Nationwide success for West Sussex drugs drive

A WEST Sussex-wide online drugs information drive aimed at young people has come third in Crimebeat, a nationwide crime-fighting competition run by the High Sheriffs of England and Wales.

Called Dig It (Drugs Information and Guidance), the drive is designed to raise young people’s awareness about the damaging effects drug and alcohol misuse can have on themselves, their family and friends, as well as their local community.

It involves trained volunteers delivering a wide variety of information to young people throughout West Sussex.

This ‘empowers young people to make informed decisions about drug use’, said the High Sheriffs’ commendation.

Dig It is supported by the West Sussex Strategic Community Safety Partnership. The drive’s latest initiative is an online survey that is seeking young people’s views about community safety.

Tom Van Der Wee, Dig-it’s Project Manager, said: “The project is aimed at 11 to 24-year-olds and provides informal information through a variety of different communication channels including face to face in workshops and at events. There’s also a dedicated section on the Yourspace website (www.yourspacewestsussex.gov.uk)

“As well as showing the health implications of drug and alcohol misuse, we also highlight how misusing drugs and alcohol can affect friends, families and the wider community.”

Peter Evans, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “The Dig It drive is to be congratulated for gaining this national recognition.

“The award from the High Sheriffs underlines the importance of showing the consequences of misusing substances behind closed doors and how it can affect families.”

County Local Committees join forces to look at health issues

County Local Committee (CLC) members from Mid Sussex, Crawley and Horsham will come together for a special meeting to look at health issues on Tuesday July 20th.

Experts from NHS West Sussex, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and West Sussex County Council will give updates and answer questions on a number of topical health issues.

The meeting is being held at Drill Hall in Denne Road, Horsham, from 2-4pm.

The three main issues will be:

• The pilot project to extend the opening hours of Horsham Minor Injuries Unit. A presentation will be given by Paul Trevethick (Area Director, NHS West Sussex) and Sam Stanbridge (Joint Director of Commissioning for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust).

• The potential new hospital and associated development at Pease Pottage. A general update on this possible development will be given by Mike Link, Head of Planning and Partnerships at West Sussex County Council.

• Representatives from Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust will speak about what steps have been taken to improve hygiene at East Surrey Hospital following a recent lapse in standards. (The Care Quality Commission has since reported that the hospital now fully meets the hygiene code.) The Chief Executive (Gail Wannell), Chairman (Ian Williams) and Director of Nursing, Quality and Governance (Mary Sexton) will be at the meeting.

The meeting is being hosted by North Horsham CLC and representatives from the following CLCs have been invited to attend:

• Chanctonbury

• West Crawley

• East Crawley

• North Mid Sussex

• Central Mid Sussex

• South Mid Sussex

North Horsham CLC Chairman, Brad Watson OBE, said: “I hope this will be an interesting and informative meeting where we will be able to look at a number of issues relating to health which affect a significant number of people across West Sussex.

“There will also be an opportunity for the public to take part in the meeting and ask questions about services which affect their everyday lives. I would urge people to come along and get involved.”

Bewbush Centre structure complete

A ceremony to ward off evil spirits and bring prosperity and good luck marked the final stages of regeneration in Bewbush last week.

Mark Tant, Willmott Dixon, left; Councillor Lee Burke, Crawley Mayor, Right

The ‘Topping Out’ ceremony at the brand-new Bewbush Centre in Dorsten Square celebrated the structural completion of the impressive five million pound multi-use community facility.

Guests, including Crawley’s Mayor, Councillor Lee Burke, wrote messages on the wall of the building before they are covered for future generations tofind.

Children from Bewbush Community Primary School celebrate after signing the wall

Set to open in November, the centre boasts a function hall, sports hall, gym, café, youth area, voluntary services office and a neighbourhood police base.

Mark Tant, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon Construction Cobham, said:

“We’re delighted with the progress of the project and we’re pleased to celebrate the ‘topping out’ as this marks a significant milestone in the programme.

“The building has taken shape extremely quickly thanks mainly to our ability to incorporate a Eurban timber frame. This method of construction is an exciting new technology and has high sustainable features, fitting perfectly with the sustainable development strategy embedded in our business.”

The new building has excellent green credentials, reaching a BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating of ‘very good’.

During construction alone, materials from the two former inefficient buildings that stood in its place were crushed and reused wherever possible; a massive 99 percent of all waste created at the site was recycled.

The community hub itself boasts a variety of green features like the Eurban timber frame which is highly sustainable; all the timber used in the project came from certified sustainable sources.

Other environmentally friendly features include a green (sedum) roof which will help with drainage, insulation and also create a secure urban habitat; photovoltaic panels; large skylights to maximise natural light; and various energy efficient ways of heating and cooling the building.

Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture and the lead member on the Bewbush Regeneration Project, said: “It looks great already and when it opens in just a few months it will bring huge benefits to health and wellbeing, adding to the community spirit which is already so apparent in Bewbush.

“Local people have played such a great part in shaping this regeneration project, and therefore the future of their environment; they should be proud of their fantastic achievements.”

Mark Tant of Willmott Dixon added: “We believe the new centre will look fantastic once it’s finished and it’s sure be a true asset to the local environment and the local community. We’re thrilled to be part of what we think is a very successful project.”