Westfield

Bus cuts: Sarah Owen, the Labour candidate for MP in Hastings and Rye, and ESCC Councillor John Hodges were the speakers at today’s public meeting to discuss proposals that ESCC should make major cuts to the county’s subsidised bus services - 60% of which are in rural East Sussex. They stressed that a bus service is a service to the community, and undertook to do everything in their power to fight the proposed reductions. For Westfield, the following is proposed; Buses 340 and 341 - currently hourly to be cut to every two hours off-peak. Bus 342 - will see one journey a day cut. The Dial-A-Ride service will be cut from five days to two days. To make your views known please contact Sarah Owen; you can find out details about a petition against the changes at www.sarahowen.org.uk/BusCuts. You can also type Don’t Stop Our Bus into Facebook. You can contact Cllr John Hodges at [email protected]. Please complete the ESCC consultation to make your views known. Did you know that as well as cuts, fare increases of 30% could be introduced? Please also make your views known to MP Amber Rudd at Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings TN34 1HL or tel. 01424 205435.

Bus Shelter: The long awaited bus shelter has now been erected opposite the shop. We may need it more than ever; have you made your views known about the proposed cuts to our bus service? The ESCC consultation is at https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/economy-transport-environment/organisationsbuschanges . If you are on Facebook, please ‘like’ the campaign page ‘Don’t Stop Our Bus’. There are also copies of the petition ‘Don’t Stop Our Bus’ around the village.

Blood Unit: The Mobile Blood Unit made its last visit to Westfield on August 6. The service to villages is being withdrawn, and in future donors will need to go to the Hastings Centre or Battle.

The Friendship Club: Fortnightly meetings at the Parish Hall start again on Monday, September 15 from 2-3.30pm. Members can enjoy whist, bingo and Scrabble, a chat over tea and biscuits, and borrow books and puzzles. New members are welcome.

Autumn Show: Westfield Horticultural Society Autumn Show 2014. Westfield Horticultural Society will be holding their Autumn show in the Community hall on Saturday 13th September. Doors will be open to the publuc from 2.30pm. As well as all the exhibits to view there will also be some special exhibits by a local beehive association, tombola and raffle stalls, and of course some scrummy teas, coffees and cakes. Something for the whole family so make an entry in your diary for Saturday 13th September. Those wishing to exhibit then please contact Nicholas Wilde on 07786864713 for more details.

Jumble Sale: Cancer/Myeloma UK annual Jumble Sale at the Westfield Community Hall at 2 pm on Saturday 6 September. Items can be left at the hall from 12.15 but no items bigger than a chair and no computer screens, TV’s etc. There will be tombola, cakes and a lucky dip for children and refreshments. The entrance fee is 20p.

Funday: Westfield Youth Group’s Free Funday is planned to take place on Sunday September 7th, so book the date. Activities will include Bouncy castles, Bungee run, Crazy golf, Inflatable fun, Sumo wrestling and more. There is no charge for the activities, but bring some money for the BBQ, tuck shop and drinks. Call Dan or Min for more details on 07899 917952.

Activities will include Bouncy castles, Bungee run, Crazy golf, Inflatable fun, Sumo wrestling and more. Westfield Football Club will be joining for the day, so come along and test your skills and see if you can beat the speed gun with a huge kick! No charge for the activities, but bring some money for the BBQ, tuck shop and drinks. Call Dan or Min for more details on 07899 917952.

Football Coaching: Westfield Football Club has arranged for Pass and Move to host summer football coaching sessions for boys and girls aged over 4 who want to have some fun, learn more about the technical side of football and get out of the house and kick a football around in the summer holidays. Tony and Duncan are both UEFA B (level 3) licensed coaches, and coach to have fun in a safe environment. Sessions are Monday and Tuesday, September 1 and 2, also 9.30am-2pm (£12 per day or £20 for both). Pass and Move also runs coaching sessions every Saturday at St Leonard’s Academy from 9-10.30am (£3.50) or 9-11.30am (£5). For information about any of these please email Duncan on [email protected], or call Tony on 07545 813 545, or visit Facebook:/PassMoveBattle or see the website, pass-move.com.

Westfield FC: Westfield Football Club are still seeking volunteers to help provide local football opportunities at all levels and ages. If you can offer occasional or ongoing support, on or off the pitch, please contact the club via the secretary [email protected].

Website: Visit the village website www.westfieldvillage.co.uk for information about village organisations, events, Westfield Community Association, the Parish Council, and all sorts of useful links. This is your website, set up to serve the village community, and your contributions, news and views are needed. The website now has details about locally available seasonal produce for sale from home and ‘back garden’ producers. If you have spare eggs, plants, home grown vegetables, etc. for sale (even if only occasionally) and would like to be included in our new website feature, please email [email protected].

Email me: To send information for the Westfield Village Voice, please email [email protected]

George Sunderland

Heathlands