Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish news - July 2024

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Twinning Association

It is almost 20 years since the Twinning Agreement was signed between the Parish Council and representatives of the village of St Martin de Boscherville near Rouen in July 2004. To mark this occasion a party of villagers will be visiting the Parish to celebrate this link and the founding of the Festival in the same year. The Twinning Association has invited a French musician and singer, Roddy, to perform at a concert on the afternoon of 21st September at Danny House. He will be singing a selection of songs in both French and English. A weekend programme for the visitors is being planned and the Association will be looking for host families. If you would like to get involved, this will be a great opportunity to learn more about St Martin de Boscherville and what the village can offer. They will arrive on the afternoon of Friday 20th September and depart on Monday 23rd September.

Sayers Common Tea Party with Mid Sussex Older People’s Council 5th July

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Following a successful application for Grant Funding from the Parish Council, we are delighted to confirm that Mid Sussex Older People’s Council will be running the first of their Sayers Common Tea Parties on 5th July in the Sayers Common Village Hall from 2pm – 4pm. If you would like to attend, please phone 01444 242760 and leave a message stating clearly which event you are booking for, and the name and telephone number of each person attending. You can find out more about MSOPC and events that they run via their website: www.msopc.org.uk

To read the full newsletter, please click on the images to enlarge them or pick up July’s Hurst Life today.

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Newsletter - July 2022

The Annual Parish Meeting predates today’s cycle of accessible Parish Council meetings, and is an ancient custom designed for those on the parish electoral roll to discuss parish affairs. It must be held between 1st March and 1st June and not be before 6pm.

Previously, the forum has taken place in the Village Centre, but in 2020 it was cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and was replaced by an Annual Report published on the Parish Council’s website. Last year, anticipating further COVID-19 induced uncertainty around meetings, the Parish Council published its Annual Report, but also embraced technology and held a very successful meeting via a webinar on 18th May 2021.

This year, we were determined to hold it in person and to showcase the facilities at the Court Bushes Community Hub; what we had planned to do in 2020. The theme was ‘Working Together for our Community’. Parish Council matters were truncated and the majority of the evening was given over to pitches from local groups, both as stands and as one minute or ‘elevator’ pitches, and speakers such as the Headteacher of St Lawrence School, Hurst Rethink, Mid Sussex Ukraine Support Group and Age UK. About 85 attended, which was well up on previous meetings and, as a number commented, there was a real buzz in the room. It was evident that much networking took place across the community. Sustenance was provided in the form of teas, coffees, soft drinks and some excellent cake from the team that run the Melting Pot Café at the same location on Thursday mornings.

All could leave with a copy of the Parish Council report, a free sustainable support local Hurst bag, and leaflets/offers from local groups and traders. We would welcome any feedback via office@hurstpierpoint-pc.gov.uk about the event, and what we should aim to do next time.

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council news letter - March 2022

Council information
Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9UY
Tel: 01273 833264
Email: office@hurstpierpoint-pc.gov.uk
www.hurstpierpoint-pc.gov.uk

Council Tax

As this edition is received, the annual Council Tax bill will be arriving as well. For 2022/23, the Parish Council £1,000 Date Grant Approved Apr 2021 are once again facing significant cost increases that are in excess of inflation.

Whilst our auditors continue to note that our General Reserve is below that for a Parish Council of our size, we have again agreed to not rebuild those reserves at this time so as to limit the increase. We also took the opportunity to repay the outstanding Public Works Loan Board loan for the streetlights that were replaced in 2017/18/19. This will reduce our outgoings in future years by £10,204 per annum. Thus, the rise aims to prevent any further depletion of the General Reserve, a reduction in the outputs of the Parish Council, or the closure of a key asset. Any rise will not be appreciated, but as with all we budget summary for next year with a total of £377,355 (excluding the Village Centre which is accounted for within the Village Centre Charity).

To read the whole newsletter please pick up a copy of March’s Hurst Life magazine or click the photos.

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council News - November 2021

Here we list a couple of highlights from the Parish Council’s new letter - November 2021
Click the pictures to see the whole page or pick up a copy of Hurst Life today.

Hurst Meadows Volunteers

Thanks to all the volunteers (both feline and human) who worked hard in September raking and collecting the hay from the Heritage Orchard. This really was a huge (and very tiring!) task which you tackled with enthusiasm and good humour.

Thank you also to our Butterfly Volunteers who have been out in Hurst Meadows surveying and recording these beautiful insects over the summer. Butterflies respond quickly to changes in habitat suitability so counting the different species of butterfly and their numbers over time will help monitor the success of the habitat management in Hurst Meadows. We are pleased to say that a fabulous 26 species of butterfly were recorded this year in the Meadows including these lovely Comma butterflies feeding from blackberries in the hedgerow at the edge of Fifteen Acre Field.If you would like to be part of the Hurst Meadows volunteer group and help with surveys and/or management tasks, please contact the Parish Office.


Public Toilets in Hurstpierpoint

Residents will be aware of concern in the media at the closure of many council-run public toilets in the UK in order to save money at a time of tight budgets. We wish to reassure residents that the Parish Council is committed to continuing to maintain our public toilets in Trinity Road (opposite St Lawrence School) and in Pitt Lane (adjacent to South Avenue recreation ground.) We believe that despite the cost, toilets are an important public health facility and that closure of public toilets disproportionally affects the most vulnerable including children and the elderly and those with medical conditions and/or disabilities. In addition, with the increase in online shopping resulting in many more home delivery vans on the roads, we think it is important that safe, hygienic facilities are provided for drivers as well as for those who shop in our High Street. Our public toilets are well-maintained and cleaned twice daily. Any concerns should be reported to the Parish Office.


Council offices: Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9UYTel: 01273 833264 Email: office@hurstpierpoint-pc.gov.uk
www.hurstpierpoint-pc.gov.uk

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