Archive for July 29th, 2010

Back to the future for Worth Park

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Back to the future for Worth Park

Crawley Borough Council has been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant to restore Worth Park.

The park, formerly known as Milton Mount Gardens, has received a first-round pass of £2,189,000, including £237,000 development funding to help return the area to former glories.

The development funding will be used to detail how Worth Park will be restored and used by more people. This will include detailed drawings of how the park should look in the future and will be finished by next summer.

A first-round pass means that the HLF believes the funding can deliver high quality benefits to park users. It’s an endorsement of outline proposals and having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for almost £2 million.

The next stage for the council will be to develop the project into a bid to restore and improve the park. If we are successful we are likely to find out in December 2011. The three-year project would start soon afterwards.

The bid follows consultation with more than 200 park users over the past few years, which identified a great strength of feeling and affection for the park. Local people value the park as part of their heritage and are very proud of the history of the gardens. The majority of people listed restoration of the Clock Tower, gardens, camellia walk, fountain and lake as their top priorities.

Worth Park covers eight hectares and consists of formal gardens, recreational parkland and a lake area, which is a site of nature conservation interest. It was originally a medieval deer park and formed part of the Forest of Worth, which stretched from Slaugham in the south to Worth in the north. The park hides the remnants of a high status late Victorian pleasure garden and landscape, constructed by James Pulham and Son.

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Energy use at K2 Crawley has plummeted over the last two years making it a greener place to get fit and have fun.

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Energy use at K2 Crawley has plummeted over the last two years making it a greener place to get fit and have fun.

This month the state-of-the-art leisure centre received a good C rating for energy use compared with its poor G rating in 2008

The good news comes after 18 months of hard work following an energy management plan drawn up by Crawley Borough Council and Freedom Leisure; all the savings will help the council hit its 10:10 target of reducing carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010.

Councillor Keith Blake, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “Heating an Olympic sized pool and running an extremely busy gym, along with the masses of other facilities and services on offer, makes saving energy at K2 Crawley a tough task.

“It’s a huge building with a lot of staff so they’ve done tremendously well to make such big savings in energy and also money.”

In 2008/9 K2 Crawley was using enough energy to power 517 homes which fell by 8.1 per cent in 2009/10; it now uses enough energy to power 475 homes (42 houses less) and saves around £16,000 each year.

And 40 per cent of all electricity used and 27 per cent of heat used came from renewable energy.

Some of the measures to bring such significant improvement include fitting infrared sensors in stores and offices to make sure lights go out when the room’s empty; removing unnecessary light fittings; Installing electrical sub-meters highlighting areas of high energy use so they can be reduced; and a lot of raising staff awareness.

There’s still room for improvement; Matt Hunt, Freedom Leisure’s Area Manager for K2 Crawley, said: “We’re looking at future measures to lower our carbon emissions even further. We hope to install a second combined heat and power unit and a device which changes voltage used to what you actually need rather the standard (voltage optimisation device).”

The 10:10 campaign is an international project to encourage as many individuals, businesses and organisations to cut their carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010.

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More dates added to Local Transport Plan roadshows

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

More dates added to Local Transport Plan roadshows

Further dates have been added to a series of roadshows being held to gather people’s views on transport in West Sussex.

West Sussex County Council has drawn up a blueprint for transport in the county from 2011- 2026 and the roadshows are being held to find out what people think about it.

The Local Transport Plan looks at issues such as roads, bus services, cycling and walking.

It will set out the County Council’s transport policy, what improvements are planned and how they will be funded.

Several roadshows have already been held and now further dates have been added.

Lionel Barnard, Deputy Leader of the County Council who has responsibility for Highway and Transport issues, said: “We have had a good response to the roadshows so far and have received some valuable feedback.

“It really is important to us that we hear from as many people as possible so we can do our best to give people the services they want and need.”

The roadshows will give people an opportunity to talk to County Council Highways experts and fill in a questionnaire with their views and opinions.

The extra dates have been arranged in the following areas:

• Horsham – Wednesday August 4 – 10am-6pm – County Hall North, Parkside, Chart Way. (There will also be an opportunity for people to ask questions about proposed transport improvements at Horsham Railway Station at this event. A separate exhibition on the Railway Station improvements is being held at County Hall North from August 4-27.)

• East Grinstead – Friday August 6 – 10am-6pm – Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De La Warr Road. (There will also be an opportunity for people to ask questions about proposed transport improvements at East Grinstead Railway Station at this event. A separate exhibition on the Railway Station improvements is being held at Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre until August 9 before it moves to East Grinstead Library where it will remain until September 3.)

• Burgess Hill – Thursday August 19 – 9am-5pm – Council Chamber, Burgess Hill Town Council, Church Walk, Burgess Hill.

• Crawley – Tuesday August 24 – 9am-5pm – County Mall shopping centre.

• Worthing – Thursday September 2 – 9am-5pm – Richmond Room, Assembly Hall complex, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing.

A further date is still to be arranged for Bognor Regis.

People can also find out more and view the plan online by visiting: www.westsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay

Comments can also be made by emailing ltp@westsussex.gov.uk

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New partnership launched to help employers say yes

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

New partnership launched to help employers say yes

Peter Catchpole and Chief Speaker at the launch Susan Scott-Parker OBE, Chief Executive for the Employer's Forum for Disability

A new-look Steps to Work Partnership has been launched.

Steps to Work helps vulnerable adults in West Sussex with a wide range of disabilities and challenges to access employment, learning, training, volunteering and work support.

The scheme has been running since 2000 and used to be funded externally by European Social Fund and Local Area Agreements. However, it is now funded by West Sussex County Council and NHS West Sussex.

(L-R) Anthony Wake, service user from Aldingbourne Trust, Irene Loft, Steps to Work, service user Caroline Benson and her hearing dog Belle, Carole Robertson, Regional Diversity Manager from Environment Agency, and Andrew Juniper, Steps to Work.

The new partnership consists of three providers:

• Southdown Supported Employment – which work with adults and children over 16 with mental health needs.

• Impact Workability – which work for adults who are recovering from drug or alcohol dependency and who may be offenders or ex-offenders and for adults with a physical or sensory impairment or an acquired brain injury.

• Aldingbourne Trust – which work with adults and children over 16 with learning difficulties.

The new-look partnership was held at County Hall North, Horsham, and was also attended by other organisations, including Job Centre Plus.

County Council Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services, Peter Catchpole, said: “Last year the Steps to Work Partnership helped 96 people into paid employment, helped 34 people retain employment, which they may have otherwise lost, and helped 149 people to voluntary work or work placements.

“On top of this 162 people were helped to access training to help them move towards employment.

“The Steps to Work Partnership is a wonderful example of how good partnership working can make a difference.

“It helps clients raise their confidence and self esteem, and can change lives.

“We look forward to working with the new providers and move forward with the

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Crawley Youth Theatre showcasing for the youth of today

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Every Thursday the Crawley Youth Theatre meet at Dormans to plan, act, perform and have as much fun as possible.

On arrival we got to see the youths in action. Playing team games, working together and enjoying every minute. The sessions are extremely productive. Talking of playing, the CYT have performed one, if not more if possible, successful live stage performances each year since starting in April 2005. Last year they performed Arabian Nights and a Terry Pratchett show. Led by Gemma LeGrand and volunteer Dodie Browne, the children have learnt to express themselves in a constructive and dramatic fashion while role playing or taking on various challenges.

It was the last session of the school term so there was lots of food and fizzy for the teenagers to enjoy. We spoke to some who told us they come along to make new friends and to display their drama skills. Some are drama students who wish to take it further, some just like attending.

The CYT runs in term times and anyone can go along to see if it is for them. The first session is free, so pop along to meet the members, they are a great bunch of teenagers. The sessions run from 18.30 till 19.30 for 13 to 16 years, then 19.45 till 21.15 for 16 plus. Gemma said “it doesn’t matter if you are at school, college or even in work, the sessions are for everyone. We cover all aspects of drama and put on at least one show each year which involves both the younger and older members”.

Gemma told us “we are very grateful to Kenny who runs Dormans. Kenny provides the space for free. Without this generousity we would not be able to afford the sessions. Each child pays £3.50 to attend, which goes towards the cost of the productions or any outings we may go on. We are also very privileged to have Dodie help out. Dodie comes all the way from out of town and volunteers her time to assist me with the older sessions here at Dormans, also producing the last play Arabian Nights”.

We were impressed with the relationship between Gemma, Dodie and the youths. Gemma told us about one member in particular called Tim who had come along when the CYT first started but is now preparing to go to University. Gemma felt they had been on a journey together and was sad to lose Tim from the group.

Dormans supports many activities including Rock Music Nights, Crawley Youth Activities Projects, A freestyle Club and the Friday Phab Club. More details can be found under leisure.

We would like to thank Gemma, Dodie, Kenny and all the members of the Crawley Youth Theatre for allowing us to come down to meet them. We enjoyed the cake and biscuits too :-)

To contact Gemma please email gemma.legrand@crawley.gov.uk

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West Sussex Buy With Confidence scheme teams up with Which?

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

West Sussex Buy With Confidence scheme teams up with Which?

THE Buy With Confidence scheme run by West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Service to protect consumers from rogue traders has forged a link with Which?

The UK’s largest consumer group is promoting good businesses and trades people through the development of Which? Local, a recommendation website for Which? subscribers.

Which? Local has agreed with West Sussex Trading Standards Service to list for free all of its Buy With Confidence members on the site.

Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “Although Which? is best known for testing household products, it is also committed to helping people find reliable local businesses that provide an excellent service – just like our Buy With Confidence members.

“This is an excellent opportunity for our Buy With Confidence members to further promote their business because it highlights how highly regarded our members are.

“It also underlines the effectiveness of the vetting procedures our Trading Standards Service has in place to reassure customers seeking a business they can trust.

“This means being featured on Which? Local adds further value to joining our Buy With Confidence register and being a trader or business that can reassure potential customers they’ve been approved by West Sussex Trading Standards.”

To apply for membership, traders can go to www.westsussex.gov.uk/tradingstandards or call 01243 642124.

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