PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER CRISIS

BY GROUP EDITOR, PAUL GIBSON

Plans are underway in Hailsham to deal with a tough winter ahead for vulnerable and low-income families. Rising energy costs and the threat of localised back-outs this winter have urged Hailsham Town Council to make plans in case residents need a place to keep warm.

In a meeting of the Assets Committee, Councillors discussed plans to introduce ‘Hubs’ across Hailsham to support people who really need help this Winter, a sub-committee to set up the hubs has been formed ‘as a matter of urgency’. There are worries local residents could suffer the worst winter since war times and those on any level of income suffer massive increases in energy bills. East Sussex County Council has suggested its Library network could potentially be a place where residents could turn to as a place to keep warm and save money by not having to heat their homes.

Foodbank services have never been more in demand with a dramatic increase in demand in recent months for their services.

Councillors suggested one large hub for the town is unviable as those who need support shouldn’t be reliant on their own, or public transport to get to the hub, so smaller venues

Although Wealden District Council is responsible for general Emergency Planning for Hailsham and Wealden, councillors are forming the sub-committee which consists of members of the Assets Committee, to immediately discuss plans to create the hubs ahead of the cold period.

During the meeting, Councillor Keogh said “The impact on our domestic economy by the Russian war criminal Vladimir Putin