Community Emergency Plan

Turners Hill Parish Council's Community Emergency Plan provides support, advice, and guidance to the local community both in advance of and during any significant and/or local emergency.

Although not required by law, Parish Councils can play a vital role during and after a local incident. This Community Emergency Plan is designed to complement those of emergency responders (emergency services and Mid Sussex District Council).

By planning in advance, Turners Hill Parish Council can help coordinate local response activities. By being prepared and being able to respond to an emergency can often help people recover more quickly and make communities more resilient.

Vulnerable Residents in The Parish

There are people in all communities that are seen as potentially vulnerable in an emergency or crisis. For example, children, the elderly, those with mobility difficulties, those who receive care from relatives, the homeless (this list is not exhaustive).

Many of our vulnerable residents will be known to existing service providers (people who live or are present in vulnerable establishments such as schools, nursing homes or day centres).

There will be others who, for a variety of reasons, are more difficult to identify – such as those who live in the community as individuals, visitors to the area or the homeless. Contingency arrangements are needed to ensure they are not overlooked. Therefore, Turners Hill Parish Council will hold a list of vulnerable individuals in the Parish. So, if we are faced with a local emergency, we can ensure that we help those who need it most.

If you know of anyone in the Parish who you deem as vulnerable and would like to include them on our confidential list, please contact us at the office on 01342 712226 or email us office@turnershillparishcouncil.gov.uk

How Can You Help?

Calling all Businesses and Voluntary Groups and Individuals! Can you help your community in an emergency? Are you able to offer valuable assistance at such times, such as:
• Checking on vulnerable people
• Collecting provisions and prescriptions
• Distributing water
• Helping move property and furniture
• Clear snow or trees (you may own a chainsaw or 4X4)
• Provide shelter or food and drinks

The above list is not exhaustive but gives an indication of the kind of things that we think we can do to help people affected by an emergency.

If you are able to help email us at office@turnershillparishcouncil.gov.uk, letting us know your contact details and the skills or resources you have that could help the community in an emergency.

We understand circumstances change, so there is no obligation to help. What it means is that you may receive a call to find out if the assistance you have offered is still available and if you are able to help.

West Sussex County Council has prepared a wealth of information about how to best prepare yourself for an emergency. There is also a Household Emergency Plan that can be downloaded.

Priority Services Register

Vulnerable residents can join Priority Service Registers for water and energy. These registers are free, and it means vulnerable residents will get extra support when needed.

South East Water Priority Services Register or call 0333 000 2468
Southern Water Priority Services Register or call 0800 027 0800
SES Water Priority Services Register or call 01737 772000
UK Power Networks Priority Services Register (for power cuts) or call 0800 169 9970

Emergency Co-ordinator

The Chairman of the Parish Council will take the lead in co-ordinating local resources during emergencies, and will be supported by the Clerk and Deputy Clerk

Join our vulnerable list

If you know of anyone in the Parish who you deem as vulnerable and would like to include them on our confidential list, please contact us

Register as a volunteer

Let us know your contact details and the skills or resources you have that could help the community in an emergency

List of Organisations

These may be helpful to identify vulnerable people or communities

Utilities and Contacts

A list of utilities and useful contacts

Winter Management

Responsibility for salting and gritting

Both the roads and pavements rests with West Sussex County Council (WSCC). The Parish Council does not have the resources to undertake this across the village. In the event of concerns as to safety on the roads or pavements please contact the Highways Authority WSCC. WSCC Highways aim to keep the key priority routes - A and B roads, plus other roads of local importance, safe and passable during bad weather. These 'Winter Service Network' routes cover 1,690km of roads and include access to:
• airports
• major bus routes
• police stations
• ambulance stations
• fire stations
• A&E hospitals
• large industrial establishments

This work is undertaken using 20 gritters, to which snow ploughs can be attached if required. There are 19 routes that take around three hours each to complete. Trunk roads such as the A27, A23 and M23 are an exception as they are the responsibility of National Highways, which has its own winter maintenance policy. It is not possible for West Sussex Highways to grit (salt) or clear snow from all other roads, footways, or cycle ways. During snowy weather, WSCC is unable to respond to additional requests for salting as all their resources are required to keep the main routes open.

Grit bins

Whilst grit bins are not provided by WSCC, Turners Hill Parish Council provides approximately 11 grit bins in strategic locations around the village to support the local community.

Locations:
Lion Lane – to the side of Central Stores
Lion Lane – lower green near electricity sub station
Lion Lane – by the wall of the Red Lion Public House
Medway – at the entrance, next to post box
Mount Lane – opposite The Ark
North Street – near junction with Hill House Close
Willow Ridge – outside No.17
Willow Ridge – at junction with Withypitts East
Withypitts – at junction with Selsfield Road
Withypitts – at junction with Withypitts East
Withypitts East – at access road to flats, next to No.29

These are filled by WSCC annually before the start of winter. Grit bins are provided at various locations throughout the village to allow drivers and pedestrians to treat localised icy conditions. The bins contain a salt/sand mix which is solely for use on public roads and pavements and should not be used for private driveways. WSCC does not offer a top up service during the winter season and commercially available salt tends to become expensive and scarce during cold weather.

How to use grit

You do not need to carpet an area with grit to achieve the desired effect. ‘Dusting’ the grit sparingly from a shovel will prove to be effective.

The salt should be used sparingly as a little goes a long way.

Please remember if you use all the grit in one area, others will be without and that refills will be unlikely.

Reporting damaged grit bins

The Parish Council have a program of works to replace damaged or broken grit bins however, if a grit bin near you becomes empty or damaged, let us know office@turnershillparishcouncil.gov.uk 01342 712226.

Supporting your neighbours

Severe weather conditions can be life threatening, especially to those who are less likely to be able to look out for themselves. During these times, you can help your more vulnerable neighbours by calling in on them to check that they are warm, well and have sufficient food supplies, and gritting footpaths.