East Hoathly

Unfortunately last Sunday’s walk had to be cancelled due to storm Angus. The next excursion will be a street walk of East Grinstead on December 17.

VILLAGE OF SANCTUARY: How does it feel to leave everything behind and brave hundreds of miles to seek safety? To set up home in a strange country, knowing no-one, in an alien culture? You are invited to a unique event to meet some people who know first-hand and hear how they are making a contribution to their new homeland. A Taste of Syria lunch will be provided by three chefs from Hama and Damascus, now making Sussex their home. Then Alex Ntung, from Congo via Rwanda, will talk about his own odyssey and sign copies of his book Not My Worst Day. Due to the challenging content of this account it is advised that it may not be suitable to anyone under 12 years of age. The event will take place in East Hoathly Village Hall tomorrow, Saturday, at 12.30pm. The event is free but if you plan to come, please let us know by email to easthoathlyandhallandvillage [email protected] Facebook or phone 07970 657787, as this will help with catering.

FOOD COLLECTION: There will also be an opportunity to drop off food donations at the event above, destined for a volunteer project, the Refugee Community Kitchen operating in Dunkirk. Items needed are rice beans and pulses tinned fruit canned fish cooking oil and spices. Please no perishables pasta noodles or pork products.

WINTER WONDERLAND: You are warmly invited to East Hoathly CE School and Nursery’s Christmas event on Friday December 9 from 3.15pm to 6pm in the village hall with the School Choir performing at 5pm. There will be festive wines and spirits delicious food a grotto tombola gifts and games stalls children’s activities the draw of the giant a and the results of the silent auction

SCHOOL AND NURSERY OPEN DAYS: You are invited to look round our village school. The event will be held on Wednesday December 7 between 6PM and 7pm. If you would like to come along please call 01825 840247 or e-mail [email protected].

CHRISTMAS SHOP: Hidden below the Village Stores is the bricked and arched Georgian cellars is an extraordinary collection of festive goods not normally found in any supermarket at competitive prices. As well as confectionary, biscuits, cheeses condiments and gifts you can order local free-range venison turkeys and traditional hams. Hampers can also be made up to order. The shop is open from 8am to 6pm and there will be a late night shopping event on Wednesday December 15.

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS: Village Concerns is an East Hoathly with Halland Action Group. It will monitor new housing proposals for our parish and will seek information to endorse or challenge the plans, so as to ensure that sustainable housing development is upheld without undue over-development. Wealden District Council is considering plans for the parish to double in size over the next five years. There is concern that housing development in the parish is being led by developers rather than being considered within the context of a strategic plan that carefully evaluates local needs; the capacity of the infrastructure; and prevents the loss of the distinctive village character and the destruction of the local landscape and wildlife. The Action Group is independent of the East Hoathly with Halland Parish Council. It was started by a few residents who were deeply worried about the real threat of overdevelopment. A Steering Committee coordinates its activities and a Constitution sets out the fundamental principles of Village Concerns governance. Villagers have been encouraged to join an email group ([email protected]) and a blog has been created (www.villageconcerns2016.co.uk) in order to help disseminate planning information. They are 186 strong. It is understood that the first of these developments for a proposed 211 homes on Hesmonds Stud land on the London and Waldron Roads of East Hoathly was submitted on November 11 to Wealden District Council. When it appears on the Planning section of the WDC website, there will be only have four weeks to object to the plans if that if that is what residents want to do.

If residents do wish to object to this amount of new homes in the village please be diligent and understand that this could be the first of at least three, if not more, developments in the village, so it is important for you to raise your voice and be heard loud and clear in the Wealden District Council planning committees.

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