I WOULD like to refer to David Hill's statement in the Mid Sussex Times on December 3 – 'Stop this whingeing' – regarding section 106 monies available for the development of the Millennium Village Centre in Scaynes Hill.
The centre was first envisaged around 1994/95. At that time money from section 106 was not easily available. To put the record straight:
The total cost for the centre was between £500,000 and £600,000 including cost to furnish it.
We received app
roximately £250,000 from the Millennium Lottery Fund, £100,000 from the sale of the WI village hall, £20,000 from West Sussex County Council applied over four years. Mid Sussex District Council contributed approximately £40,000, Lindfield Rural Parish Council funded £ 5,000 a year over four years to enable the project to commence and borrowed £50,000 to complete the project. Not to mention the contribution allowing for the clerk's time over the period.
Further contributions: discounted bricks from Freshfield Lane Brickworks; discounted kitchen from Magnet Southern; Harvey's of Lewes, free beer, discounted wines for fundraising events and raffle prices; Monkhouse and Bannister – free advice; many homes for committees and fundraising events; lovely people made jam, cakes, sandwiches, gave goods, organised so many varied events; people pledged money who lived in and around Scaynes Hill; Mid Sussex District Council provided endless help and advice; in addition to all of the above the Millennium Lottery Fund granted a further £36,000 to complete the car park.
Well done people of Scaynes Hill and Lindfield Rural! I was proud of you and I hope you are of your centre. It is a great achievement!
Sheila Hobbs, vice-chairman, Lindfield Rural Parish Council,
Spring Lane, Lindfield.