Mid Sussex Council offers financial help

Mid Sussex District Council is urging residents who are struggling to meet their household costs to get in touch for support and advice. The coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 an extremely difficult year and the Council is encouraging local people to seek help if they are facing issues with debt, are struggling with household bills or are finding it hard to pay their rent and/or Council Tax.

Mid Sussex District Council is signed up to the national Citizens Advice Good Practice Protocol, a public commitment to the principles of fairness, partnership working and transparency in local authority debt collection. “We know that there are people across Mid Sussex who are experiencing difficulties,” said Councillor Andrew MacNaughton, Mid Sussex Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning. “If you are unable to make your rent or mortgage payments, our Housing Needs Team is here to help you. If you’re struggling, please get in touch so that we can help make sure you do not risk losing your home. If you are a tenant of a social landlord in Mid Sussex please get in touch with your landlord as they can also provide assistance. If you are in difficulty, please do not ignore the problem because it will not go away.
“Landlords too may be facing financial pressures and tenants should continue to pay their rent if they can afford it. If you are a private landlord who may be serving notice on your tenant due to arrears, please contact us because we can offer advice and mediation to both you and your tenants to help avoid evictions.”

Councillor Ruth De Mierre, Mid Sussex Cabinet Member for Customer Services said: “If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax, we have a Revenues team who can put you in contact with the Money & Pensions Service, who provide free independent debt advice. They can help you to put payments of nonpriority debts, like credit card bills, on hold and create arrangements that work for you and your unique financial situation.
“We know it’s hard to take that first step and reach out for help but the worst thing you can do is ignore the situation because it could lead to court proceedings, additional costly fees, and ever-increasing debt. Ultimately, it could even result in you losing your home. Please don’t delay, get in contact with us if you are struggling and together we’ll help you through this.”

If you are struggling financially please contact Mid Sussex District Council on 01444 477564 or email revenue@midsussex.gov.uk

To contact the Mid Sussex Housing Needs team call 01444 477574 or email housingadvice@midsussex.org. uk

Alternatively, Citizens Advice in West Sussex provide free, confidential, independent and impartial advice. Email or web chat at www.advicewestsussex.org.uk or call 0344 477 1171.

Compostable bags; not compostable at home

RECYCLE THIS...

Colin McFarlin is a Volunteer Waste Prevention Advisor with WSCC.

Thank you for all your individual enquiries about your recycling. By the time you read this I will have replied individually to all your emails to the Editor on recycling. Do keep the questions coming...

Compostable bag - Not taken in garden waste

Compostable bags

My mailbag has been busy this month with correspondence from readers who have received mail through the post in ‘Compostable Bags’.

With the outcry against plastic many organisations, such as National Trust and WI, have quickly moved away from plastic wrappers for their mailings and moved to biodegradable wrappers.

The information they put on the wrapper is not
accurate. They suggest putting them into your
home compost bin. However, not everyone has
a home compost bin, also they will not compost in a home compost bin as your bin will not reach a sufficient temperature for the wrapper to break own. There are going to be lots of disappointed National Trust and WI members emptying their compost bins in a year’s time and finding this wrapper intact! Councils will not accept this in their garden waste bin, and we, along with many other councils do not have a food waste collection service.

So where can you put it? You are left with your black top rubbish bin.

This new idea is in fact a lot worse than the original plastic wrapper; that can be recycled in major supermarkets with plastic carrier bags.

Put it in your black top rubbish bin and I do hope you will write to anyone who sends you correspondence in a Compostable Bag and point out the problems they are causing in West Sussex - and other counties!

Would you like me to give a talk to your local group on recycling? Do you have an individual question on specific items you are not sure how to recycle? One email to the Editor at editor@hurstlife.co.uk, with a picture if possible, and I can let you know.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Keep recycling!

Court Bushes Community Hub, Willow Way, Hurstpierpoint

The Ex-Serviceman’s Club in Hurstpierpoint has been reinvented

By David Tingley

The Ex-Serviceman’s Club has been closed for nearly two years, but there has been lots of positive work going on in the background, thanks to Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC).

The club had experienced some challenges latterly which resulted in MSDC repossessing the building off Willow Way back in December 2017.

Unfortunately, during that month a fire was started in a wheelie bin outside the centre, which took hold and spread into the eaves and roof of the building causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the empty site. This gave the Council both a problem but also an opportunity.

There had already been a series of conversations with local interested parties to try to ensure that the club building was able to be used for the good of the community. District Councillor and Hurst resident Colin Trumble chaired and hosted a meeting back in November 2017 at Haywards Heath Town Hall. The result of that was the creation of a Steering Group whose members comprised of representatives from the Parish Council, MSDC, the Club, local churches and other community groups.

Following the repossession, fire damage and assessment, MSDC agreed a plan to spend money on renovating the site with Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council committing to take the lease for the building and grounds.

Paul Williams, Project Surveyor for MSDC, explained: “The fire damage was extensive and smoke had affected almost every aspect of the inside of the building.” Paul worked alongside the Steering Group to create a completely new plan for the space which would seek to be both flexible and practical. “Fortunately we were able to reuse some equipment and furniture from recently decommissioned Martlets Hall in Burgess Hill – which included the bar and kitchen equipment.”

The new building – named Court Bushes Community Hub – now comprises of three independent spaces.

A small room with a bar and kitchen is at the back of the building. This area has one wall which is entirely bifold doors and will open out onto a decked garden area.

On the opposite side of the site is a completely self-sufficient nursery premises, fitted with its own set of toilets, a manager’s office and separate entrance from the car park. This large, bright room includes access to a generous enclosed outside space too. The Parish Council have already agreed to rent this space to a local nursery school (Kiddie Capers) from September.

Then the main space is a large and bright room, now completely open, which includes storage facilities, a dancefloor area and a hatch through to a well-planned kitchen. This area also has its own bi-fold doors, opening out to the grassy field outside.

Each of these spaces can be let independently, and all enquiries should be direct to the Parish Council office on 01273 833264 or see the recently launched website: www.hurstpierpointvillagehalls.org

Colin Trumble explained: “I am delighted that this building has been given a new lease of life. Although it doesn’t always happen, this really is a triumph of ‘design by committee’ – as so many from the community have been part of what has now been built.”

“The original Ex-Serviceman’s Club was opened over 100 years ago in Hurst,” commented MSDC Councillor Joy Dennis, “as a response from the community to help those who fought for our country. Now, in different times, it’s great to see the revitalised Court Bushes site being open and available to be used for all in Hurstpierpoint.”

“To celebrate the opening of Court Bushes Community
Hub there is a Fun Day planned for Saturday 1st June
(1-3pm), which will include craft activities for kids, a soft
play area, café, bouncy castle, a DJ and Popsteps dance
classes – as well as officially cutting the ribbon! All are
invited to go along and see the revitalised building.”

Neighbourhood Plan - 92.4% VOTED 'YES'!

From Hurstpierpoint Parish Council website:

Local community supports Plan

The Referendum took place on 12 February 2015 and 2139 electors voted, which was a 42% turn-out. 92.4% ( 1972 electors) voted in favour of the Plan, which means that it will now become the formal planning guidance for the Parish. Council Chairman John Wilkinson said “The Council is delighted to have the support of local people. We know some of the proposals are not everyone’s first choice, but the Plan provides a clear and credible future for restrained development in our villages.”