East Grinstead Guide: Tuesday 27 October
Issue #002 | Tuesday 27th October 2026 | Storm advice, getting around, Weir Wood and Christmas help
GIF: Omer Studios via GIPHY
Good morning, East Grinstead! Pop the kettle on: here's what's happening in town today.
After a wild and wet weekend of storms, here's what you need to know, and a little help that's available before Christmas. Half term runs until Friday 30 October: for what's on, see our events page. Link
If there's something happening in town you think we should cover, email us at [email protected].
Grant, East Grinstead Guide
In this East Grinstead Guide issue
💧 Todays Weather
🌬️ After the storms: fallen trees and power cuts
🚧 Getting around town this week
💧 Why Weir Wood can't top up Ardingly Reservoir
🎄 Christmas help for over-66s: applications open
⭐ Featured local business
🏆 Have your say: Best of East Grinstead 2026
📸 Photo of the week
Looking for a local business? Find shops and services on the East Grinstead Guide website.
1. Todays Weather
2. After the storms: fallen trees and power cuts
Storms Austen and Boelo brought down trees and cut power across Sussex. The key advice:
Fallen tree blocking a road? Don't call 999 unless someone's life is in danger. Call West Sussex County Council on 01243 642105.
Damaged power line? Stay well clear and report it to UK Power Networks on 105.
Fallen tree closures were still being reported around Ardingly on Sunday, so check before you set off on country lanes.
More from the fire service: Link
3. Getting around town this week
A few things to know if you're out and about in East Grinstead this week.
College Lane is closed from Old Road northwards to De La Warr Road until Friday 6 November, while the gas mains are replaced.
Garland Road is closed to southbound traffic for 40 metres from the London Road (A22) junction until Tuesday 10 November, while new electricity cables go in. Link
Greenstede Avenue, from Elizabeth Crescent to the end, is due to close again today, 9:30am to 2:30pm, for resurfacing. Link
Fairlawn Drive: South East Water is doing urgent repair work that could run until Thursday 29 October. It affects the pavement only. Link
Late trains: up to and including Thursday night, the 22:50 and 23:22 from London Victoria stop at East Croydon, with a replacement bus on to East Grinstead, and the 23:06 from East Grinstead to Victoria is replaced by a bus to East Croydon. Replacement buses may be busier, so allow extra time. Link
Diversions are signed and access to homes stays open. Questions about the road closures go to West Sussex County Council on 01243 642105.
Photo: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0
4. Why Weir Wood can't top up Ardingly Reservoir
Photo: AndyScott, CC BY-SA 4.0
Despite all the weekend's rain, parts of Sussex are still officially in severe drought. That's because the drought status is based on reservoir levels, not on how much rain has fallen recently.
Ardingly Reservoir, which serves around 280,000 South East Water customers across East and West Sussex, was just 17.1% full on 18 October. South East Water has cut the amount of water it releases from the reservoir into the River Ouse to protect drinking supplies.
So why can't Weir Wood, near East Grinstead, help out? Southern Water says its Weir Wood treatment works dates from the 1950s and was taken out of supply in 2018. The works is being rebuilt and is due back by 2030, but Southern Water says that even if it were running, it would not solve Ardingly's situation. Why Sussex is still in drought: Link
5. Christmas help for over-66s: applications open
If you, or someone you know, is aged 66 or over, on a low income and living in East Grinstead, Forest Row or Ashurst Wood, a small local charitable trust may be able to help at Christmas.
Applications are open for the 2026 Sidney Betchley, Henry Smith Charity and John Smith's Trust. All applications are means-tested by the trustees, and successful applicants receive vouchers by early December. Please note that applicants are not told the outcome.
Printed forms are available from East Grinstead Town Council and East Grinstead Library, or you can download one from the council's website. Return completed forms, marked Confidential, by Friday 13 November 2026 to Sarah Mamoany, Clerk to the Trustees, East Grinstead Town Council, East Court, College Lane, East Grinstead RH19 3LT.
6. Featured local business
From the team behind this guide
RippleKeep
RippleKeep helps local businesses get found online and win more Google reviews, and you speak with a real person.
You can start with a free 30-minute Google review health check call and a free one-page website that you keep. No card, no obligation.
Feature your business here: want your business in front of East Grinstead readers every day? We offer featured listings, newsletter features and sponsorships. Email us at [email protected].
7. Have your say: Best of East Grinstead 2026
The Best of East Grinstead 2026 vote is open: give a shout-out to the local businesses you love, across 29 categories from pizza to plumbers.
Voting closes on Monday 7 December 2026. Remember to click the link in your confirmation email, as your vote only counts once confirmed.
8. Photo of the week
📸 Got a great photo of East Grinstead? Autumn leaves on East Court, a misty morning on the High Street, your dog's best side at the Sports Club trail: we'd love to see it, and we'll pick a reader's Photo of the week.
How to send it: email your photo to [email protected].
By sending us a photo, you're saying you took it and you're happy for us to publish it in the newsletter and on East Grinstead Guide with your name.
Know something that's happening in town? Email us at [email protected] and tell us. You can also join us in the East Grinstead Guide Facebook group.
Find local businesses, shops and services on the East Grinstead Guide website.
Forwarded this by a friend? Sign up for the daily East Grinstead Guide
See you tomorrow,
Grant, East Grinstead Guide
Want to feature your business or sponsor the newsletter? Email us at [email protected].
How did we do in this issue?
Photos (cropped and resized): College Lane by N Chadwick via Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0; Weir Wood Reservoir by AndyScott via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.