Mid Sussex District Council has collected over 16 tonnes of broken electricals in just ten weeks.

A new kerbside collection service of small electrical items and household batteries was launched by Mid Sussex District Council in late November 2020. Since the service launch, some twelve weeks ago, over 16 tonnes of unwanted small electricals and a staggering 2.8 tonnes of batteries have been collected by contractors, Serco.

Councillor John Belsey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery said:

“Mid Sussex District Council is delighted that our residents are so engaged with this new kerbside collection service, which has enhanced our existing waste and recycling provision.

“Our huge thanks go to our contractors Serco, who have been extremely supportive of this new venture. We are enormously proud of our collection crews, who have worked tirelessly collecting unprecedented amounts of small electricals under very challenging circumstances. There has been a significantly increased demand on our existing rubbish and recycling services during this pandemic, and our collection crews have shown true dedication and professionalism throughout.”

The new service is for broken small electrical household items and used household batteries that can fit in a standard sized carrier bag. Most small electricals, items that have a plug, battery or lead, are accepted but some restrictions apply.

Many electrical items often stop working but could be repaired, they may be unwanted but have re-use value to others, so the Council is urging residents to consider re-use and repair options where possible and only use this service for broken electrical items.

There are a growing number of community-led repair cafes within Mid Sussex, run by knowledgeable volunteers who donate their time and expertise for free to help with repairing personal items including electricals. Residents can find local alternative re-use and recycling options, such as repair cafes and take back schemes, using the recycling locator on the www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk website. Many have been affected by recent lockdown restrictions, so residents should check availability before use.

Serco Operations manager, Ian Tolley said:
“Demand for the service is still exceedingly high at the moment as many households seem to have taken the opportunity to have a spring clean during current lockdown restrictions and visits to Household Waste Recycling Sites are currently limited to essential use only.

“The storage cages on our collection vehicles are filling up fast, therefore if residents find their collection has been missed we are asking them to bear with us and store their items until their next scheduled rubbish collection or to wait a few weeks for demand to even out. Please remember ‘little and often’ so everyone can benefit.”

For more information on this new collection service and answers to frequently asked questions please visit the Household Small Electricals page of the Mid Sussex District Council website at www.midsussex.gov.uk/electricals

As there have been various reports of Dogs being snatched locally, here is an article from the Sunday Times.

• Avoid leaving them tied up outside a shop, making them vulnerable and tempting for opportunist thieves
• Don’t leave them alone in the car, even for a few minutes. Thieves can easily break in.
• Make sure they are microchipped and that you keep your contact details up to date.
• Your dog should always wear a collar and ID tag with your name and address on it.
• Make a note of any distinguishing features and take clear photographs of your dog from various angles.
• Take photos of your dog with you walking with it, for proof of ownership.
• Train them to come back when called and never let them off the lead in public until you are sure they will obey your call.
• Make sure your garden if secure and fit a bell to your gate so you hear if anyone opens it.
• Keep your dog in view in the garden. Don’t leave them outside unsupervised.
• While out walking, be wary of strangers asking questions about or filming your dog.
• Vary the times and routes of walks. Some dogs are targeted and snatched during them.

A new police unit has been launched to track and catch dangerous and wanted criminals

using the Sussex roads network.

The Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU) will carry out disruption and enforcement

operations on roads across the county, targeting those involved in serious, organised and

violent crime.

The SEU, a mix of highly-trained police officers and detectives, is equipped to be a onestop-

shop to fight road crime – with the ability to identify, intercept and apprehend

offenders, seize drugs and stolen goods, and investigate the crimes through to conviction.

The unit is the latest in a series of police enforcement teams to be launched across

Sussex in the past year funded by the Government’s Uplift programme and local precept

investment.

The team has a blend of specialist skills and can use a range of tactics to tackle criminals

using the road network, including advanced driving skills and the use of a police dog unit

to track offenders and search vehicles.

Covering hundreds of miles of road network across Sussex, the team will carry out

operations and proactive patrols, working closely with colleagues and supporting the work

of regional and national agencies, targeting some of Sussex’s most wanted and prolific

criminals.

The SEU forms part of wider investment to support local policing priorities, to strengthen

local policing, tackle crime and prevent harm, disrupt serious and organised crime and to

support victims and safeguard the vulnerable.

You can read our press release here.

By taking part, you can help inform decisions about services that shape your community, such as healthcare, education and transport.

It’s important that you fill in your census questionnaire because it gives us the most detailed information we have about our society.

Without the information you share, it’d be more difficult to understand our community’s needs and plan and fund public services.

Census Day is officially on Sunday 21 March, but there will be an extensive window in which to complete it, from early March, when households will be receiving the Census packs, up to the beginning of May.

The ONS aim to make things as easy as possible for everyone, but if you need help taking part in the census, there’s a wide range of support services available.

You can request support for yourself, or someone else, including:

guidance and help in many languages and formats

a paper version of the questionnaire, if you prefer

accessible census guidance, for example, in braille

There is a help area on the census website. It covers everything from who to include on the questionnaire to how to answer each question.

If you cannot find what you need there, there’s a dedicated contact centre where census staff will be on hand to give help over the phone, in a web chat or on social media.

If you need help, visit www.census.gov.uk

People are welcome to walk in the countryside following the Countryside Code. But please do not just walk where you want! The footpaths are now increasing in width because of the footfall. A lot of people do not stick to the paths, including locals. People seem they can walk where they think they are entitled to go; despite the fact it is written on the gates to ask them to keep to the footpaths. Dogs urinate and defecate at will, which causes a problem with worms in the sheep which cannot be treated, because there is no remedy. Everybody needs to be more responsible about where they walk, and not walk across crops and grass fields, which ultimately provides their food, meat eater, vegetarian or otherwise, but to keep to the footpaths. A footpath in a field means just that – a path. Not a field that has got a public right of way all over it or, all around it. A footpath is just 1.5 meters only, not 6 metres which is currently a very big issue. We are in a rural economy and not in Churchill Square. We do not wish, and never will wish, for all footpaths to be tarmacked.

Poynings Parish Council has a vacancy for a Councillor and is looking to Co-Opt shortly.
If you wish to express an interest, please contact myself or a councillor ASAP.
Kind regards
Colin Warburton
Clerk to the Council
6 Poynings Road
Poynings
West Sussex
BN45 7AP
Tel: 01273 857024
clerk@poyningsparishcouncil.com

Given the current lockdown and our need to adhere to the government restrictions, at the recent PC meeting the councillors wanted to reassure the residents of Poynings that Poynings Parish Council is here to help. We’re a small community and we’ll all want to look after our neighbours, especially those who may be vulnerable – offers of help getting food / meds or even a “check-you’re OK” phone call. If you need help, or know someone who might, contact Colin (PC Clerk) by phone, text, email, or however, we will see if we can help, or find someone else who can, via the councillors or the volunteer group. Don’t forget the Facebook page at Poynings Community | Facebook There is also a good WhatsApp group, if you want to be added to this,  just send Colin your name and telephone number.

Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives

Poynings Parish Council – Paula, Mike, John, Neville and Colin
07941 460 582 – 01273 857 024 – clerk@poyningsparishcouncil.com