Some time ago, Wealden District Council were advised that Safeway Stores plc were willing to open discussions with them regarding the use of the independent office above the warehouse for community use.  This could include the addition of a possible further floor and that these discussions were subject to WDC identifying their objectives for the community and for such discussions fitting in with the store's development timetable.

A meeting took place on 10th May between partners representing the community, namely Crowborough Town Council, Crowborough Partnership, Crowborough Community Association, Wealden District Council(WDC) and myself.  It agreed the need to drive forward the concept of a Community Hall as an integral part of the Safeway Development.

Since then, Members of the WDC Cabinet agreed to back the plans to house the facility in part of the new Safeway store.  The Crowborough Partnership, The Crowborough Community Association and The Crowborough Town Council also agreed to back the plans at their respective meetings and nominees were appointed under the Chairmanship of a Lead Cabinet Member (Mrs. Sylvia Tidy) from WDC . 

A Steering Group has now been set up with a Constitution and a Memorandum of Agreement. First draft outline proposals with indicative layout and size of rooms have been considered in the light of past surveys / comments from the Community and passed on to Safeway for initial response.

This possible project is very much in its infancy and much work and negotiation need to be undertaken but the Community and the various supporting groups will be kept up to date as and when things progress.

Updated 31st July 2002

Overgrown Hedges

Overgrown hedges present difficulties to many pedestrians and can obstruct sight lines for drivers negotiating junctions.  Upkeep of hedges is the responsibility of owner occupiers.

Problems caused by overgrown hedges encroaching upon footways are now being dealt with by Crowborough Town Council in the first instance.  Please contact the Town Hall by personal visit, phone call or email (use link under Contact Info).  

Invariably, the site will be visited and a judgement made whether or not the complaint is justified. If so, a letter will be sent to owners of hedges explaining the circumstances and asking them to cut their hedge; if necessary, a reminder letter will be sent. Should that prove unsuccessful, the matter will be handed over to ESCC for formal action.  In some cases, this may result in Contractors being authorised to cut back the hedge and invoices being sent to home owners for settlement.  Non payment will result in court proceedings being progressed.

Updated 1st August 2002

Friday and Saturday Evening Bus Services (Knights Park)

The Town Council took the lead and approved a contribution towards joint funding but, despite regular personal contact from me, no alternative funding was forthcoming from any adjoining parish councils or businesses (except 1) at Knights Park. However,  I had confirmation that Kent County Council will continue to fund this service for the foreseeable future within their current contract but time is fast approaching for contracts to be reviewed and longer term provision of this service cannot be presumed.

Community Transport

Community Transport will play an increasingly important role in the future and I arranged a joint meeting of Town Councillors and Crowborough Partnership with Marcus Dode, a representative from SRCC (Sussex Rural Community Council), on 17^th April at the Town Hall at 7.30pm to see whether or not Crowborough could benefit from/qualify for appropriate Central Government funding.  This is being investigated by the Town Council and a bid to fund a survey of local residents' public transport needs.

Independent Residential and Nursing Homes have, until recently, received less than cost of living increases from the County Council. Many local ones (including some at Tunbridge Wells) closed due to increased costs and 'mandatory' alterations required of premises.

Meetings have been held in Crowborough from time to time attended by some local owners and managers from Care Homes and some of their common issues have been discussed and pursued.  One particularly productive meeting about training needs and NVQ qualifications was held with local Homes, training providers, Care Home Inspectors and an ESCC representative.

The Golf Club is liaising with ESCC over establishing their position with the rights of the general public over common land. It is early days yet but should any formal application be made relating to changing paths on the golf course, there is a pre-consultation process that would normally include Town and District Councils, organisations such as the Ramblers Associations, other local access groups.

The new Strategy Document for the Wealden area has been issued. There is a requirement to publish such a strategy every 3 years to work towards reducing crime and disorder in the District Area. The first step was to review the levels of crime and disorder, collecting facts and figures from a wide range of sources. This audit was conducted by the police, District and County Councils working with the local Primary Care groups, the Sussex Probation Service and many other local organisations.

Updated 31st December 2003

The Crowborough Partnership

The aim of The Partnership is to improve Crowborough for the development and benefit of the local community through partnership action promoting appropriate economic, social and environmental development including the enhancement of services and amenities

The Partnership has approved a Revitalisation Strategy and Action Plans that focuses on 4 key areas of activity: Tourism; Business Competitiveness; Town Centre and Community Action. Of these 4 areas, progress has been made with the last 3 but Tourism has proved difficult to develop to date.  A unique feature of The Partnership is that, as it represents the Community and has by its very nature and existence to work in partnership, it is recognised by Government,  Local Authorities and other funding agencies as being the vehicle to bid for funding on behalf of the whole of or parts of their Community. It therefore has access to funding that is not necessarily available to, say, Town or Parish Councils or other individual organisations in the Community.

It has a Board comprising Crowborough Town, Wealden District and East Sussex County Councils, The Crowborough Community Action Group, Sussex Police, Crowborough Community Association, Beacon Community College, Crowborough Churches Together and Wealden Federation of Voluntary Organisations.

I took over the mantle of Business Competitiveness and, with the help and support of some local businesses, a number of projects relating to business issues (and in some cases other key areas) were progressed. For example:

A Newsletter and a Business Opinion Survey has been prepared and will be delivered by hand to all known businesses in Crowborough in the very near future on behalf of the Business Group and further information about the findings will appear on this website and elsewhere.

Updated 1st August 2002