News and events

news release

15 January 2025

Happy 100th birthday our West Sussex Library Service!

It’s 2025 and our Library Service is celebrating 100 years of being at the heart of the community in West Sussex.

To celebrate this historic milestone, we’ve planned a year filled with a diverse range of events and activities for you to take part in and enjoy, including an exciting Library of Possibilities and Wonders virtual reality (VR) experience.

You’ll be able to put on a VR headset and try out an immersive adventure by being transported into a magical world of virtual books. Library staff will be on hand to help anyone who is new to VR!

All 36 West Sussex libraries will host the VR headsets during the year. Exact dates the headsets will be at each library will appear shortly on the library service website.

The unique VR project has been made possible thanks to National Lottery money awarded by Arts Council England and it will celebrate books and the history of our Library Service in a very special way.

In addition, a variety of centenary-inspired events will be taking place at libraries throughout the year, including a history webinar, special events for adults, and fun activities for children and families. You can find out what will be happening near you at your local library, or by checking on the library website.

Sign up to the Centenary Reading Celebration and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a bundle of books.

If you would like to reminisce about your favourite books or library memories, you can write on special memory walls and books.

County council cabinet member for community support, fire and rescue Duncan Crow said: “This is such a special year for the Library Service. Our libraries are an integral part of the community, providing valuable services which support residents and help them fulfil their potential, which is one of the priorities in Our Council Plan.

“The centenary year will highlight the past, present and future of West Sussex libraries – our proud history, thriving present, and a look to the exciting future, especially digital innovations like VR.

“We hope people will join us in celebrating this milestone by coming along to one of the events and activities, or if you haven’t yet discovered your local library then now is a great moment to do that.”

On 13 February 1925 the county council adopted the Public Libraries Act 1919, paving the way for a network of libraries in the county.

The aim then was to provide a countywide service giving all residents free access to books.

Then, as now, libraries existed to provide universal, free access to information and literature, for the greater social good.

Currently, each week:

• 42,000 people are welcomed through our library doors

• 67,000 books are borrowed (or downloaded)

• 3,000 people enjoy library events and activities.

The first county librarian was Henry Twort. At the outset of the service, it was just Henry choosing and delivering the books in a Morris van. Within the next two years he had employed a small staff to help him.

The first libraries were hosted in village centres, which then transformed after the second world war into our network of purpose-built libraries, and the service we have today.

To find out more about 100 years of the library service and the programme of events commemorating it, visit https://arena.westsussex.gov.uk/centenary.

Notes to editors:

Guest attendance at the launch event is by invitation only; local media reporters are invited to join us to celebrate the centenary anniversary at a special event 100 years to the day the library service launched.

You will also get a first look at the exciting virtual reality project.

Date: Thursday 13 February 2025.

Time: Arrival from 10am, speeches at 10.30am, photos and interviews at 11am, closes 12pm.

Venue: Burgess Hill Library, 15 - 19 The Martlets, Burgess Hill RH15 9NN.

RSVP to [email protected] or by calling our Press Office on 0330 222 8090.

For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected].

For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415.

January events coming soon..

To stay updated on the latest news and events in Cuckfield, you can read our monthly newsletter at: https://mailchi.mp/c721eea32d0e/cuckfield-parish-council-january-newsletter

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Release date: 9 January 2025

The Cabinets of the three Sussex upper tier Councils have today agreed to submit an expression of interest to be considered for the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme indicating support for a Sussex Mayoral Strategic Authority which could unlock new powers for the region.

The Government’s white paper on English Devolution states that Mayoral Strategic Authorities will bring funding and local decision-making powers down from central government to deliver on economic growth, jobs and skills, housing and transport.

A Mayoral Strategic Authority could give the people of Sussex a stronger voice in how national decisions affect them and greater power to shape major projects across the area.

If the Government accepts the initial proposal for Sussex to join the devolution priority programme, the Government will run a consultation to obtain residents’ views.

West Sussex County Council Leader, Cllr Paul Marshall, said: “We were pleased to receive the clarity needed from the Government which clearly identified the benefits an elected Mayor and strategic authority would bring to Sussex. By bringing powers down from central government on transport, infrastructure and health, we can join services and plans together that will enable more efficient and strategic decision making which will help boost our economy and the wellbeing of our residents and communities.”

Cllr Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council said: “This is an exciting and significant step to unlock new powers and resources for communities across Sussex. I’m keen to move swiftly with the Government and all tiers of local government across the region to take advantage of the opportunities being presented to us.”

Leader of East Sussex County Council, Cllr Keith Glazier, said: “This is historic for Sussex; bringing together the three authorities and our partners to discuss the future of local government in the area and the benefits to our residents, businesses, and communities it could bring. We have all looked closely at the Government’s white paper, together discussed its benefits and what it offers and believe that we have come to the right decision to put forward an expression of interest for a Strategic Mayoral Authority for Sussex.”

The Government’s White Paper set out in detail the key areas that a strategic authority would be in control of to drive growth and provide support on shaping public services. These include:

• Transport and local infrastructure
• Skills and employment support
• Housing and strategic planning
• Economic development and regeneration
• Environment and climate change
• Health, wellbeing and public service reform
• Public safety

Additional information

The expected timeline following the submission of the proposal is:

• A devolution consultation would be held before the end of March 2025.
• The results of the devolution consultation will be assessed in the Spring 2025 following which a Ministerial decision will be taken as to whether to proceed with a Mayoral Strategic Authority (prior to unitary re-organisation).  The Spending Review will then confirm future mayoral investment funds for new mayoral areas.
• relevant legislation will be laid before Parliament in relation to the creation of Strategic Authorities.
• In March 2026 notice of mayoral elections will be given for a Mayoral election in May 2026. A decision whether to move to a Mayoral Strategic Authority under the reorganised arrangements would follow.

The plans for devolution do not change the councils’ commitment to service delivery for communities across Sussex.

There will follow a separate process of Local Government re-organisation

• A formal invitation to submit reorganisation proposals will be issued to all authorities in January. 
• At the end of 2025 and in early 2026 Ministers will consider unitary proposals and delivery phasing with statutory consultations being undertaken on the first tranche of proposals.

Timelines for the remainder of the reorganisation process will be subject to the proposals received.

A new adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s comic and quirky tale “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime”, a delightfully silly Victorian comedy chock full of muddled murder attempts and comic confusion. Meet Lord Arthur Savile – he has riches, the best of health, complete happiness and is engaged to marry his beautiful fiancé Sybil in just three weeks’ time. But his future mother-in-law invites a fortune teller who reads his palm, exclaiming “I see blood on your hand”. The scene is set! Lord Arthur now believes he is destined to commit a murder, and to avoid any intrigue or inconvenience to his bride to be, he decides to perform the dastardly deed before the wedding takes place. With murder in the offing, his hilarious attempts to avert disaster are more hindered than helped by various servants…. assorted relatives …. passing anarchists …. and a strong sense of upstanding Victorian duty. Which method will Lord Arthur choose, to whom? and will he succeed? Our scene is set for an evening of outstanding comedy, suspense and intrigue!

Book here: Winter Tour Dates

Good afternoon,

I hope this email finds you well.

I wanted to remind you of the mechanisms for reporting a problem with a road or pavement, such as a pothole, flooding or drainage issues and overgrown vegetation.

In the first instance, we ask that residents report these problems directly to us using our online reporting forms: Make an enquiry or report a problem with a road or pavement - West Sussex County Council

Residents can also report the matter to our Customer Services Centre via [email protected] or if the issue is an emergency and presents an immediate risk to public safety, we ask that they phone 01243 642105. This phone number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Reporting problems via these tools creates a direct enquiry for our officers, enabling them to investigate the issue, ascertain if an intervention level defect is found as per our Highway Inspection Manual and then forward the issue on to the appropriate service specialist for remedial works to be undertaken.

Additionally, our online Pothole reporting tool has been updated, to simplify the process for residents and enable them to easily confirm if the issue has already been reported, prior to entering any other information. You can view these new changes here: Report a pothole online - West Sussex County Council

Following a recent trial on the way in which we communicate with Parishes and our trusted partners, we have created a separate email address, specifically for Parishes to escalate complex issues within your area: [email protected]. For community projects, the installation of wildflower verges and so on please use: [email protected].

I would stress that these email addresses are not to be given to the public and are not to be used for the general reporting of issues with the highway, such as potholes and flooding. In these circumstances, we would direct you to report via the main mechanisms, detailed above.

You may find the following pages on our website useful to share with your residents, including information on our Better Roads Campaign, winter service and severe weather updates.

• Better Roads - West Sussex County Council
• Winter service - West Sussex County Council
• Severe weather update - West Sussex County Council

We are keen to promote the use of our social media pages, including our current X (previously known as Twitter) account and this is where you will find road updates for your area, including road closures, emergency works, severe weather warnings etc on high-speed roads.  Please follow us (@WSHighways) / X (twitter.com)

Finally, I wanted to inform you that I have now recently taken over from Christine Ellison as Assistant Area Highway Manager and to provide you with my contact details for future reference.

I look forward to working with yourselves in the future.

Kind regards

Andy Tuck

Assistant Area Highway Manager – Eastern Area

Economy, Infrastructure & Environment – Highways, Transport and Planning

West Sussex County Council

Location: Eastern Office, Jobs Depot, Pookbourne Lane, Hickstead, West Sussex, BN6 9HD 

Contact: Internal: 25162 | External: +44 (0)330 2225 162| Mobile: +44 (0)7546 763656 | E-mail: [email protected]

Calling All Amateur & Novice Artists! Exhibit Your Work in a Relaxed, Non-Competitive Space

• What: Quarterly art exhibitions showcasing the creativity of local amateur and novice artists.
• Who: Open to all local artists, free of charge.
• When: Exhibits change quarterly on the 1st Tuesday of January, April, July, and October.
• Details: No specific theme—bring any artwork you’d like to display.

This is a wonderful opportunity to share your art in a supportive environment!