The John Lawson Circus tried to drive onto the South Avenue Recreation Ground yesterday in order to entertain us this week. Due to the very wet ground conditions the Circus took the decision not to stay. There is some damage to the field which we will make good as soon as possible.

Earlier this year the Parish Council was disappointed to receive notice that the Nationwide branches within both Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks would be closing. We were concerned about the likely impact, particularly on residents, those without cars and our High Street. We pushed back hard in concert with other Councils and councillors and our MP, but to no avail. We similarly anticipated the loss of the Post Office ATM on the cessation of the Bank of Ireland contract with Post Office Ltd. Again, we made the point that only one ATM in a community of this size was insufficient at this time. We encourage residents to keep supporting the Post Office by using all of its counter services.

The Parish Council is delighted to announce that it elected Helen Bedford as a co-opted Councillor at it’s meeting on 29 April 2021. The appointment was made following a public notice advertising the vacancy in April for a Parish Councillor. The Parish Council has 15 Councillors, the majority of whom were elected in May 2019, and all of whom will serve till May 2023. The annual council meeting is being held at Court Bushes on 27 May at 7.30pm.