Rother District Council say that the bin-emptying service is continuing as normal for the time being.

So please put your bins out when you usually would.

However, be aware that services might be affected by staffing issues. Household waste sites (eg the Mountfield dump) are closed.

The above link also has advice on how to safely dispose of possibly contaminated waste.

Message from the vicar

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Food Bank.

We have an impressive array of foodstuffs which will be delivered this Friday.

If you still want to bring things to the Rectory, Thursday evening is the last possible time. This is because all Food Banks have changed their policy on donations and are now asking for cash rather than goods.

Cash donations can be made through the foodbank website.

Thank you once again for your generosity.

Ann-Marie

 

The vicar has asked me to pass on this food bank appeal.

Food banks are currently experiencing an increase in demand at the same time as a reduction in donations.  It is a desperate situation.

Our nearest food bank is in Battle, behind St Mary’s Church.  It opens for two hours every Wednesday afternoon.

Donations to the foodbank can be made by depositing them at Brightling Rectory.  A kind volunteer has agreed to then take them down to Battle.  If you would like to donate but don’t want to leave your home, please contact the vicar by phone [01424 838504] or email [revannmariex@gmail.com] and she will collect from you.

The Battle Food Bank is a branch of the Bexhill food bank and is run under the umbrella of the Trussell Trust, which ensures that it is well run and only gives to the genuinely needy.

They need tinned vegetables especially peas, carrots and sweetcorn; tinned fruit especially peach, pears and pineapple; instant mash; and they also urgently need sugar and UHT milk.  All food needs to be within date.

If taking donations to the Rectory, please leave them behind the door beneath the Rectory sign, which is always open during daylight hours.

The vicar, Rev Ann-Marie, says “This is something practical we can do as a community to help in this crisis. ”

The following village events have been cancelled:

• All church services except weddings, funerals, baptisms and licensing, with only close family allowed at the discretion of the vicar.  Full notice here.
• Village Market until further notice
• Spring Forward quiz (28 March)
• Village Trust AGM (1 April)
• Annual Village meeting (6 April)

Jules Hammonds’ yoga classes will not take place in the Village Hall but there will be on-line classes instead.  Contact julesinyogaland@hotmail.com if you are interested.

On the subject of the Village Market, Chris Wing writes:

After consulting with the stallholders and Katrina, who runs the café, we have decided to cancel the monthly market in Brightling Village Hall until further notice.

I believe that now is the time, if we can, to support our small independent local businesses so that they are still there when this is all over.

Jo at Homestead Farm (meat) is happy to do local deliveries for those who can’t get out and about. Or you can collect from her at the farm.  jo@homestead-farm.co.uk  01424 838252   www.homestead-farm.co.uk

Lighthouse Bakery breads are available from their shop at 28 High Street, Ticehurst.

In these difficult times, if you feel you need a nice treat, Judy at Asselton Cakes & Preserves would be happy to supply jars of her award-winning marmalade or a delicious cake (Victoria sponge, Lemon drizzle cake, Coffee & Walnut cake, Sussex Apple cake). All her cakes are freshly made so can be frozen, so you could order a few at a time.  judy@asselton.co.uk   01424 870344.

We very much hope to see everyone back at the market in the not too distant future.

Public church services are suspended until further notice.  This suspension does not apply to weddings, baptisms, funerals and licensing.  However, at the discretion of the vicar, attendance at these will be restricted to immediate family, excluding anyone at risk from infection.

This is part of an announcement from the Archbishops that “The Church is Changing”, following yesterday evening’s message from the Prime Minister and discussions in Parliament.

The vicar, Ann-Marie Crosse, says ” I am very sorry that church services have had to be cancelled particularly at this time when many people are needing prayer. All three of our parish churches will be open during daylight hours and I hope you will find that they provide space and refuge when needed. I am not on holiday and if you wish to get in touch about anything at all by phone [01424 838504] or email [revannmariex@gmail.com] you are most welcome. In fact, the house is big enough, should you want to visit in ones or twos, for us to maintain ‘social distance'”

The Bishop of Chichester says “The strapline is that the church is changing.  The Church, the life of the people of God, the presence of the body of Christ on earth, continues to exist.  However, the manifestation of our presence is changing.”

The Archbishops say “We have called,along with our fellow church leaders,for a day of prayer and action this coming Sunday – Mothering Sunday (22nd March). Mothering Sunday has always been both a day of celebration for many and a sensitive and emotional day for some. Wherever you are this Sunday please do join in this day of prayer and action and remember especially those who are sick or anxious,and all involved in our Health Service. As one action, we are calling on everyone to place a lighted candle in their window at 7.00 p.m. as a sign of solidarity and hope in the light of Christ that can never be extinguished”

The full communication can be found at https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/archbishops-call-church-england-become-radically-different-public-worship.

If you are aware of anyone in the parish who is vulnerable or in self-isolation and is likely to be in need of assistance your parish council is here to help. Please contact any of:

Caroline Croft – 01424 838278 croft-caroline@sky.com
Judy Petty – 01424 838868 judyp123@btinternet.com
Dianne Mower – 01424 838170 contact@diannemower.co.uk

Information will be treated in confidence.

Further information:

NHS Coronavirus advice
Rother District Council

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.