Hailsham Town Council has issued some guidance to residents on how to stay healthy and warm in the winter, as well as some information about who does what locally during the winter months.
With the cost-of-living crisis a major problem for many residents, the Town Council is pleased to have recently introduced measures by setting up warm banks to help residents who are struggling to pay their heating bills and stay warm.
The Town Council, like the community at large, is concerned about the town’s residents and what cost-of-living issues many are facing this winter. ‘Warm banks’ (also called ‘Warm Hubs’) have become widespread everywhere, with a lot of councils, including those at parish level, having opened them because it is necessary in many cases.
Hailsham residents are reminded that the Town Council has set up a warm bank at the James West Community Centre in Brunel Drive, situated in Meeting Room 1 and open from 10am to noon on Saturdays and Sundays until the end of February). Everyone struggling with keeping warm at home and paying their energy bills are welcome to attend. Hot drinks are available and people attending are encouraged to bring board games, books and other items with them.
There are several other warm banks currently in operation in Hailsham, including an additional facility set up by the Town Council and Hailsham Youth Service at the Square Youth Cafe at 1 Market Square on Fridays from 11am to 1pm and the Charles Hunt Centre in Vicarage Field, operating on weekdays from 9am-3.30pm (for over 55s only).
Any additional Warm Bank facilities which open in the town will be added to the Town Council’s website: hailsham-tc.gov.uk.
Some people are more vulnerable to the effects of colder weather during the winter months, including:
If you are 65 or over, or in one of the other at-risk groups, it’s important to seek medical help as soon as you feel unwell.
You can obtain help and advice from:
Influenza, or the flu, will often get better on its own, but it can cause serious illness among older and more vulnerable people. Therefore, it is important to get the flu vaccine if you’re advised to.
Information on the flu vaccine can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/ If you are aged 65 or over, you are also eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine, which will help protect you from pneumonia.
Follow these tips to help keep you and your family in good health at home:
East Sussex County Council provides a free ‘Warm Home Check’ Service for low-income households who own or privately rent their property. If you are on a low income and are either: an older person, a family with children, a disabled person or someone with a long-term health condition (or if anyone in your household is), then you may qualify for this service.
The Warm Home Check includes:
It is quick and easy to self-refer online for a Warm Home check . Alternatively, text WARM to 81400 or Call 03444 111 444.
Colder winter conditions bring with it potential hazards such as snow and ice, therefore the Town Council is urging residents to take extra care when out and about at this time of year.
There are lots of people involved in keeping the town and its roads and footpaths as accessible and safe as possible in winter.
East Sussex County Council (ESCC):
ESCC is responsible for the highway winter service in Hailsham. With a few exceptions, ESCC grits and maintains the highways, including most of the roads locally.
ESCC has primary and secondary gritting routes – when icy conditions are forecast they will grit primary routes first (including all A and B roads and some C roads). They provide a 24/7 gritting service, scheduling gritters based on weather forecasts and road surface temperatures.
You can find out more about ESCC’s work over the winter months at https://www.eastsussexhighways.com/our-services/winter-service.
Wealden District Council (WDC):
WDC is responsible for keeping much of the town clean and tidy – including clearing fallen leaves from the pavements. WDC also has some resources which it may deploy to assist its staff, tenants and the general public in snowy and icy conditions, including precautionary salting and gritting of WDC’s car parks as well as some pavements.
Hailsham Town Council (HTC):
HTC looks after most of Hailsham’s parks and green spaces. In winter, HTC’s priority is to make the key paths and routes in these spaces as safe as possible for the public and looks to support ESCC and WDC during spells of particularly inclement weather if priorities for the town change.
“Colder temperatures and adverse weather conditions bring with it a number of health risks and can make fighting infection more difficult, particularly among older adults and other vulnerable groups.
It is important to remember that the majority of winter-related illnesses here occur at temperatures that may be considered quite mild and well before my might see frost or ice. Therefore, it is highly beneficial to check whether older and more vulnerable people you know or care for are able to keep their homes warm and to keep checking even when temperatures remain mild.
Bad weather during the winter months can also make some people more susceptible to accidents such as slips and falls. Add to that, it can become increasingly difficult for the elderly or those with underlying conditions to collect medicines or shop for food.
For this reason, we are publishing useful information that can help better prepare people in the local community for the winter climate and adverse weather conditions.
This winter, we face significant additional problems associated with the current cost-of-living crisis and difficulty heating homes due to the rising cost if energy bills. Local community groups and voluntary associations have always been quick to respond to the needs of the people of our town and this has further been demonstrated by the Town Council’s provision of its own warm bank facilities at the James West Community Centre and the Square Youth Cafe during .
Whilst warm banks are not the only solution to helping people affected by the cost-of-living crisis keep warm, they certainly can help.
The Town Council’s discussions before Christmas concerning warm banks in Hailsham were both necessary and highly productive, and we will continue to do everything we can right to try and protect our residents.”
Terry Hall, Communications Officer
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk