‘There’s good news, so let’s shout about it!’

“There’s really good news now coming through about Haywards Heath, so let’s start shouting about it!” was the message to all at the Town Team Briefing held on 18th June. “We’ve a really positive story to tell so let’s begin telling it right now. “
The Broadway, Haywards HeathThe Broadway, Haywards Heath
The Broadway, Haywards Heath

And the good news started with Andrew Lennox, Director of Nuffield Health Haywards Heath, reporting that he has commitment from his Board that they will continue to invest in Haywards Heath.

This was backed up earlier in the week with the purchase of a £64,000 image intensifier to expand the hospitals’ pain management and spinal surgery practices.

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Following the launch of the town team initiative, Andrew has been asked to review the possibility of expanding diagnostic services at the site (including MRI), and to conduct a review of potential new services ranging from holmium laser treatments for kidney stones to introduction of new cancer services – all of which will result in significant investment at the Haywards Heath Hospital. This will also attract high level employment and scientific jobs.

On the retail front, plans are in hand for a major redevelopment in the Orchards, the first phase of which is to be completed by the end of 2013. There was also early news of prospective new tenants lining up to move in by the end of the year. Manager, Nicola Bird, commented: “Haywards Heath is a place with potential; we’re going to invest and so, it seems, are the kind of retailers whom residents have been asking for!”

Shouting is very much part of the Town Team’s website development plans too. News of the town’s success stories, as well as our major companies, will be featured on the front page, while a system for advanced website booking of events is being designed, a ‘one-click’ service to the community.

Plans are also in hand for retailers to put special offers online, whereby customers can take up the offer by visiting the participating store.

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And, in another ‘first’, Haywards Heath Live is launching a professional Community Auction, Gavel-it, on 20th July between 2.00 and 4.00pm. There will be three main offers: members of the public can sell personal items, retailers promote special deals or end of line promotions and, at the end of the day, retailers selling fresh produce can offer special deals.

Auction Organisers, Nicola Bird and Jim Knight, are so excited about the day: “Once again, Haywards Heath is in the vanguard of making things happen! Of course, there are Auction Houses in all our big towns or the expense and bother of online auction sites, but this is an opportunity for our residents, as well as our retailers, to be part of a quality ground-breaking venture!” More information can be found at www.HHlive.org.uk.

Chairman, Ruth de Mierre, agrees: “This is an exciting time for our Town in every respect. Did you know, for example, that Haywards Heath received more enquiries for commercial property than Crawley even in the depth of the recession?

“Retailers and businesses want to move here, people want to live here and, together, we WILL make a truly thriving town!”