Welcome to the June 2025 edition of our Residents’ eNewsletter, featuring the latest news and updates from your county council.

Celebrate Sussex Day!

It’s Sussex Day on Monday (16 June) - the perfect time to discover or rediscover all the things our county has to offer.

Find a whole bunch of things to see and do, places to go and interesting historical anecdotes about our county by clicking on the link below.

You can also test your local knowledge with our fun quiz!

If Sussex Day has inspired you to get out and about and explore our wonderful county, then why not leave the car at home and take the bus instead?

Whether you are heading to the coast, countryside, or a day out in the town centre, there's an affordable and eco-friendly bus journey waiting just for you.

Young people aged 16 to 20 travelling in West Sussex can get cheaper fares with the 16 to 20 Bus Saver.

State pension age residents and people with an eligible disability can apply for a free bus pass anytime.

If you’re looking to travel in the rural areas surrounding Petworth, Barnham, and Chichester you can use our Book-a-Bus service, which also gives you access to special discountswith several local businesses.

Have your say on improving the lives of children and young people

We'd like to hear your thoughts and ideas to help us develop a plan that will help give children and young people in West Sussex the best start in life.

The Children and Young People’s Plan explains how we will work with our partners to give each child and young person the support they need to achieve their potential.

Our current plan went live in early 2022 and runs until the end of this year.

We will be updating the plan for 2026 to 2029 and want to consult with children and young people, families, and professionals to ensure their voices are heard and represented in the refreshed plan.

Local support for unpaid carers

If you're an unpaid carer for someone, whether it’s a family member, friend or neighbour, it's important to know that support is available to help you manage your responsibilities and look after your own health and wellbeing.

Check out these free support services:

Carers Support West Sussex Provides carers with guidance, practical help, and emotional support with a range of services, from benefit advice to accessing carer funds, support groups, carer hubs and a carer helpline.

Carers Health Team This service, provided by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, is designed to promote the health and wellbeing of carers over the age of 18, registered with a West Sussex GP. The team of health professionals offers free support to carers whose own health is suffering because of their caring role.

Young Carers Family Service – West Sussex County Council supports young carers under 18 through assessments that can provide advice, direct support, respite, and family assistance. They also offer mental health support for young carers affected by their caring duties.

Caring for others can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. These services are here to help you access the support you need.

Take part in these surveys

• How much do you know about recycling? To help cut the confusion of recycling we’re running another survey to ask you what information would help you to recycle more. Closing date: 30 June.
• Let us know your thoughts on proposals to improve the Hazelwick and Tushmore junctions in Crawley. Our aim is to make walking, cycling and public transport more attractive options for short journeys. We are also hosting two drop-in events at The Charis Centre, West Green Drive, Crawley on Thursday 26 June and Wednesday 2 July, from 1pm to 5pm. Closing date: 14 July.
• We want your views on the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), compiled following a survey which ran earlier this year. A PNA is a comprehensive assessment of the current and future pharmaceutical needs of the local population and takes place every three years. Closing date: 25 July.

County councillor updates

Key positions, including chairman and vice-chairman, were confirmed at the recent annual meeting of the county council - find the details here.

During the meeting Leader Paul Marshall (pictured above), gave a statement to fellow councillors about local government reorganisation.

The county council has also recently welcomed five new councillors following a series of by-elections in the county. Here are the people who were elected:

St Leonard’s Forest – Sam Raby.

Burgess Hill North – Jane Davey.

Hassocks & Burgess Hill South – Erika Woodhurst-Trueman.

Midhurst - Yvonne Gravely.

Horsham Riverside – Louise Potter.

Head to our Newsroom to find all the latest news.

• Bognor Regis Esplanade improvements have been completed. This significant milestone marks a major step forward in the ongoing regeneration of the seafront, which will see over £40 million of investment from public and private organisations.
• Do you or someone you know use a telecare alarm? Landline phones are switching to digital, which could stop telecare alarms working. This means that all landline providers need to know which of their customers use telecare, so they can keep them safe. The switchover is already happening, so you need to act now. If you or someone you know uses a telecare alarm, call the landline provider now for support. Visit digitalphoneswitchover.com to find out more.
• Visit our Safe Clubs for Children information pages to find useful advice and guidance when choosing a holiday club or activity.
• We have upgraded all our Pay & Display machines in Bognor Regis as part of an ongoing programme. The new machines, which are now also in use in Worthing and East Grinstead, accept both coins and secure debit/credit card contactless payments. The upgrade is designed to make on-street parking payments faster, easier and more reliable for residents and visitors alike. Upgrades in Chichester and Crawley are scheduled for later this year, with Horsham in 2026. Click here for more information or to share feedback.
• Increase your skills and awareness on the road as a biker, pillion rider and/or general road user by attending a free Biker Down course in Chichester on 26 June from 6pm.
• Are you taking a travel adapter with you on holiday? Make sure the one you’re using meets UK Safety Standards. Our Trading Standards team regularly tests travel adapters for sale in West Sussex to ensure they’re compliant and, most importantly, safe. If you spot an unsafe adapter for sale you can report it here. Find more electrical safety information here.
• If you’re looking for a job in one of our schools you can now find all current vacancies on our job search webpages. Teaching and support roles are listed, as well as opportunities in school leadership. Just select the education roles and locations you’re interested in.
• The achievements of children and young people in care, care leavers and children in kinship care, and the adults that support them across West Sussex have been celebrated at the Exceptional People in Care (EPIC) awards.

Establishing good oral hygiene from an early age is key to preventing dental issues down the road. Here are some tips for looking after children’s teeth.

If your child experiences a dental emergency like a knocked-out tooth or severe toothache, don’t wait, seek immediate care.

You can access urgent dental services through the NHS Sussex Emergency Dental Service.

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