“Essential site preparation works will begin next week at Horsham Enterprise Park in Wimblehurst Road, Horsham.

The works, being carried out by Axio (Special Works) Limited, are due to be completed in five months’ time.

This will allow for early commencement of the commercial phases of the scheme to begin in spring 2021.

Preparatory work taking place on site includes disposal of building waste, maintenance and internal strip out of the central buildings, ground preparation, tree root protection and putting up perimeter hoardings.

Jeremy Hunt, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “The site works starting next week are a big step forward in the development of Horsham Enterprise Park and have been planned to facilitate early commencement of the first phase of commercial development early next year.

“It remains important to us, especially in these very hard and unpredictable times, that we make sure we support our local economies to help them grow and thrive as we move into a ‘new normal’ and that we build on Horsham’s long-established position as a major centre for high-value employment.”

The Park will deliver a high quality mixed commercial and residential scheme to boost the local economy by providing new homes and high value jobs.

The main features of the outline Horsham Enterprise Park development are:

• 25,000 square metres of employment space – such as offices and research and development use – on two-thirds of the site, including a new enterprise hub or collaborative workspace for micro and small businesses.
• Up to 300 new homes on one-third of the site in a range of sizes, types and tenures, including provision of 35 per cent affordable housing.
• Community facilities for shopping and other services.”

Message from Legal & General’s Community Liaison Team:

“A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order was recently published for a closure on Rusper Road, no right turns and temporary speed limits on the A264. However, we wanted to clarify that Rusper Road south will not be closed for 10-18 months as the Order suggested.

The Order is worded to allow for works to take place within an 18-month period, rather than for the entirety of it. The construction programme is currently anticipated to be around 10 months, and we are working closely with West Sussex County Council and NATTA, our appointed contractor, to agree how these works will be managed with as little disruption as possible. However, Rusper Road south will be closed for approximately 15 weeks. 

We will continue to keep you up to date as the programme for these works progresses. A programme of work will be published in partnership with West Sussex County Council in the next couple of weeks. We will endeavour to give as much notice as possible for road closures, which will always be minimum of 2 weeks, and we will also be notifying the local emergency services to ensure they are all aware of the closure in advance.  

These works are taking place now in order to support the opening of Bohunt School in December 2021 by delivering major utility connections to the school site and wider development, along with providing safe access for pedestrians and cyclists from the south.”

WSCC online services will be disrupted this weekend (13 – 16 November) while essential electrical testing is carried out.

The testing will begin at 7pm on Friday 13 November, with all council IT systems expected to be up and running again as normal by 7am on Monday 16 November.

Any urgent updates about COVID-19 will be shared on their social media pages – Twitter @WSCCNews & Facebook @WestSussexCC.

Other service information will be available over the weekend on their back-up website at westsussexcountycouncil.blogspot.co.uk.

The following emergency contact numbers will also be available:

• COVID-19 Community Hub – 07784 217238*
• Children’s Social Care – 07711 769657*
• Adults Social Care – 07711 559887*
• Mental Health Support – 07523 945943
• Highways – 01243 642105
• Street Lighting – 0800 0482435.

        *For this weekend only.

‘Local Outbreak Engagement Board meets to hear latest COVID developments

The Local Outbreak Engagement Board (LOEB) has met to discuss further steps in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in West Sussex.

The group, which includes representatives from the County Council, District and Borough Councils, NHS and health professionals, heard the latest case numbers and infection rate in West Sussex which was 98.3 per 100,000 in the seven days between 28 October and 3 November.

Amanda Jupp, Chairman of the LOEB and the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, reiterated the continuing need for residents to follow government guidance as we move through the second lockdown.

She said: “While our rates locally are below the national average, cases have been rising over the last few weeks and there is still widespread community transmission throughout the county.

“It is vitally important that we look after ourselves as well as each other and ensure that we do not become complacent.

“We need to do all we can to slow the spread and keep West Sussex safe so please continue to wash your hands regularly, maintain social distancing and wear face coverings.”

Face coverings should be worn when in public indoor spaces, in line with government guidelines, unless you are exempt due to an age, health or disability reason. People are also reminded that visors are not a replacement and that face coverings should meet the standards on the government website.

The LOEB also received an update on the response to COVID, including the work of the Community Hub. The Hub is open seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm, to help those who need practical aid and support during the pandemic.

The Hub has received in the region of 55,000 inbound calls and online support request forms, made nearly 40,000 outbound calls and delivered more than 3,000 urgent food parcels across the county.

You can find more information about the Community Hub and request support online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/covid19communityhub or call 033 022 27980 to speak to someone.

The meeting also heard the latest news on the Keep West Sussex Safe campaign, which calls on people to regularly wash their hands, maintain social distancing, wear face coverings when required and to self-isolate immediately and get tested if they develop symptoms which include a new continuous cough, a high temperature and/or a loss of or change in your sense of taste and smell.

Local businesses, organisations, communities and services can download and share campaign material including posters and social media assets to promote these messages and encourage others to keep West Sussex safe and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Follow us on Facebook @WestSussexCC and Twitter @WSCCNews for updates and sign-up for our COVID-19 newsletter at www.westsussex.gov.uk/coronavirus to receive the latest information about our response to the pandemic. WSCC is also now on Nextdoor, the app designed with communities in mind. Follow the link and join the conversation at https://nextdoor.co.uk/agency-detail/england/west-sussex/west-sussex-council/‘