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    Buxted Parish Council

    Buxted Parish Council came into being in 1894 when the present system of Parish Councils was instituted to give rural communities a voice. Buxted Parish covers some 7,000 acres with an electorate of about 2,500 out of a population of 3,200. It encompasses the villages of Buxted, High Hurstwood and Five Ash Down.

    The parish is divided into two wards – Buxted/Five Ash Down (10 councillors) and High Hurstwood (5 councillors). Councils are elected for a term of 4 years. Council meetings are held on the second Tuesday in every month (except August), alternating between Buxted Reading Room, High Hurstwood Village Hall and Five Ash Down Village Hall, at 19.30. Meetings agendas are displayed one week in advance on the Parish notice boards in Buxted (on the Ionides Trust site), High Hurstwood (near The Hurstwood pub) and in Five Ash Down (outside the Village Hall) and on the website. The agenda includes a list of any planning applications received from Wealden District Council for consultation. All meetings of the Council and its committees are open to the public, who are welcome to ask questions or raise issues with the Council before the meetings formally begin.

    An early requirement was to provide allotments, which we do. Councils can also support arts and crafts; contribute to maintenance of churchyards; protect commons, provide buildings for public meetings, functions and entertainment, maintain public footpaths and bridleways (jointly with ESCC), provide footway lighting (we don’t), provide and maintain public open spaces, and comment on planning applications.

    We also take an active interest in highways matters, policy and our environment (e.g. trees and hedgerows). More and more we have to comment on government policies for local government and voice our electors’ concerns.

    Parish assets include Buxted Reading Room, two recreation grounds (Buxted and High Hurstwood), two allotment areas in Buxted (recently re-generated) and High Hurstwood, children’s play areas in Buxted and High Hurstwood, and two bus shelters. The budget is set annually over the period October to December. Planned expenditure less income forms the ‘Parish Precept’ which is levied as part of annual Council Tax. Apart from meeting general running expenses of the council – specifically employing our Parish Clerk – the council makes grants to local organisations and contributes to local projects e.g. Buxted Traffic calming.

    The Parish Council recognises the burden of Council Tax but is also conscious of local needs for improvements in the Parish that increasingly are not being covered by either County or District as they seek to keep within national government budgets. Before increasing Precept to cover costs of local improvements such as the recent traffic calming, the Parish Council ensures that such improvements are what our electorate want and are prepared to pay for.

    Councillors sit on various committees (e.g. Finance, Planning, Communications) and outside bodies (e.g. Ionides Trust, Buxted Community Hall Trust). Each keeps an eye on different parts of the Parish, e.g. for planning purposes and trees.

    Our Parish Clerks, Beccy Macklen & Claudine Feltham (01435 515219) clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk, who act as the Council’s ‘proper officers’ on the Council’s behalf and under its direction. 

    Latest Parish News

    WDC: Housing consultation goes live to meet future needs of Wealden residents
    29
    July 2025
    WDC: Housing consultation goes live to meet future needs of Wealden residents

    A consultation has been launched by Wealden District Council to ask residents for feedback on a draft Housing Strategy which will shape the future of housing in the district.

    The strategy sets out a clear and ambitious plan to address current and future housing needs across Wealden.

    The strategy has been developed to ensure that it meets our local need but also aligns with the wider East Sussex Housing Partnership Strategy. It focuses on five key priorities designed to improve the quality of life for all who live and work in Wealden:

    1. Increasing the supply of affordable housing
    2. Ensuring the safety and quality of Council homes
    3. Preventing homelessness and rough sleeping
    4. Tackling climate change through housing
    5. Supporting the health and wellbeing of residents

    The council is asking its residents, stakeholders, and community partners to review the strategy and share their views. The council is especially keen to hear how these priorities align with residents’ life experiences.

    Councillor Daniel Manvell, Alliance for Wealden (Labour Party) and lead councillor for Housing, Benefits and Revenue, said, “Our draft strategy reflects our priorities as a council, and we are already making great strides delivering these. We have built hundreds of genuinely affordable council homes across Wealden, with more on the way. Hundreds more of our homes have energy-saving measures installed each year, reducing residents' bills and tackling carbon emissions.

    By taking just a few minutes to complete the survey, residents can play a vital role in shaping a housing strategy that reflects the values, challenges, and aspirations of our communities. Everyone deserves a place they can call home — a space that’s safe, affordable, and meets their needs. Please share your views to help us achieve these aims.”

    The consultation is open from 25 July to 31 August 2025 and can be accessed here Housing Strategy 2025–2028 | Let's Talk Wealden

    Sussex Police Safe Space Scheme
    28
    July 2025
    Sussex Police Safe Space Scheme

    Sussex Police Safe Space Scheme

    Did you know that, in Sussex, we have nearly 200 designated businesses and organisations that are part of my Safe Space Scheme? The scheme consists of a network of locations across the county offering a Safe Space for people to go to if they feel threatened or at risk of harm whilst out and about in Sussex.

    The spaces include shops, libraries, leisure centres, hotels as well as council buildings and various other eligible establishments. They provide the facilities for someone to take a moment in a quiet, safe space and make a ‘phone call to a loved one or call the police if needed.

    My office approves each Safe Space based on a variety of criteria including its accessibility and whether its well-staffed etc.

    To find a Safe Space, users can visit our SafeSpaceSussex website and use the map function, which pinpoints all the spaces across our county. You can also bookmark the site on your mobile device so it's easy to find when you're out and about.

    We are fortunate to live in one of the safest counties but there may be times when everyone could benefit from a secure and supportive space - which is exactly why this initiative is so important.

    I'm delighted to be inviting more businesses to join the scheme so we can cover an even larger area of Sussex. If you or someone you know owns or works in a business or a community space which you think would make an ideal Safe Space, please visit my website for more information. We’d love to hear from you.

    Becoming a Safe Space is completely free of charge and can help businesses to create connections with their local communities and be a leader in contributing to a safer Sussex.

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