fulking.net - This is the community website for the people of Fulking, West Sussex

Mid Sussex Police – Monthly Update

Mid Sussex District Monthly Update – October 2013

How we deliver policing to Mid Sussex District is broken down into three pillars –
Keeping People Safe, Neighbourhood Policing and Best Use of Resources.

To reflect this, my update will be structured alongside the three key themes supporting each pillar.

Keeping People Safe

Catching criminals
After a call from a member of the public, we located a group of young people kicking and damaging wing mirrors on Fairfield Road, Burgess Hill. We are now investigating their involvement in the damage of six vehicles.

We have suffered many diesel thefts on Victoria Industrial Estate, Burgess Hill. PC Upton has identified a possible suspect and is progressing activities to locate and arrest them.

Following reports of suspicious activity we have arrested a suspect for attempted burglary. They are currently on bail whilst the investigation is progressed.

Police have offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of Mark Vine. Mark is currently wanted for Burglary and the teams from Mid Sussex and other departments in the force are actively seeking him.

Cutting Crime
A Cannabis factory was discovered in Cuckfield after Police attended the address regarding an incident. Two people have been arrested and are currently on bail.

Dealing with critical incidents
None of note

Neighbourhood Policing
Being Visible and Accessible
The Neighbourhood Policing Team hold monthly surgeries and bi-monthly neighbourhood panel meetings in each ward for residents to attend, for more information please go to www.sussex.police.uk

Welcome to our new team members
New Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) – Karen ILES, Chelcie SHANAHAN and Jamie JOHNSON
New Police Constables (PC’s) – Katie BREEDS and Claire IRVING

Providing a Quality Response
The Neighbourhood Policing Team is working with West Sussex Fire and Rescue to help deliver the ‘Who Cares Scheme’. This scheme is aimed at people over 65 with vulnerabilities. It is a free service from West Sussex Fire and Rescue including a home visit to offer fire safety advice, fit smoke alarms and/or specialist detection/protection equipment. Call free on 0800 328 6487 or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire to make a home fire safety check referral.

At the end of October, Halloween and firework literature was handed out to all local shops across the district and ‘NO Trick or Treat’ posters were available for members of the public at Police Stations and other public buildings. The posters were gratefully received by everyone.

Working with Communities
Business Watch is being set up across Mid Sussex to increase the flow of communication between business communities and Sussex Police. The aim is to prevent and detect crime, increase intelligence and build relationships with this community. If you wish to find out more about this initiative email Haywardsheath.npt@sussex.pn.police.uk.

Best Use of Resources
On Mid Sussex District we have an excellent team of Special Constables, eight in total, who are a real credit to the Force. They provide us with lots of support and their assistance on a variety of operations and calls (often at short notice) is highly commendable.

‘Thank you Specials for your ongoing commitment and support – you do a fantastic job!.’

Being Productive and Effective – Burglary Series
Op Bourne is running in relation to a spate of burglaries that have occurred in the Mid Sussex District. Burglars are targeting houses with the aim of stealing cash and jewellery. Offences have primarily been occurring between 8am – 5pm with the offenders entering premises via the rear of the property by smashing a door or window.

Please ensure that you lock and secure your outbuildings. Side gates should be locked shut and access to the rear of your house restricted. Where you have high value items such as jewellery or cash in your property please make sure they are not on view and where possible securely hidden away. Please keep an eye out in your street and local area and report any suspicious activity immediately to Sussex Police on 101 or 999 if you believe that a crime is in progress.

Please share this message with your family and friends – thank you.

Regards
Chief Inspector Simon Beardwell
Mid Sussex District Commander
West Sussex Division

Fulking Parish Council – Planning Meeting Wednesday 4th December 2013

Fulking Parish Council will hold an Planning Meeting on Wednesday 4th December 2013 at 6.30pm in the Village Hall

TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PLANNING APPLICATIONS:-

SDNP/13/05330/FUL
Timbers, Clappers Lane, Fulking, Henfield BN5 9NJ
Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of new 4 bedroom house.
Full information available on the South Downs National Park Website – here

SDNP/13/05534/TCA
Fulking Farmhouse,The Street,Henfield,BN5 9LX
Leyland Cypress hedge in rear garden by swimming pool- reduce height to previous pruning points and trim face and ends hard back. Fell the first 10 trees to a height of 1.5/2.0m at the western most end of the hedge line.
Full information available on the South Downs National Park Website – here

Members of the Public and Press are invited to attend.

Members of the public are entitled to speak at the meeting for two minutes, by prior arrangement with the Clerk Mrs. Andrea Dickson , tel 01444 451060 at least 1 hour before the meeting. No more than two speakers for each application and two against.

Andrea Dickson
Clerk to Fulking Parish Council
12 Turners Mill Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1NN
andreadicksonfpc@gmail.com

Southern Water’s metering programme

An open letter from Darren Bentham, Director, Universal Metering Programme

I am writing to update you on Southern Water’s five-year programme to install half a million water meters in households across our region by 2015. This will help secure water resources for the future.

The scheme is progressing well with more than 250,000 new meters installed to date, across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.

Our meter installation teams will shortly be returning to your area, to complete installations which were not possible to carry out in the main phase of our work programme.

These installations did not go ahead as planned for a variety of reasons. For example:

Most meters are installed in pavements but some must be installed in customers’ homes, which means we have to make appointments with customers and this was not possible during our first visit
Another utility service may have been working in the area during the main phase of our work, preventing us from completing meter installations as originally planned
Other unforeseen circumstances which disrupted the programme at the time of installation

We are re-contacting customers who have not had their meter installed to inform them about the situation and assure them that their meter will be installed as soon as possible.

Installation is free and customers will be provided with lots of written information about their meter and metered bill, as well as easy ways in which they can save water, energy and money.

Installation programme

We will be installing meters in the following postcode areas during November and December 2013:

• BN3 4 (Hove West)
• BN3 5 (Hove West)
• BN3 7 (West Blatchington)
• BN45 7 (Poynings)
• BN3 8 (Hangleton)
• BN3 6 (Hove Park)
• BN1 8 (Patcham)
• BN1 6 (Withdean/Preston Park)
• BN44 3 (Steyning)
• BN5 9 (Henfield)
• BN43 5 (Shoreham)
• BN43 6 (Kingston Shaw)
• BN42 4 (Southwick)
• BN41 2 (Portslade)
• BN41 1 (Portslade)

How customers can find out more

Customers will receive an information pack, both before their meter is installed AND on the day of installation. They can also call our Metering Customer Contact Centre on 0333 2003 013 to find out more.

Detailed information about our metering programme is available on our dedicated website at: www.southernwater.co.uk/metering.

First metered bills

In February 2012, we began issuing the first six-month bills to customers who have had meters installed under the programme.

Customers are switched from rateable value charges to metered charges around three months after a meter is installed for their property.

Three months later, six months after installation, they are sent a letter advising them how much water they have used since they were switched and, based on that water use, how much their bills could be.

They will then receive their first metered bill nine months after their meter was fitted.

Support for customers

As households move to metered charges, about half will see their bills go down and half will see an increase. This is because at the moment, water bills are based on the rateable value of the house, whereas on a meter they are based on the amount of water people use.

Working closely with our customers and stakeholders, we have developed a range of tariffs to give people time to adapt to metered charges and make sure that water bills remain affordable for everyone.

We have identified around 108,000 customers across our service area to whom we are offering additional assistance with their water meter and bills, including the offer of free water and energy use checks (Home Saver Checks) and more information on the tariffs and support available. We look to contact these customers directly when installing their water meters.

Please see the attached Q&A document which sets out further key information about our metering programme.

We would be happy to provide any other information you may require. Please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Jones on 01732 375409 or by emailing southernwater@springboard-marketing.co.uk.

Yours sincerely

Darren Bentham
Director, Universal Metering Programme
Southern Water

Southern Water – Q&As – downloadable PDF

Talk With Us

West_sussex_talk_with_us

South Mid Sussex County Local Committee
Albourne, Burgess Hill, Bolney, Fulking, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint &
Sayers Common, Newtimber, Poynings, Pyecombe, Slaugham & Twineham

MEET YOUR LOCAL COUNTY COUNCILLORS

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS ON LOCAL ISSUES

Tuesday 26 November 2013 at7.00pm
Schering Suite, Downlands Community School, Dale Avenue, Hassocks, BN6 8LP

For further information and an agenda please contact:
T: 0330 22 22527
E: talkwithus@westsussex.gov.uk

Fulking Sunset

Free microchips for local dogs

front_MSDC_Logo dogs_trust_logo

PRESS RELEASE

Free microchips for local dogs – come along and gobble them up!

Mid Sussex District Council is teaming up with the charity Dogs Trust to offer local pet owners the chance to microchip their dog, absolutely free of charge.

Microchipping ensures that, if a dog ever becomes lost or stolen, the police, animal welfare staff, vet surgeries and local authorities are able to identify the owner and return the dog safe and sound.

During November, Dogs Trust will be running six microchipping sessions at parks and open spaces across Mid Sussex. They will be supported by the Mid Sussex District Council Park Rangers team, who will be on hand to provide advice and information on other aspects of responsible dog ownership.

microchipped-dog Currently, every dog owner is legally required to ensure that their dog is wearing a collar and tag, but these can easily get lost or removed if a dog is stolen. A microchip is permanent and, from the 6 April 2016, a change in the law means it will be compulsory for owners to have their dog microchipped.

dog_chip The microchip is a small electronic device, about the size of a grain of rice, which is coded with a unique number that can be read by a scanner. As the chip is so small, once it has been implanted the dog will not be able to feel it.

Once microchipped, Dogs Trust will register the dog and owner’s details and from then on it is essential that owners update their information when necessary, such as after a change of address.

To ensure local people are ready for the new law, Mid Sussex District Council and Dogs Trust are hosting a series of free microchipping events at parks and open spaces right across Mid Sussex.

The free events run from 10 am – 2 pm and are located as follows:

Wednesday 6 November, Bedelands Local Nature Reserve, Burgess Hill
Thursday 7 November, East Court, East Grinstead
Thursday 14 November, Barn Cottage Recreation Ground, Haywards Heath
Wednesday 20 November, Kings Leisure Centre, East Grinstead
Thursday 21 November, Whitemans Green, Cuckfield
Thursday 28 November, Adastra Park, Hassocks

“It is so important to get your dog fitted with a microchip because, should they ever stray, the chances of being reunited with your missing pet are significantly increased,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. “Microchipping does not hurt the dog; the process is carried out by a trained professional and causes no more discomfort than a minor injection.

“The law is changing in 2016, and we do not want any of our residents to suffer a fine, so please come along to one of our free microchipping sessions and make sure your dog can be easily returned to you.”

For more information please contact the Mid Sussex District Council Park Rangers on 01444 477561, email rangers@midsussex.gov.uk or visit www.chipmydog.org.uk.

ENDS

For more information please contact Martin Faulconbridge on 01444 477478 or Martin.Faulconbridge@midsussex.gov.uk

Direct line: 01444 477478
Out of hours: 07702 034236

Notice of Review – Parliamentary Polling Districts & Polling Places

front_MSDC_Logo Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended). The Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places (Parliamentary Elections) Regulations 2006 (as amended)

Mid Sussex District Council is conducting a review of polling districts and polling places within the District. The Council’s proposals will be submitted to the Returning Officer for comment.

Representations or comments on the existing provision of polling places are welcome from any elector within the Parliamentary Constituencies of Mid Sussex, Arundel & South Downs or Horsham. The Council also welcomes representation from any person or body with expertise in access for people with any type of disability. Persons or bodies making representations should, if possible, give alternative locations that can be used as polling places and polling stations.

Responses can be made in writing to the address below or by email to: elections@midsussex.gov.uk

The Council is obliged to publish all responses received on the council website and to make printed copies available for public inspection.Written representations must be made by 29th November 2013.

At the close of the consultation period all representations will be evaluated and considered. The Council will publish its findings and invite comments.

A report of recommendations will be laid before Members of the District Council in January 2014.

Tom Clark
Solicitor to the Council
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands, Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS

Met Office Weather Warning – Monday 28th October

National Severe Weather Warning Service – Chief Forecasters Assessment

A strong, high-level jet is expected to engage warm low level air to give rise to a rapidly moving low pressure system later on Sunday. This is expected to run northeastwards, probably across England and Wales, with very strong winds on its southern and western flanks.

There is the potential for gusts of over 80mph, especially on exposed coasts, bothin southwesterly winds ahead of the low and west to northwesterly winds behind it.

The Met Office have issued an Amber Alert of Wind
Valid from 00:05 on Mon, 28th Oct 2013 until 21:00 on Mon, 28th Oct 2013

A very intense low pressure system is forecast to run northeastwards across the countryearly on Monday, bringing the potential for an exceptionally windy spell of weather for southern parts of the UK. At the same time, persistent, heavy rain could cause some surface water flooding.

At this early stage there is uncertainty about the timing, intensity and track of the low. However, the public should be prepared for the risk of falling trees as well as damage to buildings and other structures, bringing disruption to transport and power supplies.

For more details please go to: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings
Issued by the Met Office at 10:38 on Thu, 24th Oct 2013