NEWS RELEASES
Easier access to council information in Storrington
22nd June 2004
PEOPLE living in or near Storrington will soon be able to gain access to council information in a more central and busy part of the village.
Horsham District Council’s office and joint councils’ help point at Chanctonbury House in Church Street is to be moved from 29 June.
The Help Point will continue to be part of the county and district councils' Help Point network and will open on Tuesday (29 June) at Storrington Library in Ryecroft Lane.
The Help Point will be open on Tuesdays (9.30am -1pm, 2pm - 5.30pm), Thursdays (9.30 am-1pm, 2pm -5pm) and Fridays (9.30am – 1pm, 2pm - 5.30pm).
It will continue to offer a single point of contact about any council service such as street lights, council tax, planning (including viewing planning applications), recycling, blue badges and litter.
The service can be contacted on the same telephone number as before, (01903) 742233 and, as usual, the District Council’s main number in Horsham is also available on (01403) 215100.
Home visits can be arranged for appointments with members of staff from the the District Council’s service departments. This is on offer for those who can’t make it to the new Help Point in Storrington but need to see someone in person from the District Council. The service is available by arrangement and is offered if appropriate.
The District Council is also looking at the possibility of investing in a new meeting room in the library to give an even better service to the public.
Explaining the move, Cllr Roger Paterson, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Information Technology at Horsham District Council, said:
“The reason for the move of location is that the two other tenants in Chanctonbury House have moved out and it is not viable to keep just one Council office in that building.
“We also want to take this opportunity to make access to councils’ services easier in a busier location in the village, whilst doing this as cost effectively as possible.
“We look forward to working with our partners at West Sussex County Council’s Library Service and Help Points network in doing this.”
In addition to this, Horsham District Council has also installed a new 'Horsham District Infolink' computer and telephone link to the councils’ Help Point in the Somerfield Supermarket in Storrington.
This free touch screen service gives information by the internet and telephone about local council and other services. It is in addition to two similar ones already provided in Horsham town.
“The District Council’s website continues to offer a multitude of information about local services, including the ability to view planning applications and details online,” Cllr Paterson added.
Ends
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
(01403) 215549