Staplecross Village Voice

COMMUNITY NEWS & REVIEWS – ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL- PUBLIC INFORMATION NOTICE P. I. N.No: 1 -ROTHER DRAFT LOCAL PLAN. Rother District Council is inviting residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in a vital consultation on its emerging Local Plane. The consultation will run from 26th January 2026 to 23rd March 2026 and focuses on potential sites for development across the district. The Draft Local Plan is the blueprint for how Rother will grow and develop in the future. It sets out to ensure that homes-jobs-infrastructure-leisure and our open spaces are carefully planned and carried out. It will help and preserve our precious countryside for all, as well as dealing with other vital issues which will include affordable housing, the environment and climate change. This plan focuses on various proposed sites which could allow for the construction of new housing developments as well as job opportunities in the future. Please visit: https://www.rother.gov.uk/draftlocalplan2026 to view the proposals and to submit your comments and points of view – before the date deadline. You can also send in emails or by post via the consultation form which will be found on the R.D.C. website. If you wish you may also view hard copies of the Draft Local Plan at the Council Offices in Bexhill or Battle Library. P. I. N. No: 2 - FOOD WASTE COLLECTIONS. From March 2026 under new government instructions, every household in England will be required to carry out Weekly Food Waste Collections from every household. Over the coming months, new food waste containers will be delivered to all households throughout Rother – some residents may already have received theirs. Instructions on how to make use of these, together with a complimentary roll of container liners to start you off will be included. Please remember not to start using them yet – as this new collection service will not begin until March 2026. A letter will shortly be set to you advising which day and date this service will commence.

EWHURST & STAPLECROSS BONFIRE SOCIETY. “MAMMOTH JUMBLE SALE” The first of these very popular and beloved by those clever ‘Bargain Hunters’, - has been arranged and will take place on Saturday FEBRUARY 7th. – THAT’s TOMORROW! This event will take place at Staplecross Village Hall, Northiam Road, TN32 5QG. Doors will open at 2.00pm and entry is 50p per person. Donations may be brought to the hall from 9.30am - - along with any willing hands able to help out on this hectic, but fun afternoon. There are always huge bargains to be had here, so bring big bags to hold them. Refreshments will be available to help lift any flagging spirits. For further details of this and other events proposed for the rest of the year please check out their website or Facebook Page.

E. P. C. “ COMMUNITY OPEN SPACES ” C. 0. S. Continuing under the clever leadership of the indefatigable but always smiling and cheerful Sue Lyne, who sends a warm and open invitation to come along and enjoy a short time here with us. These welcoming and simple little events are always a pleasure to go to. The venue as always is the Staplecross Village hall, & the next meeting is planned for Monday FEBRUARY 9th. 12Noon -2pm. This is always a fun and friendly get-together which often have superb guest speakers offering a wide and varied range of talks and topics. Lots of different and interesting events are being planned to ensure everyone enjoys the fun, friendly and very enjoyable results. Please come along and join us !

GARDENING and WILDLIFE INTEREST GROUP. - - G.W.I.P. This is a relatively new group of like-minded folk which has formed to promote the horticultural and wildlife interest throughout our parish. The invitation to meet up – is on Friday FEBRUARY 13th. 7pm – to 8.30pm. at The Herdman Pavilion, Ewhurst Green and is extended to all those who live within the villages of Bodiam – Cripps Corner - Ewhurst and Staplecross. Green fingers and a degree in any form of wildlife is certainly not the requirement here – just an interest in gardening and the wildlife of the countryside around us. £3:00 is the cover charge, which is only to cover the simple refreshments and the hire of the pavilion. This group has the promise to become an interesting and informative group, made up of welcoming friendly local people, with lots of helpful guidance, encouragement along the way. For details please email: [email protected] - - Why not give it a try ?

W.I. CRAFT GROUP. These interesting craft meeting always take place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Their actual W.I. Member monthly meetings take place on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Both meetings take place within the Village Hall, in Staplecross and both begin at 2.00pm. The only difference between the two is that the Craft Group is open to anyone with an interest in craft work. The next date for the Craft Group will be Tuesday FEBRUARY 17th. It is hoped that more ladies will be encouraged to come along, bring their own piece of craftwork or have a go and something new whilst spending a few hours amongst good, congenial company and just enjoy doing whatever craft they wish to do. The cost of this is a mere £2:00 per person and includes a cuppa and biscuits or cake and hopefully covers the hire of the venue. For all further information on what takes place, please contact Pauline on 01580~830570;

EWHURST. PARISH. COUNCIL. - ‘OPEN MEETING’ Continuing with their monthly ‘Parish Council ‘Open Meetings’ – the next meeting will take place on Wednesday FEBRUARY 18that the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross TN32 5QG/ The meetings commence at 7.00pm and a ‘Public Question Time’ is in the early part of the proceedings to allow you ask any questions. Come and meet your local councillors – from all levels – Parish- District or County. All are here to serve you, our community and have the Parish of Ewhurst – as well as your own best interests at heart. They do their best to help solve any problems or concerns you may have. Please come along, ask any questions & “Have your Say!”

CHURCH SERVICES -Church services for the parish of Ewhurst, continue with a Holy Communion service (BCP) on Sunday FEBRUARY 8th -2nd before Lent – at 9.30am at St. James the Great church, Ewhurst Green. This will be followed directly after with a Morning Praise service at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross at 11.15am. There will be NO SERVICE today at St. Giles, Bodiam. Please remember that the ‘Food Bank Collections at St. James , Ewhurst are 1st of each month. Every donation is always gratefully received and warmly welcomed – even more so in these difficult and worrying times. Please also remember the following: MORNING PRAYERS are said at St. James the Great church Wednesday mornings at 8.30am. PRAYER REQUESTS – Opportunities to leave requests for prayers – the ‘prayer basket’ is available at both St James and St. Giles to enable anyone who wishes to have a prayer said for a loved one – a neighbour – a friend or just for humanity. If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further guidance or assistance – however large or small – especially Baptisms – Weddings and sadly – Funerals, then for the time being please continue to get in touch via any of the Church Wardens. For St. James church, Ewhurst ~ 01580~830601 For St. Mark’s church, Staplecross. ~ 01580~830830 for St. Giles church Bodiam ~ 01580~830203 or 830327. Help in some ways is always at hand and always so generously given.

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PLEASE CONTACT ME. ~ If you are planning or already in the process of arranging an event in the foreseeable future – whatever the nature and however large or small – indoors or out and you’d like some extra free coverage for it – courtesy of the Observer Newspaper, - then do please, get in touch. It’s never too early to send in any details of any event or article you may be promoting, so please do contact me and let us help to spread your news. If it’s of interest to you - - - it’s of interest to us.