Message to Residents from the Mayor of Hailsham

In his latest message to the residents of Hailsham, Town Mayor Cllr Paul Holbrook explains how he has remained busy during the COVID-19 pandemic communicating with residents, local businesses and community stakeholders, and assures everyone that the Town Council continues to support the community and is working hard to run as many of its services as possible during the second lockdown:

“Throughout the pandemic, from the first lockdown through to post-lockdown restriction-easing and now into the latest, second lockdown, I’ve continued my role, remained active as a representative of the Town Council and assisting our more vulnerable residents in our town as much as possible.

When the original lockdown restrictions were introduced back in March, I wanted to do something to help the community.

At that time and even now, in lockdown again, I’ve maintained regular contact by phone with the many local community groups, voluntary organisations, businesses and individuals who are offering local deliveries, pick-ups, drop-offs and even those checking on or caring for people who are self-isolating, elderly or more vulnerable to the virus. I am truly amazed by the response of you all to the pandemic during the past eight months.

I continue to meet on a regular basis with representatives from Sussex Police and the local Chamber of Commerce remotely via online video conferencing, to discuss local policing issues such as antisocial behaviour, and how officers are responding to the pandemic.

I keep in touch with Town Council staff regularly, including our Town Clerk, Planning & Environment Officer and Communications Officer, to keep abreast of any changes to our services and facilities and helping to communicate these changes to the public. I’ve also maintained frequent contact by phone with the Hailsham Youth Service team and cemetery staff, and carried out inspections at the cemetery and allotment plots in the town, and visited our lovely staff at the town centre post office to discuss the lockdown measures in place on their premises and how they’re coping with everything.

Furthermore, I will continue to attend any remote/online meetings held during this period of lockdown and beyond, and to date, I’ve chaired three Full Council meetings held in April, June and September, as well as two extraordinary Council meetings which took place in August and an Emergency Grants Panel session during the first lockdown, at which grants were awarded to some of the voluntary associations and charities which are doing so much to help the local community during the pandemic.

So I’m still representing the town in many ways as I’ve just highlighted, and I’ll continue to be on call to residents should they need to talk to me about Town Council services or discuss ways to help the vulnerable during the pandemic.

In closing, I wish to assure residents that the Town Council is continuing to support the community during the pandemic and is working hard to ensure that government guidelines relating to social distancing and protection from COVID-19 are met. In doing so, it is hoped that Council services/facilities which are currently closed, will be reopened as soon as possible.

On behalf of the Town Council, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their understanding of these necessary precautions as we take every step possible to ensure their good health and safety – and that of our members and staff.

Please rest assured that we will keep the public updated via the local press, on our website and via social media.

Thank you and please stay safe everyone.”