The Census Field Officers have now started working. They will be calling at people’s homes from whom we have not received a completed census.  That should avoid anyone who completed theirs online on Census Day and if one is still in the post the officer will annotate the record and not call back until time has passed for that form to be received and processed.  They will not be completing forms there and then with householders – they will observe social distancing and never enter a house – but will be able to offer a wide range of support and advice, including arranging for replacement unique access codes, paper forms if they are needed and answering specific questions.  They will also be able to point householders towards sources of help to actually complete the census with people who are struggling to do so themselves.

For those who need help and support there are a range of resources:-

• There’s the Census contact centre which can be contacted on 0800 141 2021 (or text via 86677) or 0800 587 2021 for those who need language support, Both are freephone numbers.
• There’s a lot of information at https://census.gov.uk/.  There isn’t a search function but it is logically arranged and the guidance is very clear.  I’ve been able to find answers to almost all my questions there.
• Text relay service: (08001) 0800 141 2021
• Census Support Centres. There are number situated in libraries within Adur, Worthing, Chichester and Arun districts, as well as one in Crawley, all currently operating on a booking system. Unfortunately there are none in either Horsham or Mid Sussex. You can  find you nearest one via the Census website or by calling 0800 141 2021

The Nature Recovery Award has been set up by the Sussex Wildlife Trust in partnership with the Council’s Wilder Horsham District project. The fund is available to support landowners and community groups wishing to put in place practical schemes to expand and improve networks for wildlife across the Horsham District landscape.  Applicants can apply for funding for a project of up to £5000. 

Applications should be submitted midnight on Sunday 23 May 

Read more about the Award: https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/get-involved/community-projects/wilder-horsham/nature-recovery-award

Horsham Town Community Partnership (HTCP) have planned a celebration Walk to mark the end of lockdown as is to begin at 10.00am on Saturday 11th September 2021.

The Walk will start and finish at New House Farm, in Old Crawley Road, where the owner is allowing cars to park there. The farm is very conveniently on the route of the 13-mile circular Walk around the town. HTCP will be walking the route in a clockwise direction. More details are to follow. 

It is not expected that everyone will walk the total length and to help, a free mini bus will wait at agreed points to transport walkers back to the car park.

COVID: the walk is subject to any Government advice and restrictions that may apply at the time.

The Riverside Walk is open all year round and a great many residents have been using it for their allowed exercise during lockdown. Maps and information can be seen on HTCP website: www.horsham.community/riverside-walk/

Relate North and South West Sussex continue to provide counselling for all relationships.  All counselling is currently by telephone or via Zoom. Their service supports couples, families, individuals, and young people from the age of fourteen. Relate also provides psychosexual therapy for people who might be experiencing sexual problems in their relationship.

Their counselling service is offered in the districts of Horsham and Chichester, as well as Crawley, East Grinstead, and the villages surrounding these towns.

It is nearly a year since the pandemic began and they are aware that social distancing and the necessary lockdowns have had an impact on relationships.  Job losses and living with long-term uncertainty have also impacted on well-being. They are also aware that uncertainty regarding education and employment have increased anxiety and stress amongst young people. Relate counsellors provide a supportive environment to help people through the difficulties they may be facing.

Relate offer a subsidy scheme, based on income. Please contact their Reception Team on 07423 147915 for more information.

Website: https://www.relate.org.uk/sussex

News release from West Sussex County Council – 17 March 2021

Work starts soon on major Horsham highway improvement project

As part of West Sussex County Council’s ongoing commitment to improving traffic capacity on the highway, major improvement work starts soon at the A24 Robin Hood roundabout junction in Horsham.
The project will start on 6 April, subject to factors such as severe weather. In the first stage there will be lane closures on the A24 so that street lighting and traffic signal ducts can be installed, followed by night-time closures between the Great Daux and Farthings Hill roundabouts: this is so temporary traffic management measures can be introduced.
Details on this and future stages will be available on the project page at http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/a24-robin-hood-junction . Residents and other road users can also subscribe to regular email updates by emailing robinhoodroundabout@landbuild.co.uk
A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused during the works but please bear in mind this project will lead to long-term improvements.
“We are liaising with the project team working on Legal and General’s nearby Land North of Horsham project to try to minimise the impact on traffic in the area as much as possible.”
The Robin Hood junction improvements include:
• widening the A24 northbound, from two lanes to three
• widening the A24 southbound, from two lanes to four
• widening the exit from Warnham Road on to the roundabout
• traffic signal control on the A24 approaches and on the Warnham Road, with traffic signal control on the roundabout
• provision of a signalised ‘Toucan’ crossing across the Northbound exit of the A24 (towards A24 Great Daux)
• improved footway and cycleway connection, Warnham Road to Robin Hood Lane and the Public Right of Way.
Benefits of the scheme include:
• providing increased road capacity at the junction to allow for increased traffic due to local developments and through traffic;
• the provision of traffic lights with sensors, which adjust signal timings according to queuing levels to help ease congestion – these will be on signalled approaches (not Robin Hood Lane) and will help manage flows in the peak and off-peak periods;
• new crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists linking Warnham Park and the Public Right of Way with Warnham Road via new Toucan crossings.
The project is scheduled to be completed in mid-Autumn 2021.