Ultrafast broadband is coming to our area!

Very excited about this.  There has been tremendous work by Brightling and Ashburnham & Penhurst Parish Councils on this issue for a long time and they deserve a massive shout out.

There are many of us in our parishes who get what is not exactly Ultrafast Broadband, although it may well be called that.  I have just tested my broadband (on my laptop) and I get 35.29Mbps download and 6.54Mbps download – not what I would call Ultrafast!

You can check your broadband speed by going to the site below

BT Wholesale Broadband Speed Checker

This offer guarantees Ultrafast and FIBRE TO PREMISES, most of us have fibre to cabinet.  I’ve just pooled my voucher into the scheme and have classed myself as a business (parish clerk to two councils).

I know for a fact that there are graphic designers, architects, draughtspersons etc., who have real problems working from home without Ultrafast broadband (fibre to premises).

Please do read the document below, it will give you full details on how to pool your voucher and IT WON’T COST YOU A PENNY!

Ultrafast broadband full details

To pool your voucher, go to the link below

Click on this link to pool your voucher

Even if you don’t see the benefit of Ultrafast broadband for your particular circumstances – please do pool your voucher into the scheme, it will benefit so many others.

Irene – Parish Clerk

 

Additional Compensation for latest power cuts

 

Please see statement below from Basil Scarsella about additional compensation for the recent power outages.

Statement from UK Power Networks CEO Basil Scarsella

I appreciate what a difficult time this is, for our many customers who have experienced a power cut caused by Storm Eunice which saw record wind speeds and damage across the South East and East of England.

While we work hard to get everybody back on supply, we have decided to make goodwill payments to our customers who were worst affected by power cuts caused by Storm Eunice and have been without power for 24 hours.

We recognise that being without power for this extended period affects your daily life so we have decided to make an extra £50 payment, earlier than payments would normally apply which would be after 48 hours.  This means that if you were impacted by Storm Eunice you will be eligible to receive £50 after 24 hours without electricity, an additional £70 when you reach 48 hours, and an additional £70 thereafter for every 12 hours without power. 

There is no need for you to call us – we’ll contact everyone who is entitled to a payment by text message, email or letter in the coming days. If you prefer you can fill in our online claim form.

I hope you and your families are safe and well. Please rest assured it’s our top priority to get your power back on as quickly as we can.

Basil Scarsella

Memorial Bench for Gwen and Peter Westwood

Gwen and Peter Westwood were at the heart of the Dallington community for many, many years – running the Post Office Stores.
Their granddaughter, Emma, very generously donated this beautiful bench to Dallington in their memory.  The perfect gift for us all, including those who did not know Gwen and Peter, to sit and remember what is precious to us.

Memorial Bench for Gwen and Peter Westwood 2Memorial Bench for Gwen and Peter Westwood 4Memorial Bench for Gwen and Peter Westwood 3

Be Careful – Dangerous Dogs in Dallington

For anyone not the the local Facebook pages…

This is copy and pasted from Rother Police this evening –

Police are urgently trying to locate three aggressive dogs which are on the loose in Dallington, while also looking to trace their owner.

Officers were called to Buckholt Farm at 7.35am on Thursday (October 28) by a resident concerned about three stray terrier-type dogs on their land which were acting aggressively.

Following extensive attempts by police officers and the RSPCA to capture the animals, they fled the farm and are currently unaccounted for.

Anybody who sees the animals should not approach them, but call 999 immediately quoting serial 222 of 28/10. Similarly, if you are their owner please also urgently get in touch with us.

Owners of livestock and other animals are also advised to be vigilant, as the dogs could pose a threat to their safety.

https://www.facebook.com/RotherPolice/photos/a.493826270658292/6805870906120432/?type=3

RIP Gwen Westwood

Many of you will remember with great affection, Peter and Gwen Westwood who ran the Dallington shop for around thirty years.
I have just heard from their granddaughter that Gwen passed away last Tuesday.
When Freddie and I moved to Dallington and our friend Ken Putt took over the shop, so many people had very many kind and affectionate memories of Peter and Gwen and the tremendous work they did for the Dallington community, I think they were involved in practically everything that went on.
Their granddaughter hopes to have a memorial plaque or bench in their memory, more on this later.
Irene – Parish Clerk

 

Sussex Woodlands Photography Competition

Action in rural Sussex – Photography Competition 2021

Dallington is home not only to beautiful woodlands but also many talented photographers so we should have a good local showing in this year’s AirS photography competition.

The theme is  Sussex’s Wonderful Woodlands and how people enjoy and get to know the woods. Whether your focus is on beautiful wildlife or on people, AirS say, “our judges will be looking for imaginative, beautiful images that capture the vibrant woodlands within Sussex and the community spirit that weaves throughout these areas. We want to see you out there getting involved with nature and the woods!”

Entry is free, and the competition will be open until Sunday 28th November 2021. There will be three age categories to enter: under 10s, 11-17 and 18+, and some great prizes.

For full details, see the website at https://www.ruralsussex.org.uk/photography-competition/

Village Hall News update & September 2021 Events

As most of you know, we were finally able to reopen the hall towards the end of July after prolonged closure due to Covid.  Our regular weekly activities – art club and the library café – have resumed and it’s been a joy to see old friends meeting up for the first time in over a year. The monthly Villagers group normally takes place on a Thursday afternoon, but this month hosted an entertaining evening talk open to all, about Vivien Drake, a former Dallington resident with theatrical connections. Another well attended talk took place in August on the wartime history of Dallington Forest and other woodlands, and as you can see we have a full programme lined up for September.

Events in September
(Please note no Art Club or Library Café on Bank Holiday Monday 30th August)

Saturday 4th10-12Library Cafe
Monday
6th10-12
Art Club
Monday 6th2-4 Library Cafe
Thursday 9th2-4Villagers Group
Games afternoon
Friday 10th11-12Chair Yoga
New weekly beginners course, starts 10th September More details
at https://www.living-yoga.co.uk/classes 
Monday13th10-12Art Club
Monday13th2-4Library Cafe
Friday17th11-12Chair Yoga
Friday 17th7-9 QUIZ NIGHT 7pm start
Entry £5 to include refreshments (bring your own wine)
Monday20th10-12Art Club
Monday20th2-4Library Cafe
Friday24th11-12Chair Yoga
Monday27th10-12Art Club
Monday27th2-4Library Cafe

Please note that we are retaining some precautions to keep the hall ‘covid safe’,  including provision of hand sanitiser, extra ventilation and limiting numbers for each event.

In order to encourage more people to come forward with new ideas, the Management Committee have agreed to use some grant money to enable us to waive hall hire fees until the end of the year for groups or one-off events that are of potential interest and benefit to the community as a whole. Please get in touch with the booking secretary Karen Gillingham  on 01435 831563 if you are interested in booking the hall.