Power cut affecting the northern part of Burgess Hill including yours truely – “We believe the issue is a fault on our underground cables that initially interrupted power to 1772 properties. However, we have managed to divert power back to some properties, so 256 properties are still affected. Specialist engineers from our control room will continue to divert power remotely, so your power may come back on at any point. Sometimes we can’t restore everyone this way, so we’re also sending staff to check our equipment. We’re currently estimating power will be on by 15:00 – 16:00, but this may change depending on what our staff find.” Sign up to text updates at UK power networks website. Is this another sign of creaking infrastructure or did some one press the wrong switch?
Power cut affecting the northern part of Burgess Hill including yours truely – “We believe the issue is a fault on our underground cables that initially interrupted power to 1772 properties. However, we have managed to divert power back to some properties, so 256 properties are still affected. Specialist engineers from our control room will continue to divert power remotely, so your power may come back on at any point. Sometimes we can’t restore everyone this way, so we’re also sending staff to check our equipment. We’re currently estimating power will be on by 15:00 – 16:00, but this may change depending on what our staff find.” Sign up to text updates at UK power networks website. Is this another sign of creaking infrastructure or did some one press the wrong switch?
On the Rejoin march today, Brexit has failed, all the main parties are now on a realignment path that can only lead to Rejoining given the economic and political cost we have endured from Brexit, and now that support for Rejoin is around the sixty per cent mark and increasing.
Finally, we have a date for resurfacing of the mini-roundabouts on London Road at the junction with Leylands Road and West Street, with an expected date for the work of 4th-6th October, which will require overnight work between the hours of 20.00 and 6.00. The issue has been the difficulty in working on the road at this point without disrupting traffic which has meant work on individual potholes was put off until the full road has been resurfaced. Local County Councillor Stuart Condie has been pressing for this to be a priority in the capital program for some time, but given limited funding it has taken too long to be given priority.
Reversing net zero targets threatens local recycling and mean higher energy bills
At tonight’s District Council meeting I highlighted the longstanding need for a pedestrian and cycle path between Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath and the difficulty particularly for those forced to walk between the two towns. I also condemned the Governments decision to reverse its support for the implementation of Net Zero policies which will mean consumers and business will incurr higher energy costs and creates uncertainty, putting in doubt Conservative commitments to sustainable travel and the wider net zero agenda. The announcement could also mean the trial of a local food waste collection currently being run in parts of Burgess Hill by Mid Sussex District Council may not be viable to continue, and means new houses will continue to be built without incorporating energy saving measures that are far cheaper to install at the outset and means householders generally are like to face significantly higher energy costs.
Finally, we have a date for resurfacing of the mini-roundabouts on London Road at the junction with Leylands Road and West Street, with an expected date for the work of 4th-6th October, which will require overnight work between the hours of 20.00 and 6.00. The issue has been the difficulty in working on the road at this point without disrupting traffic which has meant work on individual potholes was put off until the full road has been resurfaced. Local County Councillor Stuart Condie has been pressing for this to be a priority in the capital program for some time, but given limited funding it has taken too long to be given priority.
Last Saturday’s Councillor drop-in (which takes place every second Saturday at the Town Council Helpoint) saw a number of queries raised including a report of branches thoughtlessly left in the stream at Cants Lane and brambles obstructing the footpath in The Nursery. I was able to clear the brambles myself and have reported the branches that have accumulated in the stream as a flood risk given they could potentially block the culvert under Cants Lane.
Following a complaint, I recently highlighted issues with the pitches at Worlds End Recreation Ground much where a number of bare soil areas left over from the winter still need addressing. After I raised the matter, the pitches were inspected last week, with Council officers noting the areas requiring repair and logging the jobs accordingly. It is disappointing it took so long, however I am pleased that a new contract for grounds maintenance will commence in October, and this should allow a much more proactive approach where problems are addressed immediately by the contractor rather than waiting for Council orders to authorise work. I understand for the coming season, the Council is intending to withdraw the Junior 11 x 11 pitch and replace it with a 9 x 9. This is smaller, so will allow the goalmouths of the 11 x 11 pitch time to repair.
Consultation ends tomorrow (26th July but since extended to 1st September) on the Government’s proposed closure of station ticket offices which in my view is a wrong minded prelude to removing staff from local stations when we should be encouraging their use. The actual proposals involve moving staff out of the office and onto the platform but given their primarily purpose it to sell tickets and they will I understand no longer be able to, then the next step will be to claim staff are no longer needed at all. You have until the end of tomorrow to email your own response to TicketOffice.GTR@transportfocus.org.uk.
My response was as below:
Having a clearly sign-posted place in local stations such as Wivelsfield and Burgess Hill for people with ticket enquiries open at specific times provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise locate station staff and feel more confident knowing that a station will be staffed. The proposals appear to be largely a prelude to removing staff from all but the largest stations.
Not all residents are able to use station ticket machines, or have the means to book a ticket in advance. Complicated journeys involving connections are likely to require human assistance to ensure customers purchase the most appropriate and cheapest tickets, and do not incur penalties from mis-booked tickets. Ticket machines are not always working and are not always located in convenient or accessible places for people to access – one of the two machines in Wivelsfield is only accessible by using stepped access for example.
The proposed move to replace ticket office staff with on station ticket assistance hours may mean you will be unable to buy a ticket if the ticket machine isn’t working; and the fear is this move is almost certain to be followed by making most of our small local stations unstaffed. If the move does go ahead I would urge you to allow on station assistants to sell tickets in the same way as conductors and provide advice on the cheapest ticket as this will be the main enquiry made of them and be available in a specific part of the station so that they are accessible.
I am concerned the closures will disproportionately affect elderly and disabled residents in Mid Sussex – as well as those with poor literacy and IT skills and will contribute to wider inequalities and make stations less safe as all but the largest will no longer be staffed as clearly that is the ultimate reason behind these proposals.
Thanks to everyone who voted for myself and fellow councillor Mohammad Hossain, glad to be re-elected for Leylands Ward, and thanks to everyone who helped in the campaign.
Liberal Democrats in Mid Sussex made huge advances winning an additional eight seats from the Conservatives, including the Conservative leader’s seat, to now form the largest group on Mid Sussex District Council with 20 councillors, as well being the majority not only on Burgess Hill Town Council but now also Haywards Heath Town Council! We will now be working to form a new administration on Mid Sussex District Council and looking across party boundaries to work for the good of local residents.
Nationally Liberal Democrats took control of twelve councils including Windsor and Maidenhead, Stratford-on-Avon, Horsham, Chichester and West Berkshire, and gained 405 new councillors compared with Labour’s 536 gains. In Mid Sussex we are now snapping at the heels of the Conservatives in the race to be the area’s next MP when the seat is likely to be fought on new boundaries that make it more winnable for the Liberal Democrats.
Pictured below is Liberal Democrat perspective parliamentary candidate Alison Bennett and some of our winning Liberal Democrat Councillors outside the Mid Sussex count. If you want to join the winning team get in touch!
