Parish Clerk

The Friends of the South Downs are the membership charity working to campaign, protect and enhance the landscape of the Park, so that it can be enjoyed by everyone for future generations. They also organise over 200 walks and strolls each year for their members, some of which are open to the broader public as “tasters” and they have one around Bolney on 10 September. Please find attached poster with further information about the walk.

Here is a link to their web page and all their walks. https://friendsofthesouthdowns.org.uk/public-walks/

The Met Office has issued a Level 3 Heat Health Alert with a 90% probability of heat health criteria being met between 9.00am on Monday (22 July) and 9.00am on Friday (26 July) in parts of England.

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.

Please follow this advice to keep cool and comfortable and reduce health risks:

• Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. If it’s safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler.
• Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat.
• Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn’t possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).
• Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.
• Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and fruit juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.
• Stay tuned to the weather forecast on the radio or TV, or on the Met Office website.
• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need.
• Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool.
• Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat if you go outdoors.
• Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

For more information

• Met Office Heat-health watch
• NHS Choices Heatwave: be prepared
• WSCC Current incidents (Please note there may be a delay updating the ‘Latest information’ whilst we upload it)
• WSCC Dealing with extreme weather
• WSCC Preparing for emergencies

·         Follow us on twitter for regular updates @WSCCNews

In the early hours of the morning of 19^th July between approx. midnight and 1am, thieves smashed a security light, broke down a door and took a valuable piece of Henfield Parish Council’s grass cutting machinery from the garage next to the Henfield Hall.

A white or light grey Transit-style van was seen loading in the George Hotel car park around this time.

Other valuable equipment was left behind, so it’s thought this was stolen to order. The equipment was a blue BCS two wheel tractor unit and attached grey grass flail unit. Replacement value is around £6,500. A photo is attached below.

This is a considerable loss to the Parish Council, if anyone is offered equipment of this description, please contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting crime number 47190119678.

The Post Office at the Vineyard has now re-opened!

The hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.30 to 1 pm.  

MSDC are looking for friendly and confident people to join their team of Temporary Electoral Canvassers – perhaps you, your friends or family would like to join in!

Each year, everyone in the UK must confirm their electoral registration details are up-to-date by responding to the annual electoral canvass. As a Temporary Electoral Canvasser, you will visit properties that haven’t yet responded to provide help and encouragement to reply.

You will help people to record or update their electoral registration details using a simple App on a handheld tablet. The hours are flexible and no experience is necessary because we will provide full training in August.

The household canvass starts on 26^th August and runs until Mid-November. All canvassers will be paid at a rate of £9.00 per hour with the potential to increase this amount with each property you visit.

Full information about the roles can be found at www.midsussex.gov.uk/elections-voting/annual-canvass/

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Aidan.gaff@midsussex.gov.uk or call 01444 477073

Mid Sussex have a new awards programme this year, Mid Sussex Applauds, which encompasses two previous award schemes: the Young Volunteer Awards and the Community Service Awards. There are eight new awards categories. This year the nominations process has been opened up to allow the public to nominate. The nominations process will run from 1 July unto 31 August and nominations are made via an application online. Full details, including nominations criteria are available here: https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/leisure-sport/mid-sussex-applauds/   

The award categories are:

Stronger Communities – a community group or organisation that has helped to bring together cultures and communities through a local project or community activity.

Young Achiever Award – against all the odds, someone who has overcome significant obstacles and made a positive difference to their own lives or to other young people through education, campaigning or helping another overcome a difficult situation or personal problem.

Take Pride in Mid Sussex – this award will recognise residents who dedicate their time and energyinto keeping Mid Sussex clean and green, take pride in their local area by creating community gardens, painting local spaces, upcycling or encouraging others to recycle.

Young Volunteer of the year – recognising those young people who have made a difference in their local community.

Lifetime Achievement Award – an individual who has made a substantial commitment to the community in their lifetime.

Stronger Together – an individual who has helped to bring together cultures and communities through a local project or community activity.

Good Sport Award – a club or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to supporting activity or sport in Mid Sussex.

Business in the Community Award – recognising a business which supports or makes a positive contribution to benefit and enhance community life.

The Parish Council was delighted to welcome HRH, The Princess Royal to Bolney on Tuesday 11th June to open the 12 new affordable homes at Magdalene Rise. This initiative was started by the Parish Council over 10 years ago when a housing needs survey was held in the parish due to the increasing challenge for local people to be able to remain living in the parish due to the high cost of housing. The parish council worked closely with English Rural and other key partners to develop these homes which will benefit the Bolney community for years to come.

Cover photo: English Rural/Matt Pereira Photography

Many thanks to all those who came along and used the mobile waste facility at the Rawson Hall on Sunday. It was a very successful event and will ensure that the Parish Council can continue to fund it in future years.

A community initiative is currently under way to obtain fast broadband for Bolney, Hickstead and the surrounding areas. Such efforts are supported and subsidised by the government, with the aim of providing unlimited broadband for speeds up to 100 MBPS. The scheme is only possible if there is sufficient interest; the more users who become involved, the cheaper it will become. The community group is currently in discussion with YONET Telecom which offers access to the scheme. Any residents and businesses interested in higher speeds can register their interest on the YONET website, via the following link:https://www.yonet-telecom.com/ultrafast-community-broadband
The Parish Council supports this initiative, while awaiting the outcome of the project led by Mid Sussex District Council to install a fast broadband “spine”.