Meeds North By-Election 2012

Exciting times in Burgess Hill for there is to be a By-Election for the 'Meeds North' Ward on Thursday 10th May 2012 - this is because sitting councillor Neil Lawrence had to resign due to a work relocation.

Meeds North was a new Ward introduced for the first time in 2011.
Due to an administrative cock-up last May, residents had to vote at a later date to decide their councillor with the Conservative candidate Neil Lawrence defeating the Lib Dem's Lesley Cartwright by 179 votes to 138.

Only 20.1% of the 1532 eligible people turned out to vote, this may have been because they couldn't be bothered to walk to the polling station twice in quick succession, however if there is a similarly low turn out next month then it could be a right old scrap with every vote being vital.

Last week the candidates were announced, rather surprisingly, there are 7 of them vying for a seat on the council where they will get to sit alongside the likes of Publicity Pru Moore and Ansty's Emily White.

The seven are....
Conservative Party - Dan Airs
Green Party Anne Eves
Independent - John Bray (Author:A Persistent Campaigner Against Injustice)
Independent - Tom O’Hara
Labour Party - Janet Smith
Liberal Democrat - Kathleen Willis
UK Independence Party - Chris French

A few early observations.
Dan Airs was a LIB DEM candidate fighting for a seat in the Victoria Ward last year, he lost. Is this a case of 'If you can't beat them, join them'? Is he really a genuine supporter of the Conservatives or just a realist that knows the voters choose the party and not the person?

Kathy Willis was a defeated Lib Dem Candidate in the Victoria Ward in 2011. Will the Lib Dem's even worse reputation hinder her?

John Bray lives in Haywards Heath! It could end up being another Emily White saga, although his byline of 'A Persistent Campaigner Against Injustice' seems there could be an interesting reason for his nomination.

Not much is known about Anne Eves, Janet Smith and Tom O'Hara so no comment can be given although O'Hara has served as a councillor before (not sure for which party)

Finally we come to UKIP's Chris French, what's so notable about him? He's the only candidate living in the Meeds North Ward! AND he has a Twitter account @chris_french although that must be some sort of a mistake. Traditionally, elected councillors disappear off the face of the earth. Having a Twitter account is just plain wrong and that will have to go if Mr French is elected!

Who Will Win?
With so many minor candidates, the voters disillusioned with the Conservatives and the Lib Dems will find their votes split between the other 5, meaning that a Conservative victory is most likely, especially considering the previous sitting councillor was a member of the Conservatives. However, if either Bray, Eves, French, O'Hara or Smith put together a stonking campaign, there could be chance for an upset.

*****Coming Soon*******
We'll be analysing the candidate's election literature
(more like tearing it to shreds!)

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Burgess Hill Audio Blogging - On A Bike!

Hello Readers

In this blog entry I'd like to share with you something quite awesome that was recorded by a Burgess Hill lady of whom I am currently stalking on Twitter. Her name is Patricia Rykiel, or @ComputerTweety for those of you already on the microblogging website.

Anyway, @ComputerTweety also uses a service called audioboo and decided to record a trip to Burgess Hill Town centre where she needed to pick up some bits from Waitrose. What made the recording even more novel was for the fact she was doing it whilst riding a bike (Women and their multi-tasking!)

Popping to the shops in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, UKaudioboo.fm/boos/733769-bi…

— Patricia Rykiel (@ComputerTweety) March 29, 2012

Using a bit of magic I can embed her recording right onto the blog page, it should appear below, have a listen.

A bit of a random thing to be sharing with you, but that's the sort of stuff you come across on Twitter. Don't forget, Burgess Hill Uncovered are on Twitter. Follow the account @burgesshillnews you'll find the best Burgess Hill Tweets retweeted by the account and some original ones too. A nice community of Burgess Hill locals is growing steadily. Soon enough there will be enough of us to take over the town.

That is all for now, more updates over the weekend, thats a promise!

Publicity Pru Strikes Again

You just can't keep a media whore down. Once again Pru Moore has struck. This time in a VIDEO!

The Mid Sussex Times tweeted a link to the video along with a report about how Bedelands Nature Reserve have revived a dipping-pond after using a digger and a dumpster to remove lots of silt, dead leaves and other muck. It is unfortunate that the excitement of seeing a video feature on the Mid Sussex Times website was ruined with seeing Pru Moore's face before even clicking the play button. If you really feel the need to watch the video, then click here --
Video: Wildlife gets boost at Burgess Hill Beauty Spot

I'm sure you readers are very thankful for this latest Publicity Pru update.

Tesco Expansion Turned Down, More Retail Units To Come?

During a chaotic December, you may have missed the news that Tesco have officially withdrawn their application to extend their store by 50%. This followed a report which indicated that Tesco's plans would likely have a detrimental impact on Burgess Hill Town Centre.

The cynics among us may think it could be more a case of New River Retail and MSDC being told by Sainsbury that they won't come to Burgess Hill Town Centre if they have to compete with an even bigger Tesco. Thus a report is produced to essentially tell Tesco NO! A good 18 months after the plans were first revealed.

A week later the local newspapers reported that developers Location 3 Properties have "Entered into conditional contracts to acquire the freehold and long leasehold interests on a site fronting Jane Murray Way, in Burgess Hill.


Two major retails have been penciled in to occupy the 55,000 sq ft space with Location 3 properties claiming to have submitted a planning application to Mid Sussex District Council in November 2011. A browse through the MSDC planning portal website however shows no search results for the application. If an application has been submitted and gets approval, around 100 new jobs would be created.



It seems a DIY store is a certainty to be built, along with hopefully a good electrial superstore. If not, a Toys 'R' Us would go down a treat!

In your author's humble opinion, all of this seems very convenient with the timings, Tesco doesn't get its extension which would have included a bigger offering of electrial items, and then a week later a company announces that it will be bringing in some retail units essentially next door, which could very well include electricals. Hmmmmmm.

What do you think readers?

Burgess Hill Christmas Parking Lacks Christmas Spirit.

Last week we received a copy of the email that Burgess Hill resident Chris French sent to the Mid Sussex Times regarding Mid Sussex District Council's amazingly generous offer of £1 for all day parking in the two least popular car parks in town on Saturdays.

Chris was questioning whether £1 was really a good deal considering most people only need to shop for a few hours which would cost £1 anyway. He raised the question of why £1 for all day parking didn't apply to the Multi-Storey Car Park at the Martlets and the ones in Cyprus Road and Church Road which prove much more convenient for shoppers. Thirdly he suggests that MSDC should have made parking free on Saturdays in all the MSDC controlled car parks.


Thankfully the Middy chose to print Chris' letter along with a reply from MSDC's John De Mierre....
The Town Councils and District Council want to support businesses and residents, and allowing all-day parking in the long-stay car parks means that shoppers can do so at their leisure for just £1. We all need to shop locally and keep the district's economy strong.

Clearly a rather pathetic response, not at all addressing the questions raised by Chris French. I guess John De Mierre couldn't give any answers as he didn't have any which would sound logical, so he avoided them all together.

Lets face it, the council didn't bother making it free parking or extending it to the car parks closer to the shops as they wouldn't be able to ticket cars that stay parked too long. If anything, their '£1 all day parking scheme' will make the Council extra money as the Car Parks in Station Road and Queens Cresent are barely used. Its funny that Mr De Mierre says that We ALL need to shop locally to keep the economy strong, yet the Council really haven't done anywhere near enough to entice shoppers both locally and from out of town to want to visit Burgess Hill. Local shops rely on strong Christmas trade to keep them afloat. We're always hearing about these tough economic conditions, yet the council only seem to have made a move which will benefit them and not the local traders or shoppers.

Bravo Mid Sussex District Council. You really do care.

Have a look -- Google 'Free Christmas Parking' and you will find many Council's which are bothering to support local shops.

Oh Dear! Mayor to switch on Christmas Lights

Burgess Hill's Mayor, Christopher Thomas-Atkin (the one we didn't get to choose) clearly thinks alot of himself, for on December 1st at 6pm its been decided that he is the best person to be switching on the Burgess Hill Christmas lights in order to draw local residents into the town centre.

Christopher Thomas-Atkin's role these days is to promote the town, whereas the juicy work is handled by Andrew Barrett-Miles as the council leader.

Can someone please explain how the Mayor switching on the lights is a good way to draw people into town for this festive event? Burgess Hill is not a tiny little town anymore. Such an event needs some sort of a celebrity to be switching on the Christmas lights.

How difficult is it to pick up the phone or to send an email to potential candidates? At the very least some squad players from Brighton and Hove Albion with a few of the Gully's Girls could have been lined up.

Kings Lynne with a population only around 25% bigger than Burgess Hill are having both Letitia Dean AND the X Factor's Johnny Robinson turning on their lights. We get the Mayor.

So, its a choice between the Simpsons on Channel 4 at 6pm on Thursday 1st December or to go into town to watch the Mayor turn on some lights.

Mid Sussex District Council's Community Toilet Scheme

There are good ideas, bad ideas and then there are the totally crap ideas (Pun intended)

Last year Mid Sussex District Council discussed the possibilty of giving discounts to businesses in East Grinstead if they made their staff toilets available to customers.

Clearly the council believed this to be a brilliant idea as they've now extended it across the whole of the district. It's the 'Community Toilet Scheme'

The council think that in these 'Tough Economic Times' if a shop in Burgess Hil Town Centre lets customers use their toilet facilities, it could lead to more sales.

For example, pop into Burgess Appliances to use their toilet and pick up a washing machine on your way out. Do they think that's really going to happen? Really?

Why would the council want to use rate payers money to encourage shops to make their toilets available for public use when the people of Burgess Hill are very much well provided for already? Public toilets next to the library, the fine facilities in the MarketPlace Shopping centre. The council are even going to offer cafes a financial insentive to make their existing customer toilets available for public use!

Surely shoppers in town would feel a little awkward about going into a local business, using the toilet and NOT buying anything in return? As above though, why would shoppers need to when there are plenty of public toilets available anyway. Arrrrrrrgh!

Our council tax could be put to better use when the funds at MSDC are being severly cut by central government.

Is there any willingness from shops in Burgess Hill to want to take part? Will the efforts required even be worth the saving on their business rates? Owners would have to ensure their toilets are always kept clean. The need to keep a very close eye on who is coming and going out the back. It could pose a rather big risk to the staff and their stockrooms! Who knows what sort of weirdos would love to take advantage of going 'behind the scenes' in our local shops.

Unsurprisingly its our favourite councillor Pru Moore quoted in the council's press release.....
“The scheme has the potential to benefit both the public and the local businesses taking part. Local shops are able to increase the number of people visiting their premises, giving them the potential to increase revenue and the public will have a greater choice and standard of toilet facilities.”

Thanks for that Pru. What will you come up with next? Shutting down another leisure facility perhaps that doesn't affect you.