Cross in Hand, Horam, Blackboys & Five Ashes

HEATHFIELD ABOUT TOWN: Well the road works are now underway and there do seem to be a number of postings on social media. Bloggers are reporting that our High Street shops are being well supported which is very encouraging. A few comments have been posted that some people with disabilities have found it difficult to get to the doctors' surgery, hopefully this will improve as the works move up the High Street. I understand the takeaway food outlets have seen a drop in footfall so please use them as much as possible. I would say Nemos fish and chip shop is the best for miles around. Traffic in Sheepsetting Lane and Ghyll Road is shocking from 7am to 9am (at least 20 to 30 mins delays) and then again in the afternoons, avoid if you can.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING: Switching on the town’s Christmas lights. The town’s Christmas lights will be turned on at the Fire Station on Friday November 30 at 3.30pm. Refreshments will be available including mulled wine and mince pies. Cross in Hand Primary school pupils will be singing carols around the Christmas tree. In conjunction with the lights being turned on the Fire Station will be holding a safety event.

FARMERS MARKET: Heathfield Farmers Market Saturday, November 17. Despite the roadworks taking place, the market will be accessible. There will be all the usual stalls selling: Fresh fish, Indian food, coffee and tea, cakes, plants and flowers. Also on sale are home-made dog treats and candles. Local choir, Warblesinger, will be singing between 11am to 11.30am. Please come along and buy good food and local arts and crafts and support your local farmers and producers. A jam and marmalade seller is sought for Heathfield Farmers Market held on the third Saturday in the month. This is due to a very long standing stallholder of seven years, Wish End Farm, moving out of the area. You must have public and product liability insurance in place, comply with Food Hygiene Regulations and be able to attend regularly. If interested please contact: [email protected] or call 01892 610314.

ROADWORKS: Wouldn’t it be good if East Sussex Highways could work nights on the High Street road refurbishment and halve the time the High Street is closed to traffic? We note the A267 will be closed during the night at Mayfield, the A265 (Heathfield High Street) is an extension of the same road so why can’t the works continue through 24 hours? Interested to hear, while chatting to a couple of Parish Councillors, that the Parish Council was not informed of the High Street roadworks. What are the chances of the junction between the end of Mill Road/Tilsmore Road being opened early, so traffic has two options to get out of town when heading westwards. Sheepsetting Lane and Ghyll Road are gridlocked at school arrival and departure times, also from 7am onwards. By the way, top marks to Cross in Hand Primary School which has introduced a couple of ‘walking buses.’ Brilliant idea. It would be good to see it continued after the end of the roadworks tool.

JUST A REMINDER: Over the weekend of November 11 and 12, Members of Wealden District Council will be honouring those who gave their lives in the service of their country at Remembrance Day services across the District.

ARMISTICE DAY: On November 12 Councillor Chris Hardy, Wealden District Council Chairman, will be attending the remembrance services at Hailsham and Crowborough. In the morning he will attend the Hailsham parade, starting at the Charles Hunt Centre and marching to the War Memorial. In the afternoon he will be attending the wreath laying ceremony in Crowborough at the War Memorial followed by a service at All Saints Church. At all services he will be laying a wreath on behalf of the Council. On the morning of November 11, Wealden District Council Vice Chairman Councillor Pam Doodes will be attending the Polegate Remembrance Service at Polegate Town Council’s War Memorial recreation ground and laying a wreath. Wealden District Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Claire Dowling will be attending the Uckfield Remembrance Parade and other District Councillors will be attending Remembrance Day services throughout the District.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: Leave A Light On Autumn Burglary Campaign Begins. A focus on burglary begins this autumn after the clocks changed last weekend. There were 644 burglaries across the force in September 2017, but this fell to 518 in September 2018. The autumn campaign aims to maintain this decrease, as well as raising awareness about how you can protect your own home. During this week there will be prevention advice to specific communities as well as social media posts, in an effort to prevent burglaries from happening in the first place. Of the 43 UK police forces, Sussex is rated as fifth highest in the national league table as one of the least likely places to live and be burgled. Communities can work together to prevent crime. By joining an existing Neighbourhood Watch scheme or becoming a NHW coordinator your community can be stronger together. Help us keep Sussex safe. Seen something suspicious or have information about a crime or incident? Please contact us online, email us at [email protected] or call 101.

WEALDEN ALERTS: Help with starting your own business. EDEAL, the Eastbourne and District Enterprise Agency, in association with Wealden District Council, is holding a free Business Start-up Workshop at Uckfield Civic Centre. It is on Wednesday from 10am to 4pm.

Starting up in business is always going to be difficult. If you have the right guidance and support at the very start you are far more likely to succeed. You can go on to run a successful business. It will mean hard work and taking risks, require plenty of enthusiasm and determination. But it could be the most rewarding thing you do. The workshop is free to Wealden residents or anybody who is starting a business in Wealden. The November 14 event will cover the fundamental points of starting a business. These include: Writing a good business plan; sourcing finance; managing cash flow; meeting your legal obligations; taxation and VAT; marketing. Book now to avoid disappointment. Please call: 01323 641144 or email: [email protected]. Events are also planned for Crowborough, Hailsham, Heathfield and Uckfield in 2019, with the first taking place on Thursday January 17 in Crowborough.

MAYFIELD AND FIVE ASHES: Parish Council News, November 2018. Councillor Vacancy. Following the October 2018 Parish Council meeting the Parish Council is pleased to announce that a new Councillor to represent Five Ashes Ward was co-opted. Cllr Duncan Smith has worked as an accountant for various local authority bodies and has experience as the finance representative on various committees in the public and private sector. He has also previously assisted in organising and managing the Speed Watch group in Five Ashes and hopes to use his experience to help the Parish Council in conducting its functions for the local community. Welcome on board Cllr Smith.

COMMUNITY BOOK SWAP: Since the closure of Mayfield Library the Community Development Committee has been looking into the possibility of having somewhere in Mayfield and Five Ashes where books can be exchanged. In November a trial will start for a Community Book Swap in St Dunstan’s Church that has been kindly agreed by Father Nigel. The shelves that will contain adult and child fiction will be clearly displayed to the rear of the church. Residents are being asked to bring along any fiction that they think others may enjoy and to place the books on the shelves. It is hoped to soon build up a good selection of literature that everyone can borrow, enjoy and then return. Please note that no bags of donated books are left on the floor beside the shelves. If the shelves are full books could be dropped off at the Parish Council office during opening hours. It is hoped to trial the book swap to Truffles Café and Five Ashes Village Hall in the near future. If anyone has a spare stand-alone bookcase that they are willing to donate please contact the parish council. Once all the shelving in place book donations will be sought for those sites too. It will work particularly well if a book is donated or returned each time one is borrowed. So please keep an eye on the Community website and Facebook page for information on when the other locations are ready to open and to receive donations.