Permanent Base wanted for Lifeline
Wealden District Councillor Margaret Kirkpatrick is hoping the proposed Community Safety Unit at Hailsham will be able to provide a new home for the vulnerable people helpline, Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline.
“It is vital that Lifeline gets a permanent home from where it can operate. It provides a valuable 24 hour service to the elderly and vulnerable people living in Wealden and Eastbourne using home-installed alarms, but it needs good accommodation from where it can carry out this essential service,” said Councillor Mrs Margaret Kirkpatrick, Cabinet member for Housing and Community Development on Wealden District Council, and a board member of Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline.
“The proposed Community Safety Centre at Hailsham would provide Lifeline with the ideal location to serve the whole of Wealden and Eastbourne. The Community Safety Centre would be an extension to Hailsham Fire Station, putting the two emergency operations side by side.”
The centre will also provide safety advice for people living and working in the area and a room for community use. An innovative design will attempt to make the centre as environmentally efficient as possible with the help of rain water collection, a mini wind turbine and solar panels.
Wealden Lifeline merged with Eastbourne Lifeline earlier this year but has been operating from Eastbourne Borough Council’s premises until a suitable location can be found.
A two day exhibition is being held by Hailsham Trust this week at Prospect House, George Street, to give the public a preview of the new Community Safety Centre plans before an application for planning permission is made. The exhibition will include new technology which Lifeline now uses to provide people with additional safety and security in their own homes. This takes place on Wednesday November 23 and Thursday November 24 from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
