News

Get Smart About Reporting Faults

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Love West SussexSpotted a pothole?  Noticed a fallen tree, flooding or damaged street sign?

Now there is a simple, quick and efficient way to report these sorts of problems to West Sussex County Council – either online or via your smartphone.

‘Love West Sussex’ is designed to make it easier for people to report their concerns regarding the environment and roads – and to keep track of their complaint.

You are now able to show them where the problem is in three easy steps:

  1. Take a photo
  2. Check the location (detected for you automatically by GPS)
  3. Pick a report category, and submit your photo.

Your report is then sent to the relevant department.  If you sign up to receive updates you will get an acknowledgment that they have received it and they will let you know when the problem is resolved.  You will also be able to track the progress of every other reported fault across the West Sussex network through the website.  Other street scene problems you can report include overgrown vegetation, missing or cracked kerbs and broken paving slabs.

People who do not have access to the internet can still call 01243 642105.  For more information visit https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-a-problem-with-a-road-or-pavement/#report-problems-online.

Preparing For Wintry Weather

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With memories of the floods that devastated much of the county in ‘Monsoon June’ still fresh in our minds, here are some ideas for things you can do now to ensure you are ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at us!

Health And Wellbeing

  • Get your flu jab.  If you are over 65, in an ‘at risk’ group, a carer, or are pregnant, you can get a free seasonal flu vaccination.  Book through your GP.
  • Take action to stay warm.  You may qualify for a Cold Weather payment if you are on certain benefits.
  • Check that your electric blanket meets safety standards.
  • Make sure you have sufficient supplies of food and basic necessities.  Book WSCC Meals on Wheels service.  It provides hot and frozen meals with free home delivery.
  • Find out if you have any elderly or poorly neighbours.  They may need a visit and extra help.

Protecting Your Home

  • Clear your drains and gutters, and ditches if they are your responsibility.
  • Check pipes are lagged to prevent them bursting and know how to turn your water supply off.
  • Find out about heating and insulation grants to help you stay warm.
  • Get your boiler serviced by a Buy with Confidence Approved trader.
  • Make sure you have carbon monoxide and smoke alarms and that all are working and buy spare batteries for the alarms and torches.
  • Buy a snow shovel, a supply of sand or grit and – if your home is in a flood risk area – some sandbags.  All tend to be in short supply when bad weather hits.
  • Prepare an emergency bag in case you or your family have to move elsewhere at short notice.
  • Move irreplaceable items like photos from the ground floor where they could be ruined by flooding.
  • Sweep your chimneys.

Out And About

  • Ensure you and your vehicle are prepared for the weather, following the latest travel advice before you head off.
  • Help your community by volunteering.
  • There are misconceptions about health and safety laws getting in the way of action and volunteering.  We need the Big Society most in times of adversity, when communities have to pull together.

Feeling Inspired By Sport?

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Multi CourtsHave you been inspired by the various sporting events this past Summer?

Enjoyed the spectacle of the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, or the triumphs of Andy Murray winning Olympic Gold and his first major tournament at the US Open?

If so the Parish Council has two Multi Courts that are available for hire and can be used for both football and tennis as well as netball.  The courts are well used during weekday evenings but there are a few time slots still available as the new football season gets under way.

There is also availability during the daytime for both weekdays and weekends for the more casual game of football or tennis.

For more information, or to make a booking either call the Parish Office on 01403 750786 or email hall.bookings@northhorsham-pc.gov.uk

Fly-Tipping – Spot It, Stop It

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Letting someone take your rubbish away when you don’t know what they are going to do with it isn’t the answer.  It is illegal to get rid of waste using an unlicensed waste carrier and you could be committing a duty of care offence.  Should your items later be fly-tipped, you may be held responsible and could face prosecution or a fixed penalty notice of up to £300.

Only holders of an Environment Agency Waste Management License can recover, transport, deposit, or dispose of waste at officially authorised sites.  If you are unsure, you should ask:

  • If they are registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency;
  • Where your rubbish is being taken; and,
  • For a signed receipt with their carrier registration number and vehicle registration number.

If they can’t answer your questions or provide the paperwork, they may be getting rid of your waste illegally.  You can also check the Environment Agency’s website to see if they have a license and find out more at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/40047.aspx.

New Green Deal May Help Residents Create Energy Efficient Homes

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When the Government’s new Green Deal launches, it may enable tenants and homeowners to carry out improvements to their homes to make them more energy efficient, more comfortable and cheaper to run but without the need to pay for the work upfront.

Under the Green Deal, homeowners will employ an authorised assessor to carry out an energy assessment on their home.  The assessor will identify work that can be carried out to improve the energy performance of their home and the work is then carried out through a Green Deal provider and installer.

The homeowner will pay for the improvements over time through their electricity bill, at a level which will be no greater then the estimated savings to their energy bills. If the house is sold, the Green Deal stays with the property and the repayments pass to the new bill payer.

To help local builders and architects understand more about how the Green Deal works, Sussex Building Control – in partnership with the South East Centre for the Built Environment (SECBE) – is running a half day workshop on Wednesday 3rd October at the Civic Hall in Crawley from 9am -1pm.

James Walker from B&Q’s eco innovation team will provide an overview of the Green Deal, Sussex Building Control will take his audience through case studies of retrofit properties and Julian Carter from SECBE will host a question and answer session which will help to demystify the Green Deal. This event will be of interest to architects, planners, consultants, surveyors, designers and builders who carry out refurbishments to existing homes.

For a copy of the programme or for more information please email vanessa.good@horsham.gov.uk

Sussex Building Control helps hundreds of local residents complete structurally safe and energy efficient projects each year. Please visit http://www.horsham.gov.uk/environment/BuildingControl.aspx to find out more. Alternatively call 01403 215151.