Mr Tom Miles, area manager for UK Power Networks, and a colleague, attended Brightling Parish Council’s meeting on Monday 9th March and spent about 40 minutes answering questions from members of the public.  We learnt that Brightling has indeed had an above-average level of power cuts in recent years, and they did promise to monitor this level and report back again in a year or so.  There was a definite hint that villages that make a fuss get more attention, so I think it was worth doing.  Here are some things I learnt:

• Irrespective of who you bills you for your electricity, UK Power Networks are responsible for delivering the stuff.
• They don’t always find out automatically when you get a power cut.  If it’s a fault affecting the high-voltage distribution network, their automated systems will alert them.  But if it is a fault in the local low-voltage lines, they may simply be unaware.  So, always report a power cut; don’t assume someone else has.
• You can report a power cut by dialling 105.  Works from landlines and mobiles.  Calls are free!  Why not write this number on your fusebox?
• You are entitled to compensation (money) if a power cut lasts more than 12 hours.  However the 12 hour limit before compensation is payable increases to 24 hours in severe weather or 48 hours under certain circumstances.  You can also get compensation if you have four or more power cuts of over 3 hours each in any year.  And sometimes they use their discretion and lower the time limits (eg in storm Ciara they were paying after 18 hours).
• You will only get the compensation if you apply!  They don’t generally seem to send it spontaneously.  The number to phone is 0800 028 4587 (office hours).  Or fill in the form at https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/help-and-advice/need-help/can-i-claim-compensation-if-i-have-a-power-cut.html
• If you have a “vulnerable” person in your household, you can register in advance for extra help.  The definition of vulnerable is quite wide (anyone over retirement age, babies or children under 5, or with special medical needs).  For example Tom Miles said it would be reasonable for a vulnerable household to request a portable generator once a power cut had been going on for 12 hours.  Or they can put you in a hotel!

Here are some further thoughts of my own:

• Landlines continue to work in a power cut, but many people’s internal phones will rely on the electricity supply (eg cordless systems).  It is worth keeping an old-style phone for use in emergencies.
• For £25 or so, you can get a device that will keep your mobile powered for days and days during a power cut.  Search for “mobile power bank”.
• Most people would rather have a working supply – compensation is obviously second best.  But I would suggest that it is always worth applying for compensation.  Apart from anything else, it helps to keep the supplier on their toes.

All supporters, helpers and anyone else are warmly invited to the Flower Show planning meeting at 7:00 pm Thursday 12 March 2020, in the Village Hall.

Refreshments are promised.

A representative from UK Power networks will be speaking at the next meeting of Brightling Parish Council (7:30 pm Monday 9th March, in the Village Hall).

This is your opportunity to ask about the power cuts which have (I am told) been affecting various properties in Brightling.

Irrespective of who you pay your electricity bill to, UK Power networks are responsible for delivering the stuff to your home, and for maintaining the cables, poles, ducts, transformers, control equipment and so on.

Specifically on the subject of cuts during “Storm Ciara”, I read the following on UK Power Network’s web site: “Regulations applicable to the electricity industry say compensation payments are due to customers who were without power for 48 hours. However in recognition of the inconvenience caused, we have decided to offer goodwill payments to those who lost power for more than 18 hours due to the storm.  Over the next few days we’ll be contacting all customers that are eligible for compensation due to Storm Ciara with details on how to claim their payment”  This was published in mid-February, so by the time you read this you should have been contacted, if eligible.  If you weren’t you could contact them on 0800 028 4587 or care@ukpowernetworks.co.uk.

If anyone has kept an accurate log of their power cuts (date, time and duration) that would be a useful thing to produce during the meeting.

With the UK having left the EU, agricultural policy will change.

The government has now pulished a summary of its new Agriculture Bill.

More general information can be found in the “Farming is changing” document.

An out-building was broken into in Brightling in the last week or so and a quadbike was stolen.

It has already been reported to police by the owner, but please keep things locked away and keep an eye out for shady characters in the area.

A message from Charles Everett:

BRIGHTLING VILLAGE TRUST AGM, 7.30 pm WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL 2020

Brightling Village Trust will have its Annual General Meeting at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 1 April in the Village Hall. The Trust exists to support charitable purposes in Brightling and can also make grants to help individuals and relieve hardship. This gives the Trustees discretion to support a wide range of activities which will benefit people in Brightling and which aren’t otherwise supported.

This meeting is your opportunity to make suggestions for grants that the Trust should consider making, and indeed suggestions for potential donations or proposals for raising funds.

This year, we want also to talk about four other small Brightling charities, the Mary Herbert Educational Foundation (set up in 1728 to support girls’ education), the Catherine Stone Bequest (to support the welfare of Sunday School children), the Jesse Gregson Charity (to provide bread to needy Brightling parishioners) and the FH Scott Charity (to support the poor of the parish including through the provision of coal). Meeting the Charity Commission requirements for these very small trusts has proved hugely burdensome – and their precise objectives are now out of date. It has been suggested that the Village Trust might take them over and use what funds there are to benefit modern Brightling.

If you have views on this, please come along to the meeting. At the moment, we don’t know how to do it or even if it will be possible. But first of all, we want to check out whether you think this is a good idea. And, assuming we go ahead, how can we best preserve the history and broad intention of the original bequests?

So, please come along to the Village Hall at 7.30 pm on 1 April – see you there.

Charles Everett

Chair, Village Trust

The next regular meeting of Brightling Parish council will be on Monday 13th January. As ever, the time is 7:30 pm and the place is the Village Hall.  It has been very gratifying to see that a few members of the public have started to come to our meetings recently.  Everyone is welcome and has an opportunity to raise topics for discussion.  There is no need to stay for the whole meeting – most people don’t – and we try and do the interesting stuff first.

The High Weald AONB unit has identified a number of self-guided circular walks of various lengths – perfect for Boxing Day.

Are you being kept awake at night, sick with worry about when your bin is going to be emptied over the Christmas and New Year period?

If so, help is on hand.  Simply visit web page www.rother.gov.uk/findmynearest and after entering your postcode etc, you will not only see your bin emptying days, but also some other fascinating information.  NB This works all year round, not just at Christmas.

(Better still, take the zero waste Christmas challenge and never worry about bin emptying ever again – Ed.).

Message from Biddy Akerman:

Everyone in Brightling is warmly invited to the church Christmas Drinks party, at 6:30 pm on Wednesday 18 December, at Brightling Rectory, kindly hosted by the vicar. A donation of £10 gets you in and secures your first drink; pay bar thereafter.

All proceeds go to the church.

There will be tip-top nibbles and superb company.

See you there.