News Release by West Sussex County Council

We’re backing a campaign to #ShopSussex and show support for hard-hit visitor attractions and other local businesses in the run-up to Christmas.

The #ShopSussex initiative has been launched by Experience West Sussex, with support from the County Council, to help local tourism. There are hundreds of online gift ideas and the chance to buy vouchers for unusual local experiences, including helicopter flights, learning to paddleboard, garden membership, wine tasting, theatre and attraction tickets, local art, special holidays and meals out – all to be enjoyed when COVID-19 National Restrictions allow.

Experience West Sussex is responding to calls from businesses for meaningful, practical support and #ShopSussex is free for businesses to use this year.

Experience West Sussex Partnership (EWSP) Manager Jo Williams said: “We have been listening carefully to our local tourism and hospitality businesses. Our campaign delivers an extra level of 100 per cent subsidised marketing that many small businesses just don’t have access to at this difficult time.

“As well as offering local residents an online digital marketplace to shop local, we will be targeting regional, national and international visitors that have been physically unable to visit the county this year to give them a chance to make their Christmas a little more Sussex!”

Bob Lanzer, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, said: “This is a really positive initiative. West Sussex tourist attractions and other businesses are facing unprecedented challenges in the COVID-19 crisis: #ShopSussex gives residents the opportunity to show their support for the local economy in the run-up to Christmas. It also features initiatives across the county to encourage residents to support high streets, particularly when shops selling non-essential goods reopen.”

If you are a hospitality or tourism business with online bookable experiences, Sussex artisan gifts, local food and drink, vouchers, memberships, creative courses to sell this Christmas, email your offers to getinvolved@experiencewestsussex.com

Notes to editors:

Please note: all listings will be at the discretion and approval of the EWSP team.

The Experience West Sussex Partnership is a destination partnership delivering collective value through leadership, inspiration and collaboration for the benefit of the West Sussex visitor economy. The partnership is funded by local council partners and the county council for county-wide delivery of tourism projects through the website: ExperienceWestSussex.com

The partnership comprises: Adur District Council, Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council, Worthing Borough Council and the Coastal West Sussex Partnership.

As well as being a central voice for the region on tourism and the visitor economy, the partnership delivers local business support and creative marketing campaigns to attract visitors to the area.

Some of our district and borough council partners have also launched Christmas campaigns to help local businesses:

Chichester District Council: Countdown to Christmas / support local campaign: https://www.chichester.gov.uk/countdowntochristmas

Mid Sussex District Council is running a campaign encouraging its communities to shop locally, promoting the on-line services of local suppliers and businesses:

https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/licensing-business/bringing-christmas-home/

Notice from the Police – keep your vehicle safe.

As you may or may not be aware, we have seen an increase in vehicle breaks over the last 4 weeks particularly in the more rural villages. The reports across Middleton/Yapton/Ford and Climping are currently low and by sharing this message I am hoping it will remain that way.

The majority of incidents reported to us are from insecure vehicles – please remember to lock your doors and not leave any valuables in your vehicle. I have included some further crime prevention advice below and I also have a selection of crime prevention leaflets, CCTV posters and number plate tamper screws available – please do let me know if this is anything you would like.

1. Always lock your car.

Fuelling up or popping back into your house to get something are perfect examples of how easy it is to turn your back for a moment and forget your vehicle is unsecured. So get into the habit of locking your vehicle even if you’re only going to be away from it for a moment. If you have a car that has a keyless entry system, make sure your key is away from your car inside the property, or invest in a secure pouch, known as a Faraday pouch, to keep it in.

2. Secure your number plates with tamper-resistant screws

The easiest way to change the identity of a stolen vehicle or avoid speeding tickets and parking tickets is to fit stolen number plates. Using security screws to attach your vehicle’s number plates makes it harder for thieves to get your number.  I have a supply of these, so please contact me if you would like some, free of charge.

3. Secure anything that’s on the outside of your vehicle

Anything left on roof-racks, tailgate racks, holiday top boxes or in tool chests are easily stolen when the vehicle is parked. The use of cable locks, padlocks and self-locking tools chests, which are secured to the vehicle, makes them more secure, but still, don’t leave things in them if you can avoid it

4. Take it with you or hide it

Your mobile phone, coins for the car park, sunglasses, packs of medication or other items that can earn quick cash are irresistible to the opportunist thief. Remember, the cost of replacing a window is often much more than that of what’s stolen. And it should go without saying that wallets, handbags, purses and credit cards should never be left in an unattended vehicle. I have a selection on ‘No valuables left in this vehicle’ leaflets, which you can contact me if you would like some.

5. Hide electrical items and leave no clues

Leaving Sat Nav mounts, suction cup marks on windows or cables on view gives it away that you have left a Sat Nav, smartphone or other device in your car. Even if they can’t see the Sat Nav or iPad they might still break in to see if it’s stored in the car, out of sight.

6. Tool theft from vans

Vans are often targeted by thieves for the tools stored inside. If you have to leave tools in a van overnight, it’s a good idea to mark them clearly with your name / company name and address using paint pens and seal with a clear lacquer spray. Alternatively, you can use a variety of other property marking systems. Items that are clearly marked are less desirable and more difficult to sell on.  I have a selection of ‘No tools are left in this vehicle overnight’ leaflets for vehicles, again, please contact me if you would like one.

I will also mention that even if you have not lost anything or do not have CCTV your report is still important to us. It allows us to build a picture of what is happening, where it’s happening and when it’s happening. Reports can be made online at http://www.sussex.police.uk/ or via 101, in an emergency call 999. For any advice or concerns, please email me directly on natalie.shrimpton@sussex.pnn.police.uk.

Last week saw the launch of the West Sussex Climate Conversation. An opportunity for you and local residents to input and get involved in the Climate Change Conversation and work in West Sussex. The information gathered will be used by Councils across West Sussex to help support residents and businesses to continue with, or start more, positive actions.

Parish & Town Council: Please take the time to complete the survey on behalf of your Parish & Town Council as I know that we have all experienced the impact in the way we work this year. Also have an opportunity to input any thoughts your council has around how it is considering or delivering actions around climate change in your area.

 Residents & Businesses: Please share through your networks and promote on your website the survey link below for a opportunity for residents and businesses to participate

Press Release: Take part in the West Sussex Climate Conversation

People in West Sussex are being invited to take part in a survey to find out how Covid-19 restrictions have affected their response to climate change.

The West Sussex Climate Conversation will look at how our behaviour has changed during the pandemic – for example working from home or exploring locally – and how this has affected our local environment.

Information gathered will be used by Councils across West Sussex to help support residents and businesses to continue with, or start more, positive actions.

Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We want to hear from our residents to understand what they are now doing differently as a result of the pandemic and how this could help our response to climate change.

“Covid-19 has presented us with some extremely challenging and difficult times, but in some circumstances, it has created opportunities for us to look at how we live our lives and how we might be able to change for the better in the future.”

West Sussex County Council has recently adopted a Climate Change Strategy for the next ten years, which includes a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Deborah added: “Climate change continues to be a critical issue to address. We want to use this opportunity to see how we can help tackle climate adaptation and further encourage positive environmental changes we have seen this year.”

The survey is being led by Local Partnerships, a body set up to support councils in tackling challenges and to share their findings.

 People can take part in the survey by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ClimateConversationWS

The West Sussex Climate Conversation runs until 6 December 2020

Last month West Sussex County Council launched a new online form, on their website, for reporting potholes.  They want to improve the experience of reporting a pothole and have developed an interactive map displaying all reported potholes, so that customers can identify if already reported and to subscribe and receive future updates should they wish to. As this form is a trial they are welcoming customer feedback as they wish to continually improve their offer to Residents. Feedback can be provided by visiting their webpage and clicking on the page link provided.

West Sussex County Council want to add this link to their website for reporting potholes, https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/  rather than to Love West Sussex. If you are a regular pothole reporter please can we ask that you support them by using the new pothole form but also to provide valuable insight and feedback.

For the duration of the trial the online reporting of all other enquiries regarding the roads in West Sussex, such as grass cutting, flooding etc, have remained on Love West Sussex.

HEIGHTS ARE ABOVE CHART DATUM

                                     High Water                                                     Low Water

THE PARISH COUNCIL COMMUNITY SUPPOTY VOLUNTEERS ARE HERE TO HELP YOU

 With the COVID-19 Coronavirus second lockdown fast approaching, the Parish Council Community Support Volunteers are ready to support the community.

 If as before you need shopping done, prescriptions collected or know of someone that would like a friendly phone call from one of our volunteers or need any other support all you need to do is contact our Parish Clerk Joe Lake on 01243 585262 or by email mospc@btconnect.com who will arrange for a volunteer to respond.

 We had over 135 support requests for the first lockdown and all were responded to in very good time and the volunteers are here to assist all of you that are vulnerable, self-isolating and those not wishing to go out.

Lloyds Pharmacy have our number and if they cannot deliver to you contact us and we will get it from the pharmacy and deliver it to you. Those of you requiring shopping to be done, the volunteer will contact you, pick up your shopping list, do the shopping, pay for it, return it to you and then you need to pay the volunteer in cash so that no bank details are given.

 CONTACT US IF YOU NEED SUPPORT – WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Following the government’s announcement this week introducing the new three tier alert levels for England, we wanted to let you know that the alert level for the whole of West Sussex is currently Medium.

This means that current restrictions remain in place:

• Only meet people socially in groups of six
• Follow social distancing when you meet
• Work from home if possible.

In the 14 days between 27 September and 10 October, 587 people tested positive in West Sussex.

Cases are rising but at 37.2 cases per 100,000 population (the weekly incidence rate), West Sussex remains below the regional and national level. For comparison, the seven-day incidence rate for England (published 12 October 2020) was 150.1 per 100,000 population, for the period 1 October to 7 October.

The seven-day incidence rate varies amongst our districts and boroughs as does which district and borough has the highest rate. Over the period 4 October to 10 October, Horsham had the highest rate with 54.2 per 100,000 population and Arun had the lowest rate at 19.9 per 100,000 population.

Of the people testing positive for COVID-19 in West Sussex over the seven-day period, 69% were aged under 40, and 9% were over 60. Young adults showed the highest age-specific incidence rate during this period.

We would like to thank all residents for following the government guidelines.

Please continue to do this so we Keep West Sussex Safe.

West Sussex County Council is reviewing the charges for its on-street parking permits and for short stay pay and display. While there will be some increases in line with inflation, charges for a number of permits are set to remain unchanged to account for the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Subject to the council’s usual call-in period for decisions, charges for Visitor Permits, Healthcare Permits, Residents’ Carer Permits, Trader Permits, Doctor Permits and Hotel Permits (in Worthing only) will remain unchanged.

Charges for Residents’ Permits, Non-Residents’ Permits, Countywide (essential user) Permits, Dispensation Notices, Parking Bay Suspensions, Short Stay Pay and Display and at Crawley Library will all increase in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) and in order to promote the County Council’s traffic management objectives. Where a RPI increase has been applied, the fee will be rounded up to the nearest £, or, in the case of Pay and Display, the nearest 10p.

The new charges are expected to come into effect on 4 January, 2021.

The income generated from this will be used towards covering inflationary cost increases for running the parking system and improving on-street parking provision across the county.

 Some background:

The extra pressures that healthcare staff have been under during the COVID-19 crisis, providing vital domiciliary care, has been recognised, so permit fees for these key workers, as well as doctors, will remain the same.

Throughout the pandemic, the County Council has also facilitated free on-street parking for NHS and Social Care staff and volunteers and has also made available discounted dispensation notices to allow residents who may be furloughed and/or on reduced work hours to park whilst at home.

As a highway authority, the County Council is responsible for managing on-street parking in West Sussex. This includes setting on-street parking charges at appropriate levels to deliver the County Council’s objectives for parking management, as set out in the Draft Integrated Parking Strategy (2020-2025).

The on-street parking charges review for 2020/21 includes all on-street parking charges, including all types of parking permits, dispensation notices, suspensions and pay & display.

Starting School – September 2021

West Sussex County Council have sent out the following information with regard to the above.  A poster will also be on the Parish Council notice boars

The application process for children due to start school in September 2021 will begin on Monday 5 October 2020. We try to advertise the application arrangements as widely as possible and it is in this connection that I now write to you.

As a service to your local community we would invite you to advertise the starting school application window in your Parish Magazine, on your website or by whatever means you normally use to communicate with your residents.

I have attached to this email a poster and leaflet giving details of the application process. The key points are:

• Apply online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions
• Applications can be made and will be considered as on time, between 5 October 2020 and 15 January 2021
• Special rules apply for house movers until 12 February 2021
• Further information for parents is available on our website now
• Staff are available to support on 03330 142 903

Applications made after the closing date cannot be considered until all on time applications have been processed. This may mean it is not possible to offer a child a place at a local school. We would therefore be grateful if you could help actively encourage all parents to apply by the closing date.