Committee hears plans on developing day services

The proposals to develop day activities for older people were heard at the latest West Sussex County Council’s Adults’ Services Select Committee on Tuesday June 22.

The plans – developed by the County Council’s Adults’ Services Developing Day Activities Project – set out how future social care needs can be met through a mixture of community based day activities and centre based services. The plans focus on older people and working age adults with a physical or sensory impairment or an acquired brain injury.

The Select Committee considered proposals to redesign day services across the county through a number of changes to day centres, including The Grange, in Midhurst, The Brooks, in Pulborough, and Harwood House in Horsham.

The proposals also include ensuring transport is available to help to access a range of day activities.

Committee Chairman, Irene Richards, said: “Adults’ Services Select Committee had concerns about the proposals including making sure those adults with low level needs still get the service they require.

“However, the Committee was happy to recommend that the proposals go out for consultation, on the understanding that the final options would be brought back to the Committee prior to a decision being made.”

The review would generate £1 million of savings, of which £250,000 would be invested in developing alternative day services.

West Sussex wildlife sites are important

Thirteen new Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs) have been designated in West Sussex and six existing ones have been extended.

The sites cover different habitats in the county, ranging in size from restored areas of heathland to large diverse wetlands and rivers.

They are recognised as being among the best for wildlife in the county and contain species and habitats that are locally rare or exceptional.

These sites are selected by a panel of local specialists, in line with guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Many of the sites are under private ownership, but some are owned by public bodies, and are accessible via Public Rights of Way. Existing SNCIs include Buchan Country Park, Crawley, an important heathland site, Chichester Canal, which is rich in wildlife, and Ferring Rife, a site important for birds and wildflowers.

The new sites, are an important biodiversity resource, and take the number of SNCIs to 292. This adds up to 10,000 hectares, which is more than five per cent of West Sussex.

The Sites of Nature Conservation Importance Initiative protects, conserves and enhances SNCIs by promoting management and educational use and providing support and advice.

In West Sussex it is led by the County Council in conjunction with the district and borough councils, the Sussex Wildlife Trust and with support from organisations including The Sussex Botanical Recording Society and the Sussex Ornithological Society.

Deborah Urquhart, County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “The designation of the new sites shows the great effort many conservation organisations and landowners are playing in restoring our West Sussex countryside.

“These sites are important for wildlife locally and help to provide us with a healthy environment in which to live.”

More information about the sites can be found at www.westsussex.gov.uk

Soar into space this summer

It’s all things cosmic at our Libraries this month, when the FREE Summer Reading Challenge kicks off on Saturday July 17.

This year’s theme is ‘Space Hop’. Children aged four to 12 are challenged to read up to six books from their local Library and collect different awards at each stage, including a hologram membership card, a pull-out poster and ‘scratch and sniff’ stickers.

Those who complete the challenge by the closing date of Saturday September 11 will get a certificate and medal.

The story followed throughout the challenge is of three children attempting to set up the first lunar library on the moon.

There’s a variety of fun, space-themed events taking place in libraries throughout the summer. Visit our website or contact your local library for more details.

And babies and toddlers won’t feel left out, with a Space Hop Book Crawl. Parents receive a collector’s card earning stickers for each visit with their tot over the summer. After four visits they can have a special Space Hop Book Crawl certificate.

Young volunteers are needed to help run the challenge, to register competitors, hand out stickers and other rewards, and encourage the children to read more and complete the challenge.

Visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/libraries

We don’t want to be invited to your barbecue, say Firefighters

MAKE sure we’re not unwelcome guests at your barbecue, say firefighters from West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service.

Jackie Boyle, Community Fire and Road Safety Officer, said: “We want people to enjoy themselves this summer. But there hasn’t been a significant amount of rainfall for quite some time now and the conditions are dry.

“So we’re urging people to take care when barbecuing and think about what they’re doing.

“A barbecue should be a pleasant experience – but it’s easy to be distracted when you have friends and family around you while cooking.”

The Fire and Rescue Service’s advice is:

• Put the barbecue on a flat site, well away from sheds, trees and fences.

• Keep children and pets well away from the cooking area.

• Never leave the barbecue, matches or other lighting materials unattended.

• Never use petrol to light the barbecue.

• Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies.

• If using a disposable barbecue be especially careful how you ignite it and how you dispose of it. Remember they retain their heat for a significant time.

The Fire and Rescue Service is also urging people to take extra care when lighting bonfires.

“As with barbecues, never ever use petrol because it can ignite and get out of control very quickly,” said Jackie.

If you must have a fire:

• It should be downwind, at least 10m away from any buildings or structures.

• Clear dry vegetation, such as leaves, to form a circle of earth around the fire.

• Do not leave fires unattended.

• Only use approved lighting fuels – never petrol.

• Make sure fires are fully extinguished after use.

Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “By following this advice from our Fire and Rescue Service experts, you’ll make sure it’s only the food that sizzles at your barbecue.”