Staplecross

EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL: Information has been passed to me regarding an ‘Older People’s Housing Needs Survey’ and ESCC want to know what people want in the way of housing as they get older. We know that people will make different decisions about where they live as they get older. Some will want to stay living in the same place; others will look to move to more manageable homes; and some will feel that older people’s specialist accommodation will best suit their needs. - So they’d like to know: What are your plans ? If you live in East Sussex and are starting to think about where you want to live as you get older, they’d really like to hear from you. They want to hear from both home owners and renters, and from people living in ALL types of accommodation and in all areas. If you have recently moved, they would also like to hear about your reason for doing so. This is your chance to influence: *supported housing services for older people: *the sort of housing accommodation on offer to older people: *the amount of accommodation that is built: *and where it is built. Although this questionnaire is aimed at people aged 55 and over, the views about older people’s housing from East Sussex residents of ANY AGE will also be welcomed. As a “Thank You” for taking part in this survey you can opt-in to a prize draw to win a £250:00 Love to shop voucher. This prize draw is sponsored by Wellbeing. If you have any questions about the survey - or need it in another format or language, then please contact them. This survey can be found at: consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/adult-social-care/op-housing-needs/consultation/) You may also contact them on: 01273-481565 and at [email protected] This survey closes on Sunday March 19th. So do please take part in this very important survey-it will help East Sussex County Council shape and plan proper and suitable housing needs for our future generation

EAST SUSSEX HIGHWAYS: The recent closure of the B2165 from Cripps Corner through towards the A28 Northiam Road certainly caused some inconvenience to many drivers, but with diversions in place and co-operation on all sides, this hopefully didn’t restrict too many people from going about their business and getting from A to B in and around our parish. Well the work has now been finished, - the road surface is super smooth and quiet and the work force have been polite and helpful during these disruptions-at least to me - but you may know different, in which case, please tell them so as E.S.C.C. would like to know how they did during these resurfacing works and you can do this by completing the survey via http://www.eastsussexhighways.com/feedback-form or telephone:0345 6080193 or by email: customer @eastsussexhighways.com as well as Twitter:@esccroads or via Facebook@EastSussexHighways This information is important to all future road works.

EWHURST PARISH COUNCIL: I have recently informed you that the ‘Children’s Play Area’ within the Playing Field Northiam Road, Staplecross will be closed to enable new and more secure fencing to be installed. As with most things of this nature, timing is subject to change and this is just what has now happened with this project. Originally these works were due to take place from February 20th for 3 days - this has now been altered and the works will now be commencing on TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21st until TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28th inclusive. EPC and the work team apologise for any additional inconvenience the extra days closure of this popular play park has caused, and hope to bring the essential works to an end as swiftly as possible. Thanks are given for your co-operation and understanding here.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Two more treats are in store for all prospective walkers this week, - especially if this bright & beautiful spring weather remains with us. Walk no: 1 is planned for Sunday February 26th and is a 9 mile circular walk of Arlington Reservoir and Abbotts Wood. The meeting point is at Arlington Reservoir car park. OSEXP.123. TQ528074. (SatNav BN8 6LR) at 10.00am. Sadly, car parking charges will apply here but the delightful scenery together with a picnic lunch should help make this another stroll to enjoy. Alison and Perry are to be your ‘walk leaders’ for this outing and you may contact them on: 07969-025507 (mob) for more details. Walk no:2 is an 8.5 mile circular meander North from East Hoathly, along the Wealdway. Taking place on Wednesday March 1st. the meeting place is to be at the car park by the church in East Hoathly. OS EXP 123. TQ519161. (SatNav BN8 6EQ) at 10.00am. Once more a picnic lunch is suggested and your ‘walk leader’ on this occasion will be Martin and you can contact him on 01424-752793 for further information.

EAST SUSSEX MOBILE LIBRARY: Once more, we look forward to welcoming the little Mobile Library Service for it’s first of two visits for this month, as the van, carrying all the exciting goodies on board, wends it’s way through our little countryside lanes on it’s way to our outlying rural communities. The little van will first call to Staplecross, on Thursday March 2nd. where it will park in Cricketers Field, between 1.40pm and 2.10pm. Following on from that session, it will then meander down to Cripps Corner, - where it will now use the car park of the ‘Direct Recovery Yard between 2.20pm and 2.45pm. for the foreseeable future. This venue is on the Battle Road, just over the bridge, toward Swailes Green. The residents of this little hamlet can then avail themselves of this vital and much needed service. This is a relatively new ‘stopping place’ - due to the closure of the local pub and uncertainty of it’s proposed future, please do still make as much use of the facilities on board when the van visits your areas. The Library is about more than just books, so please come along and see for yourself and help keep this service going for the benefit of all who live in our outlying rural areas and perhaps, cannot always easily access the Main Branch facilities.

EWHURST & STAPLECROSS BONFIRE SOCIETY: ~ EVENT NO: 1 - JUMBLE SALE- This is the first of the popular local Bonfire Boys fund-raising activities and is booked to take place in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross on Saturday March 4th. Any items for donation will be most gladly received and these can be brought to the hall from 9.30am.- if this isn’t possible, please contact Brian- as below, - or any member of the society who will see what help they can give you. Doors will be open at 2.00pm for the commencement of this strangely,- very popular pastime and with a raffle stall, cake stall and refreshments available throughout it’s not hard to see why. For all further information please contact Brian on 01580~830570. - EVENT NO: 2 - WASSAILING EVENT- Back by popular demand and hoping to repeat the successful event of last year, this ‘Wassailing Event’ is arranged for Saturday March 4th from 6.00pm. and will take place at Quarry Farm, Bodiam. Entry is free but there will be a licensed bar, mulled cider, hot drinks, soup, hot dogs & burgers to purchase. There will also be music in the form of folk music, sea shanties and drumming. Wassailing is an ancient ceremony intended to begin the process of waking the fruit trees from their winter slumber & generally includes making the loudest noises possible, so everyone - especially children, are encouraged to bring along something to bang !. This promises to be an exciting and fun filled evening for all the family. Full details are on the ESBS website~ www.esbs.org.uk/wassailing.php and you can also contact either Brian at the above number or John on 01580~830744. This is another of the society’s fund raising events and they’d very much appreciate your support.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Advance notice that the Staplecross Village Hall Committee will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday March 14th, at 7.30pm.has been given. This meeting is open to ALL parishioners and all will be most welcome.

CHURCH SERVICES:Church services for the parish of Ewhurst, will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday February 26th. Quinquagesima. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion (BCP). There will be NO SERVICES TODAY at St. Giles church, Bodiam, but a service at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross,

will follow directly afterwards at 11.15am. This will include Holy Communion (BCP). If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, especially Baptisms, Weddings and sadly, Funerals, then for the time being, do please get in touch with the appropriate Churchwardens: ~ For all Bodiam matters, please contact Graham Peters - email at [email protected] or telephone number 01580~830203. For all Ewhurst Parish matters please contact Jo Goodwin - email [email protected] or telephone number 01580~830601. Help in some way is always at hand and always so generously given, so do please contact them.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are arranging an event in the foreseeable future, --- whatever the nature of the event and however large or small, if you’d like some extra coverage for it, - courtesy of the Observer Newspaper - then please get in touch. If it’s of interest to you, - it’s of interest to us. it’s never too early to send in any of the details and to tell us what you are planning. Many of you will be turning your thoughts to other events in the near future - remember - Spring is just around the corner, despite our changeable weather, closely followed by the long Easter weekend, so many of you will be planning events for us all to enjoy, so please do contact me, as I’d love to hear from you and to help ‘spread the word’ on your behalf................Thank You.

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