Westfield

Buses: Sarah Owen, the Labour candidate for MP in Hastings and Rye, and East Sussex County Councillor John Hodges were the speakers at a public meeting to discuss proposals that ESCC should make major cuts to the county’s subsidised bus services - 60% of which are in rural East Sussex. They stressed that a bus service is a service to the community and undertook to do everything in their power to fight the proposed reductions. For Westfield, the following is proposed: Buses 340 and 341 - currently hourly, to be cut to every two hours off-peak; Bus 342 - will see one journey a day cut; Dial-A-Ride service - will be cut from five days to two days. To make your views known please contact Sarah Owen; you can find out details about a petition against the changes at www.sarahowen.org.uk/BusCuts. You can contact Cllr John Hodges at [email protected]. You can also type Don’t Stop Our Bus into Facebook. Please complete the ESCC consultation, at https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/?economy-transport-environment/individualbuschanges/consult_view, to make your views known. Did you know that as well as cuts, fare increases of 30% could be introduced? Please also make your views known to MP Amber Rudd at Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings TN34 1HL or tel. 01424 205435.

Shelter: The long-awaited bus shelter has now been erected opposite the shop. We may need it more than ever.

Blood: The mobile blood unit made its last visit to Westfield on August 6. The service to villages is being withdrawn and in future donors will need to go to the Hastings Centre or Battle.

Friendship Club: Fortnightly meetings at the Parish Hall start again on Monday, September 15 from 2pm-3.30pm. Members can enjoy whist, bingo and Scrabble, a chat over tea and biscuits and borrow books and puzzles. New members are welcome.

Fun day: Unfortunately Westfield Youth Group’s Free Funday, due to take place last Sunday, had to be cancelled due to the poor weather. However, it is hoped to run it from 10am-2pm on Sunday, September 7, so book the date. Activities will include bouncy castles, bungee run, crazy golf, inflatable fun, sumo wrestling and more. Westfield Football Club will be joining for the day, so come along and test your skills and see if you can beat the speed gun with a huge kick. There is no charge for the activities but bring some money for the barbecue, tuck shop and drinks. Call Dan or Min for more details on 07899 917952.

Football: Westfield FC has arranged for Pass and Move to host summer football coaching sessions for boys and girls aged over 4 who want to have some fun, learn more about the technical side of football and get out of the house and kick a ball around in the summer holidays. Tony and Duncan are both UEFA B (level three) licensed coaches, and coach to have fun in a safe environment. There’s a session today (Friday) between 9.30am and 2pm, costing £12, and on Monday September 1 and Tuesday September 2, also 9.30am-2pm (£12 per day or £20 for both). Pass and Move also runs coaching sessions every Saturday at St Leonard’s Academy from 9am-10.30am (£3.50) or 9am-11.30am (£5). For information about any of these please email Duncan on [email protected], call Tony on 07545 813545, visit PassMoveBattle on Facebook or see the website. Westfield are still seeking volunteers to help provide local football opportunities at all levels and ages. If you can offer occasional or ongoing support, on or off the pitch, please contact the club via the secretary [email protected].

Website: Visit the village website www.westfieldvillage.co.uk for information about village organisations, events, Westfield Community Association, the Parish Council, and all sorts of useful links. This is your website, set up to serve the village community, and your contributions, news and views are needed. The website now has details about locally available seasonal produce for sale from home and ‘back garden’ producers. If you have spare eggs, plants, home grown vegetables etc for sale (even if only occasionally) and would like to be included in our new website feature, please email [email protected].

National Trust: The Rye and District Association of the National Trust are organising the following: Friday August 22, Annual Fun Golf Day - at Sedlescombe Golf Club. Please contact Marion Brunt on 01424 883566 for details and entry forms. The cost of £40 includes lunch. Monday 8th September, The London Legacy Tour - a blue badge guide will lead this tour which explores the lasting legacy of all the building work to create the Olympic venues and the athletes’ village. This effectively marks the beginning of a 25-year masterplan for a whole new London district. Tickets are £49.75 pp which includes coach travel and a two course carvery lunch. The optional Orbit Tour (which is an extra £11) provides a unique opportunity to ascend the Orbit, the UK’s tallest public sculpture. You should already have booked to secure a place, but we can occasionally accommodate last minute requests. Please contact Ros Adkins on 01797 253763 for more details. Saturday 4th October, a theatre outing to see “One Man, Two Guvnors” at the Marlow Theatre, Canterbury at 2.30 pm. Total cost £43 per person (coach included). The National Theatre’s award-winning comedy has been enjoyed by theatregoers worldwide. Written by Richard Bean, the play is a glorious celebration of British comedy – a laugh out loud mix of satire, songs, slapstick and glittering one liners. We will arrive in Canterbury in good time for a light lunch and some window shopping. Tickets need to be booked well in advance, but it may still be possible to secure a place. Please contact Ros Adkins on 01797 253763 for more details.

Email: To send information for the Westfield Village Voice, please [email protected].

George Sunderland

Heathlands