E.ON/E.OFF?
Latest News of Local Interest
Speeding in Beeding
The Shoreham Herald reports:
Upper Beeding Parish Council has recently agreed to press ahead with plans for a 20mph limit across the whole village. David Barling, West Sussex county councillor for Bramber West, .. explained [that] the Upper Beeding scheme had a good chance of success, as long as there was significant support from residents. There were only two entrances to the village, so there could be signage at both ends and no need for speed humps. He added: “You have to get close to 20mph as an average before you can bring a limit in.”
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
SDNPA Travel Grant Scheme
Not a single school in BN5, BN6, BN44, or BN45 is included in the scheme.
Pupils at Albourne Primary, Ashurst Primary, the Good Start, Lancing College, St. Peter’s Henfield, Shoreham College, Steyning Grammar, the Towers, Upper Beeding Primary, and others are not eligible for this scheme. Pupils at Balfour, Blatchington Mill, Dorothy Stringer, St. Luke’s, Varndean, and Westdene Primary do qualify, however.
The full list of ‘deprived communities’ and their schools, indexed by postcode, can be found here.
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
A23 Handcross to Warninglid
“Between September 2012 and October this year, 11,301 drivers were fined after speeding along the 40mph Handcross to Warninglid section of the trunk road. .. The area is policed by hi-tech speed cameras, which are able to read number plates and allow any offence to be processed within a matter of days — far faster than ever before.”
“Localism flounders in Sussex”
Update 28th November: the new, improved LAMBS website.
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
Pyecombe Church Christmas Fair
Hurstpierpoint Village Centre, Saturday 23rd November, 1:45-4:00pm. Raffle, refreshments, and stalls selling gifts.