REX’S NOTES OCTOBER 2024 Local Council Updates
Councillor Rex Whittaker brings us up-to-date with what’s been happening in and around the town, and some dates for your diary …
TOWN COUNCIL
The new Town Clerk Ms Sam Haynes will start her duties on 1 November.
The newly-set-up youth club is proving very popular on Thursday evenings between 5 and 8 pm at Barnabas Hall, Dunnings Road. Around twenty 10-14 year olds are attending the fully supervised sessions and enjoy various activities such as pool and table tennis.
The Town Council recently made a number of financial grants to various community groups and charities. These included youth sport grant awards. A full list can be found on the town council website here.
Sunday 10 November will see the annual Remembrance parade and commemoration service at the High Street War Memorial. Many of our community groups will be joining the parade. Groups wishing to be involved to meet in King Street car park (by Atrium ) at 10.15am. Parade departs Post Office in London Road at 10.40 am continues up London Road and into High Street. Service starts at 11 am.
East Grinstead Christmas Lights turn on will be on Saturday 23 November at 5 pm.
On the same day the retailers’ ‘ Big Reveal ‘ event will take place. London Road and the High Street will be closed to traffic between 2pm and 9 pm. Free parking from 3pm in town centre short stay car parks.
A further ‘ Christmas Fayre ‘ event will see London Road closed on Sunday 8 December
between 7 am and 6 pm. This will include food and other stalls, as well as funfair rides .
MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL (MSDC)
MSDC council has approved the redevelopment Joint Venture Plan of Martletts shopping centre in central Burgess Hill. This JV is planned to be between MSDC and New River Retail. The large mixed- use scheme has the benefit of a detailed planning consent for new retail, cinema, hotel and residential uses. The site has been economically stymied since the Covid pandemic – and it is hoped that this new project initiative could finally unlock the impasse. Full officer report papers can be found on the MSDC website.
District Plan Examination
The updated and revised MSDC District Plan covering the period 2024 to 2038 , has started to be tested in an independent public examination from 21 to 25 October. Further sessions in November.
This is a statutory legal requirement for MSDC to maintain its rolling, 5-year future housing land supply. The current plan (adopted in 2018 ) runs until 2031. The new plan
extends the housing and employment site allocations until 2038. Further information HERE.
Planning
The Gatwick Airport northern runway extension (second runway) public examination has now concluded after a marathon 7-month programme. The independent examiner’s report is expected to be published in late November 2024 with a recommendation sent to the Government Transport Minister Louise Haigh for a final decision in early 2025.
The planning application for the old Homebase site in East Grinstead was approved by the MSDC District Planning Committee on 19 September (Application number DM/24/0981) to provide a new LIDL supermarket with 105 car parking spaces.
Similarly application number DM/22/3214 for 200 new houses at 71 Crawley Down road was approved at the same meeting on 19 September.
Full details of both applications can be found on the MSDC website – planning / view applications / on line planning portal.
BUDGETS
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her much hyped Budget on Wednesday 30 October. There has been feverish media speculation for many weeks now on what may or may not be included!
All our local councils will be scrutinising this very closely as they are half way through their own 2025/26 budget assessments. Any changes to business rates relief and spending restrictions could impact local authority budgets which are already under huge strain.
East Grinstead Events Diary
Sunday 10 November – Remembrance Day Service & Parade
Saturday 23 November – Big Reveal & Christmas lights turn on
Sunday 8 December – Christmas Market