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Report from East Sussex County Councillor Matthew Milligan December 2024

During November I continued to regularly report potholes and other road defects and undertook various casework from local residents.
I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The updates from county are:

Residents urged to check Pension Credit eligibility

East Sussex County Council has teamed up with the five district and borough councils to raise awareness of Pension Credit to those who may be eligible.

Pension Credit provides additional money to residents over State Pension age who are on a low income to help with living expenses.

As well as increasing income, Pension Credit could also help residents access other benefits including support with housing and health costs.

Pension Credit tops up a person’s weekly income to £218.15 if they are single and £332.95 if they live with a partner.

Residents could also be eligible for further support for other responsibilities and costs based on their circumstances. Those receiving Pension Credit could receive housing benefit, winter fuel payments, council tax discount and help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for appointments.

Residents who think they may qualify for Pension Credit are being urged to check their eligibility by visiting www.gov.uk/pension-credit or calling 0800 99 1234.

Home check service helps residents keep warm

Residents who struggle to keep their homes warm can get support and advice through the council’s Warm Home Check service.

With over 30,000 households in East Sussex living in fuel poverty, the free service offers telephone advice for anyone struggling to afford to keep warm at home, as well as money-saving advice and tips on how to stay warm for less.

Eligible households can also receive a home energy efficiency assessment which includes advice on how to reduce energy costs, for example by switching suppliers, and details of the financial support available to help with heating costs.

The Warm Home Check service is available all year round.

Subject to funding being available, the service can also coordinate and source funding for the installation of larger heating and insulation improvements.

Following the home assessment, radiator foils were fitted and he was advised he was eligible for a replacement boiler through the National Energy Foundation.  A new boiler was fitted in June and Donald reports he is now much warmer.

The service can also provide information on the government grants available to eligible households who do not use a gas boiler as the home’s main heating system.

Home Upgrade Grants can fund improvements such as wall or loft insulation and solar panels, as well as electric radiators.

The grants are available to homes with poor energy efficiency where households have an income of £36,000 a year or less. To qualify for current Home Upgrade Grant funding, applications must be received by the end of December.

As well as ensuing their home is warm and heated to 18C (65F), residents are also reminded to take steps to keep well this winter.

Tips to keep warm and well include layering clothes to help trap in warm air, wearing non-slip footwear both indoors and out, moving about regularly, drawing the curtains at dusk, and having hot meals and drinks.

It is also important people get their seasonal flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 vaccinations if they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from these illnesses. This includes older people and other vulnerable groups including pregnant women, carers and people with certain health conditions.

To apply for a warm home check visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk/keepwarm, text WARM to 80011 or call 0800 464 7307.

More information on how to stay warm and well this winter is available at www.warmeastsussex.org.uk

Beware of rogue traders after stormy weather

With the onset of autumn, residents are being warned to be wary of rogue traders aiming to capitalise on damage caused by seasonal storms.

Wet and windy weather can see damage to properties and gardens which may lead to homeowners receiving cold-calls from bogus traders with offers to repair roofs, clear gutters and remove fallen trees.

East Sussex Trading Standards’ advice is to always say no to cold-callers.

Residents who think work needs to be done due to storm damage should always check with their insurance company first.

Scammers are most likely to target elderly and vulnerable people and will often point out a minor repair job.

Once let into the property, the initial problem will usually escalate into a list of jobs that are typically overpriced, unnecessary and unsafe.

Residents are advised to get at least three quotes from legitimate businesses before making a decision on which trader to use for repairs to their property.

Alternatively, residents are encouraged to obtain recommendations from trusted family members, relatives or friends who have actually had work undertaken, and which can be inspected by the resident.

The Trading Standards approved website www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk can help people find a reputable trader.

If anyone has a contractual dispute or is unhappy with the service they have received they should, in the first instance, contact the Citizens Advice Helpline on 0808 223 1133 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

If residents feel threatened or intimated by a cold caller, they should report it immediately to the police by calling 999. Non-urgent issues can be reported to the police via 101.

 

 

 

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Chailey Repair Cafe -Press Release 2024

CHAILEY REPAIR CAFÉ – MORE THAN 1000 REPAIRS THIS YEAR!!

As we get ready for our final Repair Café of 2024 on 14th December, we are looking forward to our 7th year of repairing your broken stuff. Incredibly, we attempted well over 1000 repairs this year and over 6000 items since we first opened our doors in 2018, when we were one of the very first Repair Cafés in Sussex.

We always get a lot of Christmas tree lights coming in at this time of year – if you have the old-style lights with push in bulbs, we may be able to help with spares, but there are many different types, so at worst we can tell you what to look for and where to find them… And of course, our sharpening team will be busy, as always, at Christmas.  We now have two  state-of-the-art sharpening machines to sort out those knives ready for  the turkey!

Our new posters and flyers with all our 2025 dates are now available at the Café; pick some up and spread the word wherever you live!

The success of Chailey Repair Café has been due in great measure to the support we have received from all of you in the local community – if you didn’t have broken stuff, we’d have nothing to do! We have saved  a lot of things  from finding their  way into landfill as well as providing an opportunity for folks to understand more about what makes their household  items  work!

You’ll find us at St Peter’s Church, Chailey on the A275 at Chailey Green on the second Saturday   of each month (i.e. 14th Dec, 11th Jan, 8th Feb and so on) between 1000hrs and 1300hrs where we’ll have a full Café service including our legendary cakes.

If you’d like to contact us, please email us   at chaileyrc@gmail.com  and  we’ll see what we can do to help.

We look forward to seeing you and your broken stuff very soon and wish you all a happy and successful New Year!

Bryan McAlley and the Chailey Repair Café team

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Traffic Works A275 East Grinstead Road – 13th December 2024

There will be traffic signal works on A275, East Grinstead Road, Chailey. These works are being carried out on 13 December. There may be delays between 10am-2pm.

 

 

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Views sought on waste recycling sites booking

Views are being sought on proposals to introduce a booking system at household waste recycling sites across the county.

The move could reduce queuing at sites, help save East Sussex County Council as much £50,000 a year and help ensure only residents’ waste is being disposed.

The proposals are part of the authority’s work to identify areas where savings can be made to address an expected £55 million funding gap next year.

A consultation opened on Monday, October 28 and will run for eight weeks, closing on Sunday, December 22.

Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said: “Despite saving more than £140 million over the past decade, reductions in funding and increasing demand for services means the county council will have to make some difficult choices in order to balance the budget next year.

“I stress that no decisions have been made, and it is important that councillors have all the information they need to make those decisions when setting the budget for 2025/26.

“We are in a fortunate position to be able to look at the impact booking systems have had in neighbouring authorities, but we also need to understand how any changes will affect East Sussex residents, and I would encourage people to give their feedback during the consultation period.”

The proposal would see the introduction of a booking portal on which residents would be able to book a time to visit one of the county’s 10 household waste recycling sites. Residents will also be able to book via telephone.

As well as helping the county council make much-needed savings, the new system would reduce queuing at busier sites, help stop trade waste being taken to sites and stop people from outside the county using the facilities to which they do not contribute.

Cllr Dowling added: “We know that there are concerns that booking systems could lead to an increase in fly-tipping, but a 2023 report commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) found no evidence of a rise in fly-tipping linked to the introduction of booking schemes, and councils who have implemented scheme have not experienced any increases.

“Feedback and concerns raised during the consultation will be taken into account when councillors make a decision when they come to set the budget in February 2025.”

Anyone wanting to give feedback can do so by visiting https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk where full details of the consultation can be viewed.

 

 

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Chailey Repair Cafe – Dates for 2025

Please see attached the Chailey Repair Cafe meeting dates for 2025 …

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Chailey Repair Cafe – November Press Release

GET READY  FOR CHRISTMAS AT CHAILEY REPAIR CAFÉ!

It happens every year, doesn’t it?  You get the carving knife out to serve the turkey and it’s blunt. You get the Christmas tree lights out and they don’t light up. You put your favourite music  on your vintage CD/vinyl player and it doesn’t work. Fear not – we are open on  9th November and 14th December to help you get things going again. Don’t forget that we also can help with computers and printers which are playing up, as well as repairing  wooden items, ceramics, clothing, cycles and repairing/sharpening those garden tools!

We are now getting seriously busy, with over 100 visitors bringing us 80 repairs to October’s Repair Café, all of which we  tackled in 3 hours.  But please don’t arrive at 1250hrs with a really complicated repair….!

Portable domestic items only please – and, sorry, but no fridges or microwaves. We will try to repair your item while you wait and watch what we do, so you’ll be able to fix it yourself next time!! We do not charge for the service, but invite you to make a donation to support our running costs. There is no need to book – just turn up and we will see you as soon as we can.

You’ll find us at St Peter’s Church, Chailey on the A275 at Chailey Green on the second Saturday   of each month (i.e. 9th Nov, 14th Dec, 11th Jan) between 1000hrs and 1300hrs where we’ll have a full Café service including our legendary cakes.  Not sure if we can fix your item?  Email us   at chaileyrc@gmail.com  and  we’ll see what we can do to help.

See you  soon!!

Bryan McAlley and the Chailey Repair Café team

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Motorists warned to stay alert to avoid deer collisions

October 2024

Motorists warned to stay alert to avoid deer collisions

As the nights draw in, motorists in East Sussex are being urged to be #DeerAware to avoid collisions with animals on rural roads.

There are estimated to be more than 74,000 deer-related traffic collisions across the UK every year, and that risk increases during mating season in October and November.

As part of its #DeerAware campaign, East Sussex County Council is encouraging people to take care in heavily wooded areas or where there are deer warning signs as these are places where deer are most likely to venture out, particularly around dawn and dusk.

Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said: “Collisions with deer can result in injury or death for animals and drivers, and significant damage to vehicles. With plenty of rural roads across the county, I would urge drivers to take extra care this time of year as deer can appear on the roads unexpectedly”

By following some simple tips, we hope that drivers can keep themselves safe and ensure our deer population can roam freely and thrive in our countryside.

Advice to motorists includes:

  • Drivers are advised to use full-beam headlights at night if no other cars are around, as they will reflect the deers’ eyes, but dip their headlights when they see a deer to avoid startling it.
  • Deer often cross the roads in the same locations. Where there are deer warning signs motorists should slow down, stay alert and be prepared to stop.
  • Deer often travel in groups so if drivers see one crossing the road they should slow down and drive with caution as others may follow.

If motorists hit deer, they should park in a safe place with hazard lights on and call 101 (if the deer is on the side of the road and not causing a danger to others) , or 999 if someone is injured or the deer is in the road and a danger to other road users.

More information and advice available at https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roads-transport/roads/road-safety/deer

 

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Message from Andy Mitchell, Countryside Officer, ESCC

The Cattle are now OFF Chailey Commons for the winter – however the Exmoor ponies remain at Red House Common.
Please also report any issues with gates, fences or missing signs to Andy.Mitchell@eastsussex.gov.uk
And a reminder that fly-tipping is dealt with by Lewes District Council along with litter, dog nuisance, car parks or bins – please contact them directly here: https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/report-a-problem/ 
If you see a dead animal on the commons or roads such as a deer please report it here Report a dead animal in the Lewes district – Lewes and Eastbourne Councils (lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk)
Please keep dogs under control so they don’t chase or worry the livestock. Dog fouling remains an issue – and Neospora is a parasite that causes cattle to abort calves. Please clean up after dogs and don’t allow them into the cattle troughs, this water is for drinking only.
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Introducing the Regalettes – Performing at Beechlands Hall, Hamsey, 25th October 2024

The Regalettes, a new comedy by Kate Bramley, with songs and music will be performing at Beechlands Hall, Hamsey on the 25th October. This promises to be an entertaining evening, so please come along and enjoy the event. Tickets are £10 per adult and further details can be found on the attachment.

 

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Chailey Commons Society Event 10th October

Chailey Commons Society will be holding an evening talk, called The Lost Woods Project by Michael Blencowe,  this will take place at Chailey Village Hall on Thursday 10th October at 7.30 p.m.

Please do come along if you can, it promises to be an interesting talk by a very knowledgeable and engaging speaker.