Gatwick Airport has launched a prestigious engineering Apprenticeship Programme for 2022, with applications now open to mark National Apprenticeship Week.

This is the 45th year of the Apprenticeship Programme, which has seen more than 300 people pass through, since its inception in 1977.
Now, the airport is on the hunt for four new Technical Apprentices in Engineering Mechatronics Maintenance to join its cohort.

The four-year programme will give young engineers the opportunity to earn while they learn, with training covering hands-on experience of various engineering sectors across the airport.

Applications will remain open until Monday 7 March.

More information can be found at gatwickairport.com/apprentices

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In response to recent reports in the national press of untreated sewage being illegally discharged in rivers across the country, and specific reference being made to the River Mole, Councillor Stephen Cooksey, Leader of Mole Valley District Council, has written to the Environment Agency and Thames Water to clarify matters and to understand what action is to be taken.

Councillor Stephen Cooksey, Leader of Mole Valley District Council, said: “Residents may have seen the report on the BBC about untreated sewage being discharged into the River Mole. The report names the sewage treatment works at Dorking, run by Thames Water, as being responsible for the highest number of unpermitted spills identified in those findings.

“I would like to assure our residents that I will be pressing for these organisations to communicate with us and residents about this concerning issue.”

You can read the BBC’s report here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60040162

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Crawley remains the area’s highest concentration of coronavirus cases.

Its rate of just over 1,400 per 100,000 is only topped by Waverley and Woking.

In contrast Tandridge now has one of the lowest rates in the South East with 1,000 per 100,000 with only Dartford lower.

See the latest figures here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-55133602

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Conservators have voted to introduce parking charges in the Ashdown Forest.

They said the money is vital to maintain paths and tracks, and to clear up rubbish.

The proposal was rejected by more than half of those who took part in a public consultation.

But the chief executive of Ashdown Forest Conservators, James Adler, said: “The open heathland is our version of tropical rainforest. The forest needs all the help it can get. “It involves everything that you would imagine, from looking after the habitat to dealing with the maintenance of the car parks, to dealing with the paths and the tracks, picking up rubbish.”

The forest, famed as the location for the Winnie the Pooh books by AA Milne, is an Area of Outstanding Beauty covering 10 square miles, with 47 car parks. The proposed charges will range from £2 for an hour to £6 for all day, or £80 for an annual pass.

In total 2,800 people responded to the public consultation, with 43% disagreeing strongly with parking charges and 11% disagreeing slightly, although 70% agreed more funding needed to be found.

Julia Nye, who runs the public Ashdown Forest Facebook page, said: “Some people will be put off from coming to the forest, quite a few other people you will find will try to use alternative places to park. “My particular concern is for those within the low income groups.”

Mr Adler said those on low incomes would be able to apply for discounted passes.

He said: “I would hope those people who really love and care for the forest will understand their payments are directly contributing towards the infrastructure which supports their visits.”

A tendering process will be carried out to find the best way to introduce the charges, which are expected to start in the summer.

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