RUBBISH and recycling collections will be affected in some parts of Crawley over Christmas and New Year.

Crawley Borough Council tries to minimise the disruption as much as possible.

This year, residents whose collections are normally on a Monday or Friday will have different collection days over the Christmas period.

Councillor Keith Blake, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “The council tries to implement a fair system so that the smallest possible number of neighbourhoods are affected. The alternative would be to change everyone’s collection days, and for a longer period of time.

“For the past three years the system we’ve used means only residents whose normal collection falls on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (or the bank holiday following these days) will see changes.”

All residents should have now received the council’s Christmas mailing card advising them of both refuse and recycling collection changes over the holiday period.

More rubbish is produced over the festive period and the council urges people to recycle as much as possible.

Glass, cans, plastic bottles, wrapping paper, boxes and greeting cards can all be recycled in your REDtop bins; but please don’t put these in plastic bags.

There is often a lot of food waste created over Christmas and people are advised to double wrap it. Refuse should be stored in garages or covered areas where possible to prevent wildlife tearing open rubbish bags.

Collections may not be made at the usual time of day during the holidays, so please ensure your rubbish and recycling container(s) are at the edge of your property, clearly visible by 7.15am on your collection day. All collections return to normal from Monday, January 4.

To find out when your rubbish and recycling will be collected over Christmas and New Year refer to the mailing sent to your home or visit www.crawley.gov.uk Alternatively call: 0800 5875 888 or 01293 438000

WEST Sussex County Council Leader Henry Smith is backing a Crawley Borough Council motion to seek government funding to enable the building of a new fire station in the town to go-ahead as soon as possible.

He has written to John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, urging the Government to make West Sussex a special case for additional capital grant so the Fire Station can be built.

This echoes a motion passed last night (Wednesday December 16) by the Borough Council.

Henry’s letter to the Secretary of State said: “The recent local government grant settlement for West Sussex continues to remain at the minimum possible level, which in turn continues to have a serious impact on this County Council’s ability to fund infrastructure requirements.

“The continued low levels of grant settlement which this county has received over the last eight years is now having a detrimental effect on the county’s ability to replace an aging building stock, particularly amongst our Fire and Rescue Service infrastructure, much of which was built decades ago and is in now in need of replacement.

“By way of an example, we need to replace the existing Crawley Fire Station, which is obsolete, and to rebuild on a site that optimises our fire and rescue cover in the north of the county.”

Henry added today (Thursday December 17) that this was the second approach made to Government for funding saying:

“We previously asked the government for Public Finance Initiative funding to build the new Crawley Fire Station but this was rejected by the Minister,” he said.

CHRISTMAS shoppers are being urged to make sure they get festive value for money by knowing their consumer rights.

The call comes from West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Service as part of the Know Your Consumer Rights campaign, which was launched nationwide earlier this year.

The key rules highlighted by the campaign are:

· Goods must fit the description given.
· Goods must be of satisfactory quality.
· Goods must be fit for purpose.

West Sussex Trading Standards is underlining the message this week by displaying posters and making leaflets available in all West Sussex Libraries.

It has also teamed up with Pam Gregory, a consumer rights expert with the Trading Standards Institute, to answers some common festive queries:

Question: Do I have the same rights if I buy something in the sales?

Pam Gregory: Yes. If something is faulty, doesn’t fit the description or is not fit for purpose then it doesn’t matter if it was full price or in the sale – you are entitled to your money back.

Q: What if I’ve changed my mind about something I’ve bought or have received an unwanted gift?

PG: It is up to the individual store whether they want to take back an item or unwanted gifts. My advice is check with the retailer when you buy the gift and consider asking for a gift receipt.

Q: Do I have any rights if I buy from the internet?

PG: You actually have additional rights. You have a ‘cooling off’ period of seven days, unless the gift is custom made. During this time, any order can be cancelled or returned and they must give you a full refund.

Q: If my new gadget breaks on Boxing Day who should give me a refund – the manufacturer or the retailer?

PG: When you buy something your contract is with the retailer and not the manufacturer. If the goods are not up to scratch, it is the retailer who should give you a refund, a replacement or repair the item.

Q: What protection is there for credit card purchases?

PG: If you use a credit card to buy goods or services costing more than £100 and up to £30,000, you may be protected under the Consumer Credit Act.

This says the credit card company is equally liable for any breach of contract. That means they can claim from the trader or the credit card company if a problem arises.

Q: How can I find out more about my rights?

PG: The Government-funded Consumer Direct should be your first port of call for practical help with how to complain.

For more information go to www.consumerdirect.gov.uk or call the helpline 08454 04 05 06.

There’s also a quiz on the website where you can test your knowledge of consumer rights and win £150 of shopping vouchers.

Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “If you are aware of your rights, you are much more likely to get a fair deal, save money and get the right result.

“This is especially important at Christmas when most people are spending money both on gifts and in the sales.”

A TOP 10 of festive fire safety tips has been drawn up by West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service as part of a nationwide Christmas campaign, which EastEnders actress Jill Halfpenny is spearheading.

Called ‘Don’t Drown In Toxic Smoke’, the campaign highlights how toxic smoke can affect the human body. A sleeping couple are shown being overcome by the drowning sensation of toxic smoke when a fire breaks out in their home at night.

Jackie Boyle, Community Fire Safety Officer, said: “People underestimate the deadly strength of toxic smoke and overestimate how long they have to escape if a fire breaks out.

“The reality is that just two to three breaths of smoke in a fire can render a person unconscious.

“The risk of fire in the home is an all year round issue. But people are especially vulnerable at Christmas for a range of reasons – from unsafe electrical decorations, unattended candles through to cooking while drunk.”

The Top 10 tips are:

1 Ensure you have a working smoke alarm on all levels of your home – test it weekly and never remove the batteries to power presents!

2 Don’t leave cooking unattended and avoid cooking when drunk – remember most fires start in the kitchen. 

3 Never leave candles unattended – keep decorations, cards and wrapping paper well away from lights, heaters, fires and candles.

4 Switch off your fairy lights – unplug them before you go to bed or leave the house and check they conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598). 

5 Always use an RCD (residual current device) on any outdoor electrical equipment.

6 Don’t overload sockets – use one plug per socket and turn off plugs when not in use.

7 Fully extinguish your cigarettes – and don’t smoke in bed. Put it out, right out.

8 Check on any older neighbours or relatives – they are at much greater risk from fire.

9 Call in the experts – West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service offers a free home fire safety check to identify potential risk, offer advice and install a smoke alarm where needed.

10  In the event of a fire: get out, stay out and call 999. 

Jill Halfpenny said: “As a mum I am very conscious of trying to keep my home as safe as possible to reduce the risks from fire.

BIG CHANGES are set for Bewbush after work started on the impressive new Bewbush Centre.

The Mayor, Brenda Burgess, and Councillor Lenny Walker, Lead Member on the Bewbush regeneration project, joined councillors, council officers and children from Bewbush Primary school on Thursday to celebrate the start of work.

(L-R) Brooke, Mayor Brenda Burgess and Brandon

Construction of the £5 million building marks the beginning of the final phase of regeneration and is set for completion in the autumn (2010).

The new community hub will boast a health and fitness suite, a youth zone, café, two halls, meeting rooms, a base for community policing and a scrap store.

Councillor Lenny Walker, Mayor Brenda Burgess, Brooke, Mia and Brandon

Mayor, Brenda Burgess, said: “I’m really excited to be here today which marks the beginning of work on this fantastic new building. The building will bring so many benefits which will add to the community spirit which is already so apparent in Bewbush.”

This final phase of the neighbourhood’s regeneration will also bring improvements to the pavement, a new car park, new toilet, new recycling point and better access and parking for the primary school.

Artist impression of the new Bewbush Centre

Bewbush has already seen the completion of the Breezehurst Community Pavilion, pocket Park, and the first ever purpose built Parkour area.

Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture and the lead member on the Bewbush Regeneration Project, said: “It’s going to be absolutely brilliant and will make a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of the community.

“The one thing I think is most notable throughout this regeneration process is the overwhelming sense of community. Local people have played such a great part in shaping the project, and therefore the future of their environment; they should be proud of their fantastic achievement.”

Contractors working on the site, Willmott Dixon, have consulted all the local shop owners to ensure the least possible disruption to the area over the coming months. All the shops will remain open during construction and the original car park will continue to be used.

People in Crawley are more satisfied with their leisure facilities than nearly anywhere else in the country, according to a major Sport England survey.

Only six local authorities in the country have higher satisfaction rates than Crawley. The town has 79.3 per cent of adults very or fairly satisfied with the sports provision in Crawley, up 1.4 per cent on last year. The national average is 69.2 per cent.

Sport England questioned at least 400 residents in each of the 354 local authority areas in England. More than 150,000 adults answered the Active People Survey.

Crawley Council’s leisure facilities, which include the state-of-the-art K2 Crawley leisure centre, the 3G community football pitch in Broadfield, the Skate Park in Southgate and Tilgate Golf Centre, ensured residents’ satisfaction levels were high.

Sporting participation has also risen 4.3 per cent to 19.3 per cent in the past year. This is lower than the national average of 22 per cent.

Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, said: “Crawley has many fantastic sport and leisure facilities, of which we are justifiably proud.

“I’m pleased with the satisfaction figures but also with the participation figures. They are not high enough but it is certainly a big step in the right direction. This rise is thanks to our great facilities as well as our Active Crawley Team encouraging more and more people to use them.

“These results show that the investment made in state-of-the-art developments like K2 Crawley and the 3G pitch meets the needs of Crawley residents.”

THIRTEEN young people attended a graduation ceremony with a difference – it was held at Crawley Fire Station to mark their successful completion of a 10-week FireBreak course.

They demonstrated to family and friends a range of new skills gained on the course, which is led by local firefighters.

The FireBreak scheme is run by West Sussex County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service. It is supported by all Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships across West Sussex.

The scheme offers young people the opportunity to take part in a learning experience outside the school environment.

Students attend a Fire Station for one day per week over the course of the programme, taking part in a structured, disciplined programme of events, which combines practical training with classroom-based workshops.

Henry Smith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said the students are encouraged to develop personal and social skills by taking part in fire service drills, a variety of individual challenges and team building activities.

“Students are nominated to attend the FireBreak course because their schools believe they will benefit from this unique opportunity,” he said.

“A great deal of emphasis is placed on team building activities in order to develop a sense of pride, individual confidence and self-esteem,” said Henry.

The students came from:

· Holy Trinity C of E Secondary School, Crawley.
· Imberhorne School, East Grinstead.
· Oriel High School, Crawley.
· St Wilfrids School. Crawley.
· Thomas Bennett Community College, Crawley.
· Sackville School, East Grinstead.
· Muntham House, Horsham.
· Tanbridge House School, Horsham

The students received certificates from Lee Neale, Assistant County Fire Officer. A number of them received an additional award to recognise their outstanding individual progress or their contribution to the team.

Henry added: “FireBreak is one of a number of schemes run by our firefighters for young people throughout West Sussex. Everyone who graduated can be extremely proud of their achievement, which is also a reflection of the commitment of their instructors.”

West Sussex County Council has been chosen as a pilot for the Conservative Party’s ‘Green Deal’ scheme, should they win next year’s General Election.

The ‘Green Deal’ would be piloted by 14 local councils and the Mayor of London and would give households the chance to have home energy efficiency improvements of up to £6,500 with no upfront costs.

This would save money on the household energy bill immediately. The money would be paid back over 25 years through the energy bill.

West Sussex Leader Henry Smith said: “I am delighted West Sussex has been chosen as a pilot for this scheme, which would be provided at no cost to the County Council.

“The County Council is known for being at the forefront of sustainability, and the fact we have been chosen as an area for the pilot scheme, should the Conservatives win the next General Election, is potentially good news for all residents.

“The ‘Green Deal’ would provide major benefits for residents by helping them save energy and money in their household, while adding to the wider picture of helping our environment and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.”

Residents who took part in the West Sussex 10% Challenge have saved tonnes of carbon dioxide and thousands of litres of water between them. 

The Challenge, which encouraged residents to reduce energy by 10 percent, has now come to an end.

Now, the County Council has pledged its support to the national 10:10 climate change campaign. This urges all UK residents to reduce their carbon emissions by a further 10 percent in 2010.

West Sussex was one of the first local authorities to sign up to the national campaign when it was launched earlier this year. Since then almost 50,000 UK residents, nearly 2,000 businesses and more than 1,200 schools and colleges have signed up.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart said: “I’d like to thank everyone who signed up to and took part in our 10% Challenge.

“I’m asking all residents and businesses to consider signing up to 10:10 and committing to reduce their carbon footprint by 10 percent in 2010. Why not make it your new year’s resolution?”

More than 1,000 people signed up to the West Sussex 10% Challenge. Based on the pledges made, the Challenge saved 149 tonnes of carbon dioxide, equal to 530 individual return flights from the UK, and 59,184 litres of water, equivalent to the daily use of 400 West Sussex residents.

Deborah added: “The results from the 10% Challenge show how a number of people committing to some simple changes can mean big emissions savings.

“There’s been a lot in the news recently on climate change. One thing’s for certain, cutting down on energy use will help you financially, not a bad thing when we’re all cutting back during the recession.”

To find out more about the 10:10 campaign and to pledge your support, visit the website at www.1010uk.org.

A top award for disabled sports people has been sponsored by West Sussex County Council.

The Sussex Sports Awards were presented last Friday November 13. The County Council sponsored the West Sussex – Ahead of the Game Disabled Sports Personality of the Year Award.

The winner of the award was Sascha Kindred, who has strong connections to the Crawley area. Sascha has excelled as a Paralympic swimmer, and his most recent achievement was winning three gold medals at the European Championships.

He has won more than 350 medals, breaking many British, European and world records, and he received an OBE in 2009.

Earlier this year, Sascha attended London 2012 Open Weekend events in Crawley, Steyning, Horsham and Worthing, to mark the three-year countdown to the Games.

County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart said: “Sponsoring the award is part of our commitment to disability sport through West Sussex – Ahead of the Game.

“West Sussex – Ahead of the Game is our countywide initiative to help the county make the most of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, through sport and culture, education and skills, and opportunities for businesses.”

County Council Leader Henry Smith said: “Congratulations to Sascha and to everyone who received an award on the night. The London 2012 Games are less than 1,000 days away and there is every chance that some of those who have won awards will be representing their country at the Games.”

The awards ceremony is organised by the Sussex County Sports Partnership, and is now in its sixth year. It rewards sporting talent from across Sussex.

To find out more about the awards and to see all the winners visit www.sussexsport.org. For further information about West Sussex – Ahead of the Game, visit www.westsussex-aheadofthegame.com.

Funding from West Sussex councils means the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) will continue to provide extra debt support and advice for the county’s residents.

The CABs received an additional £100,000 for debt counselling from West Sussex County Council earlier this year under ‘Keep West Sussex Working’, the initiative to help the county’s residents and businesses through the recession.

To enable the CABs to continue to give extra debt advice and support over the winter months, a number of West Sussex councils have provided funding for a further six months.

County Council Leader Henry Smith said: “The cash injection to the CABs has helped more than 2,700 residents across West Sussex so far. The extra funding will prove particularly useful over the winter months when the need for debt advice can increase with higher energy bills and the expense of Christmas.”

The additional funding for debt advisors is coming from West Sussex County Council, Arun and Mid Sussex District Councils, and Worthing Borough Council.

Crawley Borough Council is helping to fund an ‘advice shop’ in the town providing a wide range of assistance, Chichester District Council is funding additional support for people facing court proceedings over debt and Horsham District Council is funding additional support for people with housing problems.

Henry said: “The West Sussex councils are working together to streamline the way they fund legal advice for our residents from April 2010.

“The actions being taken now are an early example of our coordinated approach. All local authorities are facing financial pressures, but I am pleased we have been able to provide extra assistance to residents who need help with financial and legal matters during these difficult times.”

Looking after the environment is a walk in the park in West Sussex – the County Council has scored one of the top marks in an annual national survey.

West Sussex County Council is required to report to a new a Government body on all nature conservation sites and regionally important geological sites.

Of the 340 sites in the county, almost 60% were measured as very well looked after, giving one of the highest scores in the South East region.

Deborah Urquhart, County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “This score highlights the long-term commitment and hard work that has been given to supporting these sites and their owners by the County Council.

“We must thank the organisations that form a strong partnership across the county, including District and Borough councils, Natural England, The Sussex Wildlife Trust, local groups and the many volunteers.  We also recognise the dedication of Ben Rainbow, the Council’s Assistant Ecologist who leads this area of work.”

Examples of good management on these sites include traditional coppicing in woodland, hay cutting old meadows and grazing flower-rich chalk downland – to encourage particular species of flowers to grow on the chalky soils of the South Downs.
 
Deborah added: “We must continue to work hard to sustain and enhance our county’s wildlife to build on this figure. We have a lot of challenges to face in this area now and in the future.”

Nearly 90 companies from across West Sussex are reaping the rewards of a County Council event.

Since the last ‘Meet The Buyers’ event in Crawley, West Sussex firms have already achieved more than £175,000 additional turnover as a result. 

Latest projections are that nearly one million pounds worth of business will be negotiated by next June, with one Crawley company expecting £250,000 of new revenue from leads generated at the event.

Henry Smith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “During these tough economic times it is great to see businesses in West Sussex doing their best to forge ahead. 

“By working together firms in West Sussex are helping guarantee jobs and prosperity.”

At the ‘Meet The Buyer’ events, those involved in procurement have ready-made ‘market’ stands and the sellers go to them for a pre-booked introductory meeting.  This ensures potential suppliers know they are talking to decision makers.

As well as taking part in the Meet The Buyer event, companies attending were offered, as part of the Keep West Sussex Working scheme, free business reviews by Business Link Sussex. 

Attendees are also being invited to special workshops so they can learn how to become involved in the opportunities presented by the 2012 Olympics.

“It really does pay to go to ‘Meet The Buyer’ events,” Henry added.

The West Sussex Safer Routes to School & Travelwise team can walk tall after scooping top prizes at national award ceremonies.

The County Council’s Staff Travel Plan won the ‘Commuter Friendly Workplace of the Year’ award at the ACT Travelwise awards ceremony last week in Newcastle.

Highly commended accolades went to the Council’s Walk To School campaign in the Marketing category, and to Team Leader Ian Patrick in the School Travel Planner nominations.
 
ACT Travelwise is the UK’s premier network for all organisations working to promote sustainable travel.  It aims to raise awareness to individuals, businesses and schools on how they can help in reducing pollution and congestion caused by cars.

Travelwise in West Sussex aims to promote the benefits of using more environmentally friendly methods of transport, including cycling, walking, public transport and car sharing.

The Staff Travel Plan also won the Grey Fleet Champion award at the Energy Saving Trust’s ‘Fleet Hero Award’ ceremony. This was a further recognition of the work done to reduce car travel to work and to encourage staff to use ‘greener’ ways of travelling on business.

The awards celebrate organisations that implement innovative and energy-efficient, policies.

Derek Whittington, County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “Congratulations to the Travelwise team, and to all staff and individuals who make the effort to reduce their car travel to work.

“At the heart of Travelwise is the belief is that making relatively small changes in the way we travel or access services can have a big impact on traffic congestion, local air quality, and global warming.

“Not only does the team try to promote more environmentally friendly travel, but also highlight that by cycling or walking to school or work is much healthier too.

“The team and County Council will continue to promote its messages and help improve sustainable travel choice.”

For more information visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/travelwise

More than 1,000 West Sussex businesses have signed up to compete for London 2012 business contracts.

They have registered on CompeteFor, the website where London 2012 Games-related contract opportunities are published.

Of those signed up, more than half have completed the full registration process and are ready to bid for contracts.

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart said: “West Sussex – Ahead of the Game is the countywide initiative to help residents and businesses make the most of the London 2012 Games.

“There are more than 7,000 contracts on offer for the Games, for businesses of all sizes, and there’s no reason why more West Sussex businesses shouldn’t be bidding for those contracts.”

The latest round of contracts to go on the CompeteFor website are for catering suppliers for the 2012 Games, which has committed to serving the ‘best of British food’ during the Games.

West Sussex – Ahead of the Game is working with Business Link Sussex to support businesses to find out what contracts are on offer and to be ready to bid for them. A number of free workshops have been held this year to support businesses and more are planned.

Businesses should visit the London 2012 Business Network website for details on current and future opportunities, and information on how to register on CompeteFor and sign up for business e-alerts. The website is www.london2012.com.

For further information on forthcoming 2012 business workshops contact Business Link on 0845 600 9006, or visit the website at www.southeast2012events.co.uk.

Crawley Borough Councillors have recommended savings of £670,000 for 2010/11 after asking residents what their priorities are.

Councillors on the Budget Advisory Group (BAG) met for the final time on Thursday evening (December 3) to put forward their recommendations on savings and growth options for the next financial year.

This is an important part of the annual budget process, which began with the council asking 250 residents about possible budget options.

One of the savings proposals put forward by many residents was a change to the programme mix at The Hawth, moving towards a higher ratio of commercial productions bringing in more income. The BAG has recommended a £50,000 increase in The Hawth’s income for next year.

Residents also indicated that they would like to see parks and open spaces improved and a growth proposal was put forward for £110,000 to be added to the tree maintenance budget. This also follows recommendations of the Trees Scrutiny Panel earlier this year.

Other savings will come from better management of the new community facilities in Bewbush, a management restructure in the Venture Play Service and various internal restructures and general running costs.

The BAG also earmarked a further saving of £100,000 for 2011/12.

Councillor Sally Blake, Chair of the BAG, said: “I’m delighted that residents played such a major role in identifying savings and helping the council to understand what residents want.

“They have helped inform decisions as to how the council spends its money in the next financial year.”

The recommendations from the BAG go to Cabinet on January 13 2010. Final decisions on the 2010/11 Budget will be agreed by the Cabinet on February 10 2010 and by the Full Council on February 24 2010.

If you have any comments or questions on the BAG call 01293 438263 or email finance@crawley.gov.uk

Crawley Borough Council’s work to improve Ifield Parade has started.

The improvements will be carried out in four phases to make life easier for traders, shoppers and residents.

The first phase will see the majority of paving slabs replaced, new seating and cycle racks installed and trees and shrubs planted.

Work will then stop from the second week in December until after Christmas to keep disruption to a minimum. Phase two will modernise the car park next to the pub, install a CCTV camera in Linchmere Place and create a new bin store for residents.

Phase three will see improvements made to the other car park and phase four will see the installation of a new public toilet and the replacement of the remaining paving.

Councillor Bob Lanzer, Leader of the council, said: “These improvements are part of the council’s longstanding commitment to bring our neighbourhood parades up to scratch.

“Residents have told us they want to see more modern, cleaner and better maintained parades and we have listened.

“As well as Ifield we have completed work at West Green and Northgate, have major projects ongoing in Langley Green and Bewbush and have a plan to improve all of the parades we own by 2013.”