Mid Sussex District Council

Mid Sussex District Council October newsletter 2024

Please be vigilant of fraudulent QR codes!

We were recently informed by our Enforcement Officers of an issue regarding fraudulent QR codes found on payment machines across our council-owned car parks.
These QR codes, which falsely claim to be for the PaybyPhone service, are designed to trick individuals into handing over their card details. It is important to note that Mid Sussex District Council does not use PaybyPhone for parking payments and uses MiPermit.
The Council’s Enforcement Officers acted swiftly to remove the fake QE codes and are dedicated to continuing to maintain the security of parking facilities, preventing crime and ensuring the safety of residents. Councillor Chris Hobbs, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Customer Services said: “We are asking residents not to scan these QR codes for their own protection. Our enforcement officers, who play a crucial role in ensuring the security of our parking facilities, were the first to spot and highlight this issue. Their quick action has been essential in mitigating the risk posed by these fraudulent QR codes.”
For more information or to report any concerns, please contact the council’s parking team at parkinginfo@midsussex.gov.uk or by calling 01444 458166.

Apply for one of our Community Grants!

The Mid Sussex District Council Community Grants Programme is now open! This initiative underscores the Council’s commitment to fostering a vibrant community by supporting local groups in the delivery of their projects and events. Eligible groups can apply for grants of up to £5,000. The deadline for submissions for this round is 23rd September, but there are multiple rounds every year so keep an eye on our website for future dates.
We recently expanded the programme’s criteria to include pressing challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, poverty, and climate change. These updates reflect the Council’s dedication to promoting sustainable development and enhancing the well-being of residents across the district.
Councillor Anne-Marie Cooke, Cabinet Member for Communities and Communications said: “Our District has many local organisations and charities that are all making a difference in our communities, and the programme is designed to celebrate and support these groups.
“We want to encourage groups to be creative in supporting sustainability goals and ensure that funding is actively benefiting our communities.”
Community groups interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to visit the Council’s website and search ‘Community Grants’ for more information and how to apply. To help groups succeed in their applications, we encourage groups to arrange a call with the communities team before submitting. For any questions, groups can contact the Council directly via email at communities@ midsussex.gov.uk.

To read the full newsletter, pick up your copy of Lindfield Life or click the images to enlarge them.

Mid Sussex District Council September newsletter - 2024

Four Mid Sussex District Council parks receive coveted Green Flag Award

Mid Sussex District Council is delighted to announce that four parks in the District have received Green Flag Awards after achieving an international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Beech Hurst Gardens and Victoria Park in Haywards Heath, St. John’s Park in Burgess Hill, and East Court and Ashplats Park in East Grinstead, in collaboration with East Grinstead Town Council and East Grinstead Memorial Estates, have been officially recognised as some of the country’s finest parks.

The news is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green spaces in the District so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy them.

Councillor Chris Hobbs, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Customer Services, said: “We are thrilled that four of our parks have received the Green Flag Award. This award highlights the hard work and dedication of our team who ensure our parks are well-maintained and enjoyable for everyone.

“It is wonderful to see our green spaces recognised as some of the best in the country and we are committed to keeping these parks beautiful for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

To read the full newsletter, click the images to enlarge them or pick up your copy of Lindfield Life today.

Mid Sussex District Council June update - 2024

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Work with us!

These are exciting times in Mid Sussex. Our focus is on creating a place where everyone who lives and works in Mid Sussex can thrive. We have ambitious plans to ensure we achieve this vision, and we welcome driven, motivated and forward-thinking individuals, to join us in delivering outstanding services. We are especially looking for a Senior Planning Solicitor, but all our vacancies can be found by visiting: https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/job-vacancies


To read the full newsletter please pick up your copy of Lindfield Life or click the images to enlarge them.

Mid Sussex District Council news - March 24

Upgrades for local leisure centres

In collaboration with Places Leisure, we are proud to announce upgrades for two of our leisure facilities. The Triangle Leisure Centre in Burgess Hill has recently undergone an impressive £765k refurbishment, while the Dolphin Leisure Centre has received a generous grant of £44,735 from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF). The gym facilities at The Triangle Leisure Centre have been upgraded to feature cutting-edge equipment from Life Fitness. There has also been an installation of a £200k solar photovoltaic system to promote energy efficiency. In addition to the gym refurbishment, The Triangle Leisure Centre has revamped its sports hall and reopened a refurbished Costa store, creating a more enjoyable and holistic experience for visitors. Meanwhile, the Dolphin Leisure Centre in Haywards Heath, has received a significant financial boost through a £44,735 grant from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF). This grant is a testament to the Centre’s dedication to providing excellent aquatic facilities and services to the local community.

To read the full newsletter, please click on the images provided to enlarge or pick up for copy of March’s Lindfield Life and turn to page 16.

Lindfield Parish Council's January 2024 newsletter

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VILLAGE ARCHIVES

The Parish Council’s existing volunteer archivist, Richard Bryant, after over twenty years of service, has stepped down. The Council wishes to place on record our thanks to Richard for all his hard work. The Council is now looking to recruit a new volunteer(s) for the voluntary position.
The role will require:
• Reviewing our existing stock
• Maintaining records of our stock
• Liaising with other organisations (i.e. West Sussex Records Office) to see if they are interested in any of our stock
• Answering public enquiries
The successful applicant(s) will need to be comfortable using email and logging records in Microsoft Excel or Word. If you are interested in the voluntary role please contact us at clerks@lindfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk.

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AUTUMN CLEAN 2023 & SPRING CLEAN 2024

A massive thank you from Lindfield Parish Council to all the volunteers who took part in our Village Autumn Clean on Saturday 14th October. We would also like to thank Mid Sussex District Council for supporting the event with hi-viz jackets, litter pickers, extra refuse bags and for disposing of all the waste collected by the volunteers. We will be looking to organise a Spring Clean in March /April 2024. We will update our website, Facebook page, and noticeboard with further details once we have confirmed a date.

OUR OFFICE

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Lindfield Parish Council Office is usually staffed five days a week and is open to the public on Tuesdays 1pm to 4pm, Thursdays and Fridays 10am to 1pm – when members of the public are welcome by prior appointment only to come along to look at planning applications for Lindfield, acquire the codes for obtaining concessionary railcards, or simply seek advice on issues of concern. However, if you do need to speak with someone outside our normal opening hours, then please contact the Clerk who will be happy to make alternative arrangements with you.

To read the full newsletter, please pick up January’s issue of Lindfield Life and turn to page 41, or click the images to enlarge.

New benches on Lindfield Common

When Lindfield grandmother Carol Rieley asked councillors for a new bench on the Common she didn’t expect her request to be granted several times over!

But to Carol’s delight, visitors to the Common now have a great choice of places to sit and relax.

Carole explained how she met with Will Blunden and some of the parish and district councillors last April. “I asked whether it was possible to have a bench outside the children’s playground as, although there were seats within the play area, there were none outside for Grannies like me to sit with the dog and rest up whilst the youngsters had fun on the swings,” she said.

“Last month, there was not just the one I had suggested but all the extra seats all the way along the boundary of the Common!

“I want to say a huge thank you to both the parish and district councils. The seats are being well utilised and one rather elderly lady commented: ‘I can walk all the way round the Common as there are plenty of places to rest now.’”

Andrew Funnell, Clerk at Lindfield Parish Council, commented: “We welcome the additional benches installed by Mid Sussex District Council on Lindfield Common. The benches were installed following dialogue between representatives of both councils. The newly installed benches benefit from hardstandings and have a higher seat allowing for easier access. The Parish Council understands that S106 funds (contributions from housing developers) were utilised to help fund the project.

“In addition to the benches, work has been undertaken by MSDC on some of the footpaths on the Common. This includes the footpath at the bottom of Old School Court which has been widened. The Parish Council wishes to thank MSDC and Councillor Gary Marsh.”