MIDDY

Off-Licence Closure
Oakmeeds pupils were seen weeping in the streets as all three Unwins branches were closed due to the precarious financial position of the firm. It makes me wonder, what happens to all the booze if they go bust? Closing down sale? Perhaps they pour it all away? And what about those who frequent St John's Park? Think of the length of walk to the now nearest offy.

Drink Driving Warning
Chris Standard, a Haywards Heath police inspector, warns of the dangers of drink driving in the annual festive crackdown. But he also goes further: "Driving under the influence of drugs - whether prescribed medication or illegal substances is just as dangerous. It's also against the law." So now it's illegal to take prescribed medication and drive. This can't come as a surprise to some of us, a few years ago a man was imprisoned after causing an accident because he had a lack of sufficient sleep. When are all these Health and Safety prigs going to realize that there is a difference between wilfully going out and committing a crime and an accident? How long before people are imprisoned for causing an accident while suffering from flu or taking insufficient rest stops? All the time while judges go soft on burglars.

THE CITIZEN

Trees Awarded To Recyclers
Our councillors are congratulating themselves on recycling. For they have been given 72 free trees for recycling 72 tons of aluminium. Bless! Pity about all that rubbish blowing in the wind, because the council decided to do away with a full rubbish collection service. There's a Blue Peter holier-than-thou attitude amongst greens that gets my goat. The council's blue box recycling scheme is an advert which says you are not at home and an open invite to burglars. Sorry, I forgot. If you are a councillor, you don't need to work, anyway.

THE LEADER

Mid-Sussex Into The Future Rumbles On.
Talking of the dumb council, it seems plans to demolish flats in the centre of Haywards Heath have been abandoned. "The controversial proposal was part of the draft (or should that read 'daft'?) master plan for the multi-million pound regeneration of the town." The town clerk of Haywards Heath, Carol Preston, says residents should make their views known during the six-week consultation over plans for Mid Sussex. I hope Inspector Standard, has his urine testing kit ready, as I would like him to take samples from some of the planners and councillors involved in the Better Mid Sussex project. Many of them seem to be away with the faeries, dreaming up grandiose schemes that offer no solutions to residents' problems. We have insufficient parking, yet it is suggested Cyprus Road in Burgess Hill could become a bus terminus. They have suggested that we are in need of a Starbucks. As if there aren't enough places to buy coffee as it is! The council turned down the opportunity of the bingo hall becoming a live entertainment venue, and instead chose to approve a fourth Chinese restaurant instead!