Rubbishand Recycling Collections 2013 / 2014Your crew will leave a bin hanger with details nearer to the time.Collections go back to normal fromMonday 6th January.Please ensure bins are at the edge of yourproperty, at the point nearest thehighway, by 7am on the day of collection.Collection calendars are available onlineor by contacting us.

Garden WasteThere are no garden waste collections 23 December 2013 - 5 January 2014(inclusive).

Christmas tree recyclingSites across Mid Sussex are provided soyou can recycle your real Christmas treebetween 3 – 17 January 2014.

www.midsussex.gov.uk/recycling

Key contacts for Council Services:Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands,Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1SSwww.midsussex.gov.ukEmail: [email protected] can also find us on Facebook and Twitter @MSDCnewsReception is openMon-Thurs 8.45am - 5.15pm,Fri 8.45am - 4.15pmMain switchboard 01444 458166 same hours as Reception.For emergencies outside office hours call 0845 602 1035.

Due collection date New collection dateMonday 23rd December Saturday 21st December

Tuesday 24th December Monday 23rd December

Wednesday 25th December Tuesday 24th December

Thursday 26th December Friday 27th December

Friday 27th December Saturday 28th December

Monday 30th December Monday 30th December

Tuesday 31st December Tuesday 31st December

Wednesday 1st January Thursday 2nd January

Thursday 2nd January Friday 3rd January

Friday 3rd January Saturday 4th January

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