News and events

The Post Office will introduce a new temporary Hosted Outreach Service to Cuckfield on Tuesday 1 September to restore Post Office services to the area.

This new service will operate from The Queens Hall, High Street, Cuckfield, RH17 5EL twice a week on a Tuesday & Thursday:  between 9.30am – 1.30pm.

The hosted outreach service will offer a wide range of Post Office products and services. Customers will be able to take advantage of a wide range of banking services including cash withdrawals and balance enquiries for customers of all the main UK banks. 

Post Office Change Manager, Samantha Coe said: “We are pleased to soon be able to restore Post Office service to Cuckfield whilst we continue to look for a permanent solution.”

A special Council meeting took place on Wednesday 19 August to formally approve the new operating arrangements to ensure the leisure centres could re-open as soon as possible. The decision to open the Kings leisure centre in East Grinstead, The Dolphin leisure centre in Haywards Heath and The Triangle leisure centre in Burgess Hill follows months of negotiations with Places Leisure, who operate the centres on behalf of the Council. Since they were asked to close the leisure centres in March, Places Leisure have worked closely with Public Health England and the trade body ukactive to ensure the centres are able to reopen safely in line with government guidance. Councillors agreed that the Council would support reopening costs which are forecast as being potentially £2.5m in the year to April 2021.

 As customers return to the leisure centres, they will notice lots of new measures in place to keep them, and leisure centre staff, safe. Signage will be in place to help people follow social distancing, there will be hand sanitising and cleaning stations, the number of people taking part in each activity will be reduced and cleaning regimes will be greatly enhanced. Customers will be asked to book all activities in advance via the Places Locker app or the Places Leisure website. There will be a 15-30 minute changeover period between each session to allow customers time to exit their activity safely and Places Leisure staff to clean the facilities. Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said: “The Coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on leisure across the country and Mid Sussex’s leisure centres were not immune from this. We have worked hard with Places Leisure to find a way to reopen our three centres in a Covid-secure and financially sustainable way.

“The Council is making available a huge financial support package for leisure in Mid Sussex, potentially £2.5 million in this financial year, a level of subsidy which was not required before Coronavirus and without which the leisure centres would not reopen. Given the huge sums of money involved, which this year will come from the Council’s reserves, it is right that we have taken time to thrash out the best possible deal.

“Our leisure centres are an important part of our community and it’s fantastic that they will now be able to reopen on 1^st September. I know how keen people are to get back to the gym, exercise classes and the swimming pool and I would like to thank residents for their patience while we negotiated this support package.

“Once the leisure centres are open, I hope that residents will make use of them. They are safe and the more they are used, the less the burden will be on the taxpayer. I hope that the reopening on 1^st September will be another important step towards a more normal way of life”.

Steve Warriner, Places Leisure Area Manager said: “We’re delighted that The Dolphin, Kings Centre and The Triangle will be re-opening on 1 September and we look forward to welcoming customers back to our gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools. “You will be able to find details of our opening times, customer FAQs and a list of all our available activities on our website at www.placesleisure.org/reopenin....”

Unfortunately, due to the far reaching effects of the corona virus pandemic, our plans to restore Post Office services to Cuckfield on Tuesday 24 March 2020 were delayed. We apologise for the late notification on this occasion. 

We are now pleased to let you know that services to Cuckfield will be restored on Tuesday 1 September 2020.  

Details of the new temporary Hosted Outreach service are provided at the end of this letter. 
  
We’ll display posters locally and information will be provided on our Consultation Hub.  

We also hope that our customers will continue to use Post Office services at any convenient branch and the latest available branch information can be found using our Branch Finder tool, Post Office Branch Finder.  

We’re carrying out this notification in line with our Principles of Community Engagement which have been agreed with Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland - the independent statutory consumer watchdogs. A copy is 
available at the end of this letter. 

Thank you for your support in restoring a Post Office service. 

Yours faithfully 
Samantha Coe  
Change Manager 

How to contact us: 

 [email protected] 
 postofficeviews.co.uk 
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The High Sheriff of West Sussex has launched a unique award to celebrate residents who have shown exceptional acts of kindness during the coronavirus pandemic. The Special Recognition Volunteer Award is aimed at any resident in West Sussex who has acted in a voluntary capacity throughout lockdown and beyond. Nominations can come from those who have either received or have observed a volunteer doing great things for others. High Sheriff of West Sussex, Dr Timothy Fooks, said, “Although 2020 will always be linked to the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis, it will also be forever remembered for the great demonstration of care and support that many people have given to those around them, whether they be friend or stranger. “Throughout West Sussex, I have met, and heard about, many volunteers who have responded to the needs of vulnerable and isolated people in remarkable ways.  They have been the beating heart at the centre of our response to this crisis and yet they have not sought any reward - they have simply wanted to help. “This Award is designed to publicly thank those individuals who have served others and to celebrate the wonderfully positive impact that volunteering brings to every corner of our communities.” To be eligible for the award, the following criteria needs to be met:

• the candidate must demonstrate outstanding voluntary activity in the community to support individuals or groups;
• the candidate has shown selfless acts of thoughtfulness and kindness;
• the candidate’s voluntary acts have benefited the community, particularly during the pandemic;
• the nominator must demonstrate why the care given has been so remarkable and special.

All individuals who are nominated will be acknowledged and those that are successful will receive a special certificate.  If restrictions are lifted, they will also be invited as special guests to join the High Sheriff at a prestigious celebration event in 2021. The closing date for the award is Wednesday 30 September. Nominations are open now and the nomination forms will be available from [email protected].

Notes to Editor

This press release has been sent on behalf of the West Sussex High Sheriff and so any queries or interview requests can be made directly to [email protected].

Ends For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415. 

West Sussex Safe.

Testing - We still need everyone to play their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19. One of the key elements to understanding where the virus is in the county, is to make sure that if you develop any symptoms you get tested. Testing is FREE and simple to organise. Visit NHS Coronavirus (COVID-19) or call 119.

Businesses - Running a business that’s open to the public? You may find our template to record contact details useful. Download our printable version from our website here or a digital version here.

Back to school with confidence. – A new webpage has been created to help West Sussex parents and children feel ready and confident to get back to school. It has videos guidance and key information on the changes put in place to keep all pupils and staff safe, including information on ‘bubbles’, transport, mealtimes and emotional wellbeing.

Support with results - Help is available from our careers advice service, with trained careers advisors on hand to talk through their options. Young people can call 0330 222 2700 or email [email protected] .

Remind yourself of the best way to wash your hands.

Check that you know when you should be social distancing.

Read the latest guidance on face coverings, including how to make your own. 

Many thanks

Community Initiatives Principal Theme Lead, Partnership and Communities Team

West Sussex County Council, Room 237, 2^nd Floor, East Wing, County Hall, Chichester

Internal:23834 | External: 033022 23834/Mobile 07595964236

E-mail: [email protected]

From: West Sussex County Council <[email protected]> Sent: 14 August 2020 18:09 To: Sue A Furlong <[email protected]> Subject: News from West Sussex County Council - 14 August 2020

             

Dear residents and partners,

Big thank you for helping us keep West Sussex Safe. We still need everyone to play their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

One of the key elements to understanding where the virus is in the county, is to make sure that if you develop any symptoms you get tested.

Testing is FREE and simple to organise. Visit NHS Coronavirus (COVID-19) or call 119. They will let you know where your nearest testing centre is. Don’t forget tests are only available with a pre-booked appointment. Alternatively if you are unable to travel they can arrange to send a test kit to your home.

If you have received a positive COVID-19 test result, then you should immediately self-isolate by staying at home for at least ten days from when your symptoms started. All other household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.

You’ll be contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service if you test positive for coronavirus. You’ll be asked where you’ve been recently and who you’ve been in close contact with. This is essential to help the NHS contact anyone who may have caught the virus from you and will help isolate any cases to keep the rate of infection low.

Running a business that’s open to the public? You may find our template to record contact details useful. Download our printable version from our website here or a digital version here.

Keep safe and thank you for your continued support.

Back to school with confidence

A new webpage has been created to help West Sussex parents and children feel ready and confident to get back to school.

Our Back to School webpage has videos, guidance and key information on the changes put in place to keep all pupils and staff safe, including information on ‘bubbles’, transport, mealtimes and emotional wellbeing.

Pupils who went back to school last term have recorded a message of reassurance for those who might be feeling nervous. Please do share this new resource with other families.

Support with results

AS and A Level students have opened their results under very different circumstances this year.

While many will be celebrating, as always some won’t have achieved the grades they wanted and may be unsure about what to do next.

Help is available from our careers advice service, with trained careers advisors on hand to talk through their options. Young people can call 0330 222 2700 or email [email protected] .

Find support with GCSE, A-Level and AS-Level results

County Council’s Chairman joins VJ Day celebrations

Tomorrow (15 August), marks the 75th anniversary of Victory Over Japan (VJ) Day. 

To mark the occasion West Sussex County Council is supporting The Royal British Legion’s programme of activity.

These activities will allow residents to remember and recognise all those who served and sacrificed in the Far East and ultimately brought an end to the Second World War. 

The Legion’s programme of activities include:

Commemorative service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire led by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales - broadcast on BBC One;
National two minutes silence at 11am;
Activity packs, designed for all ages, to provide an overview of the Second World War focused on the Asia-Pacific area.  

In West Sussex, the Chairman of the County Council will be attending a short act of remembrance and reflection, socially distanced, on Saturday at 11am at the War Memorial in Litten Gardens, Chichester, followed by visiting the War Memorial in Petworth, where she will be laying a wreath.

Find out more.

Does your community need a boost? Project funding available to community groups

The County Council's Community Initiative Funding (CIF) window is now open to organisations seeking financial support to deliver local projects from October and November.

Residents are encouraged to re-assure familiar groups that CIF funding will continue to be awarded remotely, should the autumn round of County Local Committees not be held in person.

The process for submitting applications to the Micro Fund and crowdfunding pitches, via West Sussex Crowd, still applies.

The deadline to upload a project idea and submit a crowdfunding pitch is 01 October.

For more information visit the website.

Making 'wheel' progress as work continues on our pop-up cycleways

Construction work started this week in Worthing on the second of seven temporary cycleway schemes in West Sussex.

The scheme will run from the Grove Lodge roundabout to Worthing town centre.

Work is progressing well on the Chichester cycleway, which is due to finish next week. Watch the short film on our Facebook or Twitter.

Find out more about the schemes.

Don't miss our Fire & Rescue Service's Virtual Open Day!

On 15 August, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service will be holding their first ever Virtual Open Day on their Facebook page.

Tune in for home fire safety advice, behind-the-scenes tours of the service and a day of fun for all the family!

More information and the full schedule can be found on the Facebook event.

Remind yourself of the best way to wash your hands.

Check that you know when you should be social distancing.

Read the latest guidance on face coverings, including how to make your own. 

Please encourage your friends and family to subscribe to receive these important updates via our registration page.

The following works are scheduled on the M23, subject to weather conditions. We attach a map which may help you to visualise the areas affected. Monday to Friday 07:00 to 19:00 daily for 2 weeks Full closure of J10 exit slip Northbound Diversion to J9 and back southbound to Junction 10. Monday 17 to Friday 21 August (inclusive) 20:00 to 06:00 Full closure of J8 to J10 Southbound Diversion to Brighton via J6 M25, A22, A264 Copthorne Road and join at J10 M23. Diversion for Gatwick J10 M23 continues on A2011 Crawley Avenue, A23 London Road, Airport Way. Full closure of the Godstone to Crawley Link Diversion to M25 J8, back to J6 and follow A22 diversion. Full closure of the Reigate to Crawley Link Diversion to M25 J6 and follow A22 to M23 J10. Full closure of J9 entry slip Southbound Diversion: Airport Way, A23 London Road, A2011 Crawley Avenue and join at J10. Full closure of J8 M23 Northbound Diversion for Hooley/Croydon via J8 M25 and back. Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 August (inclusive) 22:00 to 05:00 Full closure of Gatwick Spur Road Eastbound Diversion via Airport Way, A23 London Road, A2011 Crawley Avenue and join at J10. Other road works and traffic information We are periodically asked why we do not detail other road works and traffic issues across Sussex. The simple answer is that there are too many! To obtain the latest information we recommend that you refer to the Highways England website https://highwaysengland.co.uk/traffic/ , where you can find details of traffic conditions, roadworks and other information across England. If you’re interested in joining Neighbourhood Watch, or want to find out more, visit www.sussexnwfed.org.uk or send an email to [email protected].

Dear residents and partners, Big thank you for helping us keep West Sussex Safe. We still need everyone to play their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19. One of the key elements to understanding where the virus is in the county, is to make sure that if you develop any symptoms you get tested. Testing is FREE and simple to organise. Visit NHS Coronavirus (COVID-19) or call 119. They will let you know where your nearest testing centre is. Don’t forget tests are only available with a pre-booked appointment. Alternatively if you are unable to travel they can arrange to send a test kit to your home. If you have received a positive COVID-19 test result, then you should immediately self-isolate by staying at home for at least ten days from when your symptoms started. All other household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. You’ll be contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service if you test positive for coronavirus. You’ll be asked where you’ve been recently and who you’ve been in close contact with. This is essential to help the NHS contact anyone who may have caught the virus from you and will help isolate any cases to keep the rate of infection low. Running a business that’s open to the public? You may find our template to record contact details useful. Download our printable version from our website here or a digital version here. Keep safe and thank you for your continued support. Back to school with confidence A new webpage has been created to help West Sussex parents and children feel ready and confident to get back to school. Our Back to School webpage has videos, guidance and key information on the changes put in place to keep all pupils and staff safe, including information on ‘bubbles’, transport, mealtimes and emotional wellbeing. Pupils who went back to school last term have recorded a message of reassurance for those who might be feeling nervous. Please do share this new resource with other families. Support with results AS and A Level students have opened their results under very different circumstances this year. While many will be celebrating, as always some won’t have achieved the grades they wanted and may be unsure about what to do next. Help is available from our careers advice service, with trained careers advisors on hand to talk through their options. Young people can call 0330 222 2700 or email [email protected] . Find support with GCSE, A-Level and AS-Level results County Council’s Chairman joins VJ Day celebrations Tomorrow (15 August), marks the 75th anniversary of Victory Over Japan (VJ) Day.  To mark the occasion West Sussex County Council is supporting The Royal British Legion’s programme of activity. These activities will allow residents to remember and recognise all those who served and sacrificed in the Far East and ultimately brought an end to the Second World War.  The Legion’s programme of activities include: Commemorative service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire led by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales - broadcast on BBC One; National two minutes silence at 11am; Activity packs, designed for all ages, to provide an overview of the Second World War focused on the Asia-Pacific area.   In West Sussex, the Chairman of the County Council will be attending a short act of remembrance and reflection, socially distanced, on Saturday at 11am at the War Memorial in Litten Gardens, Chichester, followed by visiting the War Memorial in Petworth, where she will be laying a wreath. Find out more.

 

Does your community need a boost? Project funding available to community groups The County Council's Community Initiative Funding (CIF) window is now open to organisations seeking financial support to deliver local projects from October and November. Residents are encouraged to re-assure familiar groups that CIF funding will continue to be awarded remotely, should the autumn round of County Local Committees not be held in person. The process for submitting applications to the Micro Fund and crowdfunding pitches, via West Sussex Crowd, still applies. The deadline to upload a project idea and submit a crowdfunding pitch is 01 October. For more information visit the website. Making 'wheel' progress as work continues on our pop-up cycleways Construction work started this week in Worthing on the second of seven temporary cycleway schemes in West Sussex. The scheme will run from the Grove Lodge roundabout to Worthing town centre. Work is progressing well on the Chichester cycleway, which is due to finish next week. Watch the short film on our Facebook or Twitter. Find out more about the schemes. Don't miss our Fire & Rescue Service's Virtual Open Day! On 15 August, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service will be holding their first ever Virtual Open Day on their Facebook page. Tune in for home fire safety advice, behind-the-scenes tours of the service and a day of fun for all the family! More information and the full schedule can be found on the Facebook event.

 

Remind yourself of the best way to wash your hands. Check that you know when you should be social distancing. Read the latest guidance on face coverings, including how to make your own.

 

Please encourage your friends and family to subscribe to receive these important updates via our registration page.

The Met Office has issued a Yellow Thunderstorm Warning.

Thunderstorm warnings continue across much of the UK until Monday 17th August, with a risk of impacts from heavy rain, flash flooding, lightning and hail.

View the full warning at the https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2020-08-12 site.

Update from the Met Office: With temperatures already at 32 degrees today after a prolonged heat period, the Met Office have forecast that this is likely to trigger thunderstorms over the next 6 days.

The storms will be isolated but where they happen there will be frequent lightning, gusty winds and intense, heavy downpours with 30 to 40mm of rain possible in less than an hour and, in isolated spots, a small chance of 60 mm falling.

Residents are advised to monitor rainfall radar and lightning maps as the thunderstorms will arrive without notice and potentially be very heavy, very quickly.

Northern areas are at most risk during today, but the thunderstorms will continue overnight with the potential for high risk tomorrow.

The Met Office have advised that the forecast is unlikely to change over the next 5 to 6 days.

Thunderstorms could bring sudden surface water and river flooding to parts of England today, which may lead to flooded properties and severe travel disruption in some areas.

Environment Agency teams are working hard alongside local authorities to reduce the risk of flooding and keep communities safe, clearing grills and weed screens in areas which may be affected by heavy showers, and are ready to respond and support where needed.

The risk of surface water and river flooding is a possibility from Thursday to Sunday due to these conditions.

For more information go to:

• WSCC Dealing with extreme weather
• WSCC Preparing for emergencies

Follow us on Twitter for regular updates @WSCCNews and @WSCCResilience

This Saturday (15 August), the nation marks the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day. 

To support this often-forgotten part of history, West Sussex County Council is supporting The Royal British Legion’s programme of activity to mark the occasion.

These activities will allow residents to remember and recognise all those who served and sacrificed in the Far East and ultimately brought an end to the Second World War. 

The Legion’s programme of activities include:
• a commemorative service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire led by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales - broadcast on BBC One;
• a national Two Minute Silence at 11am;
• activity packs, designed for all ages, to provide an overview of the Second World War focused on the Asia-Pacific area. 
Alongside the events, the Legion has launched an interactive map on its website to encourage people to learn more about this period of the Second World War.

The map not only allows residents to read stories and personal accounts from those who experienced the conflict, but also to add their own stories, messages and memories of that time.

Janet Duncton, Chairman of the Council, said: “As a council, we are proud to support all the great work that The Royal British Legion does to remember those who fought and supported during the Second World War.

“Although this is a day of remembrance, it is tinged with sadness at not being able to commemorate the day more widely with the community due to the current coronavirus guidelines on lockdown, but I hope that you will still join in the learning and celebrations from the comfort of your homes and make the 75th anniversary of VJ Day extra special.” 

Pete Bradbury, Armed Forces Champion for the Council, said: “VJ Day is so important as it recognises the veterans, and their families, who fought in the Far East conflict and risked their lives to keep us safe.

“For those residents who don’t know much about VJ Day, I would highly recommend delving into the resources created by The Royal British Legion. There are activity packs, a quiz and blog posts that give a deeper insight into this multicultural band of brothers who were still involved in bitter fighting, even after the war had ended in Europe on 8 May 1945.”

In West Sussex, the Chairman of the County Council will be attending a short act of remembrance and reflection on Saturday at 11am at the War Memorial in Litten Gardens, Chichester.

Later on, the Chairman will also be attending the War Memorial in Petworth, where she will be laying a wreath. 

Details of the Legion’s plans and a link to the interactive map can be accessed on the Legion’s website at www.rbl.org.uk/vjday75 and residents can follow the activity on Twitter: @PoppyLegion Facebook: OfficialPoppyLegion and on Instagram: @RoyalBritishLegion or by using the hashtag #VJDay75.

Ends 

For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. 

For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415. 

Find us on Twitter and Facebook

Residents in need across the county will benefit from 14 pallets of food donated by West Sussex County Council.

With support from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s Technical Rescue Unit, 10 pallets of surplus food and supplies were donated to UKHarvest and four pallets were given to FareShare Sussex.

The items became surplus from the beginning of August, when the government advised that shielding restrictions were eased.

Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue and Communities, said: “During the pandemic, the Partnerships and Communities team have worked tirelessly to make sure that residents across West Sussex are looked after and supported.

“They have done this through the Community Hub, continuously building strong local connections to make sure help reaches the right people at the right time and by working alongside district and borough councils, local organisations and charities to make sure that every available resource we have at our disposal is used.

“This last point couldn’t be better illustrated than with the surplus food that was left in our depot at Drayton. Working alongside the Fire and Rescue Service’s Technical Rescue Unit, the Communities team were able to deliver surplus goods to UKHarvest and organise for FareShare Sussex to come and collect the remaining items. 

“With everyone coming together and working as one, the County Council were really demonstrating the current message of #WestSussexTogether.” 
 
Rob Orme, Chief Executive Officer at FareShare Sussex, said: “Thank you so much for the kind donations of sugar, biscuits, pasta and other staples. These are exactly the kind of things that people experiencing food poverty tell us that they need to supplement their income and their diets. It was very much appreciated by all of our Community Food Members and a great way to redistribute surplus from the emergency food response.”

The Community Hub continues to operate between 8am-8pm, seven days per week either by phone on 0330 222 7980 or via www.westsussex.gov.uk/covid19communityhub. 

For the foreseeable future, the hub will continue to provide a central point of coordination for information, advice and support for residents affected by coronavirus.

For anyone who doesn’t require the support of the Community Hub but has a general question on what help and services are available from the County Council, all of the information can be found at www.westsussex.gov.uk, by calling 01243 777100 or by following the council’s Twitter (@WSCCNews) or Facebook (@WestSussexCC) accounts.

Ends 

For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. 

For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415. 

Find us on Twitter and Facebook

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the unacceptable issues you have experienced due to the disgraceful lack of supply of fresh water in parts of Mid Sussex, in some places for up to five days.  I have been approached by many residents and businesses in the Bolney, Bolnore, Cuckfield, Warninglid and Whiteman’s Green areas of Mid Sussex regarding either no or intermittent supply and agree this is completely outrageous, particularly for this to have happened twice in two years and during a pandemic, in which cleanliness is even more important than usual. I am absolutely appalled this has been allowed to happen.
 
My local casework team have been repeatedly approaching South East Water this week about this diabolical situation and as we receive updates these will be included on my website.  I would encourage you to revisit this for any updates.  https://www.mimsdavies.org.uk/...
 
I also wrote to South East Water Chief Executive, David Hinton, yesterday morning to highlight both mine and my constituent's frustration and anger with their executive team, emphasising the need for this to be resolved as a matter of upmost urgency and priority. Please find a copy of my letter to him below.
 
If you have or are aware of anyone who has a particular vulnerability and have not already registered with South East Water for their Priority Services Register, you are able to do this either on their website https://www.southeastwater.co.... or by calling their Customer Care team directly on 0333 000 2468. They have provided a further update which I link here, please also use this link if you want to sign up to receive automatic updates via SMS or email please see here: https://inyourarea.digdat.co.u...
 
As you may know, after being contacted by my casework team, South East Water have now set up four bottled water stations available for local residents, which frankly is the least they could do in a situation of their own making. These are located at Seaforth Hall in Warninglid (RH17 5TR), Haywards Heath Rugby Football Club in Whiteman’s Green (RH17 5HX), The Rawson Hall in Bolney (RH17 5PF) and The Woodside in Bolnore Village (RH16 4GJ). More details are available here: orlo.uk/wg9PJ.  They currently advise that bottled water will continue to be supplied through these outlets. Countless individuals, businesses and houses have been affected by this outage and, to be honest, I am apoplectic the response has taken as long as it has and as you will see from my letter I have pushed for a full and frank investigation. The lack of forward planning has been disgraceful and I hope this will be resolved as swiftly as possible. South East Water need to use this as an opportunity to plan for future shortages and outages, so no one in Mid Sussex is left without water. 
 
With the changing climate trends it is vital that there is a robust and current emergency planning process.  I have also raised with MSDC whether this should have triggered an Emergency Resilience Team response and again whether excess and prolonged periods of extreme heat are suitably covered in their processes. 
 
In addition to these very serious concerns, we had also raised water supplies for livestock, the impact on businesses and lack of repair activity at the Warninglid Tower supply site directly with them .   They have today confirmed that much of the area now has water supply and I await formal details of this and those areas that are still impacted.  In respect of Warninglid Tower, confirmation has been received that because it ran dry that protocols required a formal cleaning to be undertaken – during this time water was diverted via existing pipe networks around the tower isolating it from the system.   
 
As soon as my team or I receive any further updates, we will share these with you. Any individual or business who has concerns on these matters can also call 0333 000 0002, this includes for livestock supplies. In an emergency South East Water can be reached on 0333 000 0365.  
 
Thank you again for raising this shameful state of affairs with me.
 
Lessons must be learned as this should never happen again. 
 
Kind regards
Mims

The West Sussex Record Office has been awarded the annual Business Archives Council cataloguing grant of £4000 to enable the listing and description of the Sir Freddie Laker Archive. 

The archive, deposited at the Record Office in 2019, chronicles the rise and fall of Laker Airways and Skytrain – two groundbreaking operations which helped to bring transatlantic travel within the grasp of ordinary people. 

Founded in 1966, Laker Airways was a small independent aviation firm, flying mainly from Gatwick, which owed its success largely to its charismatic owner, Sir Freddie Laker. 
 
It challenged the grip that larger companies had on transatlantic travel and paved the way for budget airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet. 

Sir Freddie Laker’s innovative low cost ‘Skytrain’ concept, launched in 1977, did not require advance reservations and provided passengers with a ‘walk on, walk off’ service at an incredibly low price. It captured the public imagination, proving to be hugely popular. 

Laker Airways went bankrupt in 1982 despite enormous public support, both for the airline and for Sir Freddie Laker himself.
 
The archive dates from 1956 to 2004 and highlights include:
• Sir Freddie Laker’s appointment diaries from 1962 to 1983 which cover key years in the development of Skytrain;
• a rich series of press cuttings from 1966 to 1982 charting in detail the rise and fall of Laker Airways and Skytrain;
• hundreds of moving letters of support sent to Laker following the collapse of his company documenting people’s reasons for and experience of travelling with Laker Airways - from the trip of a lifetime to the final chance to visit a sick parent.
The grant will enable the Record Office to fully catalogue the archive, which will mean that this significant collection will be available to researchers for the first time. 
 
Wendy Walker, West Sussex County Archivist, said “It is very exciting to be able to add this evocative and important archive to our collections and to play a role in preserving and sharing this unique chapter in the history of our skies. I am very grateful to the Business Archives Council and to the Laker family for making all of this possible.
 
“With air travel undergoing another radical transformation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, this seems like a particularly appropriate time to be able to open up access to this archive.”
 
Freddie Allen Laker, Sir Freddie Laker’s son, shared “My father stored these photos, records, and memorabilia for many years and upon his passing my step-mother and I continued to preserve them for many more years. Through this archive, and in conjunction with SirFreddieLaker.com, we hope that many more people will get to learn about his impact on the world.”
 
Lady Jacqueline Laker, Sir Freddie Laker’s widow, said “Many of the items shared with the West Sussex Record Office represent fascinating moments in the history of aviation. We’re thrilled they have a home that will care for them as we did.”
 
If you’re interested in finding out more about the West Sussex Record Office, you can visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/recordof... or follow them on Twitter or Facebook (@WestSussexRO).  
 
For further information on the Freddie Laker Archive, contact:
Wendy Walker, County Archivist, West Sussex Record Office
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 022 033 25388 
Mobile: 07815 772848

An update on progress at the Northern Arc and how we are continuing to engage with the local community during this unusual time.

Digital launch: Facebook, digital mailing list and website

To ensure that we continue to engage with as wide an audience as possible, we’ve been expanding the Northern Arc’s digital presence, setting up a Facebook page (Northern Arc, Burgess Hill) and making improvements to the project’s website. This will complement the quarterly print newsletters and forthcoming digital mailing list, ensuring that local residents are kept up to date on site activity, progress and milestones, and have more ways to get in touch with us.

We’d be grateful if you could share the details of the Facebook page with your local networks.

Western Link Road consent

Reserved matters planning consent has now been granted for the Western Link Road. This road and its associated roundabouts will tie-in to West Sussex County Council’s A2300 corridor improvements scheme. We will soon be in a position to announce the contractor who will build this piece of key infrastructure, and we will issue a press release with details once a contractor has been appointed. Construction of the Western Link Road and the Eastern Bridge and Link Road will begin later this year. The Eastern Bridge and Link Road will connect the new homes that are being built at Freeks Farm in the east and the A273 Isaacs Lane to the west, and will play a major part in unlocking the whole site. 

Q3 community drop-in date

The next quarterly community drop-in event will again be held virtually, using Microsoft Teams. The event is likely to take place in the week of  14^th September 2020. Full details of the format of the session and how people can participate will be included in the next community newsletter, and will also be shared online in the run up to the event. We will contact you again once these details are firm.

Please feel free to get in touch with me directly if you have any questions about these updates, or anything else on the project.

Sarah Ward Associate, Stakeholder Engagement Team M +44-07776 527643 [email protected] AECOM Aldgate Tower 2 Leman Street London, E1 8FA, United Kingdom   T +44-020-7798-5000 aecom.com

Following the recent public engagement, held in partnership by Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) and West Sussex County Council (WSCC), on the Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity Programme two artists’ designed works will adorn the four walls of the station bridge.  

Maria Amidu, a visual artist, and Lionel Stanhope, a trained sign writer have designed the murals in collaboration with the Worlds End Association and Manor Field Primary School.

 

The designs focus on the World’s End Neighbourhood, a very local area considered to be a quarter mile around the station and Watermill public house.  The art focuses on the community itself, the places they love and develops a motto for the neighbourhood. The designs will include the children’s ideas. Sussex and England cricketer Maurice Tate was identified as a local resident of importance and will also feature.

The artwork will complement existing artwork in the area and marks the start of wider improvements to the Wivelsfield Station area as part of the Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity (P&C) Programme. The P&C Programme includes schemes across Burgess Hill aimed at improving public spaces and increasing the use of sustainable forms of transport.

Councillor John Belsey MSDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery, said, “I am delighted that work will now get underway at Wivelsfield station including this excellent art installation. The inclusion of suggestions from the Worlds End Association and drawings from the local Manor Field Primary School mark this work out as being a truly community-led project and one of which the entire local area can be particularly proud”.

The art installation will be followed by work to clean-up and repaint the underbridge and replace and upgrade the lighting and is part of a package of improvements to the Wivelsfield Station area that will provide better walking and cycling connections to the station and a lift to provide step free station access.

For further details and to keep up to date with the Burgess Hill Growth Programme please check www.burgesshill.net

ENDS

Notes to editor

Mid Sussex District Council, in partnership with the Local Enterprise Partnership Coast to Capital and West Sussex County Council, has secured £10.9 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for the Place and Connectivity Programme. The funding supplements the £16.96m already secured from the Local Growth Fund to assist with the upgrading of the A2300.

• Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.  That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.  Analysis has shown that every £1 of Local Growth Fund invested could generate £4.81 in benefits.
• If you would like some further facts about the Fund, or the wider regeneration work going on across the country, contact MHCLG press office by emailing [email protected]
•  
  • The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth.
  • LEPs are investing in a wide range of projects informed by detailed analysis of the most pressing economic needs in each of their areas, including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.

 Key facts:

 For more information please contact Mat Jarman on 01444 477387 or [email protected]

A bid for £4.7million worth of improvements and initiatives for cyclists and pedestrians has been put forward – all to encourage active travel choices.

West Sussex County Council’s application in Tranche Two of the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund was submitted on Friday (7 August) and includes projects for:

• New Findon Valley to Findon Village and Littlehampton to Rustington footways/cycleways
• Enhancement and protection measures for some existing cycle lanes
• Supporting the reopening of schools through a package of active travel measures and improvements, including “catch up” Bikeability cycle training for Year Six children who have missed out because of lockdown and the COVID-19 crisis.

This second tranche follows the council’s successful Tranche One bid to fund seven temporary cycleway schemes. This second wave of funding is for longer-term projects.

Roger Elkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “If our bid is successful, this second tranche would continue our aspiration to encourage and build confidence in active travel.

“We want to create an environment that’s safer for both cyclists and pedestrians to help nurture a culture of active travel choice: this would support health, improve air quality, address climate change issues, help manage traffic congestion and reduce reliance on the car.” 

The seven schemes within the bid are:

A24 Findon Valley to Findon Village A proposed new cycleway / footway adjacent to the A24.  A detailed design was completed but was not progressed due to lack of funding. The scheme would connect the South Downs National Park gateway of Findon Village with Findon Valley, with onward connection to Worthing via the existing cycle network. The A24 is a popular route but is currently a hostile environment for cycling, which discourages many would-be users.  The scheme would promote cycling through a shared facility, more than 2km-long. Bid: £1million capital funding. A259 Littlehampton to Rustington A proposed new cycleway / footway adjacent to the A259.  A new pedestrian and cycle path, about 1km long, on the south of the new dual carriageway, which will be built in the A259 Littlehampton major highway improvement scheme. Much of the cycleway/footway will be segregated from the road by a grass verge.  People would be encouraged to use the new path for local trips, instead of using their car.  Bid: £600,000 capital funding.

A programme to enhance and protect some existing cycle lanes  A physical segregation would be installed to protect some existing on-carriageway cycle lanes that could not be afforded as part of the Tranche One funding.  Bid: £750,000 capital funding/£150,000 revenue funding.

A pilot project for ‘school gate’ improvements, plus county-wide Bikeability training This is a project to support the reopening of schools through a package of active travel measures and improvements. These would include ‘Bikeability’ “catch-up” cycle training for pupils who missed out during the COVID-19 lockdown, plus training for less experienced, adult cyclists hoping to gain confidence with 1-2-1 sessions and ‘Doctor Bike’ bicycle maintenance sessions. 

Roger said: “This additional funding would allow us to continue Bikeability training in schools across the county and customise training sessions for individuals and groups, while observing all social distancing guidelines. There are more than 3,500 Year Six pupils who were denied the opportunity to take part in the Bikeability scheme because of the COVID-19 outbreak and restrictions.

“These pupils are now moving on to secondary school and making more independent journeys as pedestrians and cyclists. It’s so important to offer the necessary skills and training to this group.”

A targeted pilot project would also be launched around ‘school gate’ areas, with the aim of promoting active travel. A range of improvements would enable social distancing as part of the pending return to school. It would help reduce demand for car travel and help protect bus travel. Measures could include Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs), local signage/ markings/protected drop-off spaces/zones and improvements for pedestrians. Bid: £350,000 capital funding/£150,000 revenue funding.

Enhancement of successful Tranche One temporary cycleway schemes Seven temporary cycleways, currently at the final design stage or under construction, will be monitored over the coming weeks to assess their impact www.westsussex.gov.uk/popupcyclelanes

Some of the temporary cycleways have scope to be made permanent, or further enhanced. Bid: £750,000 capital funding/£250,000 revenue funding. Active Travel Improvements Programme This project would develop and construct cycling and walking improvements that have been highlighted by stakeholders but could not be addressed as part of Tranche One.  They would support a variety of active travel journeys on routes that help to improve sustainable connectivity and our cycling and walking infrastructure network.  This programme will complement the school gate improvements and Bikeability training project (above). Bid: £500,000 capital funding.

Funding for promoting the above six schemes to boost the use of active travel options and to monitor and evaluate the projects’ success Bid: £150,000 capital funding/£50,000 revenue funding

The deadline for the Tranche Two applications was Friday (7 August) and a decision is anticipated in the late summer/early autumn.

Notes to editors:

The Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund was announced by the Secretary of State on 23 May 2020 as part of the work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county council’s Walking and Cycling Strategy, 2016 to 2026 can be downloaded online.

Ends For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415.

Find us on Twitter and Facebook

Please share with your colleagues, community volunteers and networks.

You have already received a number of emails from me with information on the new 'Keep West Sussex Safe' Campaign we have now launched a Communications Tool Kit that contains advice, key messages, social media posts, a digital poster and information about materials available. You can access the toolkit on our dedicated COVID-19 website section.  Visit the community communications toolkit online.

Please use the toolkit and share it with fellow councillors, local community groups and organisations. If you need any further information about the toolkit or the campaign materials please email [email protected].

Message from Cllr Amanda Jupp, Chairman of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults and Health

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to share with you the COVID-19 community communications toolkit that can be used to spread the word about the recently launched ‘Keep West Sussex Safe’ campaign.

The campaign aims to encourage residents, businesses and communities to stay alert and follow government guidelines to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus in West Sussex and therefore reduce the need for local lockdown restrictions.

The toolkit contains advice, key messages, social media posts, digital posters, and information about materials available. You can access our toolkit on our dedicated COVID-19 website section. Here you will find a range of campaign materials and resources that I encourage you to use in your own communication channels to help ensure the messages reach all our residents.

If you need any further information about the toolkit or the campaign materials please email us at [email protected].

For the latest information from West Sussex County Council:

• Visit the West Sussex County Council website for the latest information on testing and West Sussex’s Local Outbreak Plan
• Sign up to receive our fortnightly residents’ newsletter
• Follow our social media channels for up-to-date information:
  • West Sussex County Council Twitter
  • West Sussex County Council Facebook

Thank you for your support as we try to do all we can to prevent the spread of the virus in West Sussex.

With best wishes,

Amanda Jupp

Chairman of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults and Health

Other Items

Residents have their say on COVID 19 – Report showing collated responses and analysis from the WSCC coronavirus pandemic survey carried out in June can be found here.  Please get in touch if you would like any insights specific to your location: [email protected]

Work restarts on the A259 Scheme - Essential preparation work will restart on 10 August ahead of a major improvement scheme to widen single-lane stretches of the A259 into dual carriageway in Angmering and Littlehampton

15^th August Fire Service Virtual Open days - West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is holding a Virtual Open Day on Facebook on 15 August. Keep an eye on the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page for more updates and please share the message far and wide with your communities.

Work starts on cycleways - first of seven temporary cycleway schemes in West Sussex The work is likely to take about a fortnight to complete. More information here Image: An illustrative example of the style of improvement which will be used in West Sussex (Old Shoreham Road, Hove). Photo credit: Darren Cool Images.

Rising to the challenge of climate change - You can read the strategy here. Further information on our delivery plan and how you can get involved will be available shortly.

Links to - List of latest communication campaigns and opportunity for you to have your say on local issues through link to consultations hub or peoples panel.

You can still request support or ask for advice through the COVID19  Community Hub information found on www.westsussex.gov.uk/covid19

Many thanks

Sue Furlong

Community Initiatives Principal Theme Lead, Partnership and Communities Team

Communities

West Sussex County Council, Room 237, 2^nd Floor, East Wing, County Hall, Chichester

Internal:23834 | External: 033022 23834/Mobile 07595964236

E-mail: [email protected]

 

A summary of the Coronavirus Survey Results and a link to the  survey results page to see the full results and the actions we are taking.

Key Messages from the Keep West Sussex Safe

• Face coverings - Find out more about face coverings, including how to make your own. 
• Getting tested - If you have symptoms, get tested.
• Keep hands clean - Find out the best way to wash your hands.
• Practise social distancing - Get more information on when you should be social distancing.

Many thanks

Sue Furlong

Community Initiatives Principal Theme Lead, Partnership and Communities Team

Communities

West Sussex County Council, Room 237, 2^nd Floor, East Wing, County Hall, Chichester

Internal:23834 | External: 033022 23834/Mobile 07595964236

E-mail: [email protected]

A total of more than £260,000 is set to be distributed in the latest rounds of Operation Watershed Active Communities Fund awards.

Eight projects will benefit from the county council fund, which encourages communities to act against flooding.
Roger Elkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “This latest round of awards is testament to the excellent work communities and our partner organisations are doing, working with the Operation Watershed team to take action against flood risk.
“Operation Watershed supports people in their local communities who want to work with the council to become more prepared for floods and help reduce the likelihood of highways or neighbouring land flooding.”
All eight of the awards will help reduce flood risk and improve drainage capacity.
The latest awards are - subject to the council’s usual call-in period - to:
 
Tarring Flood Action Group: West Tarring Conservation Area includes areas where large amounts of water collects and flash floods have had a significant impact. Tarring Flood Action Group has developed an action plan with the county council and other agencies to deal with short and longer-term actions and strategies.  
This award will fund constructing a network of three ‘rain gardens’ in the existing grass verges along the eastern side of Rectory Road, complemented by two further rain gardens in the western side of Rectory Road/Fairoak Triangle opposite the bus stop and school. 
 
Rain Gardens are small-scale features that capture rainwater run-off from buildings, pavements and other hard surfaces. They temporarily store, clean and slowly release that water back into the soil or drainage system, helping communities to deal more effectively with heavy rainfall.
Award: £91,200
Angmering Parish Council - Cow Lane is a well-used footpath, prone to surface water flooding in intense rainfall. The award will fund drainage works which are part of a larger scheme to improve the footpath with (Section 106) developer funding to do resurfacing work once completed. 
Award: £55,443
Easebourne Parish Council – this award will increase the capacity of a culverted watercourse system to stop flooding to the highway and properties. In February 2020, the culvert ruptured under two residential gardens, resulting in the River Ez taking a new course, flooding houses, businesses and temporarily blocked the A272 and A286 at North Mill Bridge. Local homes and businesses are at risk of flooding, which can occur within minutes of a heavy downpour. Sandbags remain at the front of houses all year round. The award will fund two new manholes, headwall and replacing the historic brick culvert running under the residential gardens, increasing the capacity with a larger plastic pipe. 
Award: £32,116
 
 
Poynings Parish Council – This award will fund reducing flooding on a pedestrian route in The Street, Poynings, through measures including installing a new gully chute and new kerbline.
Award: £2,442
Westhampnett Parish Council - Deep flooding occurs on the corner of Westerton Lane and Sidengreen Lane due to surface water being unable to flow through drains and on into ditches. The project will include increasing the capacity of the ditches and providing new highways gullies. 
Award: £8,680
Fernhurst Parish Council - There is a natural gully linking two culverts running on the edge of Van Common adjacent and parallel to Vann Road. The problem section is the unlined gully between the two concrete tube culverts. This past winter, February and March, the gully has filled with water and overflowed both onto Vann Road and a public right of way footpath onto Van Common. The award will fund Vann Road bank improvement works and culvert replacement.
Award: £14,055
Middleton-on-Sea Parish Council - The parish council, residents and Arun District Council have worked together to protect properties and reduce the risk of storm flooding in the area. Part of the work along the drainage network is to improve the banks along North Avenue and North Avenue East Storm water course. The project will aim to reduce the risk of flooding in other parts of Middleton-on-Sea.
Award: £54,600
Bury Parish Council – Pill Pond was formed many years ago by damming a stream that carries run-off water from the surrounding farmland and downs. Removing a redundant pipe culvert and silt from the pond will increase the water storage capacity and reinforce its banks. The dam wall will be reinforced on either side.
Award: £3,434
 
More details about Operation Watershed Active Communities Fund can be found at: www.westsussex.gov.uk/watershe...

Ends 

For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. 

For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415. 

Find us on Twitter and Facebook

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is calling on West Sussex residents to tune into the first ever online fire station open day on Saturday 15 August!

Aimed at families of all ages, the virtual event has been organised in place of a number of the service’s popular annual fire station open days, which were cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The online open day will take place from 11am on Saturday 15 August on the West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Facebook page, starting with a message from the Chief Fire Officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton. 
The videos will be posted throughout the day until 4pm, each one with a different theme.
Those who have attended the annual open days normally enjoy hearing from fire and rescue service staff, watching firefighter displays and seeing behind the scenes at a fire station.
The good news is, all of this will still play a part in the first ever online open day! It means everyone can still experience what a real open day offers - but without even having to leave the house!
It will also provide important safety tips by watching the online firefighter videos and demonstrations, the service’s education team and even a fire fit PE lesson. 
Chief Fire Officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton said: “I know how popular station open days are among residents, and our crews are incredibly proud to welcome people onto their station to show them the work they carry out on a daily basis.
“But like so many other public events this year, we have had to take the difficult decision not to hold any station open days.
“However, that doesn’t mean that everyone should miss out, just because we can’t all be in the same place at the same time.
“So instead, we will be doing things a little bit differently this year and will be holding a Virtual Open Day on Saturday 15 August between 11am and 4pm on the WSFRS Facebook page.
“Throughout the day, we will be posting videos showcasing the huge variety of work we carry out – everything from putting out fires, rescuing people from vehicles, as well as showing you around our fire engines and some of the amazing pieces of kit stowed away in their lockers. There will even be a virtual PE lesson, so you can see if you are fire fit.
“It is already shaping up to be a fantastic day, and I do hope you will be able to join us.”
West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities, Duncan Crow, said: “I am delighted that in these highly unusual times we have been able to find a way to ensure our popular station open days are able to go ahead, albeit in a virtual format with people watching along and learning at home.
“Learning vital fire safety advice is still incredibly important- especially with more people at home during this time cooking, using electricals and having BBQs. I do hope you’ll save the date and tune in on the day to enjoy the event created by our firefighters and support staff - it’s going to be great fun!”
The agenda for the day can be found below:
11am: Welcome! Meet our Chief Fire Officer and Cabinet Member
11.30am: Fire safety advice from Angela and Billy the Bear
12pm: Take a tour of our appliances
12.30pm: Rescue from the drill tower with Crawley Fire Station
1pm: Kit tour with Littlehampton Fire Station
1.30pm: Road traffic collision demonstration with Storrington Fire Station
2pm: Chip pan fire demonstration with Worthing Fire Station
2.30pm: Rope rescue demonstration with our Technical Rescue Unit
3pm: Stay firefighter fit! With Midhurst Fire Station and the service’s Personal Trainer
3.30pm: Top fire safety tips for businesses
4pm: Fire safety quiz with Burgess Hill Fire Station
You can register your interest in the event to be notified when the Virtual Open Day begins by visiting www.facebook.com/wsfrs

Following the Home Office announcement that Sussex Police is on track to achieve its first year Government funded uplift targets, today (Wednesday 05 August) the force launches its latest recruitment drive for those who wish to become police officers through the police constable degree apprenticeship entry route.

Seeking those who have got what it takes to protect communities, catch criminals and deliver an outstanding service to victims, witnesses and the public; the officers recruited through this campaign will join training cohorts in 2021 and will commence a three-year programme where they will study for a degree in professional policing practice while undertaking their training. Continuing to strengthen local policing numbers, these officers will make a real difference to communities across the county by giving Sussex residents what they want – a visible and proactive force which is tough on crime.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner commented: “We’re continuously looking to employ the right mix of police officers and police staff to deliver an effective, efficient and high quality policing service to the people of Sussex.

"This recruitment drive will continue to add numbers to our front-line and make a positive difference to the public and communities which we serve. Covid-19 has not stopped recruitment however we’ve had to adopt new recruitment approaches and intensive training programmes to ensure we could continue to get highly skilled officers onto the streets of Sussex.

“We are only as good as our people and, as an organisation, benefit from the variety of thinking, approaches and skills which diversity can bring; all of which helps us to deliver a better policing service. This is why we are especially encouraging those who may not have considered a career in policing before to find out more and apply to join us as a new officer.” 

Welcoming the recruitment news, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “The opening of today’s police officer recruitment campaign is great news for Sussex residents and for Sussex Police as an organisation.  It also provides a fantastic opportunity for anybody wanting a fulfilling and varied career.

“Local communities will be delighted at the prospect of even more officers joining the 126 that have already been recruited since January. 

“I have applauded senior officers for continuing recruitment during the pandemic and putting extra boots on the ground when we needed them most.

“If you want to make a real positive difference to your local community then apply today.”

If you have the judgment to make quick decisions, are confident to be the first person in, have the compassion and empathy to help those in need and the resilience to serve the community every single day; then being a police officer could be the career you've always dreamed of.

Recruitment will close on Wednesday 19 August and it is expected there will be a high volume of applications. Therefore apply now here and help make a real difference to your community.   

As data is emerging about the disproportionate effect of Covid-19 for our minority communities, a Sussex wide programme has been created, with the aims to;

• better understand the experiences and challenges faced by local minority communities during Covid-19 and
• use that information to inform and challenge our services to better support and protect you during the pandemic and beyond

In order to make a positive impact on our minority communities, we need to understand peoples experiences of health care services within the last two years, how the pandemic has affected people individually and in their household, and consider best ways to support individuals and their community as we learn to live with Covid-19. 

We have co-designed a survey with Trust of Developing Communities and partners and have published it on our new interactive website; https://yoursaysussexhealthand... . 

Please feel free to share our survey with your contacts. The survey will close on Monday 24 August and the responses will be included in a final report drawing in experiences from people across Sussex with a set of recommendations to have a positive impact on health inequalities.

If you require the survey in an alternative language please email [email protected] FAO Antonia Bennett. 
                                                                                                                                              
Thanks,

Ali Hussan
Wellbeing Administrator
Community Services, Policy & Performance

 Wellbeing Line: 01444 477191
 [email protected]
 [email protected]
  http://midsussex.westsussexwel...
  www.midsussex.gov.uk
 Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1SS

    

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After months of being closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, West Sussex Record Office in Chichester is due to reopen its doors to the public.

From Tuesday 18 August, the Record Office Searchroom will be open two days a week for pre-booked appointments.

The Record Office will start by re-opening on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and there will be two and a half hour slots available either in the morning (9.30am-12pm) or afternoon (2pm-4.30pm).

Staff have been preparing for weeks to deliver a service that will be safe for visitors and have been looking forward to welcoming people back.

The Record Office holds archives for the county dating from 780AD to the present day and is popular with family, military and local historians, as well as students, teachers, authors and academics.

Current changes being implemented will include:

• visitors pre-booking a slot by emailing [email protected] and ordering documents by the previous Friday to allow for a 72hr quarantine period.
• all visitors attending wearing a face covering unless they are exempt from doing so.
• contact details being taken for the NHS Test and Trace scheme (these will be held on file for 21 days after the visit).
• a two-hour closure in-between for a thorough cleaning regime.

Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue and Communities, said: “It’s been a long five months since the start of the pandemic when the West Sussex Record Office, along with many other buildings and services, had to close its doors. Although Record Office staff have been able to continue to operate the service from home as far as possible, they are looking forward to welcoming visitors back so they can share the wealth of interesting archives that are situated in the building.

“There will obviously be some changes for regular visitors, but the team are doing all they can to make sure that they keep disruption to a minimum, make sure that everybody is safe and that anyone coming in and using the facilities is as confident as they can be in coming back and enjoying what the Record Office has to offer.”

Throughout the lockdown, staff have been working hard to carry out tasks to improve access to the county's history and have been involved in some fascinating initiatives.

This has included the collection of photographs, films, artworks and diaries for the West Sussex Covid-19 Community Archive in partnership with Screen Archive South East and The Novium Museum in Chichester. 

Also, on 18 August, the last episode of the West Sussex Unwrapped series will also be launched. This will include a film of Chichester in 1983 with a guided tour along the Georgian streets of the city centre. This and the rest of the series can be watched online at vimeo.com/showcase/westsussexunwrapped. 

For more information on the changes to the Record Office’s ways of working after coronavirus, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk and search ‘Visiting the Record Office’.

Notes to Editor Attached photos show visitors what to expect when visiting the Record Office.

• There will be four document seats and one map table available in each session, so spaces in each slot are very limited.
• Sessions cannot be block booked to make sure that as many people as possible get a chance to come in and access the archives after the long period of closure.
• There will be a limit of six documents per person and visitors will be encouraged to talk to staff beforehand to prepare for their visit and make sure that the right documents are ordered so that they can make the most of their time at the Record Office.
• Conversations will be had with visitors about what to expect when they attend and to help them find what they need.
• There will be no food and drink available for purchase and there will be no books for sale in the front lobby.
• Staff are also happy to support people to research remotely, answer any queries via email and they are also restarting their copying and research services.
• Information on the West Sussex Covid-19 Community Archive can be found at https://westsussexrecordofficeblog.com/?s=covid-19+community+archive
• The West Sussex Record Office blog also has more information on West Sussex Unwrapped https://westsussexrecordofficeblog.com/westsussexunwrapped

For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415.

 

In view of the recent water supply issues please contact South East Water directly using the following link and/or telephone number.

https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/get-help/call-email-us

We're doing our best to answer calls, but have fewer staff available due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Water supply / Engineering works helpline

0333 000 0002

Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8am - 7pm, and Saturdays between 8am and 1pm.

The following works are scheduled on the M23, subject to weather conditions. We attach a map which may help you to visualise the areas affected. Monday to Friday 07:00 to 19:00 daily for 3 weeks Full closure of J10 exit slip Northbound Diversion to J9 and back southbound to Junction 10. Monday 10 to Friday 14 August (inclusive) 20:00 to 06:00 Full closure from J10 to J8 + slips J10 and J9 Northbound Diversion for M25 via J10 M23, A264 Copthorne Road, A22 and join at J6 M25. Diversion for Gatwick from J10 M23, A2011 Crawley Avenue, A23 London Road, Airport Way and into the terminals. Monday 10 to Friday 21 August (excluding weekends) 22:00 05:00 Full closure of Gatwick Spur into and out of the airport Diversion via Airport Way, A23 London Road, A2011 Crawley Avenue, M23 J10, A264 Copthorne Road, A22 and join at M25 J6. Other road works and traffic information We are periodically asked why we do not detail other road works and traffic issues across Sussex. The simple answer is that there are too many! To obtain the latest information we recommend that you refer to the Highways England website https://highwaysengland.co.uk/traffic/ , where you can find details of traffic conditions, roadworks and other information across England. If you’re interested in joining Neighbourhood Watch, or want to find out more, visit www.sussexnwfed.org.uk or send an email to [email protected].

Message Sent By Derek Pratt (Sussex) (NWN, Administrator, Sussex)

Further to my email on Wednesday and in light of forecasted high temperatures continuing next week, Mid Sussex District Council have allowed Serco (our waste collection contractor) to begin emptying bins from 6am on Monday 11, Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 12 August.

Excessively hot temperatures mean working conditions are tough for Serco’s collection crews and this will give them more time to work in the cooler part of the day.

This means we are continuing to ask residents to place their bins and boxes out by 6am (or the night before). We have updated the information our website and social media channels and we would be grateful if the attached statement could be placed onto Town and Parish Council websites too if possible.

If you do have any queries, please do let me know.

With kind regards,

Alex Donley

Waste Services Team Leader

Commercial Services and Contracts

Mid Sussex District Council

Tel: 01444 477596

In light of forecasted high temperatures on Thursday and Friday this week, Mid Sussex District Council will allow Serco (our waste collection contractor) to begin emptying bins from 6am on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August.

 

Excessively hot temperatures mean working conditions are tough for Serco’s collection crews and this will give them more time to work in the cooler part of the day.

 

This means we are asking residents to place their bins and boxes out by 6am (or the night before). We have advertised this change on our website and also through social media channels and we would be grateful if the attached statement could be placed onto Town and Parish Council websites too if possible.

 

If you do have any queries, please do let me know and a member of the Waste, Landscapes and Leisure business unit will be able to get back to you.

There is a 90 % probability of Heat-Health criteria being met between 1200 on Thursday and 0900 on Sunday in parts of England

View the full warning at the Met Office Heat Health Watch site.

Heatwave and Covid-19

Please note that additional information and tips for Covid-19 and hot weather has been issued by the government.

Fans should not be used in offices as this could increase the spread of infection. Remember that fans are ineffective in temperatures above 35⁰C and cause increased dehydration

Open windows and use blinds to help regulate temperature
Staff wearing PPE should keep hydrated, change masks regularly (especially if damp) and ensure that their own wellbeing is maintained
Paracetamol (and aspirin) may be used to manage COVID-related symptoms but it is recommended that they are not used solely to reduce body temperature. Always consult your pharmacist, GP or NHS 111 for advice
Keep cool and hydrated by regularly sipping cold water-based drinks and avoid alcohol
Use sponges or cloths made damp by cold water to help control your temperature
Close blinds and curtains to help control the temperature of your home
Check on the wellbeing of vulnerable friends and family who may be shielding or who are isolated. Remember to observe social distancing guidance social distancing guidance

The full guidance including posters and leaflet material that can be downloaded can be found on the Government website here.

What are the potential impacts?

The very young, the elderly and the seriously ill are the groups who are particularly at risk of health problems when the weather is very hot.  In particular, very hot weather can make heart and breathing problems worse.

Advice: Look out for others, especially older people, young children and babies and those with underlying health conditions. Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol, dress appropriately for the weather and slow down when it is hot.

Advice on how to reduce the risk can be obtained from the Heatwave Plan for England page, from your doctor or local chemist, or ring NHS 111.

For more information

NHS Choices Heatwave: be prepared

WSCC Dealing with extreme weather WSCC https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/campaigns/heat-alert/
WSCC Preparing for emergencies Follow us on Twitter for regular updates @WSCCNews and @WSCCResilience

New! Launch of our 'Keep West Sussex Safe' communications toolkit We have launched a COVID-19 community communications toolkit for you to use to help us spread the word about our recently launched ‘Keep West Sussex Safe’ campaign. The campaign aims to encourage residents, businesses and communities to stay alert and follow the latest government guidelines to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in West Sussex and therefore reduce the need for local lockdown restrictions. The toolkit contains advice, key messages, social media posts, a digital poster and information about materials available. You can access the toolkit on our dedicated COVID-19 website section. Please use the toolkit and share it with fellow councillors, local community groups and organisations. If you need any further information about the toolkit or the campaign materials please email [email protected]. Thank you for your support as we try to do all we can to prevent the spread of the virus in West Sussex. Visit the community communications toolkit online.

Residents have their say on Covid-19 We had a record breaking 17,455 responses from West Sussex residents to our coronavirus pandemic survey. All the responses have now been collated and analysed and the details can be found here. Discover residents views on how they coped and what they did during lockdown, their health, education, connection to the community, and much more. Please get in touch if you would like any insights specific to your location: [email protected]

Work restarts on A259 scheme Essential preparation work will restart on 10 August ahead of a major improvement scheme to widen single-lane stretches of the A259 into dual carriageway in Angmering and Littlehampton. Preparation work was paused while a public inquiry into a Compulsory Purchase Order was held and a decision published. The Secretary of State confirmed the council had satisfactorily responded to objections raised, so the scheme can now progress. More details here.  Photo shows Top: The current single carriageway in Worthing Road, Littlehampton, west of Olliver Acre.  Bottom: An illustration/visualisation of Worthing Road, Littlehampton, west of Olliver Acre, widened to dual carriageway, with shared footway/cycle path and a new crossing.

Save the date! Fire Service Virtual Open Day Every year, fire stations across the county hold Open Days for the local community to attend. However, due to the pandemic we can’t hold fire station open days in the way we normally would, so West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is holding a Virtual Open Day on Facebook on 15 August. The online event will give members of the public home fire safety advice, behind-the-scenes tours of the service and will provide a great day of entertainment during the summer holidays. Keep an eye on the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page for more updates and please share the message far and wide with your communities.

Work starts on cycleways Construction started this week on the first of seven temporary cycleway schemes in West Sussex. The Chichester scheme will connect the Spitalfield Lane hospital area with the city’s railway station, creating a 2km-long 'keyworker corridor' for safe cycling. The route will also link to the central retail area and other major employment sites, such as the University of Chichester. The work is likely to take about a fortnight to complete. More information here Image: An illustrative example of the style of improvement which will be used in West Sussex (Old Shoreham Road, Hove). Photo credit: Darren Cool Images.

Rising to the challenge of climate change A strategy which seizes a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change has been agreed by the County Council’s Cabinet. The ten-year Climate Change Strategy sets out five commitments: reducing carbon emissions; increasing resilience to a changing climate; sourcing and using resources responsibly; supporting and growing the green economy and embedding these commitments into decision making. We also want to work with others and help inspire them to make changes where we can.  You can read the strategy here. Further information on our delivery plan and how you can get involved will be available shortly.

Our latest communication campaigns  Take a look at three of our latest communication campaigns:   Keep West Sussex Safe Change a life with foster care Jobs in care Shut fires out Feel free to share these links, and the information contained within, to help keep your residents updated and informed.