7th December 2018
Another year has almost passed and in 2018, the Town Council has been extremely busy making improvements within the local community with placing duel waste bins and refurbishing the town’s playgrounds amongst other projects around the town.
The Peacehaven & Telscombe Neighbourhood Plan has been constantly worked on by a team of volunteers for the good of the town and its residents. For further information please contact Steering Group member Cathy Gallagher by emailing cathygallagher.cg@gmail.com
In terms of my role as Town Mayor I have had the pleasure of visiting some of Peacehaven’s community groups and voluntary organisations, many of which the Town Council has awarded grants to in order to be able to introduce new or improved facilities, activities or projects for the benefit of the town. I have been busy fund raising to buy two ECG portable machines for our local Doctor's surgeries at Rowe Avenue & Meridian Anchor, a presentation will be made at my end of term reception in March.
Perhaps the most moving event during my term so far was at Meridian Park when a commemoration of the outbreak of the Great War was held. This was a simple ceremony that was attended by many, with a very great age range. It was vital that we remembered those of the town who made the greatest sacrifice. We should never forget what they had given up for us. We also purchased a 6’ Tommy figure following the ‘There but Not There - We will Remember’ events which is permanently fixed to the war memorial wall.
As Mayor, I will continue to visit as many places and people as possible during the remainder of my term, to raise the profile of local charities and voluntary organisations, all of whom work tirelessly to help others and make individuals lives just that much better and brighter. I would like to thank the people of Peacehaven for the opportunity to represent them, and my colleagues at the Town Council for all their administrative and other support throughout.
Last, but by no means least, I’d like to bring the point home that Christmas is not only a time of joy and festivity, but also the time of year when we should look out for those who are alone, vulnerable, or without close family ties.
I trust you will pause briefly in your own celebrations to remember those less fortunate than yourselves and donate to the local Food Bank. We wish we could say that there was no need for a Foodbank and that there was no hunger in Peacehaven, but, unfortunately the need is still high and no less during the run up to Christmas.
We all need food, but sometimes it’s easy to take it for granted, and some people find themselves in considerable hardship during the festive period and struggle to afford to feed themselves and their families.
The Foodbank in Newhaven does an amazing job in reaching out to those in need, and the real heroes are the volunteers who give so much of their time week in week out providing emergency help to around 1,000 people a year.
Last December, the donations helped us to spread some Christmas cheer to our residents in need and, while so I’m delighted that people have shown their generosity towards this charity, I would encourage everyone to help more – at least have a look to see if there is anything they can spare, and to offer much-needed support by dropping food items off at the Information Office in the Meridian Centre to enable us to forward your parcels on.
On behalf of all the members and staff at Peacehaven Town Council, the Deputy Mayor Cllr Job Harris and I wish Peacehaven residents “a merry Christmas and peace and happiness in the New Year.”
Cllr. Jackie Harrison-Hicks – Mayor of Peacehaven