-
Temporarily Unavailable
Footway Improvements - Five Ash Down
06
We have been advised by ESCC Highways of footway works on the A26, Five Ash Down, Uckfield.
These works are being carried out between 25-26 February 2025. There may be delays between 9.30am-3pm.
ESCC Cllr Galley Monthly News February 2025
06
County Budget and Council Tax
In this financial year, East Sussex County Council will have a balanced budget. This is a legal requirement. In order to achieve this, we will have to use £14.3m of reserves.
In 2025/26 there will be further investment in services of £54.9 million to meet growing demand and cost pressures. This will be funded by Council Tax, Business rates, grants and reserves. Some cuts in non-statutory services will be needed to balance the budget. These likely cuts will be ones that no one wants to make but are necessary to balance the budget.
The gross spending by the council is £1,138m overall with £409m for adult social care and £411m for children. This includes schools which are directly funded by the government; ESCC passes the money on. These gross figures include income from fees and charges, contributions from the NHS and other agencies along with some specific grants. The net spending is £579m, of which £280will be for adult care and £154m for childcare.
The increase in spending is largely driven by the increasing costs of care mainly through inflation and meeting more complex needs. Between 2020/21 and 2024/24 there was a 116% increase in the average weekly cost of Looked After Children Placements.
In addition, the Council is facing further pressures due to the impact of the rise in employer National insurance contributions and the higher minimum wage.
As in recent years, Council Tax is due to rise by 4.99% of which 2% is dedicated specifically to Adult Social Care.
Local Government Reorganisation
The Government announced today East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton will be in the first wave for local government reorganization. This will mean no elections this year as is also the case in Hampshire, the Isle of wight, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Thurrock, and Surrey. Elections will be held in 2026 for a Sussex Mayor.
Roy Galley
6th February 2025
Roy Galley.cllr.roy.galley@eastsussex.gov.uk
01825 713018
Sports Infrastructure funding available to improve outdoor sports facilities
05
Applications are invited for the Sports Infrastructure Fund programme recently launched by Wealden District Council to enhance and provide outdoor sports pitches and facilities throughout the district.
The council has committed £200,000 per year over a three-year period, to organisations via a grant funding programme, to support the delivery of recommendations in Wealden’s Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Facilities Strategy. These recommendations have been agreed with sport governing bodies and Sport England. Funding can be used to improve amenities and pitches throughout the district.
Match funding is being made available from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money and will help enhance the quality, accessibility and protection of community-use sports facilities for generations to come.
Applications are being invited from local sports clubs, town and parish councils, schools and community organisations to support the delivery of a range of projects.
The outdoor sports that could benefit from the funding programme include football, rugby union, tennis, cricket, lawn bowls, hockey, netball and stoolball.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden and Wellbeing and Asset Management Portfolio Holder, said"The health and wellbeing of our residents are at the heart of our mission to create a happier, more fulfilled, and healthier Wealden. This is a key part of our new council's corporate strategy.
"Providing high-quality local sports facilities and outdoor spaces is essential for enabling our residents to lead healthier lifestyles through physical activity and community engagement.
"We encourage local partners and sports clubs to apply for funding to improve the accessibility and quality of sports facilities across the district. By working together, we can strengthen community bonds and build a healthier, more resilient Wealden."
For further information on the funding programme, please go to www.wealden.gov.uk/community-and-safety/information-on-grant-funding/sports-infrastructure-fund-2024-2027.
To request an application pack, organisations should email their details and provide a short summary of the proposed project to sportsinfrastructurefund@wealden.gov.uk.
Notes for editors
The funding programme and financial support will look to improve sports provision, increase accessibility and deliver the priority projects listed within the Wealden Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy & Action Plan, agreed by sport’s governing bodies and Sport England, and adopted by the council in December 2023.
For details on the Wealden Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and Action Plan go to: www.wealden.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/planning-policy-evidence-base/open-space/
National Apprenticeships Week
03
Wealden District Council is one of many UK organisations and businesses celebrating National Apprenticeships Week and the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
National Apprenticeships Week runs from Monday 10 February to Sunday 16 February. It aims to inform and inspire the next generation of apprentices and apprenticeship employers, and ensure that every individual and employer understands the value of apprenticeships as a route to opportunity and economic success.
Last year six enthusiastic apprentices joined Wealden council’s Housing, Land Charges, Caretaking, Information Governance and Waste Management teams. Each apprentice receives on-the-job training from experienced council officers and the council’s own Learning and Development Team, whilst undertaking qualifications with a variety of different training providers including East Sussex College.
East Sussex County Council’s TRANSFORM service will be on the road in each of the five districts and boroughs in East Sussex during National Apprenticeships Week, offering drop-in sessions, for organisations to come and find out more about apprenticeships
One of these sessions will take place on Tuesday 11 February, from10.30am to 1.30pm at the Civic Centre in Uckfield. Wealden council officers will be at the event to give the opportunity to local businesses to come along and ask questions and get advice.
Wealden council has had several successes with apprenticeships, with many of the apprentices gaining permanent employment with the authority once they qualify.
The most recent apprentice at the council is Charlie Stevens, who comes from Little Gate Supported Employment and joined the caretaking team in November 2024. Charlie initially completed some work experience within the team to ensure that this was an area that he would enjoy working in.
Charlie said, “I enjoy my job because I like working with my co-workers. This has helped me gain a better understanding of working in a team.”
Little Gate is a charity that offers young people between the ages of 17 and 24, who have learning disabilities and autism, the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship with an employer with the assistance of a job coach. Charlie assists with setting up the Civic Hall for meetings and events, preparing rooms for internal meetings, sorting post and providing a service to the council's internal customers.
A spokesperson at Little Gate Farm said, “Wealden District Council from the start had a fantastic and open attitude to inclusive employment and has been a pleasure to work with. We are so delighted that Charlie was offered an apprenticeship after his work experience.
“The team was proactive in researching the apprenticeship and actively involved at all stages of Charlie's onboarding. Through the collaborative approach the team also made adjustments that benefitted Charlie by agreeing to a part-time apprenticeship as well as adjusting Charlie's working hours and suggesting a use of a computer programme to aid Charlie. Charlie has been made to feel very welcome and we at Little Gate Supported Apprenticeships are extremely proud to be partnering with Wealden District Council.”
Recruitment for the next round of apprentices is due to commence in late summer/early autumn 2025. If any individuals are interested in applying or finding out more information, please email learninganddevelopment@wealden.gov.uk.
Councillor Greg Collins, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party) and lead councillor for Finance, HR and Customer Services, said, “Apprentices at Wealden bring, vitality, new ideas and a fresh outlook to the council and help us to improve the services we provide that make a real difference in our community.
“Wealden council has been welcoming apprentices since 2015. Investing in our people and their future is hugely important. We offer opportunities in a variety of teams and apprentices are given freedom within those teams to grow, develop and train in areas of interest. The tangible differences in the apprentices between their start and the completion of their apprenticeship is what makes this so very much worthwhile.”
Repair works on Coxbrook Bridge on Hurstwood Road
27
IMPORTANT ROADWORKS INFORMATION
Hurstwood Road, High Hurstwood
Dear Resident / Business owner,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out repair works on Coxbrook Bridge on Hurstwood Road.
When do they start?
Works will take place on Monday 17 February and Tuesday 18 February 2025 between 8am and 4:30pm. __ We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
What does the work involve?
These works involve repairing the damaged parapet and repainting the structure to help maintain the structural integrity.
How will this impact highway users?
The team will start work on Coxbrook Bridge, in the vicinity of ‘White Coppice Farm’.
Access will be restricted for residents whilst the work is taking place, however the road will be re opened outside of the above times.
Traffic will be diverted via Chillies Lane, A26, A272 and vice versa.
If you need vehicle access to your property, please discuss this with the team onsite. Please bear in mind there will be delays whilst the area is made safe and your vehicle is escorted by site marshals. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Waste collection: Access will be granted for any waste collections.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network. Should you have any concerns regarding these works, you can contact us at eshcomms@balfourbeatty.com.
WDC Cllr Shaw - January News
23
Local Government re-organisation and cancelling of county council elections.
Just before Christmas the government published a white paper proposing the establishment ‘unitary authorities’ and ‘combined mayoral authorities.
This would mean the disappearance of Wealden (and four other district councils) and East Sussex becoming the sole local authority in which Buxted would sit. It would deliver all the services currently split between East Sussex County Council and Wealden District Council. The same would happen to district councils in West Sussex – Brighton and Hove is already a unitary authority.
East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove would then also form an additional combined authority with a mayor directly elected by all residents.
Government clearly has a mandate to push through this reorganisation. But they gave local authorities less than a month to respond and make their proposals. The three councils have decided to apply to make these changes to take place over the next 2/3 years. So far there has been little consultation with local people or even with the district councils. There is still a lot that is unclear as to how all this will work.
In my opinion there may a case for more regional level decision making on, for example, transport, acting on climate change, planning infrastructure etc. But it needs to be based on engaging with local communities and organisations.
So, what concerns are there? The proposals seem to shift power upwards, reducing the influence of local communities.
I am concerned that your voice as a rural community will be lost – already many people feel that East Sussex is remote and unresponsive.
But the most immediate issue is the proposal by the minority East Sussex Conservative administration to cancel the county council elections in May. This will give councillors elected 4 years ago possibly another 2 years before facing the electorate. This undemocratic proposal is opposed by the 50% of councillors from the Labour, Liberal and Green Parties and Independents. The elections are already scheduled and built into the budgets of the district councils, who actually pay for running elections.
Whether or not you voted for me in May 2023, I hope you will agree that cancelling an election should only be done in the most drastic of situations. It is not required to be part of the plans to reorganise things and will put into question their legitimacy.
As important, is the cost in time and money of these changes. At a time when we need to solve the crisis in adult and children’s social care, deliver road improvements etc., time and effort will inevitably focus on internal change. Over the next two years this will also impact on the focus of local district councillors and all the district council staff.
We will know whether the government accepts the proposals from East Sussex in the next few weeks, and whether or not the May elections will proceed
Council Tax Direct Debit error
I wrote to you on 30th December about the error which resulted in council tax payments for some residents being taken early. As a result, a system for residents to make a claim, should they have been put into overdraft, was set up and an investigation was started. The key points so far include:
Due to a human error the instructions to the banks to change the date as to when a DD was to be taken (as it was the Christmas period) was done incorrectly, So, 17,594 residents whose DD normally goes out on the 1st of the month, had it taken on the 27th December instead. Internal changes have been enacted to ensure this can’t happen again.
Between 2nd and 14hJanuary the Customer Service team received 127 calls about the DD issue – 8% of all the calls normally received about other issues.
346 pieces of correspondence were received asking about what had happened, confirmation that a second payment would not be taken or about cancelled DD payments.
To date 3 requests for reimbursement of any overdraft fees had been made and these people have been asked to provide evidence.
The situation continues to be monitored and anyone who subsequently finds they have incurred charges should contact Wealden’s Customer Service Team.
Despite some misinformation circulating from people who should know better, it was confirmed last Friday that no-one had had a second payment taken.
This mistake should not have happened, and I know all councillors and staff are sorry that it did. But I hope the details above help reassure you that it has been taken very seriously, and we continue to monitor its impact, as well as put any changes in place. Further investigation is taking place to help improve communications with residents.
Clearing vegetation around the village
Many thanks to the group of volunteers who have been clearing vegetation from some of the footpaths around the station and the primary school.
And the “lengthsman” employed by the Parish Council is also having an impact on tidying up several parts of the village, including one of our bus shelters.
Local business wins rural business grant
The Rural Business Grants Programme (RBGP) was available to small and medium sized businesses in Wealden, businesses were able to apply for a grant of up to 50% of the cost of capital projects. Grants were available from £2,500 up to £35,000 with the business needing to match the grant awarded.
The total funding of £567,054 has supported 31 businesses, which has supported overall project costs of over £1.2 million in the District. One of those businesses is the Poundgate Park Holiday Cottages. They applied successfully for a grant of £11,333 for a solar panel system and heating system upgrade. This will work contribute to achieving net-zero, increase business growth and productivity. The project is now being delivered.
NEXT COMMUNITY FORUM
WEDNESDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2025
6.30 – 8.15
ST. MARYS CHURCH HALL, CHURCH ROAD, BUXTED
Please don‘t hesitate me to discuss these or any other issues important to you.
Contact me on cllr.graham.shaw@wealden.gov.uk Tel. 07770 571828
Wealden’s website is www.wealden.gov.uk
Views Sought - East Sussex Rights of Way Access Plan
21
Work is beginning on a review of East Sussex County Council’s Rights of Way Access Plan. East Sussex County Council wants your views before drafting the new Rights of Way Access Plan so that it reflects local priorities and what you think is important.
The County Council is responsible for around 2,000 miles (3218 km) ofpublic rights of way. These paths are important for enjoying and exploring, for travelling to work or school and for health and wellbeing. They are part of what makes East Sussex a special place to live, work and enjoy.
The Rights of Way Access Plan is an important policy document which the council is required by law to have in place. It sets out how the County Council can make sure public rights of way meet the needs of the public, now and in the future. The Rights of Way Access Plan aims to address the priorities of the County in terms of health and wellbeing, supporting people living with disabilities and mental health issues, regeneration, growth, transport, climate change, tourism and other priorities.
We have set up an online survey for members of the public.
www.eastsussex.gov.uk/rightsofwaysurvey
The survey closes at midnight on 14 March 2025.
Booking.com users targeted with scam messages
16
Those using the platform Booking.com to book their holidays or accommodation are being warned they could be targeted with emails or messages requesting payments from hotels who have had their account taken over by fraudsters. Between June 2023 and September 2024, Action Fraud received 532 reports from individuals, with a total of £370,000 lost.
Insight from Action Fraud reports suggests the individuals were defrauded after receiving unexpected messages and emails from a Booking.com account belonging to a hotel they had a reservation with, which had been taken over by a criminal. Using this account, the criminals send in-app messages, emails, and WhatsApp messages to customers, deceiving them into making payment and/or requesting credit card details.
The specific account takeovers are likely to be the result of a targeted phishing attack against the hotel or accommodation provider, and not Booking.com’s backend system or infrastructure.
Adam Mercer, Deputy Head of Action Fraud, said:
“With more than 500 reports made to Action Fraud, those who have booked a holiday on the Booking.com platform should stay alert to any unexpected emails or messages from a hotel using the Booking.com platform, as their account could have been taken over by a criminal.
“If you receive an unexpected request from a hotel’s account you booked with using Booking.com, asking for bank details or credit card details, it could be a fraudster trying to trick you into parting ways with your money. Contact Booking.com or the organisation directly if you’re unsure.
“Remember to report any suspicious emails by forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk, or if you receive a fraudulent text message, you can forward it to 7726.”
How can you protect yourself?
Booking.com and Action Fraud are providing the following advice on how to spot signs of fraud and protect your Booking.com account:
· No legitimate Booking.com transaction will ever require a customer to provide their credit card details by phone, email, or text message (including WhatsApp).
- Sometimes a hotel provider will manage their own payment and may reach out to request payment information, like credit card details – before providing any information, always verify the authenticity of communication between yourself and the hotel’s account.
· If you receive any urgent payment requests that require immediate attention, like a booking cancellation, immediately reach out to the Booking.com Customer Service team via the details on the official Booking.com website and/or app to confirm.
- Any payment requests that do not match the information in the original booking confirmation should also be double checked and confirmed with Booking.com Customer Service before proceeding.
· Any messages purporting to be from Booking.com that contain instructions to follow links and/or open/download files should be treated with caution.
- If you have any doubts about a message, contact Booking.com directly. Don’t use the numbers or address in the suspicious message and use the details from their official website.
· For more information about how to protect your Booking.com account, please visit: Safety Tips for Travellers | Booking.com
If you receive any suspicious emails or text messages, report them by forwarding emails to: report@phishing.gov.uk, or texts to 7726.
Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk
If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of any phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
Report released and changes implemented by Wealden council over direct debit issue
13
Following direct debits for Council Tax and Business Rates being taken early over the Christmas period, Wealden District Council has released the findings of an investigation report by its internal auditors into what went wrong.
The council has today also implemented recommendations made by the report of new measures that will ensure this can never happen again. This includes oversight by senior officers, extra checks, and new procedure rules. The risk of not administering direct debits correctly and on scheduled dates has also been added to the council’s risk register.
Direct debits for Council Tax and Business Rates were taken from bank accounts on 27 December 2024, rather than on 2 January 2025. The council apologised for this mistake and notified all banks on 24 December, when it first became aware of the issue and that it was unable to prevent the direct debits from being taken.
Anyone who was affected by the issue and has not yet been contacted can email localtax@wealden.gov.ukor call 01323 443 385.
The internal auditor’s investigation report concludes that the error occurred due to human error, and that new controls were needed to prevent the error or reverse it in time. This includes having two people involved in the process of scheduling direct debit payments, a practice which had stopped for unknown reasons.
The investigation report – to be discussed at the council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Monday 13 January – is the first in a series of reports requested by the Wealden District Council Cabinet to understand what went wrong, and what can be done to improve things in the future. The Cabinet has also requested an independent review into the communication of this error to residents, councillors, and others.
Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party) and lead councillor for Community, Culture and Communications and leader of the council said, “I want to repeat my apology for the stress and inconvenience this error may have caused to residents over the Christmas period. We are just so sorry this happened, and we are today implementing the necessary changes to ensure this never happens again.
“We took action by asking for this investigation, so that we could quickly implement its recommendations. We also know that we have more to do, such as effectively communicating with residents about these issues in the future. We do not have all the answers as to what went wrong, and so we are asking a third party to review this and recommend how we can improve.”
Councillor Daniel Manvell, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Housing and Benefits said, “I know that many residents and businesses were deeply let down at Christmas, and I am truly sorry for this.
“I have spoken to many friends, family, and colleagues affected by this human error. They appreciate that mistakes can be made, but they also insist that systems and communication must be better. We agree, and we are committed to ensuring this by delivering improvements today and into the future.
“We are also committed to making things right for those who were affected. So far, very few people have asked us to refund any charges they have incurred, so if you find you have received any additional charges, please do email localtax@wealden.gov.uk with the subject ‘DD Error’ and we will prioritise your case.”
Notes to editors:
Between 2– 6 January the council received 443 calls of which 117 were regarding the Direct Debit issue
We received 275 pieces of correspondence regarding Direct Debits. 91% of those were seeking explanations for what had happened, confirmation that a second payment wouldn’t be taken or related to cancelled direct debit payments
To date we have had no requests for reimbursement of fees and we have received two requests for compensation
Planning Applications - Current Consultations - Updated
06
Please see attached the current planning applications with the Parish Council
Cold health alert extended for the South East
06
The Amber cold health alert is now extended from 12PM on 06/01/2025 until 12PM on 12/01/2025 across the South East.
You can see all the weather health alerts currently in place across England on the UKHSA data dashboard.
Forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including:
· A rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups.
· A likely increase in demand for health services
· Temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks
· Challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C leading to more risk to vulnerable people
· Staffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays)
· Other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy).
This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.
Please refer to the national Adverse Weather Health Plan.
View the full warning at the Cold-Health Alert platform site.
Cold weather can affect your health. The people most likely to be affected are the elderly, the very young, and people with pre-existing medical conditions.
If you know or look after someone that may be susceptible to the effects of this cold weather period please help make sure that they stay warm and well, and if possible check in advance that they are prepared for this cold spell.
Important information for Buxted residents and council taxpayers
30
You may have become aware that due to an automated scheduling error, direct debits for Council Tax and Business Rates that are normally collected on the 1st of the month were instead taken on 27th December. This error affects Council Tax and Business Rates customers. You may be amongst them.
This shouldn’t have happened, but the District Council has responded quickly. I wanted to make sure you had the information issued yesterday which is below, which I hope answers key questions.
An investigation has already begun into the causes and impact of the error. Its findings will be made public, and I have already indicated that these should be reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which I chair, on 13th January.
Wealden DC apologises for early collection of January Council Tax and Business Rates
Publish Date: 29 December 2024
Wealden District Council apologises for the timing of some Direct Debit collections over the Christmas period.
An automated scheduling error meant that direct debits for Council Tax and Business Rates were taken on 27 December rather than on 1 January.
If you are affected by this technical error, please contact your bank and see below for FAQs.
Leader of the council Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), said, “It is deeply upsetting to know that this error will have caused stress and difficulty for some residents over the Christmas period. On behalf of the council, I offer my sincere apologies to anyone impacted. We will do all we can to rectify this situation. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our teams at localtax@wealden.gov.ukor you can call 01323 443 385.”
Councillor Daniel Manvell, Alliance for Wealden (Labour Party) and lead member for Housing, Benefits and Revenues, said, “Christmas was the worst time of year for a large, unexpected payment and I add my profuse apology to all residents who have been affected by this mistake. I am committed to a thorough review of what went wrong and what improved measures can be taken to ensure this cannot happen again. We have already put in place extra measures to support this commitment.”
Can I get a refund?
If you do choose to process a refund this can take up to 10 working days to process and you may still need to contact us to arrange a payment. You can request a refund through your bank under the Direct Debit Guarantee https://www.directdebit.co.uk/direct-debit-guarantee/
How long does it take for a refund to come through?
It will depend on your bank, but it could be 10 working days.
Is my January payment still due?
If your Direct Debit was collected in error on 27 December and is not being refunded, then your January Council Tax instalment has been paid. If you are in doubt, you can call our Council Tax team to check on 01323 443 385.
Can Wealden refund my payment?
Yes, we can, however as with the above, the January payment will still be due and payable.
I cancelled my Direct Debit, and the payment didn’t go out of my bank, what do I need to do?
As the payment was not collected / not made, then the January instalment will still be due and payable. You can contact our Council Tax team through 01323 443 385 or our customer services team on 01323 443322 which can take a payment from you. Alternatively, you can make a payment through the following methods:
https://www.wealden.gov.uk/make-a-payment/
https://www.wealden.gov.uk/make-a-payment/other-ways-to-pay/
Will this affect my credit file?
No, we do not report Council Tax payments to the Credit Bureaus, and we informed all banks on 24 December of our error.
I have been charged fees by my bank because of this payment being taken on the wrong day – will you refund me?
Yes, we will refund any charges incurred because of the Direct Debit being taken early. However, you will need to supply proof of the charges and submit them to localtax@wealden.gov.uk. Please title the email ‘DD error’ as this will enable us to prioritise your correspondence.
How do I make a payment?
Please use these links:
https://www.wealden.gov.uk/make-a-payment/
https://www.wealden.gov.uk/make-a-payment/other-ways-to-pay/
Do you know about StreetSafe?
18
Evenings are dark so soon at this time of year, and we're making sure that
we're out and about to help keep our communities safe.
StreetSafe is a service that allows you to report safety concerns in public
places anonymously. This includes issues like poorly lit streets, abandoned
buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where you feel unsafe.
We encourage the public to report concerns via StreetSafe, and can do so here https://orlo.uk/GeXRx
For reporting crimes or emergencies, please continue to contact us by phoning
101 or 999.
New Planning Application - LITTLE SPINNEY, COOPERS GREEN ROAD, UCKFIELD
16
NOTICE OF PLANNNG APPLICATION
Wealden District Council have notified Buxted Parish Council of the following planning application(s).
The deadline set for our response is prior to the next planning committee meeting, so the council members will be considering this application via email.
We are placing this notice on our website to make residents/neighbours aware of the application(s).
Wealden District Council are the Local Planning Authority who will make the final decision on this application.
Please submit any comments to Wealden District Council via email (planning@wealden.gov.uk) and cc: the parish council (clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk)
Application: WD/2024/2632/FLink to documents on web: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/Planning/Display/WD/2024/2632/F Parish Council’s expiry date for comments: 3rd January 2024 Location: LITTLE SPINNEY, COOPERS GREEN ROAD, UCKFIELD, TN22 1HB Description: demolition of existing garage and shed and erection of new dwelling; provision of new driveway access to serve little spinney |
Residents encouraged to comment on new Climate Green Paper
11
Resident feedback from a climate change survey has been used to create a Climate Green Paper.
Earlier this year, Wealden District Council hosted a survey and three research reports which examined how climate change is likely to impact Wealden, how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced and explored options for renewable energy.
The key themes below were identified from the survey and have been vital to the creation of the paper:
- Renewable Energy: Residents support renewable energy and low-carbon heating options. This reinforces our approach in the Climate Green Paper to promote local solar, wind, and accessible heating solutions.
- Sustainable Transport: Interest in alternatives like public transport, cycling, and electric vehicles supports our approach in the Climate Green Paper to enhance sustainable mobility and reduce reliance on private vehicles.
- Biodiversity and Green Spaces: The strong focus on green infrastructure and tree planting aligns with our commitment to enhance local biodiversity and protect natural habitats.
- Community Engagement: Many feel unaware of local initiatives, highlighting the need for accessible education and promotion of community-led actions within our Climate Green Paper.
- Waste Reduction: Support for recycling and resource efficiency aligns with our Climate Green Paper’s focus on reducing waste and promoting a circular economy.
- Affordable Climate Solutions: Cost concerns indicate the importance of funding and support, which are central to making climate actions accessible to all.
- Health and Lifestyle: Support for small lifestyle changes reinforces our approach of promoting manageable actions to collectively reduce emissions while respecting individual preferences.
Feedback from this consultation on the Climate Green Paper will be used to formulate a new Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for Wealden in 2025.
Councillor Paul Coleshill, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Climate Change, said, “Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the survey this year. It has been an invaluable help, shaping the green paper, itself out for comment. We aim to work as a community to address the pressing challenges of climate change, work towards net zero and build a climate resilient future.
“We are committed to encouraging and empowering action to reduce carbon and aim to create a greener, more robust community that focuses on the environment, moving towards fairness for all, and supporting a strong economy.
“I encourage everyone to read the draft climate “green paper” and take the opportunity to provide their thoughts on it as it will help us to shape the overall final version.”
The draft paper is now live and can be viewed on Wealden's Climate Green Paper | Let's Talk Wealden..
Supporting East Sussex to Keep Warm and Well
10
Keep warm this winter with a warm home check
As we head into the colder months, we know many residents will be worrying about staying warm at home. Rises in energy prices are a big concern, especially for those who already find it hard to heat their home and are on a low income.
The cold is not just uncomfortable but can be dangerous for those with pre-existing health issues such as heart and breathing conditions or children who are asthmatic. It also can have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing.
The East Sussex Warm Home Check service provides free impartial energy advice and support and is available all year round. It helps you to improve the energy efficiency of your home meaning you can stay warm for less and reduce your home’s carbon emissions. As well as practical advice and resources, the service also provides help including heating repairs and small home improvements for those who are eligible.
For example, Julia, a local resident, found that “small changes made a big difference” after working with her Warm Home Check advisor. She now feels more secure and prepared for winter.
In addition, low-income households who do not heat their homes using a gas boiler could also be eligible for current government grant funding for larger energy efficiency improvements. Applications in East Sussex are open until the end of December.
If you, or someone you know, is concerned about staying warm this winter, find out more about the Warm Home Check service. You can apply by visiting the Keep Warm and Well website, texting WARMto 80011 or calling 0800 464 7307.
Can you contribute to the business of policing?
04
Do you have skills that can contribute to the business of policing, in relation to governance, risk, financial arrangements, internal audit and external audit, and how these services are being managed? If so, then the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) would like to hear from you.
The PCC and the Chief Constable for Sussex (CC) are recruiting a new independent member for their Joint Audit Committee.
This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in independent oversight and high-level focus on the adequacy of the governance, risk and control arrangements for Sussex Police and the Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner. The role supports the PCC and CC and other Statutory Officers in gaining confidence as to the existence of effective governance, by reviewing the comprehensiveness of assurances to meet the needs of Statutory Officers in respect of reliability and integrity.
Your duties as a member of the Joint Audit Committee are expected to typically take up to fifteen days per annum, including time to read papers in preparation for meetings, and a programme of activity to keep you in touch with the organisation’s activities and priorities. This is a paid role and reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
For more information please visit SPCC - Independent Joint Audit Committee Member Vacancy, or if you prefer, please visit the PCC’s website www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk and scroll down to Vacancies.
Take part in our Cybercrime Survey!
04
Along with our Cyberhood Watch partner, Avast, we are launching the latest Cybercrime Survey which will help us understand the impact of online crime and scams on our members. There's also the opportunity of winning some very useful M&S vouchers!
The findings of the survey will be used to inform the ongoing Cyberhood Watch awareness initiatives and help our Cyberhood Watch Ambassadors. It will also draw attention to important topics which will help everyone protect themselves - and their loved ones - from cyber criminals.
The survey will close on Friday 15 December - we'd really love to hear your views and of course, we will load the report onto our website once it is available so you can take a look for yourself!
Thanks in advance for your support in the fight against cybercrime in the UK.
Christmas and New Year waste collection dates for Wealden
02
Waste collection days for Wealden residents are changing over the Christmas and New Year period.
The revised collection dates are in the table below. All rubbish or recycling needs to be out by 7am on the collection day.
Normal Collections Revised Collections
Wednesday 25 December |
Friday 27 December |
Thursday 26 December |
Saturday 28 December |
Friday 27 December |
Monday 30 December |
Monday 30 December |
Tuesday 31 December |
Tuesday 31 December |
Thursday 2 January |
Wednesday 1 January |
Friday 3 January |
Thursday 2 January |
Saturday 4 January |
Friday 3 January |
Monday 6 January |
Monday 6 January |
Tuesday 7 January |
Tuesday 7 January |
Wednesday 8 January |
Wednesday 8 January |
Thursday 9 January |
Thursday 9 January |
Friday 10 January |
Friday 10 January |
Saturday 11 January |
Monday 13 January 2024 |
Collections Resume on your normal collection day |
As normal, there will be no garden waste collections over the festive period between Wednesday 25 December and Tuesday 7 January. The garden waste collections will return to the normal collection days from Wednesday 8 January 2025.
New collection calendars for 2025 are now available online. Residents can download the calendars on the Bin Day Search at www.wealden.gov.uk and can also receive free weekly reminders of bin collections by signing up to Wealden Weekly. Visit www.wealden.gov.uk/wealden-weekly .
Don’t forget, all wrapping paper and cards, except foil/glitter, can be placed in the recycling bin and real Christmas trees can be cut up and put inside the brown garden waste bin with the lid closed. Alternatively, residents can take their tree to the local Household Waste Recycling Site.
Many of us produce extra waste throughout the festive period, a lot of which can be recycled. Extra recycling can be placed out in non-black plastic bags next to the recycling bin for collection - except for glass which should only be put into the recycling bin.
Councillor James Partridge, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), lead councillor for Governance, Waste & Local Economy, and deputy leader of the council, said, “The collection crews will be working hard over the Christmas period to ensure a continuous service of everyone’s rubbish and recycling bins. Many of us produce extra recycling and waste throughout the festive period, a lot of which can be recycled, so please put it in the right bin. In Wealden, we have excelled in our recycling again this year with almost 50% of our waste being recycled. I would like to thank everyone for the effort put into helping Wealden to achieve this amazing recycling rate.”
For further information on what can and cannot be recycled, visit www.wealden.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/
Sussex Police launch winter crackdown on drink and drug drivers
02
Sussex Police launch winter crackdown on drink and drug drivers
Operation Limit launches
There will be increased drug testing of motorists on our roads as part of Sussex Police’s annual crackdown on drivers over the limit.
Additional patrols will be in place as part of the nationwide campaign to tackle drink and drug driving called Operation Limit.
The focus on drug-driving follows a rise in the number of drug-driving offences detected across the country, and officers will also be continuing their efforts to catch drink-drivers as well.
Motorists are being warned that there are no excuses for drink or drug-driving as Sussex Police launch the annual winter crackdown campaign today.
Being over the limit can have fatal consequences, with drink and drug-driving being one of the the main reasons why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.
But it also has consequences for those who are caught while over the limit, such as losing their driving licence and potentially losing their job as a result.
The campaign runs from December 1 to January 1, and appeals to the public’s sense of shared responsibility to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured.
Officers will carry out additional patrols and stop checks, above the regular patrols which take place 24/7, every day of the year. There will also be more drug-testing of drivers being carried out.
During last year’s campaign, Sussex Police made a total of 261 arrests, of which 56% were for drug driving related offences.
Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who also is the roads policing lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said:
“Driving while intoxicated through alcohol or drugs destroys lives, but tragically every day we still see reckless drivers getting behind the wheel.
“They are putting themselves and all other road users at risk. People who consume alcohol or drugs and then drive need to be stopped.
“Our campaign aims to save lives by deterring people from drink and drug-driving, and to deal robustly with offenders.
“We urge the public to persuade friends and loved ones not to get behind the wheel if they have consumed alcohol or drugs, and if that fails, for them to report those drivers to the police so they can be stopped before they cause a needless fatality.”
Many motorists may not realise that they are still over the limit for alcohol the morning after Christmas parties or a night out with friends.
Meanwhile those who consume drugs may not realise that the chemicals stay in their bodies for a long time, which means they can be over the drug-drive limit for a considerable period after taking them.
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “Each year, Sussex Police’s winter crackdown to tackle drink and drug driving results in hundreds of people being arrested.
“Whilst it’s good news that those who are committing these dangerous crimes are being taken off our streets and facing the consequences, these results show that there is still a selfish minority that do not understand the severity of getting behind the wheel under the influence.
“The repercussions can be tragic and fatal. There are many other options and methods of transport to use across our county, it simply isn’t worth it. I know it can be difficult to report someone you know for drink or drug-driving but it could be life-saving.”
Superintendent Rachel Glenton, Head of Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said: “Our officers will be joined by officers from across the force to carry out increased patrols and stop checks on the road networks.
“This is in addition to our existing patrols which we carry out 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
“Through education, engagement, and enforcement, we aim to reduce the devastating impact of drink and drug-driving.
“We will deal robustly with offenders. So while our officers can’t be everywhere, they could be anywhere and there really is no excuse for drivers who put their own safety and the safety of everyone else at risk.”
In keeping with previous campaigns Sussex Police will be publishing the names of some of those convicted to raise awareness of the issue and to act as a deterrent to others from committing the same offence.
The consequences of drink or drug-driving could include:
• Killing or seriously injuring yourself or someone else;
• A minimum 12-month ban;
• An unlimited fine;
• A possible prison sentence;
• A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
• An increase in your car insurance costs;
• Difficulty travelling to countries such as the USA.
If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs, call 999.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online www.crimestoppers-uk.org
The campaign is being supported by the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and Surrey RoadSafe.
Free UK-wide service which provides extra advice and support, including when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply
25
As Storm Bert has affected the UK, if you have not already done so this is a good time to consider registering for extra advice and support, including when there could be interruptions to your electricity, gas or water supply.
The Priority Services Register (PSR) is free to join. It helps utility companies, including energy suppliers, electricity, gas and water networks, to look after customers who have extra communication, access or safety needs. It helps tailor services to support households who need extra help in the event of a power cut, gas or water supply interruption.
Your energy supplier (the company that provides your electricity and gas) and your network operator (the company responsible for the pipes and wires that carry electricity and gas) will both keep a Priority Services Register.
To find out who these organisations are in your area please visit www.thepsr.co.uk and enter your postcode. Your electricity and gas suppliers will be shown; you just need to click the sign up button there to join their PSR. Electricity companies are, where possible, sharing PSR information with water companies, so you can get vital help and support from them too if there's a break in your water supply.
Please also consider helping others to join the PSR, for example, elderly relatives, friends or neighbours, people with serious medical conditions, or people who may struggle with the internet.
Who can join
You can ask to join your supplier or network operator’s Priority Services Register if you:
· have reached state pension age
· are pregnant, or have young children
· struggle with speaking or reading English.
You can also join if you’re living with a disability or a long-term medical condition, including:
· mental health conditions
· conditions affecting your sight, hearing or sense of smell
· conditions that mean you need to use medical equipment that requires a power supply.
Help is also available if your circumstances have recently changed, for example if you:
· are recovering from an injury, or need support after a stay in hospital
· have been bereaved
· have lost your job.
What help is available?
Joining the Priority Services Register means you’ll be able to get a range of extra help when you need it. This could be all the time, or for a short period due to something that’s happened in your life. Some of the help you can get includes:
· priority support in an emergency
· wherever possible, advanced notice of scheduled power cuts
· an identification and password scheme if someone needs to visit or contact you, helping you feel confident they are genuine
· the ability to nominate someone to receive communications and bills from your supplier, for example a family member, carer or someone you trust
· the chance to move your prepayment meter if you can’t safely get to it to top up
· regular meter reading services
· account info and bills in large print or braille
· assistance reconnecting your gas supply, if you need it.
What help should I expect from being on the Priority Services Register during a power cut?
· A priority number that you can call 24 hours a day
· Text and voice message alerts, letting you know when they are aware of a large power cut in your area
· Tailored support if needed such as home visits, hot meals, advice and keeping your friends and relatives updated
· Where possible, text and voice messages when severe weather is expected, to help you prepare
· In certain scenarios they may also offer a free hotel overnight and transport to the hotel
· For complex power cuts their community welfare teams provide on-site support which includes hot drinks, hot meals, a Wi-Fi connection and charge points.
Additional information can be found at UK Power Cut? Call 105 For Free | Find Your Electricity Provider and Join your supplier’s Priority Services Register | Ofgem
Southern Water's new Rivers and Seas Watch service
18
While we work hard to cut storm overflows across our region, as set out in our £1.5bn Clean Rivers and Seas Plan, it is key that communities can view information on all our storm overflow activity.
From 13 November 2024, our new https://www.southernwater.co.uk/our-region/clean-rivers-and-seas-task-force/rivers-and-seas-watch/ replaced the Beachbuoy online monitoring tool.
Rivers and Seas Watch now includes all of our storm overflows including those inland, not just our coastal overflows.
Rivers and Seas Watch has been running in beta mode on our website since June. During this time, we collected feedback from users, including Beachbuoy subscribers, campaign groups and local stakeholders, to ensure Rivers and Seas Watch provides relevant information in an easy to read format. Technology experts also fed into our Beachbuoy Independent Review.
Key features of Rivers and Seas Watch include:
· Enhanced user experience across different devices (mobile, laptop, desktop), making it easier to find a location, and access and understand information
· Comprehensive and accessible information on how the service works
· An industry-leading mapping platform, presenting information in a clean and timely way
· Improved email notifications, including start times, impact times and the release status
· Integration with our overall plans to cut storm overflows, to help users understand what improvements are planned in each area
Improving how we communicate this important information to the public in a transparent, accurate and timely way is crucial. Rivers and Seas Watch has been created following a customer-first approach, engaging extensively with our community to understand their needs, wants and feedback from Beachbuoy.
Users can sign up for alerts https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e9a1db8d193d4cd582d550285a3aeb44/page/Map/ for their local beaches on Rivers and Seas Watch, as data protection rules mean we cannot carry previous Beachbuoy users over.
Proposal for 80 houses - Land North Buxted Road, Coopers Green
13
Buxted Parish Council has received a consultation on a proposed development for 80 dwellings on land north of Buxted Road, Coopers Green.
This application will be considered by the Buxted Parish Planning Committee on Tuesday 26th November at 7.00pm in Five Ash Down Village Hall.
The application details and plans can be viewed on the Wealden website: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=167356
If you have any comment on this application and cannot attend the planning committee please refer them to clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk.
Community Speedwatch - would you be a volunteer?
13
Community Speedwatch - would you be interested in reforming the Speedwatch team for Buxted?
The Parish Council has received some interest, so is asking if there are any willing volunteers out there that would like to form a new group. It would need a number of people to be able to do this, but we have the equipment, we just need the manpower and enthusiasm.
If you are interested, please email clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk to register. Further information can be found at: https://www.communityspeedwatch.org/FRONT-v2-Home.php
Your Station Your Community Improvement Fund 2025/26
13
GTR is glad to announce the 3rd round of Your Station Your Community improvement fund (YSYC) grant funding. – which opens for applications from 1st November 2024
We close for applications on 18th December 2024.
The fund will support local groups, charities, our customers, and the communities on our line of route.
The causes we support are those that are of key importance to local communities on our network and to us.
Building lasting social value; under the following themes: mental health; education and employability skills amongst marginalised groups; diversity and inclusion; Railway 200 and environmental sustainability.
Please make sure you read the guidance notes for the updated information for the bidding for 2025/26.
The grant fund offers accepts bids of:
• Up to £10,000 – open applications
• £10,000 - £50,000 – please contact us to discuss your proposal before applying
Also new for 2025/26 there are two Station Partner Support Grants open for applications.
• Arts/Creative projects - £25,000
• Horticulture/Environment projects - £25,000
There are separate application forms and guidance information for the main YSYC grants fund (up to £10,000 and £10,000-£50,000) and the Station Partner Support Grants (please see Word docs attached)
Previous applicants and grant recipients may also apply to the fund.
The Station Partner Support Grants will support Community Rail and Station Partners volunteering at stations on the GTR network and also develop at least three new projects in partnership with new groups or as an individual practitioner, with a focus on the additional activity during 2025 for Railway 200
We welcome applications from registered charities, individuals (for the Station Partner Support Grants), Community of Interest Companies (CICs), Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs); community groups and other not-for-profit organisations such as community rail partnerships, schools & colleges, Business Improvement Districts, town councils and parish councils.
New tenants’ board created for Wealden residents
05
A new Housing board is being set up to give Wealden tenants a greater voice.
The Wealden and Tenants Together Housing Board will see tenants, council officers, councillors and independent members come together in a bid to involve tenants in the decision-making process, monitor the performance of the housing service and strengthen local democracy by actively engaging customers in shaping and taking decisions on housing services.
Through the board, tenants will be able to influence and shape the services delivered as well as co-design policies and strategies.
The new group will consist of two recruited tenant representatives, two recruited independent board members, Wealden councillors and senior Housing staff. It will be chaired by the lead councillor for Housing and Benefits, which is currently Wealden’s council leader, Councillor Rachel Millward.
The council will be running a recruitment process in the coming weeks and inviting tenants and professionals with relevant experience to apply for the opportunities to participate on the board.
Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), lead councillor for Housing & Benefits and leader of the council, said, “The introduction of the social housing tenants board will empower our tenants and help us to be more transparent as we deliver more housing for our communities.
“The focus of the board is co-production, which means working with the community as we make changes. The recruitment process will be an open application process for tenants and independent members and training, and a modest allowance will be provided throughout the term that they hold the post. Board meetings will be held quarterly and will be face to face or online.”
Buxted Symphony Orchestra Winter Charity Concert
05
Buxted Symphony Orchestra Winter Charity Concert
Saturday 30th November @ 3.00 pm - Holy Cross Church, Uckfield, TN22 1BP
Tickets: £14 on the door (card/cash) or £13 in advance (cash only) from Gale & Woolgar, High Street, Uckfield
Come and join us for an afternoon of entertaining classical music, featuring works by Mozart, Fauré, Dvorak and Haydn.
All profits from the concert will go to the Bevern Trust, a charity based in Barcombe which provides life-long residential care for young adults with profound disabilities.
Motorists warned to stay alert to avoid deer collisions
28
As the nights draw in, motorists in East Sussex are being urged to be #DeerAware and avoid collisions with animals on rural roads.
There are estimated to be more than 74,000 deer-related traffic collisions across the UK every year, and that risk increases during mating season in October and November.
As part of its #DeerAware campaign, East Sussex County Council is encouraging people to take care in heavily wooded areas or where there are deer warning signs as these are places where deer are most likely to venture out, particularly around dawn and dusk.
Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said: “Collisions with deer can result in injury or death for animals and drivers, and significant damage to vehicles.
“With plenty of rural roads across the county, I would urge drivers to take extra care this time of year as deer can appear on the road unexpectedly.
“By following some simple tips, we hope that drivers can keep themselves safe and ensure our deer population can roam freely and thrive in our countryside.”
Advice to motorists includes;
· Drivers are advised to use full-beam headlights at night if no other cars are around, as they will reflect the deer’s eyes, but dip their headlights when they see a deer to avoid startling it.
· Deer often cross the roads in the same locations. Where there are deer warning signs motorists should slow down, stay alert and be prepared to stop.
· Deer often travel in groups so if drivers see one crossing the road they should slow down and drive with caution as others may follow.
If motorists hit deer they should to park in a safe place with hazard lights on and call 101 if the deer is on the side of the road and not causing a danger to others, or 999 if someone is injured of the deer is in the road and a danger to other road users.
More information and advice available athttps://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roads-transport/roads/road-safety/deer
Buxted Community Survey
28
A request for help from your WDC Cllr Graham Shaw:
At the Community Forum last Thursday, we launched the Buxted Community Survey.
The information from the survey will help identify what kind of things would help and improve our local community, hopefully forming the basis for action. The survey will run from now until the Christmas period.
It’s important that as many people as possible take part.
The survey is attached – it’s very simple and won’t take too long to complete.
So, I am looking for your help.
It would be great if you could:
- Complete the attached Word document personally and send it back to me.
- Give a copy to others in your household, including teenage children, so they can complete and return their own copy.
- Forward this email to any family and friends that live around Buxted and ask them to complete their own survey.
- Print the survey and take copies to any meetings or groups you attend and ask them to complete it and give it back to you – then let me know and I will arrange to collect them. If you can’t print the survey let me know your name and address and how many you need, and I will drop some off for you.
- Or do the same for other people on your street.
If just one quarter of people of my mailing list completed the survey and persuaded 5 other people to do the same, there would be at least 600 sets of ideas!
Please help us get there!
I’m looking forward to seeing your ideas.
Best wishes,
Graham Shaw
Sussex Resilience Forum survey
24
A new survey is set to reveal how prepared Sussex residents are for emergencies. The survey https://sussexpolice.welcomesyourfeedback.net/srf aims to identify current levels of risk awareness and preparedness across the county. The results will be used to ensure residents have the information they need to help them become more resilient. The top risks that Sussex faces, including flooding, wildfires and utilities disruption, are contained in the Community Risk Register for Sussex, which provides an assessment of how likely these risks are to happen and the impacts if they do, so that local people can be better prepared in their homes, communities and businesses. The Community Risk Register is produced by the Sussex Resilience Forum (SRF), whose membership covers the Sussex Police force area and includes the emergency services, local authorities, Environment Agency, health agencies, and voluntary and private sector organisations such as utility companies. The SRF provides a formal structure for these organisations to work together, to identify potential risks and produce and test emergency plans to either prevent or reduce the impact of any incident on local communities. Commenting on the launch of the Local Risk Perception Survey, SRF Chair Assistant Chief Constable Steve Rayland, Sussex Police, said: “I urge residents to complete the local risk perception survey and share their views with us. The responses will help us identify what further support and information our communities require so that we can help them to be more resilient.” Please click here to complete the survey. It will only take 5 minutes to complete. If you need any support to complete the survey please contact: SussexResilienceForum@sussex.police.uk. |
Medieval Talk - Five Ashes
22
Tim Cornish will give a talk, using recent research, about this dispersed woodland settlement, a remote place in the Archbishop of Canterbury's huge South Malling estate which stretched from Lewes Bridge to Lamberhurst Bridge. If the Archbishop used a postal address, it might have been Yardhurst, “Within the Wood”, Mayfield parish, South Malling.
The name “Five Ashes” first appeared in 1498. Before this, the central area was tenanted by the Yardhurst family, headed in 1285 by Bellafilia, a widow with two sons. Did she live up to her parents' expectations of her name? They held 200 acres of serf land; since the Norman conquest the land all belonged to the Archbishop who leased land to his serfs and a growing number of freemen.
The area has always been dominated by its main road, which at this time was a major route from Tonbridge to Cross-in-Hand and beyond, particularly to Lewes. The route probably used Pages Farm bridleway from Argos Hill, down Fir Toll Road to Butcher's Cross, then Criers Lane,and Brick Kiln Lane and on to Uckfield where it picked up the Roman road to Lewes.
“Yardhurst” described a clearing for animals in the forest that covered the area (“hurst” means “wood”). The other distinctive local reference to the clearings is the suffix “... reed” as in Broadreed, Woodreed and Stilereed. Dudsland used to have Pikereed and Istedreed. (Middle English: “ridde”, to grub up trees.) The forest had to be cleared before arable crops were possible on their smallholdings. The firewood produced was transported to Lewes by ox cart to keep the Archbishop warm. Peasants returned with barley for bread and small beer (or ale), to supplement the diet of oat gruel, eggs, fruit and vegetables and foraged nuts, berries and fungi. Meat was a luxury. Honey had to be handed over to their Lord, as did sparrow-hawk chicks. One of the first local amenities was the baker's oven, not a usual domestic feature. “Bakehouse ward “ was the name of the area around Newick Lane.
Hard labour in a subsistence economy was the order of the day. If the wind was in the right direction, residents could hear the bells of Mayfield St Dunstan's calling them to the relief of worship or the entertainment of festivals and feast days. They trudged through the deep clay in all weathers, hoping to arrive on time. A walk down the modern footpath east of Allen's Farm gives some idea of the difficulty of travel. Indeed there was a road there going to Piccadilly Lane. Some romantic names survive: Sunset Farm, Hanging Birch Cottages near New Pin Farm in the centre, whilst Harlots Farm, Frog's Hole Lane and Jackass Wood sound less appealing. The Five Ashes landscape of small fields, deep ghylls and clogging clay made for a hard life. Salvation was an attractive prospect.
The event is on Saturday 9th November at 7.00pm in Five Ashes Village Hall. Free entry. Donations invited in aid of the Hall itself. Doors open: 6.30 pm. Tim's book “Medieval Mayfield: Archbishops and Peasants” will be on sale. See www.mayfieldtimshistory.org
WEALDLINK - Your friendly, assisted, door-to-door shopping bus service
21
Wealdlink, a Registered Charity, operates a reasonably priced weekly door-to-door shopping service to Crowborough every Wednesday from Buxted. There is also a monthly service to Tunbridge Wells on the first Monday of the month and to Eastbourne on the third Monday (summer months only). The services are for anyone who has difficulty accessing normal service buses (not just the elderly) and are driven by friendly, fully-trained volunteers.
Passengers need to register in order to use our services. Registration is free, just phone 01892 771332 and we will register your name and address and discuss your travel requirements.
The next stage is to book your journey. Bookings may be made up to 24 hours before you travel and you will get a phone call on the morning of travel to confirm an estimated pick-up time. You will be picked up from your front door, dropped off in the town centre, collected at a pre-arranged time, returned to your home and if needed a passenger assistant will carry your shopping into your house.
As Wealdlink is a door-to-door service, pick-up and return times vary, according to the number of passengers and their location. The first pick-up is usually between 09:30 and 10:00 and you will normally be home by around 13:00. (later from Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne). This allows you at least 90 minutes to do your shopping and also give you ample time for a coffee in one of the many cafes in Crowborough. Socialising with fellow passengers is very much one of the benefits of using Wealdlink!
Services are part-funded by Parish Councils, including Buxted and by a grant from Wealden District Council.
We are always on the lookout for more volunteer drivers!
For more information, to
register and to book, call 01892 771332, or visit our website:
www.wealdlink.co.uk
WDC Cllr Graham Shaw monthly update
21
A further October Update
I just wanted to remind you about the Community Forum next Thursday, 24th October, 6.030-8.00pm, at St. Marys Church Hall, Church Road, Buxted. I look forward to seeing you there.
Letter to Angela Rayner
In response to the various planning and housing consultations issued recently by government (see my previous updates) Rachel Millward, Leader of Wealden District Council, and James Partridge, Deputy Leader, have written to Angela Rayner
(Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government).
I thought I would share that with you, and it is attached. It expresses our frustration about the constraints that are placed on councils like Wealden to properly respond to increasing the supply of the kind of homes the evidence suggests we need in Wealden, balanced with ensuring environmental concerns are taken seriously.
Rachel was also interviewed yesterday on Ashdown Radio. You can hear that here:
https://www.ashdownradio.com/player/on-demand/items/rachel-millward2/
As ever if you have any comments or questions, please email me, or come and raise that next Thursday!
Pension Credit - Are you Eligible
16
Could you be eligible for pension credit?
Have a look at the links below to find out more and how to apply
Roadside Adverts and Fly-posters - the Rules!
15
Following some emotive comments on social media this week about signs and fly-posters on verges, the Parish Council has asked ESCC Highways for the definitive rules which are as follows:
EAST SUSSEX HIGHWAYS GUIDELINES AND ACCEPTANCE OF PLACEMENT OF ADVERTISING POSTERS UPON THE HIGHWAY WITHIN A RURAL ENVIRONMENT
We will tolerate these provided they are charitable or community events, or seasonal produce (e.g. cherries, strawberries)
(Community = amateur dramatics/carnival/bonfire/parish events/seasonal produce)
Maximum of two signs on each approach road to the event.
- Signs to be placed at the back of the verge
- Signs are not permitted on street furniture
- Signs not to be placed within 60m of a junction
- Signs not to be erected more than 7 days before the event
- Signs to be removed within 24 hours of the event
- Signs not to exceed 0.6 square metre in area. (Approx 2 feet by 2 feet.)
Enquirers placing signs do so at their own risk and should be advised that they may wish to take out public liability insurance recommended five million pounds.
NO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING
NO METAL POSTS
SIGNS PLACED OUT NOT COMPLYING WITH THESE GUIDELINES MAY BE SUBJECT TO REMOVAL WITHOUT NOTICE.
The poster policy was always aimed at rural locations,
within towns there are shop windows and other locations that can be used, in
rural areas the availability of locations and opportunity to draw the event to
the attention of people is restricted
Roadworks - A26 Uckfield Road, Herons Ghyll
14
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out hedge cutting works and carriageway patching respectively on the A26 Uckfield Road, Herons Ghyll.
The carriageway patching works will be carried out alongside other associated works includingironwork adjustments, kerbing works, verge marker post installation, gully cleansing, high friction surfacing, road marking refreshments and stud installations.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out in two phases:
Monday 28 October to Wednesday 30 October 2024 between 9:30am and 4pm and
Monday 11 November 2024to Saturday 23 November 2024 between 8pm and 6am.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
How will this impact highway users?
Monday 28 Octoberto Wednesday 30 October 2024 – The road will remain open with temporary traffic signals in place whilst we carry out hedge cutting works. The team will be working between Perrymans Lane and New Road.
Monday 11 November 2024to Saturday 23 November 2024- Access will be restricted for residents whilst we carry out patching works.Traffic will be diverted via A26 Uckfield bypass, A22 Maresfield Bypass, B2026, New Road, A26 and vice versa.
The team will be working between Perrymans Lane and property “Barnsgate Manor”.
If you need vehicle access to your property, please discuss this with the team on site. Please bear in mind there will be delays whilst the area is made safe and your vehicle is escorted by site marshalls.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network. Should you have any concerns regarding these works, you can contact us at eshcomms@balfourbeatty.com.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visitOne.Network. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
WDC Cllr Graham Shaw monthly news October 2024
14
UPDATE - Graham Shaw, Wealden District Councillor for Buxted
Changes to national planning policy
My last update focused solely on the governments consultation on the National Policy Planning Framework, so I won’t repeat my observations here. Wealden Council submitted a response (it was a very tight deadline) which you can see at:
https://www.wealden.gov.uk/UploadedFiles/Response-to-the-NPPF-Consultation-2024-V5.pdf
In addition, I made a short report to the Buxted Parish Council which is recorded in the minutes of the last meeting available at:
We now await governments decisions about what national policy will look like.
Climate Change Strategy
Wealden adopted a Climate Emergency Action Plan in 2019. Since our election in 2023 we have developed an updated strategy and action plan, part of which has included wider consultation with residents, local organisations, parish council networks, local environmental groups, Wealden Strategic Partnership and across all the departments of the Council itself. A residents survey showed that over 70% believed that climate change is already affecting the district. This pretty much reflects national figures.
We asked what sort of projects or activities people wished to see in their local area and most popular were:
- Improving green infrastructure; walking, cycling, buses and electric vehicles,
- Solar or wind energy; increasing solar panel grants, use on new builds, grants and costs to access and permission for wind turbines,
- Tree Planting; increased planting and stronger restrictions or penalties for tree felling.
We are undertaking further research especially on the risks of not acting to address climate change in the district, how we can encourage the use of clean energy and move faster towards net-zero emissions. In terms of emissions Transport (47%) is the main source of emissions within the district with residential buildings (36%) and agriculture (21%) being the other key sources. On the positive side the land within the district plays a significant role in carbon sequestration – reducing the districts overall net emissions.
Next steps will be to work on the areas where we have direct control (e.g. our housing, offices and vehicles) and those we have influence over (e.g. transport, waste, planning, jobs and training). There will be further community engagement opportunities, and I hope we can contribute to that here in Buxted. During COP29 (November) we will host a ‘Climate Assembly’. Please let me know if you want to engage with these developments.
Wealden Community Grants Programme 2025-2028
Wealden District Council are opening the Community Grants Programme 2025-2028, which will support partners to deliver projects and services to support Wealden residents and its communities. We are asking registered charities, not for profit organisations and Community Interest Companies to apply. Commercial organisations, Town and Parish Councils, schools or similar statutory organisations cannot apply to this programme. The funding programme opens on Wednesday 9th October 2024 and the deadline to apply is Wednesday 4th December 2024.
Applications will be considered from organisations who wish to apply for funding of £5,000 or above per annum for a period of three years but organisations must contribute the same level or more match funding (cash and/or in-kind) against the funds they are asking the Council. If you have any queries, please contact communitygrants@wealden.gov.uk
I am more than happy to support any groups in Buxted that wish to apply. Please let me know.
South East Water
I received this from SEW. Given the problems Buxted residents have had in the past you may be interested:
"We'd like to invite you, and your community,
to find out more about your drinking water company and learn
more about our ambitious five-year £1.9 billion investment plan, which is
currently being reviewed by our regulator, Ofwat. It's an opportunity to meet
our team, ask any questions about the plan or about drinking water supplies in
the region.
The 'Behind the tap: Your drinking water questions answered' virtual meeting is
scheduled to take place from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday 12 November 2024 and will be
independently chaired.
At the session you will have the opportunity to ask myself and other senior
colleagues questions and let us know what really matters to you.
Your questions could cover:
- the service we provide
- our relationship with the environment
- population and housing growth
- working in partnership
- making bills affordable
- whatever other topic is important to you
The event will cover our drinking water supply plans across our whole supply area of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire”.
You can register to attend here: https://yourquestions.eventbrite.co.uk/
Wealden Citizens Advice – debt and energy support
Wealden supports Citizens Advice to provide free, impartial advice on money, debt, benefits, housing or employment problems helping to support residents across the district.
The organisation gives free, impartial advice on money, debt, benefits, housing or employment problems helping to support residents across the district. The advice service is funded through the Wealden Community Grants programme receiving £165,000 per annum.
Between April and June 2024, they supported 1,375 clients, gained a total income of £672,961 for clients and had a total of £335,603 debt written off. This included several residents of Buxted. If you, or someone you know, needs help please help them contact Citizens Advice.
Please don‘t hesitate to contact me to discuss these or any other issues important to you.
Contact me oncllr.graham.shaw@wealden.gov.uk
Wealden’s website is www.wealden.gov.uk
Howbourne Lane, Buxted - Drainage Work
10
Dear Resident,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out drainage works at Howbourne Lane, Buxted.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out from Monday 28 October 2024 to Wednesday 30 October 2024 between 9am to 4pm.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
What are we doing?
These works involve replacing damaged pipework, clearing and reforming the ditches to alleviate flooding in the area.
How will this impact highway users?
The team will be working between properties ‘Two Ways’ and ‘Treetops’.
Access will be restricted for residents for the duration of these works.
If you need vehicle access to your property, please discuss this with the team onsite. Please bear in mind there will be delays whilst the area is made safe and your vehicle is escorted by site marshalls. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Waste collection: Access will be granted for waste collection.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network. Should you have any concerns regarding these works, you can contact us at eshcomms@balfourbeatty.com.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
Southern Rail Digital Lineside Notifications
10
We are continuing our drive to promote this new and innovative way of informing residents who live near the railway about our work and projects.
As part of our ‘Digital Notification’ programme,
neighbour notification letters will where possible be replaced by emails.
Thousands have already signed up in the southern region, and we would really appreciate your support in helping us stay in touch with our neighbours and communities.
If you haven't already done so, we’d be grateful
if you could share this link. This will help our ambitions to keep everyone informed
of our work in their local area.
Wealden Community Grants Programme launches
10
Wealden Community Grants Programme has launched to fund services and activities supporting residents living in the district.
Organisations and community groups across the Wealden district are being invited to apply for grants, which have been made available through Wealden District Council’s budget and supports the priorities within the new Wealden District Council Strategy.
The council is asking not-for-profit organisations, such as charities, community and voluntary groups, community interest companies and more to apply.
Organisations will need 50% match funding, which can include in-kind and/or cash match funding.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management, said “Our communities are an important part of Wealden, and we must ensure that the vital services within them are nurtured.
“This grants programme will give charities, voluntary groups and not-for-profit organisations the funding required to continue to provide the necessary services and develop them. I would urge not-for-profit organisations to look further into this and apply.”
The programme launched today, Wednesday 9 October and the deadline for applications is Wednesday 4 December.
For information on how to apply, please go to Community Grants Programme - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council
For information on current grants given out through this programme, please go to https://www.wealden.gov.uk/community-and-safety/information-on-grant-funding/community-grants-awarded-in-this-financial-year/
Debt and energy support helps residents in need
07
Residents are being reminded by Wealden District Council to utilise debt and energy support through Wealden Citizens Advice.
The organisation gives free, impartial advice on money, debt, benefits, housing or employment problems helping to support residents across the district.
The advice service is funded through the Wealden Community Grants programme receiving £165,000 per annum, between April 2022 - March 2025.
Between the months of April to June 2024, Wealden Citizen’s Advice has supported 1,375 clients, gained a total income of £672,961 for clients and had a total of £335,603 debt written off.
The Wealden based charity has recently helped a client make a fresh start financially after accumulating £49,000 in debts due to a relationship breakdown and the pandemic.
To alleviate immediate financial pressure, Wealden Citizens Advice placed the client under a 'Breathing Space' arrangement for two months. This provided temporary relief from creditor communications and bailiff visits while the Money Advice team explored debt resolution options. Due to the debt amount, making any reasonable repayment plan became unlikely.
Because of an increase in the debt relief order from £30,000 to £50,000 in June, the client was eligible to apply for a relief order which cleared her debt. The client now has a sustainable plan for managing her remaining obligations, helping her regain control over her finances.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management said, “Wealden Citizens Advice is a vital voluntary service giving support and expert advice to residents in need during this cost-of-living crisis effecting the most vulnerable people in our community. They help residents with difficulties from debt and financial problems to personal and legal issues. The service provided is confidential and an invaluable resource in our district.”
Residents can contact the charity on 0808 278 7811 or 0800 144 88 48 anytime between 9am to 3pm Monday-Friday, contact them online through www.wealdencitizensadvice.org.uk or visit one of their offices in Crowborough, Hailsham and Uckfield. Please be advised it is recommended to call ahead to avoid being turned away.
Citizens Advice are always seeking volunteers to keep this service running. To find out more about volunteer opportunities, go to https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/support-us/volunteering/.
Wild About Dark Skies Festival 2024
30
We are please to announce that Wild About Dark Skies festival 2024 is running from 28 October to 10 November – all events to be found at Wild About Dark Skies Festival - High Weald National Landscape
Also if any of you are interested in holding your own event
next year which is grant funded please contact me Samantha.nicholas@highweald.org.
High Weald National Landscape Partnership
Conserving and enhancing an area of outstanding natural beauty
For climate| For nature | For people | For place
Tel: 01424 723011
Woodland Enterprise Centre, Hastings Road, Flimwell, East Sussex, TN5 7PR
Could you be a Councillor and represent your community?
25
People in East Sussex are being encouraged to consider
representing their community by becoming a councillor. East Sussex County
Council has launched the Be A Councillor campaign to offer insight into the
role of elected members, ahead of the county council elections in May 2025.
The campaign includes a website with details on how to stand for local elections, the responsibilities of the role, and the support and training available. Additionally, information events will provide opportunities to hear from current councillors and speak to officers who support them.
Not sure if it’s for you? Find out more: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/your-council/about/council-officers/councillors/finances/roles-responsibilities?utm_source=facebook-post&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_content=district&borough&utm_campaign=be-a-councillor
Safer in Sussex Police Survey
13
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has launched a survey asking Sussex residents for their feedback on the policing service they receive.
Now in her fourth term as Sussex PCC, Mrs Bourne is eager to understand residents’ concerns and ideas in order to inform the priorities in her new Police & Crime Plan.
Speaking about the survey, PCC Katy Bourne said: “As your Police & Crime Commissioner since 2012, I've been asking you, as local residents, to tell me what makes you feel safe or unsafe.
“I am elected to be your
voice within policing so it is my responsibility to ensure that the Chief
Constable is delivering efficient and effective policing across our
county.
“As I develop our new Police & Crime Plan, I'd like to know if issues that
mattered to you before have changed? Please complete my short survey - I
look forward to hearing your thoughts and value your feedback”
The survey can be accessed online and only takes a few minutes to complete. Please
follow the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/9f9hYFVAFA
The survey will run until 31st October.
Romance Fraud in Sussex
10
Finding love and friendship online is increasingly popular. It can be highly enjoyable however, meeting new people this way does come with its own set of risks. One of the most concerning is romance fraud, which not only creates great emotional pain but can also lead to significant financial losses.
In the past year, nearly a quarter of all fraud cases reported to the Fraud Support Service at Victim Support Sussex were linked to romance scams, showing how common this type of crime has become.
What is Romance Fraud?
A romance scam is an insidious confidence trick. Fraudsters create fake profiles on dating sites or social media to establish a relationship with someone, with the aim of taking their money.
Being targeted by a romance fraudster does not mean a victim is gullible or naïve. Such scams are prolific and increasingly run by criminal organisations, practiced experts at psychological manipulation. Fraudsters typically spend weeks or months establishing what appears to be a genuine, caring relationship. Eventually, they begin to ask for money or personal information under various pretexts, such as medical emergencies or financial troubles.
By the time the victim realises they have been scammed, they may have lost significant amounts of money. British victims of romance fraud lost over £92 million in 2023, with an average loss of £11,500 each. Some victims in Sussex that have lost many times more.
Common Signs of Romance Scams
Here at Victim Support Sussex, we have seen first-hand the devastating impact that fraud can have on people's lives. As we acknowledge World Romance Scam Prevention Day on October 3rd, we feel it’s crucial to stay informed and learn how to protect ourselves when meeting new people online. Here are a few tips:
1. Be sceptical of online relationships: If you haven’t met the person in real life, be cautious. Watch out for elaborate backstories, early professions of love and excuses for never meeting up in person.
2. Never send money: Fraudsters may ask for money for an "emergency" or a supposed opportunity in bitcoin or other investment. No matter how convincing the story, never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
3. Keep personal information private: Avoid sharing sensitive personal information like your address or financial details. Romance scammers use this information to commit identity fraud or sell on to other criminals.
4. Stay connected with friends and family: Plenty of us date online these days and a trusted friend or family member can offer another perspective on your online relationship. Scammers know this and deliberately isolate their victims from their support networks, so staying connected is crucial.
Romance fraudsters target anybody seeking love and companionship online. However, by staying informed and vigilant, we can protect ourselves and others from falling victim whilst still meeting new people and having fun online.
This World Romance Scam Prevention Day, please take the time to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of romance fraud and the steps you can take to protect yourself. Lastly, if something feels too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your instincts, and always seek support if you need it.
Employment sessions available in Hailsham
09
Drop-in sessions are available to residents in the Wealden district needing help and guidance on employment.
Wealden District Council has been working in partnership with the Job Centre Plus Eastbourne to bring the sessions to residents.
Job Centre Plus staff are available in the public access area of the council offices in Vicarage Field, Hailsham, every Monday and Thursday between 9am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 3pm. Residents can book an appointment with their employment advisor or walk in for general career advice.
This initiative helps many Wealden residents who would have had to travel far distances, often by public transport, to attend employment meetings and receive career advice from their appointed Job Centre Plus employment advisor. For example, claimants living in Hailsham and surrounding areas, would have needed to travel to Eastbourne.
Wealden District Council has also worked closely with other neighbouring Job Centre Plus venues to deliver employment events and is continuing to work together to explore the expansion of the outreach service to other areas of the district.
“The outreach service began in July 2023 and has seen good interaction, especially with younger claimants. Since October, almost 400 people have attended the weekly sessions. Discussions are ongoing to increase the outreach programme to other areas of the district.”
Piers Harrison, customer service leader for Job Centre Plus said, “It has been fantastic to provide DWP outreach to Hailsham, providing support, job opportunities and training to customers living in a high deprivation area. The Work Coaches who helped setup the project absolutely love working there and daily improve the lives of customers who attend. We have seen many fantastic outcomes and certainly examples where this would not been the case had customers not been seen in the council office. We have already extended the service by one day and are currently considering if we could offer even more because of demand and the success of the project”
Request for your feedback on the policing service you receive
09
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has launched a survey asking Sussex residents for their feedback on the policing service they receive.
Now in her fourth term as Sussex PCC, Mrs Bourne is eager to understand residents’ concerns and ideas in order to inform the priorities in her new Police & Crime Plan.
Speaking about the survey, PCC Katy Bourne said: “As your Police & Crime Commissioner since 2012, I've been asking you, as local residents, to tell me what makes you feel safe or unsafe.
“I am elected to be your voice within policing so it is my responsibility
to ensure that the Chief Constable is delivering efficient and effective
policing across our county.
“As I develop our new Police & Crime Plan, I'd like to know if issues that
mattered to you before have changed? Please do complete my short survey -
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and value your feedback”
The survey can be accessed online and only takes a few minutes to complete.
Please click on the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/9f9hYFVAFA
Free dance festival returns with performances in Uckfield, Newhaven and Bexhill
06
This September Journeys Festival of Dance will be returning to visit towns in Sussex.
Uckfield, Newhaven and Bexhill will be visited by the Journeys Festival of dance, a free outdoor festival which will move across Sussex giving performances and workshops for all ages over a three-day festival.
The festival kickstarts in Newhaven on Friday 27thSeptember from 6pm with Folk Dance Remixed at the Sidings.
On Saturday 28th September, Folk Dance Remixed will reappear with performances at 12.30pm & 2.30pm on Luxford Field in Uckfield, sharing afresh, quirky, colourful and magical collision of traditional and Hip-Hop dance and music. A high-energy, unique remix of Maypole, Clogging, Street, House and Breakdance with a hint of African & Bollywood to a live soundtrack of fiddle & beat boxing - this is Folk and Street Dance like you’ve never seen before.
Attendees are also welcome to get involved in a free dance workshop delivered by Folk Dance Remixed in between the day’s performances.
The festival ends on Sunday 29September with the Black Victorians in Bexhill on the De La War Pavilion Terrace. Exploring a complex, but often forgotten Black presence in pre-Windrush Britain, this performance calls attention to previously hidden figures and challenges historical and contemporary perceptions.
Councillor Paul Coleshill, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Climate Change and Economy, said, “This festival will bring communities together again to enjoy performances, live music, and dance workshops. This was very popular with other towns in Sussex and so we have decided to host again and spread the fun. I hope that families and friends come together to attend the free event.”
For
more information on the event visit our website: www.explorewealden.co.uk/experience-our-culture/journeys-festival-of-dance-2024-by-18-hours-p2218051
Community Sports Hub receives £3.5million funding from Football Foundation
05
The new Community Sports Hub to be located on the outskirts of Hailsham has received a grant of £3.5million from the Premier League, The FA and government’s Football Foundation.
Construction on the new Hub is expected to start this autumn and be completed by 2026.The construction of the build has been appointed to Sunninghill Construction.
Wealden District Council has been working with the Football Foundation, a charity which delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, on the plans and construction of the new Community Sports Hub.
The Hub will provide new facilities in the district and offer high-quality sports and community facilities which can be used all year-round.
The funding has been awarded to the council through the Football Foundation’s Hubs Programme, which has already seen over 20 multi-pitch Hubs delivered across the country.
As part of the funding agreement, the site will be operated on a not-for-profit basis by the charity, Leisure United and managed by The National Football Trust. Leisure United currently operates 18 sites across the country. It will be a new partnership arrangement involving the council and any surplus income generated from the facility will be reinvested into local grassroots sports.
The state-of-the art Hub will consist of two floodlit full size 3G pitches, four dual use floodlit netball/tennis courts and two padel tennis courts plus other community facilities such as a café and meeting space, skate park, a children’s play area and a perimeter pathway around the site - that will provide opportunities for all residents to participate in sports, health and wellbeing, and leisure activities.
Throughout the process, the council has engaged with a range of partners including sport’s governing bodies, local sports clubs and a public consultation event was held to help shape and inform the facilities at the site.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management, said “I am delighted to hear that the Football Foundation has awarded the council £3.5 million in grant funding. This award follows many months of working with the Football Foundation, local clubs and our communities and strengthens our relationship and highlights the importance of having this type of facility within Wealden. The funding will be used to provide residents throughout the district with high-quality sports amenities and allow them to become more active by participating in a variety of different activities and sports.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
“This grant award to Wealden council towards developing a new Hub is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play.”
For further information and to follow updates or for further info on the project please click here
About the Football Foundation
The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.
The Foundation’s goal is to unlock the power of pitches ensuring every community has a great place to play regardless of gender, race, disability or place.
Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has invested more than £1.1 billion to improve grassroots facilities across the country – including 1,200 3G pitches, 13,000 grass pitches and 1,500 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1.4 billion of partnership funding – totalling over £2.5 billion investment in grassroots football so far.
In partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders, the Foundation has created Local Football Facility Plans for every local authority in England. These Plans act as a blueprint for providing the grassroots football facility improvements that each community needs and deserves across the country.
Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for more information on the Foundation and view the Plan for your local area.
Deadline Tues 3rd Sept - Tackling Inequalities Fund
27
Wealden District Council’s Tackling Inequalities through Physical Activity 2024/2025
Applications must be submitted by Tuesday 3 September 2024 and can be made for amounts between £1,000 and £15,000.
The council is inviting organisations such as Not for Profit organisations to apply. Funds must be spent by 31st August 2025.
The third round of funding as part of the Tackling Inequalities Through Physical Activity programme is now open.
East Sussex Public Health has released funds to Wealden District Council to deliver a third round of grant funding to support organisations who specifically work towards reducing inequalities and aim to deliver better health outcomes within the district. The funding can support existing projects or new ideas, which provide direct support to the local community. Anything from gardening clubs to seated exercise sessions and more.
Previous rounds of funding over the past two years has provided funding to eleven organisations within the district. These include The Good Company People which increases fitness levels through exercise for over 65s, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) which provides residents with practical conservation activities to increase mental wellbeing through a Green Gym project, and Rotherfield St Martin which has used the funding to support hydrotherapy sessions helping those with arthritis, stiffness of joints and those recovering from hip or knee surgery.
If
you would like more information, please email wellbeing@wealden.gov.uk
Roadworks - A26 9th to 13th September
27
Five Ash Down, Uckfield
Dear Resident,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out drainage works at Five Ash Down, Uckfield.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out from Monday 9 September 2024to Friday 13 September 2024between 9am and 4pm.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
What are we doing?
These works involve replacing broken pipe work to alleviate flooding in the area.
How will this impact highway users?
The team will be working at two sites:
From outside ‘Mayfield Cottage’ to ‘Little Hasley’,
From the junction of Cobdown Lane and will continue approximately 120m North East along the A26.
The road will remain open with temporary traffic signals in place.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network. Should you have any concerns regarding these works, you can contact us at eshcomms@balfourbeatty.com.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
One You East Sussex roadshow returns to Wealden in September and October
27
Free NHS Health Checks are returning to towns across Wealden after high demand.
The health checks are provided by One You East Sussex, a free holistic lifestyle service for residents of East Sussex, helping people make simple changes that can lead to a longer, healthier and happier life. The service helps residents to lose weight, be smoke free, move more, eat well, drink less and delivers the NHS health checks.
COLIN, the service’s mobile health check van and practitioner team, will be offering NHS health checks to residents who qualify. The dates, locations and eligibility criteria are below.
Please book your NHS health check in advance by contacting hello@oneyoueastsussex.org.uk or calling 01323 404600. Appointments take between 30-40 minutes and your results will be discussed with on the day. Cancellations should be made 24 hours in advance to allow for appointments to be re-allocated.
Dates and locations
· Thursday 19th September - Uckfield, Luxford Field car park
· Thursday 26th September - Heathfield, Station Road East car park
· Thursday 3rd October - Crowborough, Croft Road car park
· Thursday 17th October - Hailsham, Vicarage Lane car park
· Thursday 31st October - Heathfield, Station Road East car park
Residents wanting to book an NHS health check must meet the following criteria.
· Be aged between 40-74.
· Are not currently prescribed blood pressure or cholesterol medications.
· Do not suffer from Diabetes OR Heart/Circulatory/Kidney conditions or previously suffered from any cardiovascular events.
· Be an East Sussex resident.
· Have not previously had an NHS health check in the last 5 years.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management, said “The health checks have proven popular over the last couple of years and we are bringing them back to the communities to give more people a chance to access them. Our health is important and with these checks available to eligible residents I would urge anyone who meets the criteria to take up this offer. They are free to attend and are spread across the district. Residents need to book an appointment to save disappointment.”
If you’d like more information on the free healthy lifestyle services available through One You East Sussex, or to complete a self-referral, then please visit www.oneyoueastsussex.org.uk.
Planning Applications - Current Consultations
08
Please see attached a list of applications currently being considered for a response by Buxted Parish Planning Committee.
Any responses - please send back to clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk
Could you be a JCR Support Worker?
08
Your community needs you. Become a JCR support worker today and
make a difference in just four weeks.
Are you a kind-hearted and caring individual looking for a fulfilling job? The Joint Community Rehabilitation (JCR) team at East Sussex County Council team is looking for support workers. This is your chance to make a real difference to people's lives, helping them regain their independence after hospital stays, injury or illness.
What is a JCR support worker?
As a JCR Support Worker, you’ll visit clients in their homes, supporting them as they recover and build their confidence. You don't need formal qualifications, just a caring attitude and a desire to help others. JCR provide all the necessary training to ensure you’re fully equipped for the role.
Why join JCR?
- Impact lives: help people feel confident at home, get them back in the garden, or see them cooking again - all in just four weeks.
- Variety in your day: every day brings new challenges and opportunities to make a difference.
- Flexible and Rewarding: enjoy a flexible job that provides immense satisfaction and pride.
- Community Focus: support your local community and give back in your own way.
What JCR offer
- Comprehensive training
- Flexible working hours
- A supportive team environment
- The opportunity to truly impact lives
- Paid travel
Requirements
- A caring nature and willingness to help
- Ability to drive (and ideally access to a car)
Hear from the JCR team
"The best thing about being a support worker is that I get to see lots of different people in lots of different situations. It's very rewarding and fills me with a lot of pride." – Dan, JCR Support Worker
Get Involved
JCR have multiple vacancies available across East Sussex and would love to hear from you! Take the first step towards a rewarding new career by joining the JCR team. No previous experience needed.
For more information, visit the JCR support worker page and watch their video to see how you can transform lives with JCR.
Shepherds Hill - Patching Work 22nd/23rd August
07
Shepherds Hill, Buxted
Dear Resident / Business owner,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out targeted patch repairs on Shepherds Hill, Buxted.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out on Thursday 22 August 2024and Friday 23 August 2024between 9am and 4pm.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
What do the works involve?
These works involve essential patching repair works to improve the carriageway condition.
How will this impact highway users?
The team will be working near the junction with Nans Tuck Lane.
Access for residents will be restricted for residents between the junction of Nan Tucks Lane and the junction of Pound Lane the duration of works.
Traffic will be diverted via Shepherds Hill, Nans Tuck Lane, Etchingwood Lane, Streele Lane, Barn Lane, Pound Lane and vice versa.
If you need vehicle access, please discuss this with the team on site. Please bear in mind there will be delays whilst the area is made safe and your vehicle is escorted by site marshalls. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Waste collection:Access will be granted for waste collection.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network. Should you have any concerns regarding these works, you can contact us at eshcomms@balfourbeatty.com.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visitOne.Network. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Flexibus just got more flexible!
31
A big change is on the way. People asked, we have listened.
From 29 July we are replacing the current zone boundary system with just one big zone.
Passengers will now be able to travel within a 14-mile radius of their pickup point – meaning access to new destinations. We have also ‘closed the gaps’ so a few parishes in the middle of zones but outside them are now covered. (See attached pic). Limitations mean we’ve not been able to expand to cover those areas which were outside the zones.
Before, if you lived at the edge of a zone there was no Flexibus option to travel into another, which we know for some meant their main services were in the ‘wrong’ zone.
As before, the aim of Flexibus is to complement and support the standard bus networks, and you will not be able to book a ride if there is a bus route going that way. Using any of our buses supports our efforts to increase passenger numbers and show that there is demand for public transport in East Sussex.
Checkout our new travel-checker map to see where Flexibus can take you: https://flexibus.sussex.podaris.com/
How to book remains by calling 01273 078203 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holiday) or through the RidePingo app. The app can be used anytime (other than the occasional downtime for maintenance and updates).
Bus Service Improvement - ESCC
WD/2024/1411/MAO - LAND AT COOPERS GREEN ROAD, RINGLES CROSS, UCKFIELD
31
The Parish Council has received notification of a new planning application for:
OUTLINE APPLICATION WITH ALL MATTERS RESERVED EXCEPT ACCESS, LAYOUT AND SCALE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE FOR 14 NO. RESIDENTIAL UNITS, WITH ASSOCIATED ACCESS, CAR AND CYCLE PARKING.
This is the same location as the applications for a care home (refused - currently awaiting an appeal).
For full details please see the WDC website: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=166073
Comments should be in by 23rd August.
Drainage Works Five Ash Down
15
IMPORTANT ROADWORKS INFORMATION 15 July 2024
Five Ash Down, Uckfield
Dear Resident,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out drainage works in Five Ash Down, Uckfield.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out on Monday 5 August 2024and Tuesday 6 August 2024 between 9am and 4pm.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
What are we doing?
These works involve replacing broken pipes on drainage assets to alleviate flooding in the area.
How will this impact highway users?
The team will be working at two locations:
Location 1: Outside properties ‘Mayfield Cottage’ & ‘Little Haseley’
Location 2: From the junction with Cobdown Lane and continuing approximately 120m North East.
The road will remain open with minimal disrupstion to road users.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network. Should you have any concerns regarding these works, you can contact us at eshcomms@balfourbeatty.com.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
Third round of funding available for physical activity groups
11
Organisations within the Wealden district are being encouraged to apply for funding as part of the Tackling Inequalities Through Physical Activity programme.
East Sussex Public Health has released funds to Wealden District Council to deliver a third round of grant funding to support organisations which specifically work towards reducing inequalities and aim to deliver better health outcomes within the district. The funding can support existing projects or new ideas, which provide direct support to the local community. It includes anything from gardening clubs to seated exercise sessions and more.
Previous rounds of funding over the past two years have provided funding to 11 organisations within the district. These include The Good Company People, which increases fitness levels through exercise for over 65s; The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), which provides residents with practical conservation activities to increase mental wellbeing through a Green Gym project, and Rotherfield St Martin which has used the funding to support hydrotherapy sessions helping those with arthritis, stiffness of joints and those recovering from hip or knee surgery.
Vicky Cheeseman, charity manager at Rotherfield St. Martin, said “We were one of the organisations which received funding from Wealden District Council as part of the phase two Tackling Inequalities Through Physical Activity programme. The funding awarded to us has been used to support the physical health of over 50s in fun and inclusive ways. I would encourage any organisations in the Wealden district to apply for the phase three funding.”
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management said, “This funding is important to tackle the inequalities that we see in physical activity. Research has been undertaken by Active Sussex which found that there are four priority groups at risk of health inequalities.
“We want to give funding to organisations that will reduce health inequalities in the district whilst increasing the opportunity for people to lead healthy and happy lives, create better and stronger communities and social interaction.”
To apply for funding, email wellbeing@wealden.gov.uk.
Allocations will be prioritised in order of the ability to deliver activities and interventions to Wealden. Applications open from 8 July 2024 and must be submitted by 3 September 2024 and can be made for amounts between £1,000 and £15,000.
Footway Improvement Works - A272 Station Road, Buxted
09
IMPORTANT ROADWORKS INFORMATION 9 July 2024
High Street & Station Road, Buxted
Dear Resident / Business owner,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out footway works on High Street and Station Road, Buxted.
Once completed, these works will help restore the footway to its original width.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out from Monday 29 July 2024to Thursday 8 August 2024 between 8am and 5pm.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
What are we doing?
These works involve siding the overgrown grass verge to improve access to the footway.
How will this impact highway users?
The team will be working at the following locations:
· 29 July - High Street - Between the entrantce to the station and the Water Treatment Works.
· 30 July – 8 August - Station Road – Between ‘Yew Tree Cottage’ and Buxted Primary School.
The road will remain open with temporary traffic lights in place whilst the work is undertaken.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in
advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this
forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network. Should you have any concerns regarding these works, you
can contact us at eshcomms@balfourbeatty.com.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit One.Network. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE - U7861 FOWLEY LANE, HIGH HURSTWOOD
09
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7861 Fowley Lane, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure From the junction with theU7861 Tibbs Mill Laneto the junction with theC402 Hurstwood Road, a distance of approximately 1284 metres. |
|
19th July 2024 to 22nd July 2024 | |
To allow I & A Communications Ltd (on behalf of BT Openreach) to carry out Apparatus Repair works. |
Diversion via: -Via -C402 Hurstwood Road – U7503 Burnt Oak Road – U7861 Tibbs Mill Lane and vice versa.
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works.
If you need to discuss this further, please contact:
I & A Communications Ltd on 0845 200 4035
Wealden Crematorium open day returns for fifth year
27
Wealden Crematorium will be hosting an open day event in July welcoming people from all over Sussex.
The crematorium opened in 2019 and is marking its fifth anniversary this year. This year’s open day will be held on the 31 July between 11am-3pm with friendly crematorium staff offering guided tours to show visitors the cremation process and answering questions the public might have.
Since its doors opened the crematorium has held more than 5,000 cremations, received the Highly Commended Award from the Sussex Heritage Trust for its grounds and has donated more than £70,000 to local charities through the ICCM Metals Recycling Scheme, which, with consent, allows bereaved families to donate metals after a cremation.
The state-of-the-art building has the largest ceremony hall in the local area which can seat more than 120 people and car parking spaces to fit 160 vehicles.
A council spokesperson said: “The open days are held to encourage residents from all over Sussex to visit, ask questions and enjoy the beautiful grounds. There are no questions we haven’t been asked before so don’t be shy in coming along and getting the answers you want or need to know.
“Wealden Crematorium is a crematorium for all, no matter what culture, background or geographical location, you do not have to live in Wealden to use our services. We are welcoming to everyone.”
Refreshments will be served throughout the day, for more information visit https://www.wealdencrematorium.co.uk/
Career event to be hosted for Armed Forces members
26
A career event will be taking place in July to help Armed Forces members find job opportunities outside of the military.
The event aims to highlight the value of hiring veterans and active-duty members, promote the value of military experience in the workforce and to bridge the gap between military service and civilian employment.
Wealden District Council will be hosting the event at the Hailsham Civic Community Hall, between 10am - 2pm in partnership with People Matter, a local charity which supports jobseekers.
Attendees will have the chance to meet with top employers and connect with local companies and organisations that are eager to hire veterans and civilians. Employers from various industries will be present to discuss potential career paths and opportunities.
Many skills that military members already have can be transitioned into the civilian world of work. Advice and guidance will be given on completing applications and CV building, interview techniques, career transition strategies, and leveraging military experience in the civilian job market.
Networking Opportunities will also be available for job seekers, recruiters, and industry professionals to build valuable connections that could lead to exciting career opportunities and learn about options for further training and development that can enhance civilian job prospects.
A council spokesperson said, "The Armed Forces Career Event is a testament to our commitment to supporting our veterans and active-duty members in their transition to civilian life.
"We recognise the immense value they bring to the workforce, and we are dedicated to providing them with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed."
Event Details:
- Date: 12July 2024
- Time: 10am – 2pm
- Location: Civic Community Hall, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX
For more information about the Armed Forces Career Event, please contact 01323 443322
Appeal to reunite stolen tools with their owners!
25
Kent Police have released an appeal to reunite tools worth one million pounds with owners.
Officers are keen to identity the rightful owners of the tools, and can confirm that the goods have been stolen from locations nationwide including Sussex.
Members of the public who have been victims of power tool thefts are encouraged to look at the list of items and manufacturers and get in contact if they believe their property may have been recovered as part of this operation.
For more information,
please see details of the appeal here https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/appeals/appeal-to-reunite-tools-worth-one-million-pounds-with-owners/
Buxted Symphony Orchestra 50th Anniversary Concert
17
Buxted Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year with a concert on Sunday 7th July (7.00 pm) at St. Margaret’s Church in Buxted Park. The programme features Sussex-linked composers, both past and present, and one of the highlights of the evening will be a performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, with guest soloist James Conway.
Tickets priced at £13 are available in advance from Gale & Woolgar, High Street, Uckfield (cash only), or at the door for £14 (cash or card). Students and under 18s are free. Interval refreshments will be served, with donations welcomed.
Free Energy Champion Training-12th June
04
Energise Sussex Coast are looking for volunteers to become local Energy Champions. There is still time to sign up to their FREE Energy Champion Training on Wednesday 12th June, Hailsham Civic Community Hall, 10am-4pm.
Find out more details and how to book your place on the Eventbrite Link-Energy Champion Training for Wealden Tickets, Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
I would like to invite you to join the re-scheduled FREE Energy Champion Training on Wednesday 12th June, Hailsham Civic Community Hall, 10am-4pm. Booking is now open, find out more details and how to secure your space on the Eventbrite Link-Energy Champion Training for Wealden Tickets, Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
This free training to open to anyone who lives in Wealden and would like to make a positive impact on their community.As Energy Champions, volunteers will receive free training and ongoing in person support to give energy advice to local people and help them to bring down their energy bills, stay warm, and save energy.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please share with your networks and anyone you think might be interested in attending.
Best Wishes
Climate Change Team
Chantal, Alex and Kate
Follow our facebook page@ClimateChangeWealden
Over £1m to be invested into improving Wealden’s sports facilities
27
In the last twelve months almost £1.5 million has been committed by Wealden District Council to improve outdoor sports provision and secure community use at educational facilities.
At a recent Wealden District Full Council meeting, councillors agreed to provide £600,000 via an annual grant funding programme to improve playing pitches and outdoor sports facilities throughout the district. This equates to £200,000 per year, over a three-year period.
The first round of the annual grant funding programme will be opened later this year and be available to local sports partners and organisations.
It will provide much needed financial support to deliver the priority projects listed within the Wealden Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy & Action Plan, agreed by sport’s governing bodies and Sport England, and adopted by the Council in December 2023.
Sports that could benefit from the funding programme include football, rugby union, tennis, cricket, lawn bowls, hockey, netball and stoolball.
This is in addition to a contribution of £216,406 towards the resurfacing and improvements to the lighting of the hockey pitch at Hailsham Community College and
Investment of£311,000 to improve the hockey pitch at Beacon Academy, Crowborough. A further £300,000 has been allocated towards supporting the installation of a new 3G football pitch, at the Academy should this project be progressed at the site.
Funding is being made available from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies and will help improve the quality, accessibility, and protection of community-use sports facilities for years to come.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management, said, “The health and wellbeing of our residents is pivotal to them living happier, more fulfilled, and heathier lives.
“The provision of high quality, local sports provision and open spaces enables residents to access opportunities to adopt healthier lifestyles through physical activity, and actively being involved in their community.
“By working with and supporting local partners and communities we are able to strengthen local relationships and build healthy, resilient communities. This funding will help to improve accessibility and the quality of many local sports facilities located throughout the district.”
Notes for editors
For details on the Wealden Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and Action Plan go to: www.wealden.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/planning-policy-evidence-base/open-space/
Temporary partial closures of Cuckoo Trail ahead
27
Visitors to the Cuckoo Trail are being advised that sections of the popular trail will be closed in June and July.
The Cuckoo Trail is a leisure 11-mile route running from Polegate to Heathfield used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders and parts of it will be closed so essential work can be carried out before the start of the summer holidays.
Resurfacing work in June will see a stretch of the Cuckoo Trail south of Ghyll Road in Heathfield closed to all types of users to allow the work to go ahead safely. The work, being carried out by contractors C J Thorne, is expected to start on Wednesday 5 June and take between 10 days and two weeks.
A signposted diversion via Ghyll Road, Hailsham Road (B2203) and public footpath Heathfield and Waldron 50b - opposite the Runt-in-Tun public house - will be provided to bypass the works and maintain the though route of the Trail. The public footpath section is unsurfaced.
Wealden District Council apologises for any inconvenience caused by these necessary works.
In addition, from Monday 10 June, contractors acting for Bovis/Vistry Housing will be installing a new pumped sewer along the route of the Cuckoo Trail between Sycamore Drive and Ersham Road in south Hailsham. The work is expected to last until Friday 19 July and during this time the Trail will be closed to all types of users to allow the work to proceed.
Unfortunately, there is no safe route available to bypass this location so, although other parts of the Trail will be available as usual, the Cuckoo Trail will effectively be closed as a through route during this period. The council apologies for any inconvenience caused by these works, which are being carried out under a Sewer Requisition Notice over which the council has no control.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Public Health and Asset Management, said, “It is regrettable parts of the Trail have to close but these works are necessary and being done ahead of the summer holidays.
“While the resurfacing work in Heathfield will have a diversion in place, it is not possible for a diversion to be set up for the works in south Hailsham and that is out of the council’s control.”
Drainage Works - Station Road, Buxted 17th-24th June 2024
21
Station Road, Buxted
Dear Resident / Business owner,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out drainage works on Station Road, Uckfield.
Once completed, these works help alleviate flooding to the carriageway and private properties.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out between Monday 17 June and Monday 24 June.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
How will this impact highway users?
The road will remain open with temporary traffic signals in place between 9am – 3pm.
The team will be working from the junction with High Street to outside ‘Buxted Church of England Primary School’.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: We will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
Free health checks return to Wealden
15
One You East Sussex is offering free NHS Health Checks to residents living in Wealden after the popularity of a similar programme delivered last year.
One You provides a free holistic lifestyle service for residents of East Sussex, helping people make simple changes that can lead to a longer, healthier, and happier life. The service delivers NHS health checks to residents, helps residents to lose weight, be smoke free, move more, eat well and drink less.
COLIN, the service’s mobile health check van and practitioner team, will be offering NHS health checks to residents who qualify. The dates, locations and eligibility criteria are below.
Please book your NHS health check in advance as spaces may not be available on the day, by contacting sam.bentley@oneyoueastsussex.org.uk. Appointments take between 30-40 minutes and your results will be discussed with on the day.
Dates and locations
· Thursday 16 May - Crowborough, Croft Road car park
· Thursday 23 May - Uckfield, Luxford Field car park
· Thursday 30 May - Hailsham, Vicarage Lane car park
· Thursday 13 June - Heathfield, Station Road East car park
· Thursday 20 June - Crowborough, Croft Road car park
· Thursday 27 June - Uckfield, Luxford Field car park
Residents wanting to book an NHS health check must meet the following criteria:
· Be aged between 40-74.
· Are not currently prescribed blood pressure or cholesterol medications.
· Do not suffer from Diabetes OR Heart/Circulatory/Kidney conditions or previously suffered from any cardiovascular events.
· Be an East Sussex resident.
· Have not previously had an NHS health check in the last five years.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management, said, “These health checks are popular with residents in Wealden and it is great to see them return. I would urge residents who meet the criteria to take up this offer. They are free to attend and are spread across the district. Residents need to book an appointment to save disappointment.”
If you’re unable to attend any of these dates, One You East Sussex will be returning in September and October, further information including dates and how to book will be provided in the summer.
Proposed cycleway linking Uckfield and Lewes to be explored
15
A new cycle and pedestrian route which would run alongside the old railway line between Uckfield and Lewes is currently being explored.
Wealden District Council and other partners – including Lewes District Council – are joining forces for the project, which could provide an off-road surfaced route, similar to the existing Cuckoo Trail and Forest Way for walking, cycling and wheeling.
The nine-mile route will potentially link the two towns of Uckfield and Lewes and create an alternative cycling route to the A26 between the two towns, joining Isfield and Barcombe directly. The Greenway would form an important “green link” between the towns and villages along the route and support leisure journeys as well as commuter journeys, linking tourism hotspots such as the Lavender Line, The Laughing Fish, Barcombe Mills and the Anchor Inn on the River Ouse.
At a meeting of Wealden council’s Cabinet Committee this week, councillors agreed to move forward with the scoping exercise, which will be undertaken by Greenways and Cycleroutes, a charitable organisation.
The former Uckfield to Lewes train line opened in 1858 to goods and passenger traffic, with stations at Isfield and Barcombe Mills but was closed in 1969 south of Uckfield. The route is safeguarded by protective policies within the current Local Plan that prevent
any development which would significantly prejudice the reinstatement of the former railway line to Lewes in the future.
Councillor Ian Tysh, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party) and lead councillor for Planning and Environment, said, “We are in the very early stages of this exciting project.If the proposed scheme becomes viable, it will make a contribution towards achieving climate change goals for the council’s net-zero strategy and the wider Wealden environment. We are always looking to improve residents’ lives and improve overall wellbeing and mental health.”
Councillor Emily O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Climate, Nature & Food Systems at Lewes District Council said, “There are many potential benefits for local people from cycleways, so I’m delighted that this is being fully assessed.
“However, it is just one first step to see how a new cycleway can be designed without hindering any future opening of the rail link.”
ESCC Roy Galley - Annual Report 2024
15
East Sussex County Council May 2024
Budget
In 2023/4, the council balanced its budget. There were overspends particularly in Children’s Services but these were offset by more interest from investments and from income generated.
The Council’s budget and Council Plan for 2024/25 were approved at the meeting of Full Council on 6 February 2024. Councillors approved a £538m net revenue budget for 2024/25 with no new cuts to services. The decision not to reduce services was taken despite the rising cost of providing them and funding not keeping pace.
Revenue Budget 2024/25
In meeting service pressures and impact of inflation, the Council made additional investments into services of £51.5m, when the 2024/25 budget was set in February this year. Whilst Council Tax (including Adult Social Precept) was increased by 4.99%, the level of additional income required to support the increased investment and set a balanced budget was not sufficient. A £14.3m draw from reserves was required for 2024/25 to set a balanced budget.
The Council’s gross revenue budget for 2024/25 totals over £1bn, as set out below; with 74.3% of all planned expenditure providing Adult Social Care, Public Health and Children’s Services.
The gross budget includes schools but county just pass on to them money from the government. Income from a range of services explains the remaining difference between gross and net budgets.
2024/25 Capital Programme
The Council is planning to make capital investments of £837.7m over the next 10 years; with a focus on highways, transport, school places and property maintenance. In contrast to the revenue budget, which is driven mainly by costs in Adult Social Care and Children’s Services, over half of the Capital Programme (56%) is planned to be invested in highways and integrated transport services.
Children’s Services
An inspection of the Council’s Children’s Services by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) took place in December 2023. The inspection report published on 6 February 2024, found that the lives of the most vulnerable children in East Sussex are improved by ‘consistently strong and effective’ support. The help, protection and care children and young people are receiving from the Council earned an overall ‘good’ rating, while inspectors found the experiences and progress of children in care to be ‘outstanding'. This report is set against the context of rising demand for Children’s Social Care services and increased complexity of needs. Increases in costs have been particularly acute in looked after children’s care costs, in particular external residential costs (with average costs increasing by 13% between quarters 1 and 2) and support for children with the most complex needs.
Roads
The new contractor, Balfour Beatty, was appointed last May and has since filled 23,000 potholes. The number keeps growing, of course, and it is a battle to keep up with the continuing wet weather. April 2024 was apparently the wettest since 1836.
County has also put £15m more into highways maintenance to do a lot of patching and major repairs. It still isn’t enough ad there are many problem roads locally despite a lot of pressure to try to get some improvements. Some local roads are due for work soon but no point in counting chickens.
Other services
The services highlighted are perhaps the highest profile although the biggest spend is on Adult Social Care.
Nevertheless County does a lot more such as Trading Standards, Registration services, Libraries, Public Health, economic support to name a few.
Roy Galley
May 2024
WDC Funding Programmes & News
01
WDC Community Orchard Funding Programme – closes 10th May 2024
Wealden District Council is excited to share that our community orchards grant funding programme is now open for applications.This new funding programme has been made available through the Coronation Living Heritage Fund (CLHF) to support the development of community orchards in the district. The funding programme closes on Friday 10th May at 5pm.
For more information and how to apply visit our Climate Change Hub on Let’s Talk Wealden
Climate Change Survey – survey closes on 10th May at 12pm
Wealden District Council is creating a new Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. As part of this process we are asking our residents and local organisations to complete a survey to gather opinions on climate change action in the district. This information and local insight will help inform our new strategy.
To complete the surveys, go to our climate change hub Climate Change | Let's Talk Wealden .
Wealden Community Infrastructure and Spaces Fund – open!
We are pleased to announce that Wealden District Council is delivering the Community Infrastructure and Spaces capital grants programme.
This new funding programme has been made available through the Government Rural England Prosperity Fund. The England-wide fund is a new £110million, two-year capital fund from DEFRA complementary to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund run by the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities.
The programme is a capital only fund, which means applicants must spend the grants on assets such as equipment and features which help to create or improve green spaces/ community facilities or infrastructure where the benefits last more than 12 months.
Wealden District Council has allocated £121,259.90 towards the Community Infrastructure and Spaces Grants Programme and are asking Town and Parish Councils and not for profit organisations to apply for between £1,000 and £20,000 for projects that benefit the residents of the Wealden District.
This will be a rolling programme and applications will be processed on a first come first served basis. The fund closes in Autumn 2024, or sooner if all funds are allocated.
Successful applications will be given a set period to spend their grant on a case-by-case basis. Final payments will be defrayed once the project has been completed and evidence of spend submitted. All projects must be completed and money spent by end of January 2025.
For more information and to apply, please go to: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/information-for-businesses/economic-development-and-growth/rural-england-prosperity-fund/wealden-community-infrastructure-and-spaces-fund/
Transport for the South East wants YOUR views about future transport needs
01
Transport for the South East (TfSE), the Sub-national Transport Body for the south east of England, is asking people to take part in their ‘Your Voices’ survey and submit views on the future transport needs of the region.
People are being asked to take part in the online survey where there are questions about transport-related issues such as accessibility and affordability.
Participants can also share their experiences regarding congestion, noise pollution, air quality, road safety, public transport, personal safety, and walking and cycling routes.
The ‘Your Voices’ survey can be found online at tfse.org.uk until Sunday, 2 June 2024.
A special podcast has been produced that explains in further detail why TfSE needs the views of people across the south east and how those views will help shape the future work of TfSE. The podcast can be listened to online at tfse.org.uk and is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching for ‘The TfSE Podcast.’
Councillor Keith Glazier, Chair of TfSE, said: “We want to hear the views and experiences of those in the region when it comes to all things transport related. One of our roles is to speak to government about the priorities they should consider when improving transport connectivity locally. To do this effectively, we need to hear from as many people as possible across the south east.”
The south east is defined as Bracknell Forest, Reading, Windsor & Maidenhead,
Slough, West Berkshire, Wokingham, Kent, Medway, Hampshire, Portsmouth,
Southampton, Isle of Wight, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton & Hove.
Planning Application being considered by the Parish Council via email
30
|
|
PUBLIC NOTICE THE FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED BY BUXTED PARISH COUNCIL VIA EMAIL CONSULTATION. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT ANY COMMENTS ON THESE APPLICATIONS TO THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY (WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL). COMMENTS CAN BE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL (PLANNING@WEALDEN.GOV.UK) OR VIA THE WDC WEBSITE.
Application: WD/2024/0480/OLink to documents on web: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=164961 Expiry date for comments: Extension requested but declined by WDC Location: LAND NORTH OF A272, POUND GREEN, BUXTED Description: residential development comprising up to three detached one/two storey dwellings. Application: WD/2023/2742/FRLink to documents on web: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=163869 Expiry date for comments: 16th May 2024 Location: LAVEROCK, ST RAPHAELS, BUXTED, UCKFIELD, TN22 4JS Description: Retrospective proposal to change the flat roof of an existing extension in to a pitched roof to match the main property. Works to also include the installation of an aluminium apex window and set of bifold doors for new kitchen area. Also to construct a bay window to the rear of the property to match the other rear bay windows. Application: WD/2024/0716/FLink to documents on web: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=165247 Expiry date for comments: 15th May 2024 Location: VILLAGE HALL, CHURCH ROAD, BUXTED, TN22 4LP Description: conversion of existing redundant parish hall to single unit dwelling change of use (from ‘F2 – local community’ to ‘C3 – dwellinghouses’) associated internal & external alterations Application: WD/2024/0764/FALink to documents on web: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=165298 Expiry date for comments: 7th May 2024 Location: TEMPLE GROVE, UNIT 7, UCKFIELD ROAD, HERONS GHYLL, TN22 4BY Description: variation of conditions 12 and 17 of WD/2020/2230/F (demolition of existing medical centre building. residential development for the erection of two detached dwellings, associated garages and parking. provision of new internal vehicular access and landscaping.) to make minor adjustments to the design of the dwellings
|
Industrial Action to affect Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services next week
30
I am writing with details on
changes to Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services
from next Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May 2024 inclusive, because of industrial
action by ASLEF.
The most affected day will
be Tuesday 7 May when a strike is expected to take place. This
will mean no trains on much of the network. It is however important that
customers expect changes and check their journeys carefully on all dates leading up to and during the
industrial action period.
Journey planners such as www.nationalrail.co.uk
are now showing journeys for Monday 6 through to Wednesday 8 May. Journeys on
Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 May will appear in journey planners from
this Friday, 3 May.
A day-by-day, route-by-route summary and FAQs for customers is now available on
the industrial action pages of our websites:
An overview is available
below for reference.
As
always, we would welcome your support in sharing this information on your own
channels and encouraging all customers to check their journey plans for the
period. This includes the days leading up the start of the industrial action
given there are some changes because of planned engineering works over the
three-day bank holiday weekend.
We’re very sorry for the disruption this will cause.
OVERVIEW
Monday 6 May (Early May
Bank Holiday) – Overtime ban
A bank holiday timetable
will be in place, with changes for planned engineering works that are happening
over the three-day weekend. Customers should check before they travel for any
short notice alterations and cancellations.
Tuesday 7 May - Strike
Regrettably, because of strike action there will be no trains on the vast majority of the
GTR network. The only services that will be running are:
- A limited, non-stop, shuttle service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.
- A limited shuttle service calling at Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and St Pancras International only.
- A limited, non-stop, shuttle service between London King’s Cross and Cambridge.
It is important to note
that these trains will not
stop at any other stations.
We are advising any customers who have no alternative but to travel by train
that day to leave plenty of time for their journey, as these limited shuttle
services are expected to be very busy and there are likely to be queues to
board.
Wednesday 8 May 2024 to
Friday 10 May 2024 inclusive – Overtime ban
During this time there will be an amended
timetable in place with fewer
services overall.
These amended timetables have been designed to help passengers plan for their
day, providing greater certainty of train times with fewer short-notice
on-the-day alterations. Trains
will be busier than usual, especially at peak times and
customers may have to queue.
Gatwick Express will not be running, but Gatwick Airport will continue to be
served by Southern and Thameslink trains.
Saturday 11 May – Overtime
ban
On Southern
and Gatwick Express
our usual Saturday
timetable is planned to run. However, engineering works will
still be taking place across the network, so customers must check before
travelling, as journeys may still be affected.
On Thameslink
and Great Northern
an amended timetable
with fewer services
will be running. Engineering works will also be taking place.
Other operators’ services
during this entire period
It is also really important that customers check their entire journey when
travelling during this period as other train operators across the country are
also impacted by the overtime ban and strikes on different days, which could
also make our stations and trains even busier.
If a journey involves using another train company, customers must check for any
changes to their services and ensure that onward connections are available on
the day they are travelling.
Updates to day/family ticket bus fares from 29th April
29
East Sussex County Council are having to increase the cost of some bus tickets from Monday 29th April.
The £2 single fare cap remains in place.
They have stated.......I am sorry not to have given more notice but this was only confirmed today.
We have had to push these through far quicker than we would have liked as to coincide with fare increases coming into effect from Monday 29th April for Brighton & Hove bus services. B&H Buses are of course one of our key partners on the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). Fares remain much lower than they were pre-BSIP and these will help operators who rely on fares income to deliver the service improvements we currently have
The changes are to multi-operator day tickets and the accompanied Under 19s
BSIP Fare Increases |
May-24 |
|
Day |
Existing |
New |
Adult |
£5.00 |
£5.50 |
Under 30 |
£3.75 |
£4.10 |
Under 19 |
£3.20 |
£3.50 |
Accompanied U19 (up to 4 – price per U19) |
£0.00 |
£0.50 |
If your website, village hall, etc has on display posters such as the attached BSIP Fare reduction 01 and 03 (pink and orange) – please take these down, thank you.
Posters relating to 2024 01 – pop into town for £2 or fair fares posters (green-blue) can remain. There has been no change regarding concessionary fares.
Buxted Annual Assembly 2024
23
The Wealden Local Plan has been published and the consultation has started. This runs from 5pm on Friday 15th March 2024 to 5pm on Friday 10th May 2024 and sets out the vision for development and associated environment and infrastructure up until 2040.
Development has been allocated in Buxted and Ringles Cross/Five Ash Down and we would need your views so the Parish Council can provide feedback to Wealden and our local WDC Councillor.
Please come along to the Annual Assembly to look at the allocated sites and tell us what you think.
Wealden Community Infrastructure and Spaces Fund 2024 - now open
17
Wealden Community Infrastructure and Spaces Fund – is now open for applications!
Wealden District Council are pleased to announce that the Community Infrastructure and Spaces capital grants programme in now open to apply
This new funding programme has been made available through the Government Rural England Prosperity Fund. The England-wide fund is a new £110million, two-year capital fund from DEFRA complementary to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund run by the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities. It is a top up for eligible authorities, such as Wealden District Council, which have already submitted an investment plan for UKSPF, to address the extra needs of rural areas.
The programme is a capital only fund, which means applicants must spend the grants on assets such as equipment and features which help to create or improve spaces/ facilities or infrastructure where the benefits last more than 12 months.
Wealden District Council has allocated £121,259.90 towards the Community Infrastructure and Spaces Grants Programme and are asking Town and Parish Councils and not for profit organisations to apply for between £1,000 and £20,000 for projects that benefit the residents of the Wealden District.
This will be a rolling programme and applications will be processed on a first come first served basis. The fund closes in Autumn 2024, or sooner if all funds are allocated.
See below table which details the level of match funding needed for each funding programme:
|
Grant Available |
Match funding Required |
Small Grants Programme |
£1,000 – £5,000 |
50% combination of cash or in kind |
Large Grants Programme |
£5,001 – £20,000 |
50% cash only |
Successful applications will be given a set period to spend their grant on a case-by-case basis. Final payments will be defrayed once the project has been completed and evidence of spend submitted. All projects must be completed and money spent by end of January 2025.
What the capital grant can be used on:
For small grants programme only:
Types of Areas |
Examples of Projects |
Recreation grounds, nature reserves, woodlands, country parks, village greens, nature reserves, public realms, walking routes, woodland routes, nature routes, cycling routes, community orchards. |
Enhancements including seating, information boards, picnic benches, energy saving schemes, replace, new or additional facilities e.g. bike racks, landscaping including boardwalks. Improving accessibility to green spaces and additional features. New or extended footpaths, cycling routes and trails. |
Community gardens |
Creation of new or expansion of existing publicly accessed community gardens/allotments. |
For small and large grants programme only:
Community Infrastructure |
|
Types of Areas |
Examples of Projects |
Community spaces, village and community halls, community centres |
Net zero infrastructure e.g. new heaters, heat pumps, PV panels, LED lighting, insulation improvements. ’Like for like’ improvements such as door and window replacements will not be considered, however additional assets or upgrading windows are eligible i.e. from single glazing to double glazing. Improved accessibility into and within a building Improvements to internal layouts of a building to support additional community activities e.g. room dividers |
Owned car parks or land |
EV charging points (open for public or community use) |
If you interested in applying for this programme, please email a brief summary including the points below:
• A summary on what your project is,
• How much you want to apply for,
• Confirmation that match-funding is in place,
Please send through your expression of interest to communitygrants@wealden.gov.uk and WDC’s Economic Development and Wellbeing team will be in touch to confirm whether a full application can be submitted.
For the full guidance notes, application form and scoring sheet, please go to: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/information-for-businesses/economic-development-and-growth/rural-england-prosperity-fund/wealden-community-infrastructure-and-spaces-fund/
Become a Parish Councillor
16
If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor or finding out more, please contact the clerks on clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk
Surveys released to capture residents’ opinions on climate change in Wealden
28
Residents and organisations across Wealden are being asked to take part in a climate change survey.
Wealden District Council is creating a new Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and is asking residents across Wealden to take part in a survey to gather opinions on climate change action in the district.
The survey takes on average 15 minutes to answer and the views and opinions expressed from feedback will help to form the new strategy and plan, and ensure it meets the needs of local communities, captures climate action taking place already and reflects future priorities.
A council spokesperson said, “We are committed to promoting sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life for residents and businesses across the district. Through collaborative efforts and community engagement, we strive to address pressing environmental challenges and build a vibrant, resilient future for Wealden.”
To complete the surveys, visit Climate Change | Let's Talk Wealden. The survey will be open for eight weeks and closes Friday 10 May 2024 at 12pm. For more information residents can contact the Climate Change team at sustainability@wealden.gov.uk
Changes to rubbish and recycling collection days for some Wealden residents
26
Changes to some waste collection rounds in Wealden will be made to further improve the performance and efficiency of the service.
The current collection schedule for rubbish and recycling will be changing for some properties from Monday 15 April. This will not affect the garden waste collection service which will continue as normal.
Not all collections will be changing, but residents within Wealden whose collection will be altered will receive a letter and an updated collection calendar. Updates on the changes and further information is available on the council’s website www.wealden.gov.uk/collection-schedule-changes.
Residents are being encouraged to continue to put bins out by 7am on collection days as the collection time is likely to change even if the collection day stays the same.
Councillor Gareth Owen-Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Waste and Customer Services, said, “Following a review, a decision has been made to change the way that some waste collections are made. This is to make the service more streamlined and efficient for residents and the collectors. We appreciate the patience of our residents during this time.”
Wealden to partner with University of Brighton to deliver Net Zero business support
26
Businesses across Wealden can look forward to a free one-day sustainability workshop, helping them cut their carbon footprint and save money on energy and waste bills.
The session – on Thursday 20 June at the Horsted Place Hotel, Little Horsted, Uckfield -is one of several Net Zero 360 workshops, developed by the University of Brighton’s Clean Growth UK, to help businesses unlock the benefits of sustainability action.
Those benefits include cutting costs, winning new customers, attracting and retaining employees, meeting larger businesses’ supply chain requirements, and boosting investment prospects.
The workshops are run in partnership with Wealden District Council and exclusively for businesses in the area. They are part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
A previous Net Zero 360 attendee said: "A must for all businesses. Excellent course delivered by passionate presenters. This will genuinely support our organisation's work."
By the end of the workshops, attendees will have covered:
- Jargon busting, such as the difference between net zero and carbon neutral
- The full picture on where a business’s carbon emissions come from
- How to measure a carbon footprint
- How to create an action plan that will maximise cost and carbon savings
- How to boost marketing messages around sustainability
The workshop is part of Wealden District Council’s commitment to sustainability and helping make businesses resilient in the face of fluctuating energy costs and climate change.
They are open to micro, small and medium size businesses, including not for profit organisations and charities.
Councillor Paul Coleshill, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Climate Change & Economy, said, “These free one-day workshops will help your business, any not-for-profit organisation, or charity, to become more sustainable, save money on energy bills and cut your carbon footprint.
“If you work or run an enterprise of any sort in Wealden district, please book a session. They are designed to help your business help the planet."
Check out the Clean Growth UK events page to see all workshop dates. People can book the Wealden date at https://www.clean-growth.uk/events/net-zero-360-free-sustainability-course-in-wealden/
Notes to editors
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
The University of Brighton’s Clean Growth UK helps businesses access expertise and resources to tackle their carbon footprint and develop and commercialise low carbon products and services. For more information, visit: https://www.clean-growth.uk/
Climate Change Resident and Organisation Surveys
26
You may be aware that Wealden District Council is creating a new Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. As part of this process we are asking our residents and local organisations to fill out a survey to gather opinions on climate change action in the district. This information and local insight will help inform our new strategy.
We have created two surveys, the first is our resident survey which is open to individual responses for anyone who lives in the district. The second is our organisation survey which is open to any type of organisation, council, community group and business based in the district.
We kindly request your participation in the organisation survey. Your assistance in facilitating responses will greatly aid our efforts in gaining a diverse range of perspectives.
To complete the surveys, go to our climate change hub Climate Change | Let's Talk Wealden
Both surveys will close on Friday 10th May at 12pm.
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE - ROYAL OAK LANE BUXTED 18-19 MARCH 2024
13
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7853 Royal Oak Lane, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the C402 Hurstwood Road for its entire length a distance of approximately 690 Metres |
18th March 2024 to 19th March 2024 |
works anticipated to take 2 days to complete |
To allow BT Openreach to carry out further works at this location. |
Royal Oak Lane, Buxted is a no through road, a diversion route is not applicable.( Apologies no map was provided with this application).
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
I & A Communications Ltd (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0845 200 4035
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE - BURNT OAK ROAD, BUXTED/CROWBOROUGH -19-20 MARCH 2024
13
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7503 Burnt Oak Road, Buxted /Crowborough |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the C402 Chillies Lane to the junction with the U7861 Tibbs Mill Lane. |
19th March 2024 to 20th March 2024 |
works anticipated to take 2 days to complete. |
To allow BT Openreach to carry out further works at this location. |
|
Diversion Via - U7861 Tibbs Mill Lane - Fowley Lane – C402 Hurstwood Road and vice versa..(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
I & A Communications Ltd (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0845 200 4035
New free courses released for residents in Wealden and Eastbourne
11
The new Street Learning programme for April to July 2024 has been released and the booklet, detailing the courses, is now available.
Wealden and Eastbourne residents, aged 19 and above, can attend a range of academic, wellbeing, and practical courses free of charge.
Courses are designed to help residents boost their confidence, employment opportunities, develop existing skills, learn something new or meet new people.
The courses are delivered in community venues located throughout the district including Uckfield, Heathfield, Hailsham, and Crowborough. Some courses are also available online.
Councillor Paul Coleshill, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Climate Change and Economy, said, “The Street Learning courses have shown to be popular amongst residents looking to achieve a new skill, increase their social life or create better employment opportunities. If you are any age over 19, have a look at what courses are available in our district. Everyone can learn something new!”
Street Learning is a project supported by Wealden District Council in partnership with ACRES (Adult College for Rural East Sussex), East Sussex College, East Sussex Country Council Libraries, Job Centre Plus, GRH Training, Compass Community Arts and Heathercroft.
Notes for editors
For further details on the street learning courses, case studies and a series of short promotional video’s visit www.wealden.gov.uk/streetlearning, or @StreetLearning.Wealden;on Facebook.
An enhanced Council Tax Reduction Scheme
05
An enhanced Council Tax Reduction Scheme has been approved, providing residents with more financial support
Residents on low incomes are entitled to have their Council Tax reduced – sometimes to zero.
As of 1 April 2024, residents can earn more compared to last year and still receive help with their Council Tax.
Under the enhanced scheme, a single person could receive a 100% reduction in their Council Tax if their earnings are up to £103.82 a week; a couple with no children could earn up to £153.32 a week; a couple or lone parent with one child could earn up to £214.90 and a couple/lone parent with two or more children could earn up to £275.25.
Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), and lead councillor for Housing & Benefits and deputy leader of the council, said, “I am so pleased that the council has agreed to increase income bandings for the 2024 Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
“Last year the council increased the maximum level of reduction of Council Tax to 100%. This has worked well and, perhaps surprisingly, we have collected more Council Tax following this change, even in this Cost-of-Living crisis.
“The scheme uses income bands to decide how big a reduction a household can have. Residents’ pay may well have gone up last year, but costs have risen even more. So, if the bands had stayed the same, they might have lost out under the scheme. So, we have increased the amounts that households can earn and still qualify for the scheme.
“This will make a real difference to our most financially vulnerable Council Tax payers at a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet.”
Wealden Draft Local Plan consultation dates released
27
An eight-week public consultation will start in March 2024 regarding the recently agreed Wealden Draft Local Plan.
The Draft Local Plan Regulation 18 document was agreed at a Full Council meeting and will be consulted on alongside its supporting Sustainability Appraisal.
The consultation dates are now confirmed, meaning the consultation period will run from 5pm, Friday 15 March to 5pm, Friday 10 May 2024.
Alongside the face-to-face exhibitions, Wealden District Council will launch a virtual exhibition accessed via the council’s website so that residents who cannot or do not want to visit the face-to-face exhibitions can still partake in the consultation. Interested parties wishing to be notified when the consultation commences can register using the consultation portal at https://consult.wealden.gov.uk/kse
Councillor Ian Tysh, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), and lead councillor for Planning and Environment, said, “It is important that everyone has their say on the Local Plan as it affects everyone living in Wealden. There is an online consultation which can be accessed by residents at the comfort of their own home, as well as face-to-face consultations which are spread across various venues in the district.
“I would like to encourage residents, businesses, and communities to give their views as this will help shape the final version of the Local Plan.”
The locations of the face-to-face consultations are confirmed below.
Venue |
Address |
Date |
Time |
Hailsham Civic Centre |
Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 2AX |
Saturday 23rd March 2024 |
10.00AM - 16.00PM |
Maresfield Village Hall |
Bridge Road, Maresfield, East Sussex TN22 2HJ |
Monday 25th March 2024 |
14.00PM - 20.00PM |
Polegate Community Centre |
43 Windsor Way, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 6QF |
Tuesday 26th March 2024 |
14.00PM - 20.00PM |
Uckfield Civic Centre |
Council Offices, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1AE |
Saturday 13th April 2024 |
10.00AM - 16.00PM |
Heathfield Community Centre |
Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 0XG |
Wednesday 17th April 2024 |
14.00PM - 20.00PM |
Crowborough Community Centre |
Pine Grove, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 1FE |
Saturday 20th April 2024 |
10.00AM - 16.00PM |
East Hoathly Village Hall |
Church Marks Lane, East Hoathly, East Sussex BN8 6EQ |
Monday 22nd April 2024 |
14.00PM - 20.00PM |
Frant Memorial Hall |
The Green, Frant, East Sussex TN3 9ED |
Tuesday 23rd April 2024 |
14.00PM - 20.00PM |
Horam Village Hall |
Horam, East Sussex TN21 0JE |
Saturday 4th May 2024 |
10.00AM - 16.00PM |
Buxted Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert
26
Buxted Symphony Orchestra is holding its Spring concert at 3.00 pm on Saturday 16th March in St. Margaret's Church in Buxted Park. Come along and enjoy an afternoon of excellent music from Mendelssohn and Beethoven, featuring the welcome return of our guest soloist, Miriam Teppich. Tickets, priced at £14 for adults (students & under 18s free) are available in advance from Gale & Woolgar Jewellers in Uckfield High Street (cash only) or on the day (card or cash).
Council Tax increase of 2.99% approved
22
A Council Tax increase of £6.23 a year has been approved by Wealden District Council.
The decision to increase the amount by 2.99% was approved by the council’s Cabinet Committee and ratified at a meeting of the Full Council this week.
It means households living in Band D properties will pay an additional 12p a week for its share of the Council Tax for 2024/25, with other bands increased in line with the Council Tax formula.
Wealden council receives 9% of the Council Tax collected and that helps pay for refuse and recycling collections, planning, street cleaning, environmental protection, and free car parking.
The remainder of the Council Tax bill is shared to pay for a wide range of public services provided by East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue and local town and parish councils.
Councillor Greg Collins, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), and lead councillor for Finance and HR, said, “Wealden District Council has decided to increase its share of Council Tax for all bands by 2.99% in 2024/2025. For example, for a typical band D property this means a rise in Wealden’s share of less than £7 a year.
“This rise is significantly below the current rate of inflation, is the same percentage as last year and the maximum allowable rise under central Government rules, as it was last year too. The funding Wealden gets from central government assumes that we will increase council tax by the maximum we are allowed.
“Your council continues to absorb significant cost pressures, just as we are all experiencing continued financial pressures personally. Council Tax simply must rise for the council to continue to provide its services to the community. Total Council Tax bills for Wealden residents will regrettably rise by much more than 2.99%, as people will see when their bills arrive.
“Wealden has no control over the rises made by the other authorities, on whose behalf it simply collects Council Tax, and which make up the lion’s share of residents’ Council Tax bills. Wealden itself only receives 9% of the Council Tax it collects. The services provided to residents from that 9% represent excellent value-for-money.”
Road Closure - Shepherds Hill - 2nd March
15
IMPORTANT ROADWORKS INFORMATION 12 February 2024
Shepherds Hill, Buxted
Dear Resident / Business owner,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out targeted patch repairs in Shepherds Hill, Buxted
Once completed, these works will help improve the condition of the road surface.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out on Saturday 2 March between the hours of 8am – 4pm.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
How will this impact highway users?
The road will be closed to through traffic whilst the work is undertaken. A diversion route will be in place via Shepherds Hill, Nan Tucks Lane, Etchingwood Lane, Streele Lane, Barn Lane, Pound Lane, Shepherds Hill & vice versa.
If you need vehicle access, please discuss this with the team on site to see if this is possible. Please bear in mind, there will be delays whilst the area is made safe and your vehicle is escorted by site marshalls.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: We will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
Wealden Local Plan - Impact on Buxted Parish
12
Wealden District Council’s Draft Local Plan has been approved and will go out for public consultation in March and sets out development for the district for the next 15-20 years. The document was discussed at an Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council on Thursday 8th February, at which councillors approved it and agreed for the formal Regulation 18 consultation to begin in March. The consultation will run for eight weeks and people will be able to view the Draft Local Plan at a virtual exhibition and in-person drop-in sessions. The plan will have an impact predominantly for those who live in and around Five Ash Down, with some further development proposed in Buxted.
Here is the link to Local plan - (Public Pack)Agenda Supplement: Appendix 1 Draft Local Plan and maps Agenda Supplement for Local Plan Sub-Committee, 29/01/2024 10:00 (wealden.gov.uk) document. It is a very long document, but you can do a search for ‘Buxted’ and ‘Ringles Cross’ to find out how we could be affected.
However, in brief the parish has been allocated the following housing numbers:
Land East of Coopers Green Road – 20
Land behind The Croft, Coopers Green Road – 15
Land Opposite Roundwood, Coopers Green Road – 20
Lower Totease Farm, Framfield Road, Buxted – 10
Land at The Walled Garden, Five Ash Down – 20
Land East of Great Totease Farm, Church Road, Buxted – 20
Land at Holly Farm, Station Road, Buxted – 20
Land at Mockbeggars Farm – 60
It does not necessarily mean all the above will be brought forward, but these are the sites that WDC consider suitable for development. We may not be able to stop development, but we would be very grateful for thoughts on any of these sites, specific issues relating to them, any gain we could try and obtain if we have to accept them e.g. we will be pushing very hard to have all four traffic crossings at Coopers Green pedestrianised.
The Parish Council will, of course, be responding to the consultation on behalf of residents. If you have any comments you would wish for us to consider and take forward, please do send them to clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk as well as responding directly to WDC if you wish.
WDC Local Plan - Consultation agreed for March
12
Wealden District Council’s Draft Local Plan has been approved and will go out for public consultation in March.
The document was discussed at an Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council on Thursday after which councillors approved it and agreed for the formal Regulation 18 consultation to begin in March.
The consultation will run for eight weeks and people will be able to view the Draft Local Plan at a virtual exhibition and in-person drop-in sessions.
If adopted, the Local Plan will provide a vision for the Wealden district, strategic and non-strategic planning policies to guide development and locations the council proposes for new homes, jobs and infrastructure to help meet the district’s needs.
Dates and details of the exhibition will be released at a later date.
Councillor Ian Tysh, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), and lead councillor for Planning and Environment, said, “The council’s commitment to a new Local Plan is strong. We want a Local Plan to help ensure that development can be managed in accordance with strong innovative policies around climate change, the built and natural environment, biodiversity net gain, our local economy, housing standards and more besides.
“This is a Draft Local Plan and not the final one as we will be running a consultation and want our residents, businesses and communities to give their views.
Council leader James Partridge, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) said, “Residents want a say in the future of our district. We don’t want it to stop adapting to meet the needs of present and future generations. We want it to go on being a great place to live and work and know it won’t if we don’t plan for it.
“We want the right houses, in the right places, with the right infrastructure and at a price which we have some hope of being able to pay. We want to preserve our heritage and as much green space as possible. We want nature restored. None of this will happen if we don’t have a plan to make it happen.”
People wishing to receive updates about the Draft Local Plan and to take part in the consultation process, should register using Wealden District Council’s consultation portal at https://consult.wealden.gov.uk/kse/
Downlands Farm, Uckfield - Inspector backs Wealden council decision over controversial development
09
A decision to refuse planning permission for a 420-home development in Wealden has been backed by a planning inspector.
Wealden District Council originally turned down plans by developers to build on the site of Downlands Farm, Uckfield, in April last year.
The developers appealed and following a 10-day inquiry in December last year, the government’s planning inspector dismissed the appeal comprehensively backing Wealden council’s decision.
The outline application was for up to 424 residential dwellings including affordable housing, the provision of vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access and separate emergency access from the Uckfield bypass (A22), pedestrian and cycle access from Snatts Road, open spaces including children's play space, sustainable urban drainage systems, associated landscaping, infrastructure and earthworks.
The appeal was also against the refusal of a full application comprising of the creation of a strategic SANG, associated landscaping and car parking, and demolition of existing residential property and other buildings and provision of pedestrian and cycle access from Rocks Road, associated landscaping, infrastructure and earthworks.
In announcing that the appeal was dismissed, the planning inspector said the main issues were the effects of the proposal on Ancient Woodland; on protected species and whether the proposal provides adequate mitigation in relation to the potential effects of the proposal on Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC); on the highways network including whether the scheme provides safe and suitable access for all users; on heritage assets, including non-designated heritage assets and historic landscape character: and finally, whether the proposal would be in an appropriate location, having regard to local and national policies which advocate development in locations which are accessible to local services and restraint to development in a countryside location.
Councillor Ian Tysh, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), and lead councillor for Planning and Environment, said, “We are delighted that the Planning Inspector agreed with the council’s original decision to refuse this application and save this site from development.
“Downlands is an important area, a very, very special place, ecologically sensitive and enclosed on most sides by Ancient Woodland, with many veteran trees within. It also abuts Lake Wood, a local nature reserve run and owned by Sussex Wildlife Trust. I am pleased we have defended this land from what was a very hostile application which would have caused immeasurable damage to the Wealden landscape.”
Crowborough Open Studios
07
A call for artists and makers to join in this
years Crowborough Open Studios, on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September.
Previously artists from Buxted have participated and the organisers would love to welcome
more. Full details can be found at www.crowborough-arts.org.uk Closing date for entries is 31st March
26th - 2nd March (9am - 4pm) - Limes Lane - Road Closed
07
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out drainage works in Limes Lane, Buxted.
Once completed, these works will help alleviate flooding to the carriageway and private property.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out from Monday 26 February and will continue for 5 days. We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
How will this impact highway users?
The team will be working between
The road will be closed between 9am and 4pm. A diversion route will be in place via Limes Lane, Framfield Road, A272 & vice versa.
If you need vehicle access, please discuss this with the team on site to see if this is possible. Please bear in mind, there will be delays whilst the area is made safe and your vehicle is escorted by site marshalls. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook @EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
Water regulator agrees to partnership working after criticisms in relation to Southern Water
26
The watchdog responsible for regulating the water and sewerage industry has pledged to work more closely with local authorities across the south coast to hold Southern Water to account.
OFWAT, the Water Services Regulation Authority, agreed to better partnership working with local authorities at a recent meeting of the Southern Water Stakeholder Group, set up to put pressure on Southern Water in light of pollution and flooding concerns.
The pledge by OFWAT came following criticisms by councils that the watchdog has not been effective in holding Southern Water to account.
The Southern Water Stakeholder Group was initiated and is co-ordinated by Wealden District Council and includes representatives from more than 24 local authorities from the New Forest to Folkestone.
At its recent meeting this week, the Stakeholder Group was joined by Paul Hickey from OFWAT as well as representatives from Southern Water.
Council officials said responses from Southern Water were continuously slow and unacceptable and the company failed to deliver promised upgrades. They asked OFWAT what their local authorities could do to expedite complaints about Southern Water and how OFWAT carried out compliance checks against the company.
There were also criticisms of OFWAT that it was not monitoring Southern Water closely enough and checking in to see if the water company was working efficiently. They said a much clearer understanding was needed of how councils can work with OFWAT to resolve problems and called on the water regulator to help local authorities rather than waiting until something went wrong. They also want reassurance from OFWAT that water companies such as Southern Water are making promised investments to infrastructure happen.
Mr Hickey said OFWAT’s fundamental duty is to ensure that customer and environment interests are met but that it was keen as a growing organisation to have evidence in advance of concerns so it could hear from the water companies how those issues could be addressed.
Chair of the Southern Water Stakeholder group Wealden Councillor Rachel Millward said, “It was once again very useful for all the local authorities across the southeast to express their concerns and raise the local issues their residents face.
“However, the disappointing reality is that OFWAT – the regulatory body for our privatised water and sewerage industry - effectively allows Southern Water to mark its own homework, with no monitoring to ensure that promised improvements are made. OFWAT issues permits with conditions of upgrades to the system, but then fails to check that those happen. OFWAT effectively waits until the system breaks down and sewage pollution is a major problem, instead of taking preventative action of checking that required works are done. This clearly isn’t good enough for the national regulatory body.
“OFWAT should ensure Southern Water has a plan in place to make sure they do the upgrades and not just wait to the point of breaching the permit. We have major concerns about Southern Water’s performance and the resulting sewage pollution in our rivers and seas.
“While there is a complaints system, we are unable to see exactly how a local authority would raise those complaints with OFWAT or evidence that OFWAT is doing that work. We need much greater accountability and much clearer routes to improving the situation for our residents.
“We will continue to work in partnership with other stakeholders to hold Southern Water to account.”
Following a previous meeting, the Stakeholder Group wrote to the Secretary of State for the Environment calling on more resources for the Environment Agency so it can also take action against failing water companies.
The next meeting of the Southern Water Stakeholder Group will be held in the spring.
Wealden Community Sports Hub given planning permission
26
See below - a press release from WDC who have given themselves planning permission (somewhat controversially) for a new sports hub in Hellingly
Full planning permission for the
development of a new sports hub facility in Hellingly has been given the green
light.
The state-of-the-art hub will also accommodate 206kWp solar array of photovoltaic (PV) panels over the parking spaces in the main car park - 60 spaces will have the ability to provide electric car charging with 20 spaces fitted with active from the outset with the remaining 40 passive spaces being capable of being brought into use as and when demand requires to plan for future increase in uptake.
The sports hub will be accessible by a new pedestrian and cycling access, which will also connect the site to the Cuckoo Trail. Bus routes will be enhanced to provide public transport links to the facility.
The 20-acre site will offer new opportunities in several sports and deliver health and wellbeing opportunities to a wide range of residents of all ages and abilities.
The project has been supported by Dominque Corbett from Hailsham Town Football Club and Mark Pedrick from Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation who both spoke today at the Planning Committee South meeting.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management, said, “It is great news that the planning application has been given the go ahead. This is an exciting project which will offer residents in Hailsham and across Wealden a new sport and leisure provision to meet social, environmental, and economic needs and functions of the district in line with the recently adopted Council Strategy.
“The wellbeing of residents is important, and the new sports hub will provide the facilities for group classes and residents to use as a social meeting with friends and family.”
The full application, with a layout plan outlining the proposed development is available below.
Councillors express disappointment after Southern Water declines invitation to watchdog committee
26
Members of Wealden District Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee have expressed their disappointment after Southern Water officials withdrew their agreement to attend the meeting.
The water company, which is responsible for wastewater and sewerage treatment across the Wealden district, had originally said its representatives would be able to attend the meeting at the council offices.
But shortly before Christmas, officials declined the information and the acting chair of the watchdog committee Councillor Daniel Manvell said he was very disappointed.
The invitation to Southern Water to attend the committee meeting came after a catalogue of concerns across Wealden including flooding, sewage seeping into people’s homes, gardens and roads, the ongoing problem of discharges into rivers and waterways and the inability to deal with additional development.
Wealden council and other local authorities have pledged to keep the pressure up on Southern Water and to hold it to account for constant failings.
At the meeting on Monday, Councillor Manvell, a Labour Party councillor representing Uckfield North, said, “We must start our first meeting of the New Year with some bad news. Southern Water had previously accepted an invitation to appear before this committee today, following our very successful meeting with the CEO of South East Water in September.
“Unfortunately Southern Water informed us just before Christmas that their representatives were now declining our invitation to attend today's meeting. They claim instead to be in favour of one-to-one meetings with councils, as well as 'wider stakeholder work'.
“Southern Water has not explained why our meeting today is not considered a one to one meeting or wider stakeholder work. This reasoning clearly does not hold water - it is merely an attempt to avoid public scrutiny.
“This is yet another failure from Southern Water. They are polluting our rivers and seas and now they are refusing to be held to account. The motion we passed at November's Full Council to clean up our waterways has clearly shown the water companies that we are not tolerating failure any longer. We will not let Southern Water off the hook.”
Councillor Manvell invited members of the committee to forward any questions they would have asked Southern Water to officers and said the committee would ensure it would get answers.
Wealden and Rother Rural Business Grants Programme - now live
16
The Wealden and Rother Rural Business Grants Programme is now live and open for applications.
The Rural Business Grants programme will deliver capital grants of between £2,500 and £50,000 to businesses located in rural areas of Wealden. The programme is open to small and medium sized businesses (SME’s) to apply for capital grants of up to 50% of the cost of capital projects.
The aim of the programme is to support rural businesses to grow, increase their productivity and to make other improvements to their business, such as investing in Net Zero infrastructure. Capital grant projects could include farm diversification outside of agriculture, property adaptions, creation and expansion of rural leisure and tourism businesses, new equipment, machinery and commercial vehicles.
The scheme is funded through Wealden District Council’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), a 2 year capital programme which supports the aims of the government’s Levelling Up White Paper and Future Farming Programme, the funding aims to help productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities. The scheme is not open to those businesses located in Bexhill, Polegate or Stone Cross. This requirement has been set by Defra.
The scheme is being delivered by East Sussex County Council on behalf of Wealden and Rother District Councils, for full details of project eligibility please view the Rural Business Grants Programme guidance and eligibility and email your interest and contact details to ruralbusinessgrants@eastsussex.gov.uk
Drainage Works - A272, Buxted - before Coopers Green Traffic Lights
16
IMPORTANT ROADWORKS INFORMATION 15 January 2024
Buxted Road, Uckfield
Dear Resident,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out drainage works in Buxted Road, Uckfield following numerous reports of flooding to private property and the carriageway.
These works involve a jetting unit attending to clear gullies, alleviating flooding to the carriageway and private property.
When do they start?
Works will take place on Monday 5 Februaryand Tuesday 6 Februarybetween 8pm and 4am.
What are we doing?
These works involve cleaning the drainage system, including all pipes, gullies and access chambers. Any damaged areas found will be recorded for repair at a later date.
How will this impact highway users?
The road will remain open to through traffic with temporary traffic signals in place.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the works area may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens. We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network.
For information on roadworks and journey planning,
visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us
on X (Formally Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East
Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Grants to support older people, community sport projects and more
16
Hello from the Funded Team,
This week, we have found some amazing fundraising opportunities for organisations who:
- Support older people who are frail
- Work on innovative medical, social, or religious projects
- Work to carry out local community sports projects
- Work on medical care, research and training
If any of the above funds are a good fit or you would like to find out about other funds, get in touch with us now by calling on 0203 191 6696 or book a no-obligation chat with us. We also have an excellent team of grant fundraisers onboard with years of experience, who have written many compelling and successful applications for our clients at affordable prices.
Let's get you funded!
- Funding available for registered charities supporting older people who are frail.
Discretionary
(covers capital projects or running costs)
Deadline: 9th February 2024
2. Grants available for innovative medical, social, or religious projects.
Up to £60,000 over a period of three years
(covers project costs)
Deadline: 15th February 2024
3. Grants available to help not-for-profit sports clubs, local authorities and schools in England to carry out local community sports projects.
Up to £15,000
(covers project costs including minor capital alterations)
Deadline: 31st March 2024
4. One-off grants available to registered medically related charities for medical capital projects, medical care or research, medical training and running costs.
Up to £10,000
(covers projects, research and equipment costs)
Deadline: 3rd April 2024
If you want to learn more about how we can help you to get funded through our affordable grant writing or training services please call us on 0203 191 6696 or chat with us by clicking the link below:
Best wishes,
Julia at Funded Team
(0203 191 6696 or info@funded.team)
Fund offers boost to rural businesses
10
Rural businesses could benefit from match-funded grants of up to £50,000 to help create jobs increase productivity and adopt new technology.
Rother and Wealden district councils will be using money from their Rural England Prosperity Fund to support a range of businesses, with a £500,000 pot for Wealden and a £300,000 pot for Rother.
The scheme launches on Friday, January 12, and small and medium businesses can apply for financial support for projects including the purchase of equipment and machinery, adaptation of premises, the creation or expansion of rural leisure and tourism businesses and farm diversification outside of agriculture.
Councillor Paul Coleshill, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Climate Change and Economy, said, “This funding will give eligible businesses much needed financial help to grow, creating jobs and helping communities within rural Wealden thrive. The grant can be used to support businesses with a range of equipment, for work vehicles and for adaptations to premises. There are many rural businesses that could be eligible for the funding so please apply.”
Councillor Christine Bayliss, Rother District Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “Our rural businesses have had to deal with so much uncertainty over the past few years and continue to face significant challenges, so it’s great that we can offer financial support to help them succeed and grow.
“These grants will help to safeguard existing jobs in rural areas, as well as creating new ones, help businesses future-proof with the introduction of new technology, and support diversification projects.
“Rural businesses are vital to the Rother economy and to the thousands of people living in our rural communities, and I hope that we are able to help as many as possible to thrive.”
Match-funded grants of between £2,500 and £50,000 will be available in communities with a population of under 30,000 and both councils are keen to see non-agricultural applications which will help businesses grow or diversify. The Rother and Wealden Rural Business Grants Scheme is not open to those businesses located in Bexhill, Polegate or Stone Cross. This requirement has been set by Defra.
The fund closes on December 31, 2024, or when all funds are allocated. More information about the grant scheme and details of how to apply can be found at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/business/support/grants/ruralbusinessgrants
The Rother and Wealden Rural Business Grants are funded through the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and are administered by East Sussex County Council.
This programme has received funding from the UK Government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund and creates a rural top up fund to deliver the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Levelling Up objectives. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK, investing in communities and place and supporting local business. For more information, visit Rural England Prosperity Fund: prospectus – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
ROAD CLOSURE - ETCHINGWOOD LANE / STREELE LANE, BUXTED / FRAMFIELD - 22 JANUARY 2024
05
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7403 / U7506 Etchingwood Lane / Streele Lane, Buxted / Framfield |
|
Temporary Road Closures |
To allow BT Openreach to carry out apparatus repair works, it is necessary to impose the following temporary road closures Etchingwood Lane from the junction with the U7504 Framfield Road to the junction with the U7864 Nan Tucks Lane Streele Lane from the junction with the U7403 Etchingwood Lane to the junction with the U7506 Barn Lane Works are a distance of approximately 350 metres. Diversion via - U7504 Framfield Road – U7863 Orchard Lane – U7864 Nan Tucks Lane – U7406 Shepherds Hill – U7404 Pound Lane – U7506 Barn Lane and vice versa.
Please see map attached. |
22nd January 2024 |
works anticipated to take one day to complete. |
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works |
If you need to discuss this further please contact: Sunbelt Rentals Ltd (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 03700 500 792
|
Net zero workshops offered to businesses in Wealden
21
Free net zero workshops will be delivered exclusively to businesses across Wealden to encourage them to do their bit to save the planet.
The 90-minute sessions will be led by Clean Growth UK, a pioneering university-led innovation network, on behalf of Wealden District Council to help businesses along their net zero journey.
Each session is interactive with a Q&A and all sessions are online and free to attend. Each session will have a theme and the dates and times are below.
What is Net Zero and how do you get there?
15 January 2024, 9.30am – 11.00am
How can you drive down energy costs and help save the planet at the same time?
22 January 2024, 9.30am - 11:00am
Building a workforce fit for a net zero future.
29 January 2024, 9.30am - 11:00am
Councillor Paul Coleshill, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Climate Change and Economy, said, “We are pleased to be working with Clean Growth UK at the University of Brighton to offer our local businesses free net zero workshops. These workshops will make it easier for companies to learn how to achieve net zero, drive down their energy costs and build a workforce fit for a net zero future.”
Zoë Osmond, Director, at Clean Growth UK said: "It's never been clearer that small and medium-sized businesses have a huge amount to gain, and to contribute, in the race to combat climate change. Clients from business-to-business to individual consumers are demanding green approaches and asking informed questions about your Net Zero plans. Staff are increasingly attracted by employers with genuine planet friendly credentials."
The sessions will be covered by two facilitators, a Clean Growth UK team member and Adam Bastock, small business climate change expert and Founder of Small99. To view the event page and details for how to book, visithttps://www.clean-growth.uk/events/net-zero-workshops-for-wealden/
Editor’s notes:
Clean Growth UK is a pioneering university-based network of forward-thinking green businesses.
We can help you get new products to market faster, decarbonise your business, and hone your commercial skills. Everything you need to
drive your net zero mission, all free or heavily subsidised. Tackling the climate crisis demands disruptive thinking and decisive action. Our Innovation Accelerator is designed to help you design, develop, and refine innovative green products, services, and business processes. It’s an integral part of our Net Zero 360 package, providing the expertise, equipment and facilities needed to transform products, services and processes for net-zero.
Shepherds Hill, Buxted - Road Closure 4th & 5th January
11
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7406 Shepherds Hill, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the U7864 Nan Tucks Lane to the junction with the U7405 Gun Road, a distance of approximately 1031 metres. |
4th January 2024 to 5th January 2024 |
works anticipated to take 2 days to complete. |
To allow BT Openreach to carry out apparatus repair works. |
Diversion via: - U7864 Nan Tucks Lane – U7403 Pound Green Lane – A272 Pound Green - The Toll - Curtains Hill - Main Road – C508 Wilderness Lane – U7406 Pounsley Hill and vice versa.(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
I & A Communications Ltd (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0845 200 4035
Rocks Lane, High Hurstwood - Roadworks 3rd & 4th January 2024
11
Dear Resident,
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out targeted patch repairs in Rocks Lane, Five Ash Down.
Once completed, these works will help improve the condition of the road surface.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out between Wednesday 3 January and Thursday 4 January. We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
How will this impact highway users?
The road will be closed to through traffic between 7am and 7pm.
A diversion route will be in place via Hurstwood Road, A272, A26 & vice versa.
If you need vehicle access, please discuss this with the team on site to see if this is possible. Please bear in mind there will be delays whilst the area is made safe and your vehicle is escorted by site marshalls.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @esccroads or Facebook @EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
Buxted Court - No Trespassers Please
07
Located in the picturesque village of Buxted, Wealden’s Buxted Court is a well-known feature of the area. Surrounded by beautiful woodlands and including pretty gardens, it is intended to provide a safe and secure home to many older people, many of whom are vulnerable and suffer from ill health.
We at Wealden completely understand why people would like to walk through the grounds or even exercise there, but the grounds of Buxted Court, including the carpark, are private property which belong to Wealden District Council.
Sadly, we have received reports of people leaving dog mess in the grounds, jogging and practising yoga and of local children taking bikes onto the site. There have also been reports of non-residents using the carpark for personal use.
These incidents are causing our elderly residents distress, upset and worry. It is affecting the sense of security at Buxted Court and reducing the sense of wellbeing for some of our residents. Many of our residents have problems with mobility and cannot manage to park a distance away and many others are upset by the sight of strange people in the proximity of their homes.
We respectfully ask the residents of Buxted to not trespass onto the grounds of Buxted Court, or use the carpark. If you have any concerns or queries, please contact us retirementliving@wealden.gov.uk
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Retirement Living Team – Wealden District Council
FlexiBus festive fares - December 2023
04
Special Festive Fares Promotion on FlexiBus this December.
FlexiBus
fares will be £1 on Saturdays before Christmas and all week 18-22 December.
Festive offer for Flexibus users | The Newsroom (eastsussex.gov.uk) – Link to media release.
FlexiBus is a flexible, on-demand rideshare service, for areas with limited or no bus service. Residents can book a FlexiBus journey to their nearest town, train station, hospital and other key destinations. FlexiBus links people to our improved conventional bus services.
Give the bus a go. December special offer: FlexiBus fares will be £1 only on the following dates:
- Saturday 2 December
- Saturday 9 December
- Saturday 16 December
- Saturday 23 December
- Monday 18 - Friday 22 December
This discount will automatically be applied on the bus on these dates. If booking via the app, choose 'Pay on Vehicle'.
How to keep safe online this festive season - The 12 tips of Christmas
30
Whether we’re shopping or socialising, playing games or watching a movie, dating or enjoying a few days away, the internet normally plays some part in our festive season these days.
But fraudsters also love this time of year, taking advantage of the fact that we’re busy and sometimes distracted. Some are even using AI to make their work easier and more convincing. Which is why it’s essential that we take a few easy precautions to protect ourselves, our families, finances and devices against online harms.
The 12 tips of Christmas
1: Buying online
Spot the signs of fake websites, insecure payment pages and counterfeit goods. Never pay someone you don’t know by bank transfer if you haven’t seen the goods in person. Before you visit a website, check if it’s likely to be legitimate or fraudulent at www.getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite.
2: Delivery notifications
Beware of texts claiming to be from a parcel firm telling you there’s a ‘delivery fee’. If in any doubt, always call the courier or retailer on the number you know to be correct to check if the message is authentic or not.
3: Mobile devices
Protect all new or second-hand internet-connected phones, tablets and computers with a reputable security app/software. Add a new and unique PIN or passcode as soon as you power up. Ensure all documents and photos are backed up automatically so you don’t lose them. Check privacy and location settings for new and existing devices.
4: Smart devices
Always set up new and unique passwords on internet-connected devices like voice assistants, appliances, cameras, kids’ toys and fitness watches, as soon as they’re switched on. Using the factory-set default passwords could result in them being hacked. And remember that voice assistants and smart speakers are designed to pick up what you’re saying. Find more information about setting up connected devices.
5: Updates
Download software, app and operating system updates on all your devices as soon as you get notified. Better still, set them to update automatically. Otherwise, they could get infected by malware, leading to fraud, identity theft or snooping.
6: Second-hand devices
Do a factory reset to erase your data if you’re selling or gifting a computer, mobile device or console. Find out how from the manufacturer’s website. If you’ve bought or been given a used device, remove the previous owner’s settings and data if this hasn’t already been done.
7: Mobile apps
Download new apps only from official sources such as App Store, Google Play or Microsoft Store. Downloading them from elsewhere could result in fraud or identity theft.
8: Out & about
Don’t use Wi-Fi hotspots in cafés, pubs, hotels, on public transport and other public places for anything confidential as they could be either insecure or fraudulent.
9: Gaming
Avoid things like pirated games, griefing and in-game overspending. Keep track of how much time you’re spending online. Don’t overshare private information on chats. Keep an eye on your kids’ gaming by checking games’ PEGI age limits, and talking with them about who they’re or playing and chatting with.
10: Oversharing
Make sure what you share online is respectful and doesn’t reveal confidential, sensitive or embarrassing information about yourself or others, including family members and friends. If you’re away from home, keep it to yourself, as burglars keep an eye on social media too.
11: Safeguarding your children
Talk to your children about being safe and responsible online, including what they share, who they’re talking to and the type of content they access, including in apps and games. Consider downloading a reputable parental control app and using ISP content filters. Make sure they aren’t running up bills in games and other apps.
12: Video calls
Make sure those Christmas calls are safe and secure by using a service that needs a strong password, and don’t share the call invitation or details outside the person or group on the call.
Royal Oak Lane - Buxted - 24th November 2023 to 27th November 2023 - Road Closed
24
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7853 Royal Oak Lane, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the C402 Hurstwood Road for its entire length a distance of approximately 690 Metres |
24th November 2023 to 27th November 2023 |
works anticipated to take 4 days to complete |
To allow I&A communications to carry out apparatus repair works |
Diversion: - Royal Oak Lane is a no through road no diversion applicable. Apologies no map was provided with this application.
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
I&A Communications (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0845 200 4035
Road Closure - BURNT OAK ROAD, BUXTED/CROWBOROUGH -11-12 DECEMBER 2023
20
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7503 Burnt Oak Road, Buxted /Crowborough |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the C402 Chillies Lane to the junction with the U7861 Tibbs Mill Lane, works are a distance of approximately 81 metres. |
11th December 2023 to 12th December 2023 |
works anticipated to take 2 days to complete. |
To allow BT Openreach to carry out apparatus repair works. |
|
Diversion Via - U7861 Tibbs Mill Lane - Fowley Lane – C402 Hurstwood Road and vice versa..(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
Kelly Traffic Management (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0247 664 2814
Christmas Collection Dates for Rubbish and Recycling
13
Please see above details of the WDC refuse and recycling schedule for Christmas. All collection dates will be on the WDC website and they will be send out calendars to anybody who requests a hard copy
Met Office - Amber warning of wind affecting London & South East England
31
The Met Office issues weather warnings, through the National Severe Weather Warning Service, when severe weather has the potential to bring impacts to the UK. These warnings are given a colour (yellow, amber or red) depending on a combination of both the impact the weather may have and the likelihood of those impacts occurring.
Yellow and Amber warnings represent a range of impact levels and likelihoods. This means it is important to read each warning to know what level of impact you can expect for your chosen warning area – and how likely those impacts are to occur.
These impacts can include damage to property, travel delays and cancellations, loss of water supplies, power cuts and, in the most severe cases, bring a danger to life.
Headline
Very strong winds associated with Storm Ciarán may disrupt travel, utilities, and cause some structural damage.
What to expect
· Flying debris could result in a danger to life
· Damage to buildings and homes is possible, with roofs blown off and power lines and trees brought down
· Roads, bridges and railway lines may close, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights
· Power cuts could occur and affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
· There is potential for large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
Further details
On Thursday morning very strong west to southwesterly winds will develop over parts of the far south and southeast of England where gusts are likely to reach 70-80 mph in some coastal areas and may exceed 85 mph in a few of the most exposed English Channel coastal spots. The extent of these high winds remains a little uncertain and is dependent on the exact track of Storm Ciarán. Winds will begin to ease from the west during the afternoon. Very large waves could bring additional impacts to coastal areas, especially along the English Channel coastline.
View full warning details and map view
Regions and local authorities affected
East of England: Essex, Southend-on-Sea, London & South East England, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Portsmouth, Southampton, West Sussex
South West England: Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Dorset
Update on ticket office proposals
31
News from GTR:
Many
of you will have seen the news following Transport Focus and London
TravelWatch’s response to the ticket office consultation, published this
morning and I wanted to ensure you have the correct information as I know there
are some very strong views about the proposals.
Over the summer a local public consultation was run with Transport Focus and
London TravelWatch on proposals about how tickets are sold on the railway and
customer service.
Many of you took part in that consultation and we would like to thank you for
making your feedback available to us and the passenger bodies to support their
work and we know it has been immensely valuable.
Today, Transport Focus and London TravelWatch have updated us they are
supportive of the principle of redeploying staff from ticket offices to improve
the overall offer for customers.
However, they have also made clear that they are not able to approve these
changes as there is feedback related to the railway as a whole which has not
been completely addressed.
We always made clear that this was a genuine consultation and as a result,
following the process of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, all proposals
have been withdrawn and will not be introduced.
The consultation did, however, raise interesting ideas on related issues, such
as expanding the types of products that can be sold at ticket machines. Where
possible, with the wider industry we will look to introduce ideas such as this.
Proposed - 49 new dwellings land north of Buxted
25
Buxted Parish Council has received a planning application consultation for ‘49 dwellings, access, landscaping and infrastructure’ on land north of Buxted (between properties near White Hart and Buxted School).
This application will be considered by the Parish Council Planning Committee on Tuesday 14th November at 7pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Road, Buxted.
Please note - the parish council is one of a number of consultees, so will be returning a recommendation back to WDC - it is not the decision maker.
Please feel free to come to the meeting to express any views you have on the application, or email the clerks prior to the meeting at clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk.
Link to application on WDC website: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=163172
Sussex Police Recruiting PCSO's
20
Sussex Police are open for PCSO recruitment and are looking for compassionate, driven and community-minded people to join the force.
Policing offers a fulfilling career with lots of benefits so if you are looking for a job that allows you to make a real impact (or know someone else who might be), continue reading below.Why become a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)?
- You’ll act as an integral part of the community, supporting those who need us most.
- You will receive a starting salary of £32,633 (which includes unsociable shift allowance.).
- You’ll become someone who is trusted and relied upon and engage with different people every day.
- You will gain a fully funded professional qualification as well as access to plenty of training opportunities to progress within your career.
Interested? Head over to our career pages and apply today, https://www.sussex.police.uk/police-forces/sussex-police/areas/careers/jobs/pcsos/.
If you are unsure and would like to find out more about the role, you can book
in a for a 1:1 career call with a recruitment expert at Sussex Police by
emailing careers@sussex.police.uk, or sign up and attend a recruitment webinar where
the team can advise you on the application process, eligibility criteria and
much more.
Webinar details are posted to the Sussex Police Facebook page.
To find more information about other career opportunities at Sussex Police, visit www.sussex.police.uk/jobs.
Be responsible this Hallowe’en - Advice from Sussex Police
19
Hallowe'en has become an increasingly popular celebration over the past few years for children, families and young people especially, but it is important not to have fun at the expense of others.
To make it easy to see who’s welcoming of trick and treaters and who doesn’t wish to be disturbed, Sussex Police have produced trick or treat posters.
If you see someone displaying a no trick or treat poster, please be considerate and do not call at those homes.
Tips for a safer Hallowe’en:
· Young children should be accompanied by an adult.
· Stay in well-lit areas.
· Consider calling only at houses where you know the occupants, rather than strangers.
· Respect the privacy and wishes of people who do not want to take part in trick or treat – observe the 'No Trick or Treaters please' posters people may display in doors or windows.
For residents
Residents are advised to continue to be vigilant when opening the door to strangers or unexpected callers.
One way to deter unwanted trick or treaters on 31 October is to print and display the 'no trick or treaters' poster.
If you feel unsafe
· Don’t open your door if you’re unsure who is there. Use your spyhole, look out of a window, and use your door chain if you do decide to open your door.
· Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour to hand by your telephone, just in case you need to phone them.
· If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, let your co-ordinator know that you will be on your own at Hallowe’en. If you are a co-ordinator, please identity people in your scheme that may be vulnerable and offer them reassurance.
· If you are driving on the evening of the 31st, remember that excited children may be crossing the road unexpectedly, so slow down in residential areas and take extra care.
There will be increased police patrols this Hallowe’en to deter any anti-social behaviour. Officers will be quick to disperse groups of people who are found to be causing a nuisance.
Sussex Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour at any time of the year.
To report anti-social behaviour please report online.
If you feel threatened, in an emergency, or if a
crime is in progress, call 999
ROAD CLOSURE - Hurstwood Road (Fowley Lane to Station Road, Buxted) - 21st to 29th October
18
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
C402 Hurstwood Road, High Hurstwood, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the A272 Station Road to the junction with the U7861 Fowley Lane, works are a distance of approximately 130 metres. |
21st October 2023 to 29th October 2023. |
works anticipated to take 9 days to complete. |
To allow UKPN to carry out apparatus repair works. |
Diversion via: -C402 Chillies Lane – A26 Uckfield Road - Five Ash Down - Mill Pond Road – A272 Budletts Lane - Buxted Road - Lephams Bridge Road and vice versa.(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
ALS Civil Engineering Ltd (on behalf of UKPN) on 01843 850746
Polling station review - Your Views
03
Electors in Wealden are being asked to give their views on polling stations they go to when voting in elections.
The law requires councils to review their polling districts, places and stations every five years. The last one for Wealden was in 2019.
Voters in the Wealden district area or within its neighbouring parliamentary constituency areas of Lewes, Eastbourne and Bexhill and Battle, are invited to give feedback on the convenience and suitability of the places currently used for voting and to suggest possible alternative locations.
The review starts on Monday 2October and will be completed in January 2024, when final proposals are considered by the council’s Audit, Finance and Governance Committee. The public consultation period runs until 30 November and electors can send in their comments in writing by email or by filling in a form on the council’s new interactive tool, Let’s Talk. https://letstalk.wealden.gov.uk/
The council would like to hear from electors, particularly those with any type of disability and any person or organisation with particular expertise in accessibility issues.
‘Polling places’ are the buildings or areas designated by the council where electors in a polling district go to vote in person. ‘Polling stations’ are the rooms where voters collect their ballot papers.
As part of the Review, Wealden council will be seeking representations from Acting Returning Officers (AROs) for each parliamentary constituency which is wholly or partly in its area. Their views will be published within 30 days of receipt and electors can also comment on them.
Once the review is completed, in early 2024, all correspondence and comments received will, by law, be published and made available for inspection.
Councillor James Partridge, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), lead councillor for Governance, Community Leadership and Communications and leader of the council, said, “This is an important review for residents because it’s about voting, which should be as easy as possible. We have a legal obligation to do the review but, as we run all elections in Wealden, it is obviously important for us to understand what suits residents when it comes to voting. We want everyone to have a polling station, which is not easy in Wealden’s big rural area.
“I would ask everyone to fill in the online form as it’s everyone’s opportunity to have their say and let us know what is and is not working for them when voting in person.”
Review information can be inspected at The Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX, at the public library in Wadhurst and also at the following town/parish council offices:
- Crowborough – Pine Grove, Crowborough, TN6 1DH
- Uckfield – Uckfield Civic Centre, Uckfield, TN22 1AE
- Polegate – Council Offices, 49 High Street, Polegate, BN26 6AL
- Heathfield and Waldron – 73 High Street, Heathfield, TN21 8HU
- Forest Row – The Community Centre, Hartfield Road, Forest Row, RH18 5DZ
- Willingdon & Jevington – Council Office, The Triangle, Willingdon, BN20 9PJ
Any comments and representations may be submitted by post to Electoral Services PDR, The Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX, by email to PDR@wealden.gov.uk or by completing the online feedback form.
All comments must be made by no later than 5pm on Thursday 30 November 2023.
ESCC Cllr Roy Galley - Village Meeting
03
Come and talk to your local County Councillor
High Weald AONB Management Plan consultation now live
26
Have your say on the future of the High Weald…
The High Weald AONB Partnership is now collecting feedback on the draft High Weald AONB Management Plan 2024-2029.
Your comments will help us conserve and enhance this precious landscape for years to come.
The consultation runs until Sunday 5 November via an online survey on the High Weald AONB website: https://highweald.org/aonb-management-plan/management-plan-public-consultation-2023/
If you have any problems accessing the consultation form, please contact the AONB team on 01424 723011 or email info@highweald.org and they will assist you.
About the Management Plan
The High Weald AONB Management Plan is the single most important document for the area - it sets out a vision for the kind of place we want the High Weald to be in years to come and, crucially, some of the activities that organisations and local people could take to achieve that vision.
The Plan must be updated every five years. Working on behalf of the area’s 15 local authorities, the High Weald AONB Partnership has prepared a new draft Plan that runs from 2024 to 2029.
The Plan is informed by research and the many conversations the Partnership has had with organisations, farmers, businesses, community groups and residents over the last 30 years.
*** Please educate your locality to the Asian Hornet threat ***
25
You may or may not be aware, but the Asian Hornet is gaining a strong foothold in this country after a small number of forays in previous years.
At the time of writing this email there have been over 50 Asian hornet nests found in the UK in 2023, mostly in the vicinity of ports. Most recently in Sovereign Harbour Eastbourne. This is more than the total found in previous years!
Asian Hornets are an invasive species brought into to Bordeaux in a packing
case from China some 20 years ago.
They are now endemic in France and much of Europe.
Although there have been relatively few sightings in the UK over the last decade or so, DEFRA have managed to keep on top of things (we believe) but there has been a dramatic increase this last year.
Asian Hornets have transformed the world of Beekeeping in France decimating
many apiaries and other insect populations. They have also caused many
human fatalities.
The BBKA (British Beekeeping Association) are really upping their efforts to
communicate the problem too. They are even spending £15k for advertisements on
the back of buses
The only way to reduce the devastating impact that these insects have on honeybee colonies is to find the nests, and this can only be done by educating our largest resource - the general public.
The following links show where the sightings have been made so far:
2023 Asian Hornet Sightings
· Click <<- here ->>
2023 Map of confirmed sightings
· Click <<- here ->>
Get the latest Asian hornet news stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp on your computer- all you need to do is click the link below:
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner's 2023 #TalkSussex survey - final reminder
20
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne acts as the voice of the public within policing in Sussex and runs an ongoing programme of engagement with residents to understand their views.
Since 2014 Katy Bourne has secured nearly £35 million for over 53,000 victims of crime to help them cope and recover.
In the past two years alone, she has been awarded more than £4m to fund initiatives focusing on violence reduction and tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Sussex.
This is a final reminder that the Government have offered more funding to tackle ASB - so if you have not already done so please take part in PCC Katy Bourne's short survey to share your feelings of safety using this link: https://forms.office.com/e/7bZZrdJC8n
If you have any queries please direct these to pcc@sussex-pcc.gov.uk.
A272 Road Closure Overnight - targeted patch repairs in Buxted
19
Balfour Beatty is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council to manage the highways service across East Sussex. As part of this, we will be carrying out targeted patch repairs on the A272 at Buxted.
Once completed, these works will help improve the condition of the road surface, and ensure a smoother and safer journey.
When do they start?
Work will be carried out between Thursday 12 October and Monday 16 October. There are no plans for weekend working.
We will inform you of any changes to the dates or times via advanced warning signs on site.
What are we doing?
These works involve cutting out the affected area and refilling with a new smoother tarmac.
How will this impact highway users?
We will be working between the Buxted Church of England Primary School and the Buxted Inn.
The road will be closed to through traffic between 7pm and 7am. A diversion route will be in place via the A272, A267, A26 & vice versa.
If you need vehicle access, please discuss this with the team on site to see if this is possible. Please bear in mind there will be delays whilst the area is made safe and your vehicle is escorted by site marshalls.
Information for residents and businesses
Parking: We will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones on the site to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it will delay our works.
Weather: All of these works are subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress of the works.
Properties close to the carriageway may experience a temporary disturbance as this can be a noisy process and those properties may experience flashing lights and reversing sirens.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this work may cause, however this forms part of our continuing improvement for the East Sussex highway network.
For information on roadworks and journey planning, visit www.One.Network.com. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter)@esccroads or Facebook@EastSussexHighways for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website www.eastsussexhighways.com.
Thank you,
East Sussex Highways
Tommy's Autumn Trail - 8th October 2023
18
The Tommy’s Autumn Trail is taking place at 10am on 8th October at Eridge Park Estate, Tunbridge Wells.
Eridge Park is one of the oldest deer parks and usually closed to the public, so it’s a special opportunity to see the grounds. A great excuse to enjoy the beautiful Autumn weather and get out with family and friends, meeting new people along the way.
The event is near the Remembrance period, and as a military charity this has a very special meaning, giving time and space for us to reflect, give thanks and to Remember Them.
If you have any questions or need anything please do come back to me. To
have Buxted Parish Council’s support is very much appreciated.
Please see the link to the Tommy’s Autumn Trail and if you, or anyone you know, would like to join in please Register here:
https://rbli.co.uk/rbli-events/tommys-autumn-trail/
Let’s Talk Wealden goes live
04
A new online community engagement hub has been launched to improve engagement between Wealden District Council and its residents.
Let’s Talk Wealden aims to provide an interactive and relaxed space for residents to find out about the latest proposals for their area, have their say, ask questions and discuss ideas with the community. Residents do not need to sign up if they wish to view the site but will need to register if they wish to comment, discuss, or ask a question.
Councillor James Partridge, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), lead councillor for Governance, Community Leadership and Communications and leader of the council, said, “Let’s Talk Wealden is a hub that will give residents easy access to information about projects we are working on and provide the opportunity to keep up to date with our projects and create discussions.
“We noticed that residents did not comment much in previous consultations and, as a council, we want to hear more from, and form better relationships with, our residents.”
Residents can sign up by visiting https://letstalk.wealden.gov.uk/
Wealden cuts bin lorry emissions by 90%
31
The alternative sustainable replacement fuel HVO is cleaner and reduces carbon by up to 90% compared to regular diesel, saving up to 1,800 tonnes of CO2 per year. The switch will also reduce other potentially harmful emissions including nitrous oxide, particulate matter and carbon monoxide, helping to make our air cleaner.
Wealden District Council worked with Biffa to conduct a successful trial earlier this year, with Biffa also sourcing the HVO for the vehicles.
A Biffa spokesperson added, ‘In partnership with Wealden District Council, this full replacement to use HVO across the 33 vehicles is a great step forward and we are pleased to support Wealden District Council’s ambition towards net zero’
Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), lead councillor for Housing & Benefits and deputy leader of the council, said, “I think this is an innovation we should be proud of, we are making changes and heading in the right direction to achieve the council’s objective of becoming net zero. There is still a lot of work to do, but I hope it will be seen as an opportunity for other local operators of diesel-powered commercial vehicles to join us and make the switch.”
Wealden Community Sports Hub progresses
30
A planning application for Wealden Community Sports Hub in Lower Dicker, Hailsham, has been submitted following significant community and stakeholder involvement in the design and development.
The project will see major investment into a state-of the-art leisure and sports facility, creating a variety of new outdoor sport and leisure facilities for local communities. The 20-acre site will provide a range of sport and leisure provision and will help to address the need for further amenities within the local area.
The facility will offer new opportunities in several sports and deliver health and wellbeing opportunities to a wide range of residents of all ages and abilities.
The Sports Hub includes a range of energy efficiency measures to reduce operational costs and contribute to the net-zero aspirations for the council. These include a solar PV system, EV car chargers and battery storage for efficient use of the energy generated. The buildings will use air source heat pumps for heating the buildings and the water used on site. There will be storage areas for bicycles to promote sustainable travel alongside the pedestrian/cycle entrance to the south of the site that will link the Sports Hub with the Cuckoo Trail.
The planning application proposes two full size 3G floodlit football pitches, four floodlit multi-use games areas for tennis / netball, two Padel tennis courts along with a walking and cycle route, BMX and skate area, children’s play area, outdoor tennis tables, outdoor gym equipment and a community café.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Public Health and Asset Management, said, “This is a very important project which will give residents in the Hailsham area and wider afield in Wealden the opportunity to have more accessibility to play sport. The plans for the first community sports hub of its type within the district, outline an array of sports particularly football which can be played at the new Community Sports Hub.
“It also provides a range of community facilities for our residents to enjoy. The proposal covers a wide range of different activities that all ages and fitness levels can enjoy. The new site will also show case the best approaches to sustainability and biodiversity in its development and future running.
“Whilst we are awaiting confirmation of a national funding bid, in a year the English Lionesses have had such a successful run in the World Cup, I am looking forward to seeing this once in a lifetime opportunity being delivered for the existing and future residents of Wealden.”
To view and comment on the planning application online, visit https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=163100
Planning Applications in Your Area
29
Want to know what planning applications are being submitted for your neighbourhood?
Residents are able to sign up for alerts for applications in their area via the Wealden District Council website at:
Keeping up to date with Planning Applications - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Survey
29
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne acts as the voice of the public within policing in Sussex and runs an ongoing programme of engagement with residents to understand their views.
Since 2014 Katy Bourne has secured nearly £35 million for over 53,000 victims ofcrime to help them cope and recover.
In the past two years alone, she has been awarded more than £4m to fund initiativesfocusing on violence reduction and tacklinganti-social behaviour (ASB) in Sussex.
The Government have offered more funding to tackle ASB- so please take part in PCC Katy Bourne's survey to share your views below:
Here’s the link: https://forms.office.com/e/7bZZrdJC8n
What Matters To You: new adult social care strategy for East Sussex
29
‘What Matters To You: care, support and independence for adults in East Sussex’ is the brand new adult social care strategy for the county.
The title reflects the approach taken to developing the strategy: asking people who need care and support, their carers and families, what was important to them.
Mark Stainton, Director of Adult Social Care in East Sussex, said: “We wanted this plan to be driven by what people told us were their priorities, rather than what professionals might think people need.”
Around 700 local people responded to surveys or came along to focus groups and interviews to share their opinions.Using this feedback, and with the help of East Sussex County Council’s Citizens’ Panel, six priorities were agreed. They are:
1. Right support, right place, right time
2. Information and communication about care and support
3. Cost of living and cost of care, now and in the future
4. A suitable home
5. Personal connections with others
6. Group activities, hobbies and volunteering
Adult Social Care & Health staff, the NHS, district and borough councils, the private sector, and voluntary, community and social enterprise sector were all involved in working on the strategy.
Now the next step is to build an action plan based around the 15 ‘we will’ statements that set out the strategic response to the six priorities in ‘What Matters To You’.
Mark Stainton: “What Matters To You is specific to the county, puts local people at the centre of our plans and gives direction for colleagues who work within or alongside adult social care. It will help everyone know what to expect from adult social care and what our strategic priorities are.”
· Read ‘What Matters To You’, please visit: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/ASCstrategy
· Watch a film about ‘What Matters To You’: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/asc-strategy-film
· For a paper copy or alternative formats, please email: ASCPersonalisation@eastsussex.gov.uk
· Phone: 01273 481565
· Write: Adult Social Care strategy, FREEPOST, ESCC, Public Health, County Hall, Lewes BN7 1UE
Don’t lose your vote
29
Don’t lose your vote – residents in Wealden urged to check voter registration details
Wealden residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.
The annual canvass allows Wealden District Council to keep the electoral register up to date, to identify who risks losing their voice at elections, and to encourage them to register before it’s too late.
Trevor Scott, the electoral registration officer and chief executive at Wealden District Council, said, “Keep an eye out for important updates from us. The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate and up to date. To make sure you don’t lose your say at upcoming elections, simply follow the instructions sent to you.
“If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the messages we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”
Recent home movers in particular are urged to check their details. Electoral Commission research has found that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time.
In Great Britain, 92% of those who have lived in their home for 16 years will be registered, compared with 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than a year.
Melanie Davidson, head of Support and Improvement at the Electoral Commission, said,
“It’s really important that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to do so. We urge people to check for updates from their local council on this year’s canvass. The council may contact residents by post or email.
“If you are not registered to vote, make sure you provide the necessary information to your local council when asked and register to vote online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”
Information on registering to vote is available on the Electoral Commission website.
Residents with questions about their registration status can contact Wealden’s Electoral Services team atelections@wealden.gov.uk
Notes to editors
1. The Representation of the People Act 1983 places a duty on electoral registration officers to maintain the electoral register for their area and to conduct an annual canvass of all residential properties.
2. The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other reasons as specified in law, such as detecting crime (e.g. fraud), calling people for jury service or checking credit applications.
3. The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote.
4. To be eligible to register to vote a person must be:
• aged 16 or over (a person may register to vote at 16, but may not vote until they are 18)
• a British or qualifying Commonwealth citizen who has leave to enter and remain in the UK or does not require such leave.
• a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member state
5. British citizens, Irish citizens and qualifying Commonwealth citizens can vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland, Mayor of London and London Assembly elections, Police and Crime Commissioner elections and general elections.
6. EU nationals legally resident in the UK may currently register to vote in local government elections, providing they meet with the age and residency requirements and that they are not legally incapable of voting. The Elections Act 2022 will change the eligibility of some EU citizens to vote. Changes are expected to come into force in May 7 2024, after local elections in England, Police and Crime Commissioners elections in England and Wales in 2024.
7. The changes in voting rights for EU nationals will not affect voters from Cyprus, Malta and Ireland.
8. Full details of the Electoral Commission’s research on the electoral registers can be found on its website.
ROAD CLOSURE - A272 THE TOLL / POUND GREEN, HADLOW DOWN /BUXTED -26-29 SEPTEMBER 2023
09
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
A272 The Toll / Pound Green, Hadlow Down / Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the C270 Five Chimneys Lane to the junction with the U7903 Howbourne Lane, a distance of approximately 898 metres. |
26th September 2023 to 29th September 2023, between the hours of 20:00 hours to 06:00 hours |
works anticipated to take 3 nights to complete. |
To allow South East Water to carry out apparatus repair works. |
Diversion via: -– A272 Pound Green - High Street - Station Road - Buxted Road - Budletts Lane – A26 Uckfield Bypass – A22 Uckfield Bypass - Eastbourne Road – B2192 Lewes Road – A267 Mayfield Road - Heathfield Road – A272 Summer Hill - Main Road and vice versa.(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
South East Water on 0333 000 0365
ROAD CLOSURE - CHILLIES LANE, HIGH HURSTWOOD, BUXTED -29/8/2023 TO 1/9/2023
09
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
C402 Chillies Lane, High Hurstwood, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the U7503 Burnt Oak Road to outside a property known as Medleys Farm, a distance of approximately 1093 metres. |
29th August 2023 to 1st September 2023 |
works anticipated to take 4 days to complete. |
To allow UKPN to carry out apparatus repair works. |
Diversion via: - A26 Uckfield Road - Five Ash Down - Mill Pond Road – A272 Budletts Lane - Buxted Road - Lephams Bridge Road – C402 Hurstwood Road and vice versa.(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
Road Traffic Solutions Ltd (on behalf of UKPN) on 01724 848246
Bus service improvements 2023
02
There is a significant number of bus service improvements were made in East Sussex from Sunday 23 July. These include new weekend services on some routes. Most are funded through East Sussex County Council’s successful bid to UK Government, in support of the BSIP.
Attached are the services for the Wealden area and this is the link for all:
Improvements to Bus Services | East Sussex County Council
New timetables should be available now or shortly on the bus operators’ websites.
We would also draw attention to the lower fares that have been introduced as part of the BSIP. This includes the £2 bus fare scheme which the Government has extended to October 2023 as part of Help for Households. Other fare news can be found here: Lower fares on East Sussex bus services | East Sussex County Council.
You are probably already aware of the introduction of FlexiBus by the County Council also. Operating in the rural areas of the county, this initiative aims to deliver the BSIP’s objective of providing residents in rural areas of East Sussex with access to a bus service where there is no public transport route. This will enable residents to connect to the wider bus or rail network and access vital services. You can read more about FlexiBus here: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roads-transport/public/flexibus
Wealden Crematorium open day
02
Wealden Crematorium will be hosting an open day event in August.
Following on from the success of last year’s open day, another one will be held on the 16 August between 11am-3pm. The friendly crematorium staff will be offering guided tours to go behind-the-curtain and demystify the cremation process – everyone is welcome.
The crematorium has held over 4,000 cremations since the opening in 2019 and has the largest ceremony hall in the local area which can seat more than 120 people. It has car parking spaces for 160 vehicles to give the most stress-free experience possible.
The state-of-the-art crematorium recently received the Highly Commended Award from the Sussex Heritage Trust in the landscape and gardens category, and have further donated £12,000 to Chestnut Tree House, a children’s charity in Sussex. The donation was funded through the ICCM Metals Recycling Scheme, which, with written consent, allows bereaved families to donate metals after a cremation.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, part of the 'Alliance for Wealden', Liberal Democrat councillor for Uckfield East and lead councillor for Public Health and Asset Management, said, “I am really pleased to hear that Wealden Crematorium is hosting another open day. I would encourage residents and organisations across Sussex to attend, and to understand the process of what happens and ask questions, which might normally seem taboo.”
Refreshments will be served throughout the day, for more information about the newest crematorium in East Sussex, visit https://www.wealdencrematorium.co.uk/
Community Safety Charter - #BETHECHANGE
01
Neighbourhood Watch knows that when we take positive actions to reduce risks, support others, and challenge behaviour, we can make a difference. Over the last 10 month’s we have brought you along a journey of exploring topics such as, Harassment, Hate Crime, Antisocial Behaviour (ASB), and then find out practical steps you can take to help the victim, intervene, and deal with confrontation.
The next module is called #BETHECHANGE. We know that YOU can make a difference in your community, a difference at home, and in public spaces. Whether you make changes in the way that you think, in your actions, or indeed how you speak to people. The smallest action may seem small but it can have a big impact on someone’s life.
The link to #BETHECHANGE is: https://prezi.com/view/E1q5yr7Fip07Zjc9dOZD/
We ask that you do 3 actions with this module:
- Read it.
- Share it with others.
- Take positive action to challenge your own unconscious bias.
We thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to sending you our next module soon, on Personal Safety.
Removing Barriers to Access in a nationally important landscape
31
Landowner opportunity:
FREE GATES to replace stiles on footpaths
- Do you own land in East Sussex or Kent which is also in the High Weald AONB?
- Do you have public rights of way on your land?
- Do you have stiles on these rights of way?
- Are you interested in improving accessibility?
We have an offer for you…
The public rights of way team of your local County Council can currently supply and
deliver FREE, galvanized metal pedestrian gates
to replace existing stiles.
As the landowner, all you need to do is:
- sign a simple (one page) agreement with the relevant county rights of way team
- undertake correct installation of the gate following the instructions provided
- keep it well maintained.
It really is that simple!
This is a great opportunity to make rights of way
on your land more accessible for people who
find stiles difficult to use. Gates also have a reduced maintenance liability compared to
a stile. Removing stiles will enhance people’s ability to access and enjoy the beautiful,
farmed landscape of the High Weald.
Don’t miss out on this time limited offer. Interested? Please contact:
Rights of Way & Countryside Team, East Sussex County Council West B, County Hall, Lewes, BN7 1UE
Email: rightsofway@eastsussex.gov.uk Telephone: 0345 6080193
or
Public Rights of Way and Access Service, Kent County Council Worrall House, Kings Hill, Kent, ME19 4AE
Email: westprow@gov.uk Telephone: 03000 417171
This project is led by the High Weald AONB Partnership with support from the Government’s Access for All programme. To find out more about how you can improve access on your land then please contact Simon Fathers, our Access and Recreation Officer, on 01424 723011 or email info@highweald.org to discuss ways in which we may be able to help
No Brighton Trains Saturday 5th August 2023
28
I am writing to inform you of an important change to train services on Saturday 5 August network-wide. We would welcome your support in sharing this message, as it is very important that customers consider what it means for their travel plans. There is no change to the current plan for services on Friday 4th or Sunday 6th August.
Journey planners such as www.nationalrail.co.uk for travel on Saturday 5th August are expected to be updated from this Saturday, 29th July.
As context, the recent announcement of the ASLEF overtime ban from Monday 31 July to Saturday 5 August has meant we have had to carefully reassess all of our plans for the network on Saturday 5 August as this date sees peak demand for Brighton Pride with, in normal years, hundreds of thousands of additional journeys.
No services to or from the Brighton area on Saturday 5 August
It is with the deepest regret that, due to significant safety concerns, no trains will now run to Brighton or nearby stations on Saturday 5 August.
Keeping passengers and colleagues safe is the absolute priority and following discussions with the council, police and emergency services, as well as our own risk assessments, GTR has very sadly concluded that it cannot safely run any services as it would be impossible to avoid severe overcrowding and present a considerable risk to passenger safety.
In addition:
- An amended timetable will be in place across the GTR network (please see more details below)
- Stations between Three Bridges and Brighton will not be served all day
- Trains will not run along the southern coastways into Brighton because of the amended timetable.
- Services to and from Brighton will be unaffected on Friday 4th or Sunday 6th August
Every year, GTR runs a significantly enhanced service for Pride with additional
late-night trains on Saturday evening. These enhancements are needed to safely
transport the huge number of people that travel into Brighton during Pride’s
busiest day but also home again after the popular Saturday community parade and
Fabuloso fundraiser in Preston Park.
As these services are not part of the regular Saturday timetable, in normal times, these services are covered by volunteer drivers. The ASLEF overtime ban means that our volunteers cannot take part, and without the additional late-night services there is a clear risk of stranding tens of thousands of people overnight without accommodation. On Saturday evening there is always a massive demand for return travel over a short period of time, with a capacity shortfall of 20,000 passengers expected in the busiest hours of the evening alone.
Keeping passengers and colleagues safe is the absolute priority and following discussions with the council, police and emergency services, as well as our own risk assessments, GTR has very sadly concluded that we cannot safely run any services as it would be impossible to avoid severe overcrowding and present a considerable risk to passenger safety.
We cannot in good faith bring people into Brighton who we know would have no chance of getting home, or be caught up amongst tens of thousands of other people, all trying to get onto a very limited number of trains at the same time. We know that while people will understand the safety concern, this will not offset the frustration and we are really sorry to everyone who will be affected, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. We hope by making this decision now we enable as many people as possible to make alternative arrangements.
Further information specific to Brighton Pride is available at: www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/brighton-pride
Significant impact to the wider GTR network on Saturday 5th August
Regrettably, there will be a significant impact to the wider network as a result. This is because Brighton is a terminus station – so is integral to the operation of the Southern, Thameslink and, by connection, Great Northern networks. On Saturday 5th, Three Bridges will be used instead of Brighton as a turn back point for the Brighton mainline, in particular to enable Gatwick Airport and other major stations on the route to be served.
However, the added complication of significant engineering work such as between London Bridge and Tulse Hill or on the Great Northern Metro means that we have had to revert to our contingency service, as previously used on some RMT strike dates as the only available plan that can be adapted and delivered in the time available.
As on previous earlier RMT strike dates, this means that fewer services will run, some stations will not be served and some routes, particularly north of London, will start later and finish much earlier than normal. As a general rule, hours of service will be between 07:00-19:00, with some extensions, particularly on the routes that directly serve airports. It is especially important that early-morning or late-night customers for the airports on our routes check their journeys and make alternative arrangements if required.
Customer information
Our websites contain the latest information on planned services. Journey planners such as www.nationalrail.co.uk will be up to date for Saturday 5th August from this Saturday, 29 July.
We know how disappointing these changes are for our customers and we are very sorry. As always, if you have any questions, please let us know.
Best wishes,
Paul,
Paul Codd
Senior Stakeholder Manager
Govia Thameslink Railway
(GTR)
Are You Missing Out on Benefits?
17
Jobcentre staff are available for drop
in’s on Monday’s, Wealden District Council,Vicarage Lane,
Hailsham:
9am – 12.30pm
1.30pm – 3pm
Buxted Bonfire Society Summer Fayre
15
Buxted Bonfire Summer Fayre and Dog Show
Saturday 15th July 2023
12 - 4pm
Buxted Recreation Ground, TN22 4LE
FREE ENTRY for all the family!
Stalls, Dog Show, Raffle, Tombola, BBQ, Bar, Cakes, Arena Events, Bouncy Castle, Face Painter, Ice Cream Van and much more!
Follow our Facebook event for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/259669443325528
Free courses available to Wealden residents aged 19 and over
13
The Street Learning programme has been released for September - December 2023.
The project offers Wealden and Eastbourne residents, aged 19 and above, a range of academic courses, wellbeing and practical classes.
The courses are provided in several local community venues including East Sussex College (Eastbourne), Uckfield College, Crowborough and online.
A council spokesperson said, “The Street Learning programmes provide learning and skill development for every age. They are designed to help residents boost employment opportunities whilst having fun. Anyone wanting to improve on a skill, learn something new or widen their social life should take a look at the courses available.”
Street Learning is a project run by Wealden District Council in partnership with ACRES, East Sussex College, East Sussex County Council Library, Job Centre Plus, GRH Training, Compass Community Arts and Heathercroft.
Visit www.wealden.gov.uk/streetlearning, @StreetLearning.Wealden on Facebook, or email streetlearning@wealden.gov.uk for more information. Updates, participant feedback and details of new courses can be found on the website.
Wealden moves towards signing a new lease for Uckfield Leisure Centre
13
Cabinet has recommended that Wealden District Council enters into a lease and contract at Uckfield Leisure Centre.
East Sussex County Council (ESCC) currently leases the leisure centre to the district council which was set to expire on 17 July 2023.
In March 2023, a public consultation conducted by ESCC, went live to give residents their chance to comment on the future of the leisure centre. The consultation received more than 3,000 responses helping all parties to address how the facility can continue to be operated.
A Full Council motion was passed for the council officers to investigate all opportunities to save the leisure centre. The new lease will implement new working arrangements to also include exploring investment opportunities to deliver greater energy efficiency measures and reducing potential overall operating costs.
A council spokesperson said, “We have been able to work together to save the leisure centre. Providing the opportunity for everyone to exercise safely is important.
“Annual attendance at Uckfield Leisure (in 2022/23) was 175,661, with around 680 members of the centre, and the Learn to Swim programme has 866 participants enrolled. We look forward to building on these numbers, so it is fantastic that we can provide continued use of services to residents in Wealden.”
Update on GTR rail services during industrial action during remainder of July 2023
13
There are three periods of industrial action confirmed to be taking place, with different impacts on different days:
- A nationwide ban on overtime called by ASLEF between Monday 17 and Saturday 22 July
- A nationwide RMT strike for Thursday 20, Saturday 22 and Saturday 29 July
- Separate RMT and ASLEF strike action between Sunday 23 July to Friday 28 July by London Underground (LU) staff, which may affect some of our services.
Given the overlapping sets
of industrial action, the impacts on train services will vary on different
days. We know that this will be inconvenient and difficult for customers, which
is why we are strongly urging all customers to check every journey, every day,
throughout this period.
The
table below shows dates affected by industrial action, a high-level overview of
the impacts on services and the expected update for journey planners:
Road Closure - Church Road, Buxted 31st July - 4th August
03
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7470 Church Road, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From outside a property known as Belview to outside a property known as Maryland, a distance of approximately 342 metres. |
31st July 2023 to 4th August 2023 |
works anticipated to take 5 days to complete. |
To allow UKPN to carry out apparatus repair works. |
A safe route will be provided for pedestrians and vehicular access for residents and to properties maintained whenever possible.
Church Road, Buxted is a no through road, a diversion route is not applicable.(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
Road Traffic Solutions Ltd (on behalf of UKPN)
on 01724 848 246
Motion passed unanimously over water supply issues
03
Councillors joined forces to pass a cross-party motion at an extraordinary meeting to hold South East Water accountable for recent water supply failings.
The motion was proposed by Councillor D White and signed by Councillors Benton, Cleaver, Collins, Gadd, Lunn, Millward, Reed and Shaw to consider the recent failures on the part of South East Water to maintain an adequate supply of water to parts of the district.
This motion follows the recent incident in the north of the district where water outages lasted five days in some areas leaving homes and businesses without water, schools to close and farmers struggling to feed livestock.
The proposed motion asked for the leader and the chief executive of Wealden to write to South East Water asking for a full explanation of the causes of the recent failures, full details of the actions taken to address them and to mitigate the effects to local residents, including details of when the company first became aware of the problems and the timing of its response; and confirmation of the steps being taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of the failures.
The second part of the motion addressed the impact of climate change and the increasing demand for new housing in an area of acknowledged water stress.
The council asked Wealden’s leader and chief executive to notify OFWAT, and the government to consider concerns at the failures on the part of South East Water to maintain an adequate supply of water to our existing residents and the effect of this upon their health and wellbeing. They also asked the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government to support a reduction in housing numbers for the district until there is a long-term solution to the water shortage.
“Within less than six months and during the first spell of hot weather this year much of the same areas, and some 6,000 properties were again without water for several days, this time we were told as a result of high demand.
“Our residents are entitled to expect the statutory supplier to be able to meet its obligations and for this to be guaranteed by the official regulator, if it cannot then it should be replaced.”
Wealden Crematorium donate £12,000 to Chestnut Tree House
03
Chestnut Tree House, a children’s hospice covering Sussex and South East Hampshire has been presented with a £12,000 cheque from Wealden District Council’s Crematorium.
The children’s hospice, which first opened in November 2003, provides care and support for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, in East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire.
The cheque has been donated to Chestnut Tree House through a national scheme run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, of which Wealden is a member and, sees recycling of metals following a cremation with the written consent of each bereaved family. The metals are recycled through the scheme with proceeds shared between its members to donate to their chosen charity.
Martin Styring, Fundraiser at Chestnut Tree House said: “On behalf of Chestnut Tree House, I’d like to say a huge thank you for this generous donation. We need to raise around £10,000 every day to provide vital hospice care services, so this money really will make a difference and help us to ensure that children and families get all the care and support they need – whether that is splashing around in our hydrotherapy pool, relaxing in the multisensory room, or receiving counselling and emotional support.”
Councillor Kelvin Williams, part of the 'Alliance for Wealden', Liberal Democrats Councillor for Uckfield East and portfolio holder for Public Health and Asset Management, said, “I am thrilled to have been able to present this cheque to Chestnut Tree House. We choose this charity because of the amazing and vital care they give to the children and support offered to the families of the children.”
For more information on Chestnut Tree House, visit the website here. Chestnut Tree House - The children's hospice for Sussex (chestnut-tree-house.org.uk)
Update on rail services during industrial action in July 2023
29
|
|
Barcode readers and eTickets now available at all GTR gated stations
29
Good afternoon,
I am writing to update you on the imminent completion of our project to install eTicket barcode readers on every ticket gate at GTR stations, and the rolling out of eTickets for more journeys.eTickets enable customers to use a barcode, which can either be displayed on a smartphone or printed at home, to open the ticket gate.
Over the course of the project, we installed barcode readers on ticket gates at the 34 stations which did not previously have any readers already and installed readers at the remaining 64 stations with ticket gates which did not already have readers installed on every single one, providing blanket coverage across our 98 gated stations.
For instance, this saw 20 additional barcode readers installed at the ticket gates at London Blackfriars and 17 additional readers installed at both Brighton and East Croydon stations.
The installation of 19 additional barcode readers at London Victoria is progressing and due to be completed shortly, marking completion.
As a result, passengers are able to scan their eTickets to open every GTR ticket gate across our network. Other operators such as Southeastern are also progressing installations.
This will help to reduce queues at our gate lines and enable people to make more of their journeys using eTickets now every ticket gate line is able to accept them.
We have seen a huge rise in the uptake of eTickets, with the proportion of journeys made on our network using an eTicket rise by 35% compared to last year, and this news will make eTickets much more convenient for passengers to use.
We want to support their use further and will continue to look at ways we can roll out eTickets for more journeys on our network.
If you have any questions about the new barcode readers or eTickets, then do check our websites for more information at the links below or get in touch with us to discuss further.
www.southernrailway.com/tickets/ticket-types-explained/etickets
www.thameslinkrailway.com/tickets/ticket-types-explained/etickets
www.greatnorthernrail.com/tickets/ticket-types-explained/etickets
Kind regards,
Stakeholder Manager
Major bus service changes
26
A significant number of bus service improvements are being made in East Sussex from Sunday 23 July. Most are funded through East Sussex County Council’s successful bid to UK Government, in support of our East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). Summary details are shown in the attached document. These also include changes to other services that have already been made or are planned. In respect of the upcoming changes, further detailed timetable information will be available on the websites of the bus operator(s) concerned over the coming weeks.
Specific to the Parish of Buxted:
Buxted, Hadlow Down – Revised service
248 will offer journeys on 5 days a week to and from Uckfield.
We would also draw attention to the lower fares that have been introduced as part of the County Council’s BSIP and you can read more about these here: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roads-transport/public/bus-service-improvement-plan/lower-fares-on-east-sussex-bus-services. This is in addition to the Government’s ‘Help for Households’ fare cap (currently £2.00 for a single journey) about which more detail can be found here: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roads-transport/public/buses/2-bus-fares
Many of you will be aware of the introduction of FlexiBusby the County Council. Operating in the rural areas of the county, this initiative aims to deliver the BSIP’s objective of providing residents in rural areas of East Sussex with access to a bus service to enable residents to access services such as health, education and retail or to connect to the wider bus or rail network. You can read more about FlexiBus here: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roads-transport/public/flexibus
Household Support Fund round 4 - Deadline 4th July
26
Household Support Fund–Wealden Food Partnership
Application Deadline: Tuesday 4th July 2023
Wealden Food Partnership has been asked by East Sussex County Council to co-ordinate a further round of the Household Support Fund (HSF) grant to groups/organisations who are working to address food poverty and/or food insecurity in Wealden.
In previous rounds we have given grants to support some excellent work which is making a real difference to our communities.
Examples include:
· Community fridges and sharing tables focused on reducing food waste.
· Community growing projects bringing people together to grow and cook fresh food.
· Delivery of cookery training to staff and volunteers focusing on low cost, healthy eating for people on low incomes.
· Development and support for new and existing lunch clubs.
· Providing the healthy lunch element for holiday activity clubs for children on free school meals
· Supporting farmers and community groups to provide meal kits and recipe cards for families and older people.
We’d like to support as many organisations as we can with these grants. The money could be used to support existing work, or to start something new.
Is there something you’ve wanted to develop, whether it be around training, developing infrastructure or delivering something collaboratively? We’re here to help! We can support you in your application through discussing, connecting and helping to enable your ideas come to life.
If you’d like to have an initial chat about your ideas, please email helen.graham@3va.org.uk
The application form below is very simple and will ask you to outline:
· what you’d like to do
· who you envisage supporting, e.g. families, older people
· how much you’d like to apply for
· how you would spend the money
· any other organisations you’d like to collaborate with
Please be sure to get your completed application
to us by Tuesday 4th July
An Open Letter from our CEO, David Hinton
22
|
Water Supply Issues in Wealden
19
Dear Wealden Resident
I am writing to ask for you to help some residents of Wealden whose water supply has failed. This is unpleasant and frightening for all affected residents and particularly for housebound and vulnerable people.
Our ask is simply – Please would you use as little water as you reasonably can, until further notice?
Whatever the right and wrongs of the situation, this is the only way by which the water supply can be restored quickly. Small changes by our whole community will help to restore water to those affected.
I should make it clear that South East Water (SEW) is, alone, responsible for supplying water to the Wealden District. WDC does not supply water and has no water infrastructure. It does not regulate South East Water and has no legal powers over it. OFWAT is the only organisation with those powers.
As local councillors, we do have a duty to represent residents’ views to SEW (and others) and I gratefully acknowledge the efforts of all who have done this.
The Council itself, officers working closely with our leadership team, has:
- Initiated WDC emergency response at 07.54 on Monday 11 June. Gold command at WDC was stood up putting response teams on alert.
- Notified SEW on Monday morning at 08.07am. At the same time WDC offered support to staff bottled water stations and to deliver water to the most vulnerable.
- Has worked with SEW to pass information from and to residents.
- Has written to the CEO of SEW (copy letter within FAQs).
- Has met with the CEO of SEW to understand better what is causing the problem and when it is likely to be solved.
- Has agreed to the convening of an extraordinary meeting of Council to enable the matter to be fully aired.
- Has committed to a make a formal complaint to OFWAT.
- Has encouraged SEW to declare a major incident, allowing greater partner support.
- SEW have consistently declined support from WDC or the Sussex Resilience Forum.
The root cause of the problem is a lack of investment in the District’s water infrastructure. This is true of many, if not all, parts of the country. Putting that right is a matter for national government and I wish I could see any signs of that nettle being grasped.
Finally, and regrettably, we are aware of many myths circulating around this issue, often from those that should know better and so are creating a live list of FAQs to address these here:
Yours sincerely
James Partridge – Leader Wealden District Council
P.S Please do what you can to use less water for the time being.
Temporary Use Ban
16
The use of a hosepipe or sprinkler is now
restricted for our customers in Kent and Sussex |
Over the last few weeks, there has been an increasing number of warm days, with little rainfall. Last weekend saw the hottest days of the year so far, which led to an exceptional increase in the demand for water.
|
Wealden resident fined after successful prosecution
12
A woman has been fined £1,000 for failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice.
Linda Hazelgrove, of Highlands Lane, Chiddingly, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court last month in a prosecution brought by Wealden District Council.
Ms Hazelgrove pleaded not guilty to the allegation that she had not done everything within her power to comply with a planning enforcement notice issued in 2018, for the erection of an unauthorised building and decking.
Following a trial, Ms Hazelgrove was found guilty and fined £1,000 and a victim surcharge of £100 was also applied by the court with full costs of £7,169.50 awarded to the council.
The building and decking is scheduled for removal later this year.
Councillor Ian Tysh, Wealden District Council’s portfolio holder for Planning & Environment, said, “We will robustly persue breaches of planning control and this court case shows we will escalate matters to court where there has been a serious contravention of planning laws.”
Pledge made over pothole problem in Wealden
08
Pledge made to lobby county council over potholes problem on Wealden roads
Wealden District Council has passed a motion calling on East Sussex County Council to address problems associating with potholes across the district.
The county council has responsibility for the county’s roads and has its own contractor to deal with issues such as potholes.
At a meeting of the Full Council recently, a motion proposed by Councillor David White and seconded by Councillor Mike Gadd, was unanimously approved by fellow councillors.
The motion called on Wealden council leader Councillor James Partridge and chief executive Trevor Scott to ask the county council to confirm that it has undertaken an immediate and comprehensive condition survey of the district’s road network, confirm the extent of work to be carried out and set a timetable to rectify the present state of disrepair; invite relevant officers from East Sussex County Council to attend an early meeting of Wealden council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee to explain the position or ongoing maintenance of the roads; and finally to urge the county council to make greater representation to the government for increased funding for road repairs.
Councillor White said, “Having travelled much of the district’s highways during the recent elections we have all experienced for ourselves the disgraceful condition of the road surfaces - pot holes so large and frequent that in many cases it felt more like driving across a ploughed field than a tarmacked road; roads where the edge of the carriage way had disintegrated leaving deep ruts the size of the Grand Canyon.
“My fellow councillors may also have heard from their residents as I did from mine of broken suspensions and split tyres in some cases costing several hundreds of pounds to replace. They may also have been told of the repeated complaints lodged with East Sussex County Council and of the poor quality of the repairs carried out when workmen eventually turned up; repairs so poorly undertaken that within a matter of a day or two the pot holes reappeared often larger than the originals.
“And many will have heard of residents waiting weeks for repairs to be undertaken if at all. The county council was clearly made aware of the deteriorating state of the local road network yet failed spectacularly to respond to the concerns of residents with any sense of urgency or effective repairs.
“So bad was the condition, that my parish council received a request earlier this year from Hadlow Down Parish Council to join an initiative to take action against the county council to demand an improvement in the way in which the county and its highway stewards deal with the repair and maintenance of the road network.
“The condition of much of the road network has now deteriorated to such a state that repair is probably no longer an option and many roads will require resurfacing if not remaking in order to achieve a satisfactory finish.
“This council of course is not responsible for the upkeep of the local road network. We are however able to bring pressure to bear upon the county council and this motion seeks to bring pressure on the county council to address the concerns of our residents.”
Councillor Mike Gadd said he was pleased to support the motion and hoped the county council would respond with positive news.
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner #TalkSussex Survey
08
Sussex Police have launched the 2023 #TalkSussex survey which is really short and asks residents to share their feelings of safety with the PCC.
See link to survey below which takes just a couple of minutes to complete
Link to the survey here: https://forms.office.com/e/7bZZrdJC8n
Buxted Symphony Orchestra Summer Concert
06
Buxted Symphony Orchestra is holding its Summer concert on Sunday 2nd July at 7.30 pm, in the beautiful setting of St. Margaret’s Church in Buxted Park.
Come and join us for a varied and entertaining programme of classical music, featuring works by Mozart, Handel, Rossini, Vaughan Williams and Hérold.
Tickets are £12 at the door, including programmes (students & under 18s free) and interval refreshments of wine, soft drinks and nibbles will be served (outside if weather permits) with donations welcomed.
Introducing FlexiBus – our new on-demand transport service
30
FlexiBus services are now fully operational across 10 zones in East Sussex. (click here or see map above).
This service, delivered through the East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and funded by the Department for Transport, aims to deliver the BSIP’s objective of providing residents in rural areas of East Sussex with access to a bus service to enable residents to access services such as health, education and retail or to connect to the wider bus or rail network. Operating in the rural areas of the county where traditional bus services don’t quite reach, FlexiBus provides an invaluable link to services and access to other public transport services for onward travel. The service operates between 7.00am and 7.00pm on Mondays to Saturdays (excluding public holidays).
The cost of a FlexiBus ride is similar to a standard bus fare, £2 for a single journey, £4 for a return and £5 for a day pass that can be used on any bus service in East Sussex. There are discounts on these tickets for young people and Concessionary pass holders can use their pass to travel for free with the usual time restrictions.
To enable officers and/or members to sample the service, we are offering a limited number of rides for free. Download the Ride Pingo app – go to https://bit.ly/RidePingo - to plan, book and track your ride or call the Customer Call Centre on01273 078 203 (6.30am to 7.30pm Monday to Saturday except bank holidays) and provide this code when asked -TPFree. Promo codes are available on a first come first served basis.
After you’ve completed your FlexiBus journey send your feedback toflexibus@eastsussex.gov.uk. We would love to know about your ride!
Benefits drop in day comes to Hellingly
30
Residents living in Wealden are invited to a benefits service drop-in session in Hellingly on 5 June 2023.
Taking place at Hellingly Community Hub, BN27 4EP, from 12pm-4pm, the drop-in day aims to support residents to ensure they are claiming for what they are entitled to.
Wealden council has hosted other sessions since last year in Hailsham, Uckfield, Heathfield, Pevensey Bay and Crowborough.
The council will have its tenancy support, housing allocations, Ukraine housing options
and Council Tax enforcement officers on hand to provide support.
For residents who do not have online access, but need assistance in claiming Household Support Fund, officers will be available to assist with the applications.
Rachel Millward, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Housing and Benefits, said “These drop in sessions have been running over a year long period and are vital to make sure that our residents are claiming what they are entitled to.
“The sessions aim to give support and assistance to residents who may need assistance with claims, or clarification on what they are entitled to claim.”
Residents do not need to pre-book an appointment. For more information on the benefits day, visit Benefits Service Day - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council
Possible Waste Service Disruptions
30
Our waste collection contractor, Biffa, has informed the Council it has received formal notification from the GMB union that its members intend to take strike action at the depots operating services in Wealden from Thursday 1st June 2023 over workplace and managerial issues.
Biffa is in on-going discussion with the GMB union to try to resolve this dispute ahead of the intended strike action.
We are disappointed by this decision of the GMB Union and encourage both parties to escalate their talks to avoid potential disruption to waste collection services.
In the meantime, all waste and street cleansing services continue to operate as normal until the strike so please continue to put your bins out on the scheduled collection day.
Should Biffa and the GMB not reach an agreement there may be some disruption to services from Thursday 1st June. We will inform residents by regular updates on our website, our weekly e-newsletter and social media.
To sign up to our newsletter and to view our FAQ’s, please click the link below. Waste Collection Disruptions - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council
Residents should continue presenting their bins as normal. Biffa is in active and ongoing negotiations with the unions and remains committed to reaching a solution as quickly as possible.
Wealden Community Lottery continues to win for the community
23
Wealden Community Lottery is celebrating the first £2,000 win by one lucky player.
On Saturday 13 May, a Mrs S from Uckfield won the £2,000 cash prize after matching five numbers.
Mrs S said, “‘I choose to partake in the lottery weekly now as I am very keen to support local groups in these difficult times. It’s great to feel that the money is going to good causes on the doorstep that I might otherwise have never heard about.
“Regarding my win, I was speechless and absolutely thrilled as I have never won anything before and it will help enormously in necessary repairs to my home caused by the extreme weather we experienced through the winter. And perhaps a couple of fun days out with my grandchildren too.”
During the same draw, four other players matched three numbers and won £25 and several people won free lottery tickets after matching two numbers.
Since launching nine weeks ago, the lottery has seen 299 lucky winners – prizes include a mixture of cash prizes, free tickets and one lucky individual winning the IPAD giveaway prize – and almost £7,742.40 raised for Wealden good causes so far.
Wealden Community Lottery is an online sustainable fundraising solution provided by Wealden District Council for local good causes with, believe it or not, no upfront costs. It’s designed to help local not-for-profits to diversify their fundraising streams and enable year-round fundraising in a safe, fun and effective way.
People are being urged to buy a ticket and support the local community today by playing the lottery. There are more than 67 registered causes to choose from to help people with their ticket purchase.
The chosen cause receives 50% from the sale of each £1 ticket with an additional 10% going to further support the local community. There are weekly cash prizes to be won up to the value of the £25,000 jackpot and with 50:1 odds of winning a prize people will find a bit of fun at the same time as knowing they’re really helping their local community.
Wealden District Council leader Councillor James Partridge said, “Congratulations to the first £2,000 winner of Wealden Community Lottery. It is wonderful to see a player winning a substantial amount of money while raising money for good causes at the same time.
“The funds raised through the lottery are already making a huge difference to grassroots good causes. We’d like to thank everyone who has joined the lottery so far, and encourage anyone who wants to support a good cause to take part, have fun and maybe even win the top prize of £25,000.”
To support a local good cause and play the lottery today go to: www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk
Good causes not only benefit from receiving 50% of the profits from ticket sales from their page they also receive a host of bespoke marketing materials and support as well as their own Wealden Community Lottery web page.
Good causes can sign up at any time for free to start raising money in the first week, it’s so easy to do – simply visithttp://www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk
Update on rail services during industrial action in May & June 2023
22
As you are likely to be aware, industrial action will affect train services
on various dates from mid-May to early June 2023. We know how inconvenient
this will be for customers, and this briefing is to provide an overview to
help with planning journeys. As always, we would be grateful if you could use
your networks to ensure this information is shared as widely as possible.
|
Water supply issues and the Priority Services Register
22
If you, relatives or maybe friends and neighbours may need help should power, gas or water cuts occur, please make sure that you or they register for priority support. You can help everybody by passing on this message.
The Priority Services Register is a free support service to help people in vulnerable situations. Energy suppliers and network operators offer it. Each keeps their own register, although some share with each other.
We recommend that people who may be vulnerable or at risk during severe weather
should be on a Priority Services Register. Friends and relatives can assist
those who may be in need of a bit of help to register, such as the elderly or
people with serious medical conditions, or those who may not have Internet
access and therefore may not have received this message. Each operator can be
contacted online or by phone.
Similarly, if your household is already registered, please make sure that your registration is fully up to date, for example, to ensure that contact details and special needs remain accurate.
Please act now,
don’t wait!
Power cuts don’t happen very often, but if the electricity, gas or water supply
network is damaged or develops a fault, engineers work around the clock 24/7 to
restore supplies as quickly as is safely possible. Being on a Priority Services
Register will ensure that extra support will be received if the customer
experiences an outage. Support is likely to include:
· A priority number that you can call 24 hours a day
· Text and voice message alerts, letting you know when they are aware of a large power cut in your area or should your water supply be interrupted
· Tailored support if needed such as home visits, hot meals, advice and keeping your friends and relatives updated
· Where possible they will send you text and voice messages when severe weather is expected, to help you prepare
· In certain scenarios they may also offer a free hotel overnight and transport to the hotel
· For complex power cuts, community welfare teams provide on-site support which includes hot drinks, hot meals, a Wi-Fi connection and charge points.
OFGEM has a summary
at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/getting-extra-help-priority-services-register,
and this includes help in finding the suppliers in your area. As various energy
suppliers and network operators are active in Sussex, the following are the
ones who cover most of the county, but there are some others. If you try to
register with the wrong operator they will usually steer you in the right
direction.
Electricity
UK Power Networks – most of the SE of England https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut/priority-services/about-the-priority-services-register
SSEN – parts of the West of Sussex https://www.ssen.co.uk/PriorityServices/
Water
Southern Water https://www.southernwater.co.uk/help-advice/join-our-priority-services-register
South East Water https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/get-help/help-for-priority-customers
Thank you for helping to keep Sussex safe.
Have your say on how safe you feel in Sussex
22
Hello
In my role as PCC, I’m delighted to have been able to secure nearly £35 million for over 53,000 victims of crime to help them cope and recover since 2014. In the last two years alone, I have been awarded more than £4m to fund initiatives focusing on violence reduction and tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Sussex.
The Government has recently offered more funding to tackle ASB and I’d like your help in deciding where best that money can be utilised in Sussex.
To find out how safe you feel in the county and to get your views, I’ve launched a new survey as part of my #TalkSussex campaign. It’s important that I hear what you have to say about the types of crimes you may have experienced, what makes you feel unsafe within your community and what measures could be put in place to help you feel safer?
The survey can be completed anonymously and, as well as the results being used to help inform my future funding decisions, they’ll also be fed back to Sussex Police to let them know whether residents feel safe or not and in which areas.
It only takes a few minutes to complete the survey
online.
I will also be asking more about any ASB happening
locally and seeking your views for suitable reparative activities for offenders
in our Immediate Justice programme
so please do keep an eye out for this in your inbox.
Supporting Project Edward
This week, I joined the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership alongside Community Speedwatch and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in Horsham at one of their engagement events taking place across the county for the Project EDWARD week of action.
Project EDWARD (which stands for Every Day Without A Road Death) is the UK’s biggest platform showcasing good practice in road safety. Working alongside partners such as the emergency services, highway agencies and British businesses, they promote what is being done around the four nations focusing on safe vehicles; road use; speed; safe roads/roadsides and post-crash care.
At the event, Sussex police officers and road safety partnership members spoke to the public about the five main contributory factors that cause serious road traffic collisions. These are known as the 'Fatal Five': careless driving; drink and drug driving; not wearing a seatbelt; using a mobile phone and speeding.
Members of the public also spoke to officers and staff about their own road safety queries including recent updates to the highway code and tyre safety.
You can click the play button on the picture above to watch a short video of the day.
Everything residents need to know about polling day
02
With the elections just days away, Wealden District Council is urging voters to make sure that they have the correct ID and information to cast their votes.
Residents must vote at the polling station they have been assigned – this can be checked by looking at the details on the poll card, or by following the link here. Find your polling station | Where Do I Vote?
If residents are registered to vote, a polling card is not necessary to bring with them, but will help staff to speed up the process.
If the poll card is lost, residents can contact Wealden District Council on 01892 602417 to confirm their local poll station.
People who registered for a postal vote in the elections are being reminded to make sure they complete the paperwork and post their vote back as soon as they can.
Everyone who applied for a postal vote should receive it in the next couple of days.
Voters need to fill in the necessary paperwork and send in their vote ahead of Election Day on Thursday 4 May.
Anyone who has a postal vote will not be able to vote at a polling station, even if they do not use their postal vote.
All residents voting will need to provide photo identification before voting. All forms of accepted photographic ID, can be viewed here. https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id
National Dementia Action Week 2023
02
A packed programme of events has been lined up across Wealden to mark National Dementia Action Week in May.
Dementia Action Week is Alzheimer’s Society’s biggest and longest running awareness campaign which runs from 15-21May.
To help raise awareness in Wealden, Wealden Dementia Action Alliance (WDAA) has issued a booklet listing activities and special events held in towns and villages starting 11 May until 25 May.
Activities include singing workshops, memory cafes, exercise classes, community lunches and afternoon teas that are open to everyone.
All are designed for people living with dementia and their families and carers. Many of the events are free and some are available at a small cost. Some must be booked in advance while others invite people to turn up on the day.
The Wealden Dementia Action Alliance was set up in May 2016 to help make the district more dementia friendly and raise the awareness amongst residents and businesses.
The booklet is available online a thttp://www.wealden.gov.uk/dementia and in town council offices, libraries, Wealden District Council offices in Vicarage Field, some local churches and community centres.
The booklet has been funded by Care UK Bowes House and CPJ Field.
To get in contact with the WDAA please email wellbeing@wealden.gov.uk or look at our website https://www.wealden.gov.uk/community-and-safety/wealden-dementia-action-alliance/ or Facebook page (Friends of Wealden Dementia Action Alliance)
Notes for editors:
Dementia Action Week | Alzheimer's Society (alzheimers.org.uk)
Heathfield Agricultural Show - 27 May 2023
27
Heathfield Agricultural Show - Saturday 27th May 2023 10.am - 5.30pm
With free entry for children 16 and under, and lots of hands on learning experiences around the Showground, it is a great event for a family day out during half term. Free programmes and car parking are available to all visitors making it better value for money.
Perrymans Lane - Road Closure 18th May 2023
24
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7853 Perrymans Lane, High Hurstwood, Buxted / Herons Ghyll |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with A26 Uckfield Road to the junction with C402 Hurstwood Road |
18th May 2023 |
works anticipated to take one day to complete. |
To allow BT Openreach to carry out further works at this location. |
Diversion via: - C402 Hurstwood Road – Chillies Lane– A26 Uckfield Road and vice versa.(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further please contact:
Sunbelt Rentals Ltd(on behalf of BT Openreach) on 03700 500 792
Have you thought about choosing reusable nappies?
24
Free* reusable nappy trial kits are available to Wealden residents.
Wealden District Council is once again supporting Reusable Nappy Week (24April to 30 April 2023) by offering nappy trial kits to residents, who might be thinking about changing to a more financial and eco-friendlier version of nappies.
The world of washable nappies is not what is used to be - modern reusable nappies are advanced, easy to use and easy to care for systems that leave any hard work to the washing machine.
The average baby uses at least 4,000 nappies up to potty training and every year, three billion disposable nappies are used in the UK.
With the current economic pressures everyone is facing, making the switch can save families up to £1,000 (or more if used on subsequent children), the nappies use98% fewer raw materials and are much kinder to children’s skin and the environment.
To try outWealden’s nappy trial kit before buying a bulk pack, please contact recycling@wealden.gov.uk, or visit our website www.wealden.gov.uk or call01323 443322.
*A £25 deposit is required which is refundable on the return of the nappies after the trial.
Free advice is available throughout the trial.
Note to Editors:
For more information about the environmental benefits using real nappies, visit Reusable Nappy Week.org
VOLUNTEERS WANTED - Help local people get ready for later life
20
Life Transitions Volunteer
This is an exciting volunteer opportunity to support people in preparing for and managing significant life transitions as they age such as retiring, moving home, experiencing changes in health and mobility, becoming a carer, and experiencing a bereavement. These changes can have a big impact on our lives and can be hard to manage – the Life Transitions Service will help people to prepare ahead of time and be better equipped and supported when change happens.
In this role you will:
· be trained in how to undertake conversations with people to help them explore their approach to preparing for and managing life transitions
· practice these conversations with fellow volunteers to build your confidence and skills
· undertake conversations with local people to support them in preparing for/managing life transitions
· be interested in how people age, how they prepare for their later lives, and how they experience older age
· have the opportunity to reflect on your own, or family members, decision making as you/they age
· be able to travel locally to meet clients (expenses paid) and/or meet clients online
· meet new people with similar interests and be well supported as part of the Life Transitions Service team
Requirements for the role:
· Ability to build positive, warm, supportive relationships with other people, and be genuinely interested in them
· Being a good listener and allowing/encouraging people to talk about what matters to them
· Being comfortable hearing and talking about a range of topics about ageing and remaining supportive and non-judgemental
· Ability to read, write, and speak clearly
· Lived experience of life transitions is welcome but is by no means essential
For further information contact: Lifetransitions@eastsussex.gov.uk
Notice of Uncontested Election - Buxted Parish Council
20
Please see attached a Statement Persons Elected for the Buxted Parish Council.
Deadline for free Voter ID applications fast approaching
18
Time to apply for free voter ID ahead of the May elections is running out. The deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.
For the first time, voters will need to show photo ID to receive their ballot paper at the local elections on Thursday 4 May. Those without an accepted type of ID can apply online for a Voter Authority Certificate, at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate or by applying for and submitting a paper form to Electoral Services, Wealden District Council, Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX.
Applicants must be registered to vote and will need to provide their date of birth, National Insurance number and a photograph.
Those that have an accepted form of ID already do not need to apply. Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
Trevor Scott, Wealden District Council’s Returning Officer and chief executive, said,
“As the deadline to apply for free ID looms, it is important that residents of Wealden make sure they’re election ready. If you need any help with applying for free ID or want to request an application form, you can contact the electoral services team on 01892 602407.
Ailsa Irvine, director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said, “Voters will be required to show photo ID at polling stations at the May elections. The availability of free ID helps ensure elections remain accessible to all eligible voters. For those who don’t currently have the ID they need, it’s crucial they apply before the deadline so that they can take part. That date is fast approaching so don’t delay.”
Cost of Living Strategy consultation
12
A strategy setting out how the council will ensure that people have the financial help and skills they need and are supported during times of financial difficulty is being consulted upon.
Residents can give their views and feedback on Wealden District Council’s Cost of Living Strategy, which has been created to replace the council’s current Financial Inclusion Strategy.
The purpose of the proposed strategy is to ensure the council helps to build resilient communities that residents feel engaged in and are able to live safe and healthy lives.
It also sets out how the council aims to ensure that individuals have the financial help and skills needed, but are also provided with support during difficult times and with cost of living pressures.
A Wealden District Council spokesperson said, “The financial wellbeing of our residents is important to us. The general wellbeing of our residents underpins the council’s core aims and research has shown there are clear links between financial insecurity and poor mental health.
“Secondly, because of the way our services are funded, we need to ensure residents are able to pay for council services such as Council Tax and rent if they are a council tenant or leaseholder. This is because we rely on this income to deliver our services.
“Finally, the availability and access to services to support our residents is fundamental to the council’s core aims. Therefore, as well as the direct support provided by a number of council services, we do provide funding to some third sector organisations so they can deliver support to our residents.
“We look forward to residents’ feedback on the proposed strategy.”
The draft strategy can be found here.
The consultation is now live until 12 May 2023 and can be found at Cost of Living Survey.
Wealden residents can join forces in community-led renewable energy initiative
03
Wealden residents are coming together to invest in renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage.
Solar Together Sussex helps Wealden’s homeowners feel confident that they are paying the right price for a high-quality installation from pre-approved installers.
This innovative scheme builds on six years of highly successful Solar Together programmes run across the UK. To date, Solar Together has delivered more than 14,000 installations and over 300,000 tonnes of avoided lifetime carbon emissions.
Wealden residents can join the group-buying scheme which offers solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points, as well as retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate as well as increase their independence from the grid.
It is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation. Wealden council is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council, Eastbourne, Lewes, Hastings and Rother councils and independent experts iChoosr, to make the transition to clean energy as cost effective and hassle-free as possible.
Some households across Wealden will receive details in a targeted mail drop in the coming days.
How does it work?
• Householders can register online to become part of the group for free and without obligation.
• Pre-approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in a reverse auction. They are able to offer competitive pricing as the volume and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies, which they pass on with lower prices for installations.
• After the auction, registered households will be emailed a personal recommendation which is specific to the details they submitted in their registration.
• If they choose to accept their recommendation, the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey after which a date can be set for the installation of their solar PV system.
• Telephone and email helpdesks are on-hand throughout the whole process which, together with information sessions, will allow households to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.
For further information visithttps://solartogether.co.uk/wealden/home
Marie-Louise Abretti, iChoosr’s UK Solar manager, said, “With energy prices continuing to increase, residents of East Sussex are looking for opportunities to reduce their carbon emissions, save on energy bills and increase their independence from the grid.
“The Solar Together group-buying scheme offers a straightforward way to make an informed decision and to access a competitive offer from a trusted, vetted provider.”
iChoosr has a strong track record of delivering group purchase schemes for local authorities. It has worked with 210 UK local authorities on its collective energy switching schemes. Furthermore, in 2018 UK councils, in collaboration with iChoosr, initiated their collective purchase schemes for solar PV systems. iChoosr’s schemes have been delivered in partnership with local authorities in five countries. More than 95 schemes led to 148,000 residents installing solar PV systems.
About iChoosr - www.ichoosr.co.uk:
iChoosr was founded in 2008 and is privately owned by two co-founders. Before it entered the UK energy market in 2012, it had focused on collective schemes in the Netherlands and Belgium where it works with community leaders helping households to select energy and solar power suppliers. As in the UK, its operations continue to grow across Europe, North America and Japan.
Recycling This Easter
03
Easter is a time for indulging in chocolate eggs and other delicious treats – and with that in mind, Wealden District Council is making residents aware of how to recycle Easter egg packaging correctly.
Aluminium foil, cards and envelopes can be recycled at home - any cards containing glitter or foil must be put in the rubbish bin. To check if an item is foil or metallised plastic film, scrunch the item in your hand and if it remains scrunched it can go into the recycling bin -just make sure it's clean before you put it in.
Cardboard boxes can be recycled at home too and flattening them will save space. The plastic inserts used to display and to protect the egg can also be recycled – the insert needs to be separated from the box.
Residents can cut down on waste by choosing eggs with minimal packaging and save money and food waste by freezing leftovers or making other meals out of them. Visithttps://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ for recipe ideas.
It is also possible to avoid packaging altogether by making your own eggs using melted chocolate and a mould.
Many residents may be purchasing flowers as a gift and these can be added to your home compost bin or the brown waste bin if you have subscribed to Wealden’s garden waste service.https://www.wealden.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/garden-waste-service/
If you are unsure of how to dispose your Easter egg packaging use the Recyclopedia tool https://www.wealden.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/recyclopedia/
Have your say on the future of Uckfield Leisure Centre
28
Dear Wealden resident,
As you may be aware, the East Sussex County Council is currently holding a 10-week public consultation regarding the future of Uckfield Leisure Centre, and I would like to encourage you to take the time to formally respond and have your say
Wealden District Council have protected the Leisure
Centre previously by extending the lease and now East Sussex County
Council have opened a public consultation. We need you, the residents of Uckfield
and users of this important asset to do your bit
and ensure that your views are made known to the East Sussex County Council, who are the body that manage the
consultation and will be deciding the future of the leisure centre.
Please remember that any
correspondence to myself as your MP, social media posts or signing up to
unofficial petitions do not count as contributions to the East Sussex County
Council's consultation.
To formally share your
views, please do so via the link below:
Leisure centres and swimming pools are key facilities
for our communities, and I appreciate the difficulties that swimming pools in
Wealden and nationwide are facing as a result of rising energy costs. I
have recently met with the Chief Executive of Freedom Leisure to discuss the
current challenges for our Wealden sites, and I have been making
representations to the Treasury on the matter.
I am very pleased that following my representations,
the Chancellor recognised this difficult situation by announcing additional
targeted support for leisure centres in the Spring Budget.
While I appreciate that the limited funding will be available to struggling
pools across England and I would have welcomed an even greater package to
guarantee support for our local facilities, I fully encourage Wealden District
Council and East Sussex County Council to apply for this funding and secure
this much-needed support for swimming pools in Wealden.
Responding to the East Sussex County Council's consultation is the only way to have your voices heard, and I urge you to share your views before the 10-week consultation period is over.
Best wishes,
Nusrat
Emergency Plan for Buxted, High Hurstwood and Five Ash Down
28
Buxted Parish Council is currently working on a new Emergency Plan for the parish, but we need your help
If you are able to provide any of the above services or help please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk.
These services would only be used in a major public emergency. You would not be expected to be 'on call' for general issues.
Very many thanks in advance
Buxted Parish Council
Your Parish Council Needs You
22
Buxted Parish Council backs a national campaign urging residents to become and councillor to make a change.
It supports a national campaign encouraging residents to stand in the May 2022 local parish elections.
The Make A Change campaign by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) calls on people from all backgrounds and experiences who are passionate about their local area to put themselves forward.
Buxted Parish Council is urging enthusiastic and engaged members of the community who want to make a long-lasting change, have innovative ideas or have concerns about a specific issue to stand as councillors for the opportunity to make a real difference.
The work we do is exciting and rewarding. An integral part of a councillor's role is engaging with local people, groups, and businesses to determine their needs, making decisions on the services and projects the council should take forward, and getting involved to ensure services meet the community's needs.
Find out more about the local elections and how to become a councillor https://www.nalc.gov.uk/makeachange or contact the clerk to Buxted Parish Council: clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk
District, town and parish council elections to take place on Thursday 4 May
21
Voters will head to the polls on Thursday 4 May to elect their Wealden District Council councillors and town and parish councillors.
Nomination papers for those wishing to stand for election are now available from the council’s Electoral Services team. The deadline for nominations is 4pm on Tuesday 4 April.
Anyone who wants to have their say in the elections this May must be registered to vote. It only takes five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on Monday 17 April.
In addition, the deadline for new applications to vote by post or to cancel or amend an existing postal or proxy vote is by 5pm on Tuesday 18 April; the deadline for new applications to vote by proxy is by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April and the deadline for applications to vote by emergency proxy is by 5pm on Thursday 4 May.
For the first time in elections, there is a requirement to show photo ID at the polling station. The requirement was introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act which was passed last year and comes into effect for the first time this May.
Acceptable forms of photo ID include a driving licence with photo, passport, older persons and disabled persons concessionary bus pass, Blue Badge and any PASS-accredited forms of photo ID.
Photo ID can be expired, such as an out of date passport, but there must be a likeness, and if there has been a change of name, people will need to provide evidence of this. It must also be an original document, not a copy.
Find out more about acceptable photographic ID here.
If people do not have any of the approved photo ID they can now apply online for a free Voter Authority Certificate. People can also complete a paper application form.
People will need to provide their name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number and a photo and must also be on the electoral register.
The deadline to apply is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April, but the council is encouraging people to apply as soon as possible.
Find out more about applying for a Voter Authority Certificate here.
Wealden District Council’s Returning Officer and chief executive Trevor Scott said, “We want to ensure everyone can have their say on who is elected to the district, town and parish councils over the next four years.
“This time around, as well as registering to vote, residents will need to show an acceptable form of photo ID.
“We do not want to have to turn anyone away from the polling station, so it is essential that residents check these new rules and make sure they either already have an acceptable form of ID, or take action as soon as possible to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.”
Find further details on the Notice of Election here.
District and Parish Elections - Notices
20
Please see attached
the Notices of Election for the District and Parish Elections
Buxted residents – ever thought of renting an allotment?
13
There are allotments in Buxted and it could be easier to rent one than you might think. There is currently no waiting list and the horror stories from other sites around the country of having to wait years simply don’t exist here in our lovely village.
There are so many benefits in renting an allotment for adults and children alike. There are the health benefits. For example, NHS guidance suggests that adults should exercise every day and doing some physical activity twice a week can reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke. Getting out into the fresh air and growing some of your own food can benefit mental health as well. Renting an allotment can help to meet the five NHS-recommended steps to improve mental health. These are: 1) connecting with other people to share positive experiences; 2) be physically active; 3) learn new skills; 4) giving to others and 5) paying attention to the present.
There’s also the added benefit of having some control over what goes into some of your food. Ever wondered about the trade-offs that have to be made to get that straight, beautifully proportioned carrot into the supermarket rather than the wonky, slightly discoloured one grown on an allotment? And it can also save you money particularly now that the price of food in the shops is rocketing. Just getting a few months’ worth of potatoes or onions from your plot can save a lot on the grocery bill.
And… what about the kids? What an education an allotment can be. It can help youngsters connect with nature. Not only is the site surrounded by trees and open countryside; there’s also a wildlife area on the site just waiting to be explored. It can also help your children to understand where their food comes from and the environmental costs of getting food on the table.
If this has whetted your appetite, then read more about the allotments on the Parish Council’s website. You could make a decision that could change your, or your children’s, life. Worth thinking about!
Could you be a Parish Councillor?
09
Have you ever thought about becoming a councillor? or do you wonder what a parish council/councillor does?
District and Local Parish/Town Council elections take place on May 4th and Buxted Parish Council is looking for new councillors. We have 15 spaces on the council and currently only 9 councillors with one due to step down.
Head over to our facebook page to view a produced by the West Sussex Association of Local Councils to get a small insight into why people enjoy the role and what they do in their communities: https://www.facebook.com/BuxtedParishCouncil
If you have any questions regarding becoming a councillor (how much time/what would I have to do etc) please do not hesitate to get in touch with the clerks Beccy & Claudine: clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk or come along to our next meeting in Five Ash Down Village Hall on 14th March starting at 7pm.
If you are interested in becoming a councillor, nomination packs are available via the Parish Council or direct from Wealden District Council (deadline for completion and return of nomination papers is Tuesday 4th April)
New Street Learning programme released
06
The Street Learning programme has been released for April to July 2023. It offers FREE practical, educational and wellbeing courses to residents in Wealden, aged 19 and above.
The project offers free courses to help develop new skills, enhance existing ones, and expands on education, encouraging growth and self-confidence.
The booklet is split into different areas: Health and Wellbeing, Employment and Education, Creativity, Family and Practical Skills – so there really is something for everyone.
The courses are both practical and fun and provided in local community venues including East Sussex College in Eastbourne, local libraries, Uckfield College, Uckfield Civic Centre or online.
Councillor Philip Lunn, Wealden council’s portfolio holder with responsibility for Commercial, Economic Development and Leisure, said, “The Street Learning courses provide residents with a range of courses to boost confidence, increase employment opportunities or to have fun and start a new hobby.”
Street Learning is a project run by Wealden District Council in partnership with ACRES, East Sussex College, East Sussex County Council Library, Job Centre Plus, GRH Training, Compass Community Arts and Heathercroft.
Visit www.wealden.gov.uk/streetlearning, @StreetLearning.Wealden on Facebook, or email streetlearning@wealden.gov.uk for more information and feedback left by others who have attended the courses.
Updates, new courses and other training opportunities can be found on the Street Learning website.
Wealden Community Lottery tickets go on sale
01
Tickets for the new Wealden Community Lottery are now on sale, with the first weekly draw taking place on Saturday 25 March.
The local lottery has been set up by Wealden District Council to help local good causes throughout Wealden to raise money.
Tickets are available to buy online at https://www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk/
at a cost £1 each and winners could scoop up to £25,000.
To celebrate the launch of Wealden’s Community Lottery, anyone with a ticket in our first draw will automatically be in with a chance of winning an Apple IPAD. The winner of the bolt on prize will be announced at the first live draw.
Draws will take place every Saturday at 8pm. The lucky winners will be informed by email and will have the money transferred automatically into their bank account.
Wealden council’s portfolio holder for Community Councillor Pam Doodes said, “We’ve established Wealden Community Lottery as a way for good causes to raise essential funds.
“Some 50% of the money raised will go to good causes which have signed up. The rest will go towards the prize money and running costs, and VAT. It’s a fantastic way for people to support a good cause of their choice, whilst also getting the chance to win up to £25,000. I wish everyone the best of luck.”
Over 30 good causes that have already signed up to the lottery including not-for-profit organisations such as charities, sports clubs, residents’ associations, community groups and PTAs. Good causes are encouraged to sign up and start benefitting from the lottery https://www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk/good-causes.
Residents can find the most up to date list of good causes to support on Wealden’s Community Lottery website https://www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk/
Buxted Symphony Orchestra will be holding its Spring Concert
28
Buxted Symphony Orchestra will be holding its Spring Concert on Saturday 18th March at 3.00 pm, at St. Margaret’s Church in Buxted Park.
The varied programme will include performances of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Rococo’ Variations for Cello & Orchestra and BSO conductor Julian Broughton’s Elegy for Cello & Piano, both featuring soloist Pavlos Carvalho. The orchestra will also be performing Mendelssohn’s popular Hebrides Overture ‘Fingal’s Cave’ and ‘Italian’ Symphony No. 4.
Refreshments will be served in the interval, with donations welcomed.
Tickets: £12 at the door, with free entry for students and under 18s.
Programmes: £1 which includes entry into a free prize draw.
Streets of Wealden
27
From an enchanting mermaid gliding through the streets to a shopping dance display, there’s something for all the family in towns across Wealden next month in an initiative to promote Wealden’s high streets and increase footfall.
The wide range of fun, free street theatre events will take place in Polegate, Crowborough, Hailsham, Heathfield and Uckfield in March as part of the Streets of Wealden. There is no need to pre-book. The events are funded through the council’s Shared Prosperity Fund from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ and are being delivered by local events company, 18 Hours.
The fun kicks off on Friday 3 March at 4:30pm, in Polegate at St Georges Hall, 110 Eastbourne Road, Polegate BN26 5DF with a puppet show. Hulla Balloony Moon Time! Little children will feel the magic at this riotous, zany show. 45 minutes of cakey fun, puppets and a dance with the moon. Based on ‘Pat-a-cake Baby’ by Joyce and Polly Dunbar, with music and songs by Tom Gray.
On Saturday 4 March, 11.30am–2.30pm in Crowborough, Salana the seal and Marina Mudflat the marine biologist and an Enchanted Flower Globe- Say hello to beautiful Floris in her miniature world, brimming with butterflies, flowers and spring colours. Not to mention The Wardens - empowered with the jurisdiction to enforce any rule or law they see fit. Watch out or you may end up with a ticket!
Hailsham will get a visit on Saturday 11 March, 11.30am–2.30pm from an interactive, unforgettable, spell-binding act, an enchanting mermaid, the world’s first (and only) shopping trolley dance display team and Dolly Delicious will be towering above everyone.
Heathfield will host a puppet show, on Friday 17March at 4:30pm at Union Church Hall, Station Road, Heathfield TN21 8LB. Woodland Tales - there is something is happening in the woods, Laura the ladybird, Jeffrey the spider, Brett the Woodlouse and Willoughby the Woodpecker are worried.
Finally, the event closes on Saturday 18 March in Uckfield, 11.30am–2.30pm with Yeshe the Yak who is very fond of children who carefully stroke his nose, a mermaid who will glide through the town in a bubbling, shimmering underwater world and many more acts will end the week.
“The funding received from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund helps to host events like these and to show support to communities and our local towns and village centres, which is particularly important in the current climate as many continue to experience financial pressures.”
For full information on each event and times please visit www.explorewealden.co.uk and look out for posters and flyers in your local high street.
Wealden Council Tax increase
23
Council Tax increase of £6.05 a year approved
A Council Tax increase of £6.05 a year has been approved by Wealden District Council.
The decision to increase the amount by 2.99% was approved by the council’s Cabinet Committee and ratified at a meeting of the Full Council this week.
It means households living in Band D properties will only pay an additional 12p a week for its share of the Council Tax for 2023/24, with other bands increased in line with the Council Tax formula.
Wealden council receives 9% of the Council Tax bill and that helps pay for refuse and recycling collections, planning, street cleaning, environmental protection, and free car parking.
The remainder of the Council Tax bill is shared to pay for a wide range of public services provided by East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue and local town and parish councils.
Councillor Neil Waller, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Finance, said, “Wealden District Council has resolved to increase its share of Council Tax by 2.99% in 2023/2024 and for a band D property, this is an increase of just over £6.
“The current rate of inflation is above 10% and the Council is absorbing significant cost pressures to protect Council Tax payers during the current period of cost of living pressures.
“The Council operates a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for those facing the greatest challenges to pay their Council Tax.”
For more information on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme visit https://www.wealden.gov.uk/benefits/who-can-get-council-tax-reduction/
Ride Responsibly and Share the Road: Tips for Drivers, Cyclists, and Pedestrians
23
The recent Highway Code changes are largely focused on ensuring the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. However, there’s a growing concern that drivers aren’t getting the information they need about the new changes.
That’s why I wanted to reach out with this informative guide, Share the Road: Cyclist & Pedestrian Safety Awareness for Drivers: https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/cyclist-pedestrian-safety-awareness-for-drivers/.
It covers everything drivers today need to be aware of:
- New changes to the Highway Code
- How to be considerate around cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders
- What to do if there’s an accident
Here are just some of the insights the guide offers:
- The Highway Code changes follow the Mayor of London’s pledge to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries that occur as a result of road traffic by 2041.
- The new rules state that you can cross a double white line (usually prohibited) in order to overtake a cyclist if they are going under 10 miles per hour, provided it’s safe to do so.
- It’s important to pay particular attention to these rules about overtaking, as overtaking led to a shocking 141 fatalities on British roads in 2020.
Council Tax reduction scheme approved
22
Households with low incomes across Wealden are set to benefit after a scheme to reduce the amount of Council Tax they have to pay was approved.
Previously only pensioners, subject to their income, could receive 100 per cent support towards their Council Tax and some working age people could receive 80 per cent support.
But following a decision by Wealden District Council’s Cabinet Committee this week, people of working age can also get the full amount of support in a bid to ease the financial pressures being experienced by low-income households.
The Council Tax Reduction Scheme was approved along with other changes to discounts and premiums with effect from 1 April 2023. That decision is expected to be ratified at a meeting of the Full Council later this month.
Councillor Neil Waller, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Finance and Benefits, said, “The revised scheme increases the maximum relief from 80% to 100% and will support those in the greatest financial distress at this time, irrespective of Council Tax band. Crucially it will support working families.”
To find out more about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme visit: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/benefits/who-can-get-council-tax-reduction/
Freedom Leisure receives funding to help Wealden communities improve health and wellbeing
21
Freedom Leisure, the not-for-profit leisure trust which manages three leisure facilities in Wealden, and Wealden District Council will be working together to deliver a wide range of free activities to improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of the community and enable better access to health and leisure facilities and activities across the district.
The initiative has been made possible following government approval of Wealden District Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund bid.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda which gives local authorities the opportunity to improve pride of place and increase life chances by investing in communities, supporting local businesses and people..
Toby Reed, Freedom Leisure’s area manager in Wealden said, “We are delighted to be working with Wealden District Council on this hugely beneficial scheme. Our vision is to improve lives through leisure, this funding will enable us to achieve that vision and engage with members of the community that may be previously couldn’t access their local community health and wellbeing facilities.”
From February, Freedom Leisure will begin a range of activity sessions that will appeal to all ages and abilities across Heathfield, Hailsham, Polegate and the surrounding villages.
The instructor led sessions will include New Age Kurling and Boccia which will take place at various Retirement Living schemes and community cafés across Wealden as well as activities targeting families such as Active Play Sport Sessions and walks along parts of the Cuckoo Trail.
Freedom Leisure will also be facilitating a 12-week Menopause Support Course at Freedom Leisure Hailsham. The sessions will incorporate exercise-based classes in the gym and the swimming pool. Participants will also benefit from mental health wellbeing seminars and classes to enable them to better manage the symptoms of menopause.
Councillor Philip Lunn, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Leisure, and Councillor Pam Doodes, the authority’s portfolio holder for Public Health and Community have welcomed the government funding.
Councillor Lunn said, “This is fantastic news and the programme of activities will cater for people of all ages within our communities.”
Councillor Doodes said, “The funding secured by us will give people better access to health and leisure facilities than they might normally have. These are free activities and I hope people will enjoy the benefits of them.”
These sessions are free to the local Wealden community and can be accessed by emailing Freedom Leisure’s Healthy Communities team on activecommwealden@freedom-leisure.co.uk.
For more information and to discover how to take part, please search online for ‘Healthy Communities Wealden’.
Decision awaited on A22 package of improvements
20
A decision is due soon as to whether a multi-million pound package of transport improvements on the A22 Corridor can move to the next stage of its development.
The proposed A22 Major Road Network Outline Business Case is seeking a £46.5 million package which includes improvements to roundabouts and junctions along the road, toucan crossing facilities, a new roundabout at the A22/Hempstead Lane junction, bus priority measures and better access to the Cuckoo Trail.
Wealden District Council has committed more than £4 million towards the project alongside a further £2 million, which has also been earmarked towards a package of improvements to the Ersham Road roundabout
Subject to the approval, the scheme will move to the detailed design and Full Business Case stage of development.
The finer details are set out within the Business Case that was submitted to the Department for Transport in December last year by East Sussex County Council in partnership with Wealden District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council.
The A22 is an important transport corridor for all road users but is regarded as being of an inconsistent standard. The proposed package of improvements directly addresses the existing overcapacity junctions, improving journey time reliability on the A22 Corridor for local and longer distance journeys for all modes to and from the south Wealden and Eastbourne area.
The proposals will also help the delivery of significant planned housing growth in the south Wealden and Eastbourne area, support the local economy, ease congestion and provide enhanced sustainable transport provision for buses, walking and cycling.
The portfolio of measures proposed for the A22 Corridor will help to address the current restricted business growth and inward investment in a low productivity area, and specifically help alleviate the real current problems with traffic congestion, safety and network reliability.
Specifics of the proposals include improvements to the A22/A267/A271 Boship Roundabout including toucan crossing facilities and bus priority measures; A22/A295 Eagles Roundabout including toucan crossing facilities between the roundabout and Arlington Road to aid east-west connectivity; A27/A22 Golden Jubilee roundabout; A22/B2247 Dittons Road junction: replacing the existing roundabout with a signalised crossroads including toucan crossing facilities and cycling and walking schemes from Polegate – Pevensey and Dittons Road – Willington Drove; better access to the Cuckoo Trail in Hailsham; a Core Walking Zone in Hailsham and finally, a new roundabout at A22/Hempstead Lane including toucan crossing facilities and a cycling and walking scheme along Hempstead Lane.
Leader of Wealden District Council Councillor Ann Newton said, “This could be such exciting news for Wealden and we are hoping for a decision in favour of the bid.
“Importantly, it provides the county council and Wealden District Council with the greatest flexibility in accommodating future housing and economic growth in South Wealden as Wealden progresses its updated Local Plan over the coming months.
“The A22 Corridor Package also incorporates enhanced facilities for pedestrians and cyclists for all journey purposes, whether that be a trip from western Hailsham to the town centre, longer cycle rides via the Cuckoo Trail or walks using the Wealdway.”
Council Tax reduction scheme approved
20
Households with low incomes across Wealden are set to benefit after a scheme to reduce the amount of Council Tax they have to pay was approved.
Previously only pensioners, subject to their income, could receive 100 per cent support towards their Council Tax and some working age people could receive 80 per cent support.
But following a decision by Wealden District Council’s Cabinet Committee this week, people of working age can also get the full amount of support in a bid to ease the financial pressures being experienced by low-income households.
The Council Tax Reduction Scheme was approved along with other changes to discounts and premiums with effect from 1 April 2023. That decision is expected to be ratified at a meeting of the Full Council later this month.
Councillor Neil Waller, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Finance and Benefits, said, “The revised scheme increases the maximum relief from 80% to 100% and will support those in the greatest financial distress at this time, irrespective of Council Tax band. Crucially it will support working families.”
To find out more about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme visit: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/benefits/who-can-get-council-tax-reduction/
Council calls for meeting with new minister to keep up pressure on housing targets
20
A meeting with the government’s new Housing and Planning minister is being sought by Wealden District Council to continue lobbying against the high number of homes the authority is required to provide.
The council has consistently lobbied the government for the last few years to reduce its nationally set housing targets and called for a change in planning policy - with leader Councillor Ann Newton expressing the council’s concerns during several meetings with government ministers, facilitated by Wealden MP Nus Ghani.
A letter from the outgoing Housing and Planning minister Liz Fraser MP said she had noted Councillor Newton’s concerns relating to identifying a five-year housing land supply, and appreciated how important the matters are to Wealden District Council about the timescale for implementing changes to the standard method for calculating local housing need and the proposed changes to the planning system.
In December last year, the government said it had listened to all councils’ concerns and was looking to adjust housing targets and remove the five year housing land supply requirements.
The proposals would also see the council given greater powers to deter unjustified speculative applications during the production of its Local Plan.
Councillor Newton now wants to meet the new Housing and Planning minister Rachel Maclean MP to keep the pressure up. Ms Ghani has offered to set up an in person meeting at Westminster between the two politicians.
Councillor Newton said, “We remain committed to making the case that Wealden cannot deliver the unrealistic housing targets that government has required for so long and welcome the proposed changes, which we hope will enable us to protect the natural beauty and character of our district and meet our climate change requirements.
“I look forward to meeting the new minister to reiterate our concerns and thanks Ms Ghani for facilitating meetings so we can have our voice heard.”
Wealden council’s Cost of Living hub goes live
06
A Cost of Living support hub to help businesses, community groups and residents has been launched by Wealden District Council.
The hub has been designed to point people in the right direction to receive professional advice on finances and what is available to them – each section tailored to the needs of businesses, residents, and community groups.
There are several grants, loans and funding streams available to businesses and community groups no matter what their size, as well as financial support and advice for residents struggling to pay bills, or are concerned about food and rising energy costs.
Councillor Richard Hallett, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Governance, Customer Services and HR, said, “So many people are currently suffering with cost of living pressures and making ends meet so I am pleased to see this information hub has been created.”
“It is a much-needed tool that will help residents, community groups and businesses access services and funding that they are entitled to and reduce the financial impact that so many people are experiencing.”
The hub is updated regularly. To access the page please visit www.wealden.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support/
Wealden communities invited to join in with His Majesty The King’s Coronation celebrations
02
The Coronation of His Majesty The King will take place on the morning of Saturday May 6 and is set to be one of the most significant events of the year.
The Coronation ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort, followed by a celebration concert held the following day on Sunday May 7 at Winsor Castle.
The three-day bank holiday weekend – on 5, 6 and 7 May - will host Coronation Big Lunches, thousands of street parties bringing communities together throughout the UK.
In Wealden, communities planning street parties which require road closures are being urged to submit their road closure applications as soon as possible.
It is free of charge to apply for and details of how to apply can be found on the council’s website. All applications should be submitted at least eight weeks before any planned event – which would be by Friday 10 March.
The council also wants to hear from people holding events and organisers wanting publicity can email pr@wealden.gov.uk
Councillor Ann Newton, leader of Wealden council, said, “The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort in May will be a huge historic milestone and I would like to encourage streets, communities, friends, and families to celebrate the Coronation together.
“There are many events happening across the special bank holiday weekend that people can support and get involved with.”
In addition, Wealden has set up a dedicated page packed with information on how to get involved with the community events.
On Sunday 7 May, neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together as part of The Coronation Big Lunch. This is being overseen by The Big Lunch team at the Eden Project. If you would like more information on planning a Big Lunch for you and your neighbours, visit the Eden Project's website.
On Monday 8 May, members of the public will be invited to take part in The Big Help Out, which will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas.
The Big Help Out is being organised by The Together Coalition and a wide range of partners such as The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups from across the United Kingdom.
Local authorities meet to pledge action on Southern Water’s failings
01
An inaugural meeting of local authorities has taken place to continue to hold Southern Water to account for delivering the vital infrastructures that communities need.
Wealden District Council is co-ordinating the Southern Water Local Authority Stakeholder Group, which includes representatives from more than 40 councils across the south east including neighbouring Eastbourne, Hastings and Rother councils.
It was set up in the aftermath of a catalogue of issues including flooding, sewage seeping into people’s homes, gardens and roads, the ongoing problem of discharges into rivers and waterways and the inability to deal with additional development.
It also follows the July 2022 Full Council motion by Wealden District Council to demand better quality information from Southern Water when it considered planning matters.
The meeting was held on Tuesday 31 January when the group discussed action and experiences to date across the full Southern Water network.
Southern Water is responsible for waste water across the region and for drinking water in other parts of the south east.
Leader of Wealden District Council, Councillor Ann Newton said, “It is not just Wealden council which is appalled and frustrated at the issues and concerns which lead back to Southern Water’s failings.
“All those at the inaugural meeting were united in their pledge to hold Southern Water to account and press for immediate action particularly in relation to upgrading and investing in the sewerage systems.
“We were able to explain what our planning officers have been doing on live application casework. All those attending were very interested in how officers have been able to persuade Southern Water to comment much earlier in the development process. Calling Southern Water to Overview and Scrutiny Committee is likely to be followed by partners in the group.
“Unfortunately we do not have the direct power to regulate Southern Water or require it to address its rather lengthy list of failings. But as local authorities working together, we can do our utmost to apply pressure to seek the required action needed to end this catalogue of failings.
“It was a very positive meeting and we have agreed to meet regularly moving forward.”
Wealden supports those living with dementia and their carers
26
Wealden District Council’s Dementia Action Alliance (WDAA) is still going from strength to strength making a difference to residents living with dementia and their carers.
The alliance, set up in 2016, is run in partnership with community groups, volunteers and businesses from across the district.
Ranging from cafes to film screenings, there is something for everyone to enjoy. There is a Friends of Wealden Dementia Action Alliance Facebook page (Friends of Wealden Dementia Action Alliance) and a weekly email which residents can sign up to. Here, people can get all the latest information on a number of groups and support services available to residents.
The alliance and local forums aim to raise awareness of dementia across Wealden, support people living with dementia and make Wealden a dementia-friendly place to live. The alliance also supports Care for the Carers and Dementia Information and Support Courses (DISC) with their local carer groups and help to advertise to Wealden residents.
The forums cover South Wealden, Uckfield and Crowborough, where local issues are discussed and new activities or initiatives are created. The alliance also supports Care for the Carers and DISC with their local carer groups and help to advertise to Wealden residents.
Dementia-friendly cafés are run in partnership with Home Instead in Willingdon, Polegate and Hailsham. There are cafes in Crowborough and Withyham supported by the local community and volunteers. The Saturday Social is run in partnership with Sussex Support Service every Saturday at Victoria Pavilion for another great afternoon of lovely refreshments and activities to take part in or just come along for a cup of tea and a chat.
If people would like to see some of the classic films, volunteers run Golden Oldie film afternoons in Ninfield, Crowborough and Hailsham Pavilion and more information can be found on the website (Wealden Dementia Action Alliance - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council) or Facebook page (Friends of Wealden Dementia Action Alliance)
In partnership with the Sussex Cricket Foundation, Sporting Memories is held at Polegate Community Centre every Wednesday and is a chance to reminisce about favourite sports.
The Dementia Charter is to encourage businesses to become dementia-friendly and show support in the community. To find out more please do get in contact with us and we can send the relevant information.
People interested in helping to raise the awareness of dementia in their community should please contact DISC. DISC can train people to become a Dementia Guide to help teach others about dementia whether that is in a local bowls club or their local shops. It is a great opportunity for people to show their support for people living with dementia and their carers.
Councillor Pam Doodes, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Community, said, “I would like to thank all the community groups, businesses and volunteers who have been supporting our goal to have a dementia-friendly district. The hard work that goes into running these events is honourable.
“I would encourage anyone with dementia that wants to gain more social interaction to go along to one of the events. They are a safe, welcoming, and comfortable place.”
To get in contact with the WDAA please email wellbeing@wealden.gov.uk or look at our website (Wealden Dementia Action Alliance - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council) or Facebook page (Friends of Wealden Dementia Action Alliance)
Time for Dementia
26
Time for Dementia - A unique opportunity for people with a dementia diagnosis and their carer or partner.
Would you like to take part in an award-winning training programme to help healthcare students improve their knowledge and understanding of what it is like to live or care for someone with a diagnosis of dementia?
The Time for Dementia project, supported by the Alzheimer’s Society is looking for families affected by dementia to meet with students from local universities either at home or virtually. Families will be paired with students and meet three times a year, enabling you to share your experiences and help train the healthcare professionals of tomorrow and improve dementia care.
You can hear what some of our families think about taking part here: https://youtu.be/EvdE85OFz0s
For more information on how get involved, please contact 07858 678 962
or email timefordementia@alzheimers.org.uk . We are also happy to come along and talk to groups and organisations about the programme and how they can take part.
Comment from a person affected by dementia:
“I will do anything I can to help bring about changes. Time for Dementia is so important because if doctors and nurses can have a better understanding of people with dementia and their needs, their stay in hospital and their overall treatment is going to be much better.”
Wealden receives £157K to help roll out of EV charging points across district
24
Benefits drop-in day at Heathfield
19
Residents living in Wealden are invited to a benefits drop-in session in Heathfield on Tuesday 24 January.
The event is being held in the Parish Meeting Room at Heathfield and Waldron Parish Council. Residents do not need an appointment to attend the session, which is from 9:30am - 3pm.
Members of the Benefits Service will be in attendance to answer any questions and advise residents on any financial support that they may be entitled to including Council Tax Reduction, state benefits and other assistance.
Councillor Neil Waller, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Benefits, said, “After hosting a number of these sessions across the district last year, we’re delighted to bring them into the new year.
“These sessions are vital in ensuring that our residents are claiming all that they are entitled to, and our Benefits Service is happy to be of assistance and support them however they can.”
Residents can also go online tohttps://www.wealden.gov.uk/ and click on ‘benefits’ to check their eligibility.
Yes, we speak Ukrainian (well, some of us do)
18
Please see the link below on an update on our Ukrainian residents:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKESCC/bulletins/3429ce4
How to Report Pot Holes
17
Please report Pot Holes to ESCC via the ESCC Highways website:
https://www.eastsussexhighways.com/report-a-problem OR
ID to Vote at Elections
13
For the first time, residents in Wealden will need to show photographic ID to vote at this year’s local elections.
Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote in May by checking they have an accepted form of ID.
Elections for Wealden District Council and town and parish councils will be held on Thursday 4May this year.
Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online from Monday 16 January athttps://voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form.
The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID, athttps://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id
Trevor Scott, Wealden District Council’s chief executive and Returning Officer, said, “With elections taking place in Wealden on 4 May 2023, it is important that those who want to vote make sure they have an accepted form of ID. It may seem early but checking now means you will be ready to vote in May.
“Residents who do not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for free ID either online or by completing a paper application form and sending this to Wealden’s Electoral Services team. If you need any help with applying for the free ID or want to request an application form, contact the electoral services team on 01892 602407 or via emailelections@wealden.gov.uk.”
Ailsa Irvine, director of Electoral Administration and Guidance, said, “Anyone voting at a polling station in England this May will need to show photo ID before they can be given their ballot paper.
“It’s important that everyone understands what types of ID they can use, and how to apply for free ID if they need it. You can find information about the new requirement and what to expect at the polling station on the Electoral Commission’s website.”
Anyone who wants to have their say in the elections this May must also be registered to vote. It only takes five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Voters wishing to apply to their council for free ID should first make sure they are registered to vote.
The requirement to show photo ID at the polling station, is a new requirement, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act which was passed last year and comes into effect for the first time this May.
For more information contact Wealden District Council’s communications team atpr@wealden.gov.uk or Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704, out of office hours 07789 920 414 orpress@electoralcommission.org.uk
Notes to editors
1. Council elections are taking place in Wealden in May 2023.
2. The requirement to show photo ID at the polling station, is a new requirement, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act which was passed last year.
3. The legislation requires voters at polling stations to show an accepted form of photo ID before they receive their ballot paper. From May, voters will need to show photo ID before voting in local council elections in England, parliamentary by-elections, and police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales. From October 2023, photo ID will be needed at UK parliamentary general elections. It will not be a requirement at local elections in Scotland or Wales, or elections to Scottish Parliament or Senedd. The requirement already exists in Northern Ireland.
4. Applications for the free ID available, called the Voter Authority Certificate, are expected to open in January.
5. To apply for the Voter Authority Certificate, voters will need to provide a photo, full name, date of birth, the address at which they are registered to vote and their National Insurance number.
6. The UK Government’s Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities is responsible for the new voter ID policy and for the free voter ID application system. Enquiries relating to the application system or the policy itself should be directed to the Department.
7. The Electoral Commission is responsible for ensuring voters are aware of the new voter ID requirement, and for supporting local authorities with the process. Questions related to the public awareness campaign should be directed to the Electoral Commission.
8. Local authorities are responsible for implementing voter ID at the local level.
Current Situation on the Roads
13
Please find attached a letter from Cllr Claire Dowling, Lead Member for Transport and Environment regarding the current situation on the roads.
Dear colleagues,
The nation’s roads have taken a battering from the weather in recent months, and I wanted to let you know how East Sussex Highways are responding. After the wettest November on record, we have had freezing conditions, followed by a thaw and more heavy rain. And we are only halfway through the winter.
Roads right across Britain have deteriorated as result of these conditions, with water freezing and melting in the road surface to create new holes or surface water eroding parts of roads. Both can leave serious damage.
In East Sussex, like all other areas, we are working flat out to repair as much of this new damage as quickly as we can.
Right now, we have around 2,000 reported potholes, which is approximately 1,200 more than we would normally expect with more reported all the time as winter continues.
In response, we have almost doubled the number of gangs working on road repairs (from 10 to 17) by diverting them from other highways work. They are working in all weathers and for longer hours, including at weekends. Over the last seven days they have repaired 700 potholes.
Most pothole repairs will be of the quality to be permanent but there will be times when our contractors need to make temporary repairs. This may be in emergencies or where it is not safe to carry out a permanent repair because of the speed of passing traffic or at a busy junction. We only pay once for each pothole fixed, even if it has both a temporary and permanent repair.
There are times, including over Christmas and the New Year, when tarmac plants are closed and hot tarmac is not available. When this happens, our contractor has to use a cold-lay material to repair potholes. This is specially designed to fill potholes and is applied to the manufacturer’s instructions but does not have the same appearance as a repair where the pothole has been cut out, lined, and filled with hot tarmac.
We do not repair every pothole that is reported to us; only those that meet the intervention criteria in our published Guide to Highways. Guide to Highways (eastsussexhighways.com)
However, the Highways Steward may still refer a particular pothole, cluster of potholes, or stretch of road, for inclusion in our annual patching programme to prevent or reduce future damage.
By the end of November we had already patched 800 sections of road across the county, with 100 more sites to be finished before the end of March.
We are responsible for 2,000 miles of roads and 1,542 miles of pavements and cycleways across East Sussex, as well as hundreds of bridges, thousands of drains and road signs, 37,500 streetlights and nearly 2,800 miles of verge and hedges.
East Sussex County Council has invested an extra £8.9 million this year in this highways network. This means we are now spending more than £40 million a year on maintaining it to as high a standard as we can.
We are very grateful for peoples’ patience as we continue to tackle the winter backlog on our roads, over the coming months, which includes fallen trees and flooding.
However, we can only repair the potholes and incidents we are made aware of, and we would ask you and your residents to please report any problems with the road condition to East Sussex Highways: Report a Problem (eastsussexhighways.com)
Thank you for your understanding during these very difficult winter months.
Yours sincerely
Councillor Claire Dowling
Lead Member for Transport and Environment
Crowdfunder - Community Wellbeing Fund
12
We’re delighted to tell you about a great funding opportunity for ideas in East Sussex that are making positive change in the county!
Crowdfunder and East Sussex County Council have teamed up to award a share of £25,000 in +Extra funding to 5 community projects across the county. Better yet, you’ll get £500 as soon as your project goes live!*
We’re on the lookout for projects that are helping to create social equity, economic prosperity, cultural vitality and environmental sustainability in East Sussex.
To be in with a chance of getting up to £5,000, organisations must set up a crowdfunding campaign before Wednesday 1 February and apply to the East Sussex Community Wellbeing Fund – Winter 2023. Don’t worry, this is just the first step and the campaign can be a rough draft!
Shortlisted eligible participants must then set their project live by 22 February 2023. Once your project is live, you’ll receive the initial £500 pledge from the East Sussex County Council.
*The entry pledge will only be paid out if the project raises £500 from the crowd, with 20 unique supporters, i.e. reaches a total amount raised of £1,000. Please see full terms and conditions for more information.
If you have any questions, please contact support@crowdfunder.co.uk.
Good luck!
Programme Manager – Community Resilience
Public Health
Time to get walking again!
12
With Spring on its way we start to think about getting out to walk in the beautiful English countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?
Walking in Sussex https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/sussex has loads of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.
John Harris (who maintains the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Sussex (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.
With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.
So home or away, check out the websites and get walking!
John Harris
Community Funding Opportunities - January
09
East Sussex 4 Community
A free-to-use funding website with information on grants, loans and other initiatives in the UK.
https://www.idoxopen4community.co.uk/eastsussex/
Crowdfunder
Crowdfunder gives local organisations the opportunity to raise money and potentially match fund against external funding pots in just 6 weeks. Pots to match fund against through Crowdfunder currently includes:
- ‘Co-op Warm Spaces Funding Boost - Supporting projects who are bringing communities together into warm spaces (max £3,000).
- Aviva Community Fund - Supporting projects that boost the resilience of communities (Max £50,000).
- Aviva Cost of Living Boost - Supporting projects that boost the resilience of communities. (Max £50,000)
- M&S Community Energy Fund - Supporting community projects committed to being environmentally conscious (Max £5,000)
- Sport England: Active Together - Funding for keeping communities physically active.
- Sport England: Places & Spaces - Up to £10,000 to improve your Place or Space and keep your community physically active.
- British Cycling: Places to Ride Fund: For projects who are developing or improving existing cycling facilities.
Furthermore, East Sussex County Council will be releasing additional match funding for local organisations in East Sussex to apply for. Details will follow shortly.
Please read through the external funds to ensure you are eligible and meet the criteria.
For further information, feel free to contact Kat Jenner on communitygrants@wealden.gov.uk or to sign up on one of the hourly introduction sessions to crowdfunder https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/crowdfunder/?page=1
Crowdfunder website: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk
Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Fund
The application window will close on 20 January 2023, with successful applicants being able to draw on the funding from April 2023.
Village halls interested in applying can request grants from £7,500 to £75,000, and up to a maximum of 20 per cent of eligible project costs. Capital grants will be allocated to support infrastructure improvements, the refurbishment of facilities, such as kitchens and toilets, and measures to improve energy efficiency.
More information, including how to apply for the fund, can be found linked below.
https://acre.org.uk/platinum-jubilee-village-halls-fund/
Sports England - Small Grants Programme
The closing date for applications to the programme is 30 June.
Small Grants Programme returns with awards of between £300 - £15,000.
Our Small Grants Programme can now give 50% larger awards to help communities get active after the maximum grant amount was increased to £15,000 for 2023 (was previously £10,000)
The Small Grants Programme was put on hold for a year in 2022 as we launched the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Activity Fund, which was designed to bring communities together through activity.
We believe that communities that work together and share resources provide a stronger and more sustainable impact.
So, the programme will also prioritise projects that focus on environmental sustainability, can demonstrate how they connect with their communities, provide the biggest possible impact to those who need it most and are working with people living in areas of disadvantage.
Applications can be made for awards of between £300 and £15,000, with multiple applications permitted but organisations can only have awards totalling £15,000 or less in any 12-month period.
Only not-for-profit organisations are eligible for the programme and applications should explain the need for the project as well as how end users have been involved in its development.
https://www.sportengland.org/news/small-grants-programme-returns-awards-15000
Wealden Community Lottery
Wealden District Council is delighted to invite your local organisation to the launch ofWealden’s Community Lottery, taking place on Wednesday 1st February at Hailsham Civic Community Hall. This initiative is an exciting new way for local organisations to fundraise locally and this event will highlight how the Community Lottery will work and the benefits it could bring to your organisation.
We welcome voluntary and community organisations, charities, sports clubs and other organisations in Wealden to attend the launch to find out more about how the community lottery can support them.
For more information and to sign up to our ‘Good Causes Launch Event’, click through the Eventbrite link below to hear all about how to get involved!
Community Action Fund
To apply, groups must complete a short eligibility questionnaire by 26 February 2023.
The Civic Power Fund is the first donor fund dedicated to community organising, which aims to provide targeted long-term funding across the UK.
Its new grants programme is open to non-profit organisations with a turnover of less than £250,000 that are:
- Rooted in and accountable to their community.
- Hoping to achieve long-term change on the issues affecting their communities.
- Addressing injustice by the power of their community. For example, through community organising, campaigning, or democratic engagement.
- Lacking the resources to take their vision to the next level.
Grants of £2,500 to £20,000 are on offer, with funding to be used to build community resources to take action on issues that matter to them.
Priority will be given to organisations led by people with lived experience of the injustice they are trying to overcome.
https://www.civicpower.org.uk/community-action-fund
Sussex Community Foundation – General Awards
Our General Awards are open to applications. We have three main rounds of grant-giving each year. Upcoming deadlines for applications (unless specified otherwise) is 5:00pm (1700 hours) as follows:
Friday 6th January 2023 (Decisions March 2023)
Friday 5th May 2023 (Decisions July 2023)
Friday 8th September 2023 (Decisions November 2023)
Our grants programme is made up of a range of funds which help to address disadvantage and deprivation and build resilience in Sussex communities. Grants of up to £10,000 are available. We are particularly keen to support grassroots community groups and small-to-medium sized voluntary organisations. Please note our general funds cannot support small contributions to large capital appeals or campaigns. General round grants are available to cover a range of core and project costs including support for work planned in response to the pandemic.
https://sussexgiving.org.uk/apply-for-grants/how-it-works/
· Sussex Community Foundation - Winter Support Fund for East Sussex
· A total of £405,000 is being made available up until the end of March 2023. Applications will be made on a rolling basis, with first grants made before the end of November 2022.
· A new small grant fund offering grants of up to £10,000 for not-for–profit organisations working to support people most affected by cost-of-living issues. Set up in partnership with East Sussex County Council, the Fund has been informed by results of our cost of living survey and aims to help local voluntary sector organisations in East Sussex manage increasing costs to deliver services this winter. For more information and how to apply please visit our guidance page.
https://sussexgiving.org.uk/named_funds_posts/winter-support-fund-for-east-sussex/
Awards for All
Application deadline: Ongoing
Awards for All funding from the National Lottery, which gives out awards from £300 upwards:
In order to support communities, we fund projects and organisations which aim to:
- build strong relationships in and across communities
- improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
- help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.
In addition to meeting one or more of the above funding priorities we are also able to fund projects that
- support people, communities and organisations that are facing increased demands and challenges as a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis.
Funding size - £300 to £10,000, for up to one year
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/national-lottery-awards-for-all-england
National Lottery Grants for Heritage – New Dates for Grants
Not-for-profit organisations and third sector-led partnerships in the UK can now apply for the largest grants within the National Lottery’s Heritage programme.
Until the end of the 2022/23 financial year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, priority will be given to projects that:
- Promote inclusion and involve a wider range of people (mandatory outcome).
- Boost the local economy
- Encourage skills development and job creation
- Support wellbeing
- Create better places to live, work and visit
- Improve the resilience of organisations working in heritage
The programme provides three levels of grants, with those under £250,000 offered on a rolling basis:
- £3,000 to £10,000 (for up to one year)
- £10,000 to £250,000 (for up to five years)
- £250,000 to £5 million (over five years)
Grants can cover a wide range of projects and cover most costs associated with direct project delivery including staff/volunteers, training, repair and conservation and digital outputs.
The next deadline for grants up to £5 million is 23rd February 2023.
Tel: 020 7591 6044
Email: enquire@heritagefund.org.uk
https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/
Cost of living grant – Asda Foundation
Grants of between £500 and £2000 are available and the grant submission window will close in February.
This grant is designed to support the increased running costs groups will face between September 2022 and February 2023, including rent increases and electricity cost rises. The Foundation state: “The term ‘warm banks’ has emerged in recent months encouraging community locations this winter to remain open for longer to provide people with a warm, safe place to be rather than heating homes or living in a cold property.” This grant is targeted at community groups that are going to open longer to support individuals in their local area and provide a warm place to be.
Each Asda superstore has a Community Champion, and their role is to support groups and projects within the community, as well as managing Asda Foundation grant applications. The Community Champion in your local superstore will support you in completing your application and will submit the application to the Foundation on your behalf. The Foundation cannot accept application direct from groups.
PowerPoint Presentation (asdafoundation.org)
The Homity Trust is a small and approachable Brighton based charity. We give modest awards to registered community causes working across Sussex, helping those suffering financial hardship, and where the funds will make a significant difference.
Our current funding round is the Spring one, application deadline 31st March 2023, using the form on this site. We are particularly open to applications from organisations helping those most affected by the general increasing cost of living and ongoing energy crisis.
Good causes invited to launch of Wealden Community Lottery
20
Wealden District Council is excited to launch the new Wealden Community Lottery in spring 2023.
And as part of that, the council is encouraging local organisations to attend the launch event, taking place on 1 February 2023 at Hailsham Civic Community Hall, Vicarage Lane.
The initiative is an exciting new way for local organisations to fundraise locally. The launch event will highlight how the community lottery will work and the benefits it could bring to community groups across the Wealden district.
A generous 50% of the ticket proceeds from the Wealden lottery will go to charities, voluntary organisations and other not-for-profit groups with the remainder being put towards a central fund, prizes, operating costs and VAT. Tickets will cost £1.
Anyone involved with a local organisation that would like to find out more about fundraising with Wealden Community Lottery and attend the launch, can contact Wealden District Council on communitygrants@wealden.gov.uk
Following the event, tickets for Wealden Community Lottery will go on sale on Tuesday 21 February via a brand new website – to be launched soon - and the first live draw will take place on Saturday 25 March.
Wealden District Council’s portfolio holder for Community Leadership Councillor Pam Doodes said, “I am delighted to announce the launch of the Wealden Community Lottery in February.
“The money raised by the lottery is going to make a lot of difference to grassroots good causes and it’s an exciting new way for charities and organisations to fundraise locally.
“We welcome voluntary and community organisations, charities, sports clubs and other organisations in Wealden to attend the launch to find out more about how the community Lottery can support them and start fundraising. It’s easy and free.”
Leading lottery management company, Gatherwell, has been appointed by
Wealden District Council to operate the lottery, having successfully launched similar lotteries throughout the UK.
Nigel Atkinson, Gatherwell's general manager, said, "We are delighted that
Gatherwell has been awarded the opportunity to deliver Wealden District Council’s Community Lottery.
“We're looking forward to working with Wealden council to raise funds for many amazing good causes.”
Grit Bin refills
20
A message from ESCC Highways:
I am writing to provide you with some information regarding grit bins following the wintery weather we have recently experienced.
A full replenishment programme is underway for all East Sussex County Council owned grit bins, but as we have over 600 grit bins we are using additional resources and endeavouring to complete this as early as possible.
As you will be aware, there are a number of grit bins in the county that are privately owned (usually belonging to parishes, residents associations etc). Should you wish to have any of your grit bins replenished as part of our programme, you can apply for this at a cost of £108 per fill. This application form can be found on our website: https://www.eastsussexhighways.com/files/Fixed-Word-Documents/Grit-Bin-Application-2020-(1).pdf
Check for burst pipes after the big freeze
16
South East Water are appealing for people across our supply area to help find leaks both inside their homes, on business premises and out in streets and fields.
With the first winter cold snap due to come to an end this weekend, thawing snow and ice makes pipes susceptible to bursting which could cause damage, wasting water and money.
We are already seeing high demand for tap water which we believe could be due to leaking pipes or outside taps left on. We are also seeing an increase in the number of burst pipes on our network and we have repair teams out 24/7 fixing leaks and bursts, prioritising the most serious ones.
We are asking people in your community to look in their attics, airing cupboards, under their sinks and to check the taps out in their gardens to see if they have any unnoticed leaks which could be a trickle at the moment but later will cause major damage. If leaks are detected, they should turn off their water supply at the stop tap and call a Water Safe registered plumber.
Business owners are being asked to check their unoccupied premises and landlords any unoccupied homes as if there is a leak it could cause continued damage to their property as well as wasting valuable water supplies.
Those with outdoor troughs for horses and livestock should also check they are not running water to waste or have been damaged by the sub-zero conditions.
Taking these steps now, and throughout the weekend as the ice thaws, can make all the difference - and could save customers a bit of money if it’s found water is running to waste.
Our website has lots of tips on how to make homes winter ready and what to do if there’s a problem.
Water
Safe Registered plumbers can be found at: www.watersafe.org.uk
Christmas recycling and rubbish collection dates for Wealden
14
Wealden District Council has confirmed recycling and rubbish collection dates over the Christmas period.
In order for recycling and rubbish to be collected during this busy season, please take note of the applicable dates below and make sure that your bins are at the edge of your property by 7am for collection.
Usual Collections Revised Collections
Monday 26 December 2022 |
Tuesday 27 December 2022 |
Tuesday 27 December 2022 |
Wednesday 28 December 2022 |
Wednesday 28 December 2022 |
Thursday 29 December 2022 |
Thursday 29December 2022 |
Friday 30 December 2022 |
Friday 30 December 2022 |
Saturday 31 December 2022 |
Usual recycling and rubbish collection dates will resume from Monday 2January 2023. Garden waste collections are suspended from Monday 26 December 2022 and will resume on Monday 9 January 2023.
Please remember that cards and wrapping paper - not including foil and glitter - can be put in your recycling bin, and that any extra recycling can be placed in a non-black bag next to your recycling bin. You can recycle your real Christmas tree in your garden waste bin or, if you are not subscribed to the service, you can recycle your real Christmas tree at your local Household Recycling Site.
Wealden District Council’s portfolio holder for Waste Councillor Ray Cade said, “During the festive period, many households produce extra recycling and waste so it’s therefore vital that collections continue to go ahead. This year, we’re fortunate that collections will go ahead with only a one-day delay, which will ensure that households across the district will still be able to dispose of recycling and waste appropriately.”
Benefits advice drop-in sessions to be held for Wealden residents
08
Wealden residents are invited to attend two drop-in sessions for advice about benefits that are being held in Heathfield on Tuesday and Wednesday 13 and 14 December.
Residents can meet with members of Wealden District Council’s Benefits Team for advice on support that may be available to them, such as reduction in Council Tax or additional financial support to help with cost of living pressures.
It follows on from previous similar events held by the council’s team in Hailsham and Uckfield.
The events are at Parish Meeting Room, High Street, Heathfield and Waldron Parish Council on Tuesday 13 December from 9.30am-3pm; and on Wednesday 14 December in the Ian Price Room, Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield Community Centre, between 9am-1pm.
Councillor Neil Waller, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Benefits, said, “I am delighted that the council is hosting more sessions on benefits advice. The previous sessions have highlighted how beneficial the advice given is and have supported residents to claim what they are eligible to receive.
“I hope that many more residents take advantage of this opportunity to visit the benefits team in Heathfield.”
Residents can go online to https://www.wealden.gov.uk/ and click on ‘benefits’ to check their eligibility.
Please join the Priority Services Register or update any existing registrations
06
We are about to go into a period of cold weather, so now is the time to make sure that you have support available should power, gas or water cuts occur.
The Priority Services Register is a free support service to help people in
vulnerable situations. Energy suppliers and network operators offer it.
Each keeps their own register, although some share with each other.
We recommend that people who may be vulnerable or at risk during severe weather
should be on a Priority Services Register. Friends and relatives can assist
those who may be in need of a bit of help to register, such as the elderly or
people with serious medical conditions, or those who may not have Internet
access and therefore may not have received this message. Each operator can be
contacted online or by phone.
Similarly, if your household is already registered, please make sure that your registration is fully up to date, for example, to ensure that contact details and special needs remain accurate.
Please act now, don’t
wait!
Power cuts don’t happen very often, but if the electricity, gas or water supply network is damaged or develops a fault, engineers work around the clock 24/7 to restore supplies as quickly as is safely possible. Being on a Priority Services Register will ensure that extra support will be received if the customer experiences an outage. Support is likely to include:
· A priority number that you can call 24 hours a day
· Text and voice message alerts, letting you know when they are aware of a large power cut in your area or should your water supply be interrupted
· Tailored support if needed such as home visits, hot meals, advice and keeping your friends and relatives updated
· Where possible they will send you text and voice messages when severe weather is expected, to help you prepare
· In certain scenarios they may also offer a free hotel overnight and transport to the hotel
· For complex power cuts, community welfare teams provide on-site support which includes hot drinks, hot meals, a Wi-Fi connection and charge points.
OFGEM has a summary
at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/getting-extra-help-priority-services-register,
and this includes help in finding the suppliers in your area. As various energy
suppliers and network operators are active in Sussex, the following are the
ones who cover most of the county, but there are some others. If you try to
register with the wrong operator they will usually steer you in the right
direction.
Electricity
UK Power Networks – most of the SE of England https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut/priority-services/about-the-priority-services-register
SSEN – parts of the West of Sussex https://www.ssen.co.uk/PriorityServices/
Water
Southern Water https://www.southernwater.co.uk/help-advice/join-our-priority-services-register
South East Water https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/get-help/help-for-priority-customers
Thank you for helping to keep Sussex safe
New Street Learning courses available
05
The Street Learning programme has been released for January to March 2023. It offers FREE practical, educational and wellbeing courses to residents in Wealden, aged 19 and above.
The project offers free courses to help develop new skills, enhance existing ones, and expands on education, encouraging growth and self-confidence.
Courses such as maths, English and accounting to boost job opportunities as well as sign language, painting, and cookery for people wanting to learn a new skill or take up a hobby are available.
The courses are both practical and fun and provided in local community venues including East Sussex College in Eastbourne, Uckfield College, Uckfield Civic Centre or online.
Councillor Philip Lunn, Wealden council’s portfolio holder with responsibility for Commercial, Economic Development and Leisure, said, “Street Learning offers a wide range of courses for people in Wealden and Eastbourne. The free courses are great for residents wanting to build confidence, increase their job opportunities or to have some fun.
“It’s a fantastic service and I encourage anyone wanting to learn something new to take a look.”
Street Learning is a project run by Wealden District Council in partnership with ACRES, East Sussex College, East Sussex County Council Library, Job Centre Plus, GRH Training, Compass Community Arts and Heathercroft.
Visit www.wealden.gov.uk/streetlearning, @StreetLearning.Wealden on Facebook, or email streetlearning@wealden.gov.uk for more information and feedback left by others who have attended the courses.
Updates, new courses and other training opportunities available throughout Wealden can be found on the website.
Could you qualify for an extra £65 a week, cheaper broadband or help to stay warm?
05
See the link below to find out if you could qualify for extra help:
Could you qualify for an extra £65 a week, cheaper broadband or help to stay warm? (govdelivery.com)
Nan Tucks Lane - Road Closure - 30th Jan to 1st February 2023
02
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7864 Nan Tucks Lane, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the U7505 Limes Lane to the junction with the U7403 Pound Green Lane, works are a distance of approximately 116 metres. |
30th January 2023 to 1st February 2023 |
works anticipated to take 3 days to complete. |
To allow BT Openreach to carry out apparatus repair works. |
Diversion via: - U7505 Limes Lane – U7504 Framfield Road – A272 High Street - Pound Green – U7403 Pound Green Lane and vice versa. ( please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further, please contact:
Kelly Traffic Management (on behalf of BT Openreach) on 0247 664 2814
Framfield Road - ROAD CLOSURE - 9 to 13 January
01
Please be aware that the following works will be carried out:-
U7404 Framfield Road, Buxted |
|
Temporary Road Closure |
From the junction with the U7471 Gordon Road to the junction with the A272 High Street, works are a distance of approximately 40 metres. |
9th January 2023 to 13th January 2023 |
works anticipated to take 5 days to complete. |
To allow UKPN to carry out apparatus repair works. |
Diversion via: - U7505 Limes Lane – A272 High Street and vice versa..(please see map attached)
Advance warning signs will be placed on site advising of actual date of works
If you need to discuss this further, please contact:
Road Traffic Solutions Ltd (on behalf of UKPN) on 01724 848 246
Plea to support Small Business Saturday in Wealden
01
Wealden residents are being encouraged to shop locally and support small traders in the run up to Christmas.
In Wealden, 91% of the district’s businesses are micro businesses with less than 10 employees and this year, with the current financial pressures, it is more important than ever to support local shops and businesses.
There is a wide range of fantastic businesses in the district offering an array of goods and services, so customers won’t be short of choice and for every £1 spent, 38p stays within the local economy.
Small Business Saturday – taking place on Saturday 3 December - is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign. Now in its 10th year, it is the UK's most successful small business campaign and celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to shop local and support small businesses in their communities.
The campaign engages millions of people each year, with billions spent with small businesses on the day. On Small Business Saturday customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses online, in offices and in stores, many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events and offering promotions.
Businesses will benefit from free advertising on the Small Business Saturday website and the use of free marketing materials, all they need to do is register their small business and download the ready to use logos and marketing pack.
Customers can use the Small Business Saturday website to browse the businesses in their area and download their free cook book full of recipes from small businesses across the UK.
As a local authority, Wealden District Council is supporting Small Business Saturday by promoting the campaign through our various communications channels including our business newsletter and social media pages.
Councillor Philip Lunn, portfolio holder for Commercial and Economic Development, said, “This campaign has been very successful over the years and continues to emphasise the importance and value that we as a local authority place on our small businesses. They work hard and we wish them the very best with their efforts over the forthcoming Christmas period and beyond.”
The campaign encourages everyone to share how they are supporting Small Business Saturday on their social media channels and tag the organisers along with #SmallBizSatUK.
New roles at Wealden helps prevent homelessness
16
An initiative to help prevent homelessness and build partnerships between tenants and landlords has been hailed a success.
Wealden District Council has seen an improvement in its tenant satisfaction thanks to the appointment of two specific officers.
The initiative has seen an increased rate of positive relationships being formed in communities, tenants and landlords and partners to reduce legal action possible eviction, and homelessness within the Wealden district.
The service operates with a non-judgemental model of person-centred work which aims to make tenants feel heard and supported challenging tenant’s behaviours with a view to creating positive and sustainable change.
Tenants in social housing can contact their housing support officer, who will refer them to the sustainment officers and residents renting in the private sector can contact the housing team where their situation will be assessed and referred into the sustainment officer.
The council has seen a reduction in legal action against tenancy breaches which is having a positive impact on homelessness across Wealden.
“This is all about supporting the most vulnerable tenants with support being designed around their needs. We had some great feedback from residents who have been helped. It is roles and initiatives like these within the council that are vital to make changes to people’s lives for the better.”
Buxted Symphony Orchestra Concert - 10th December 2022
16
Make a date in your diary to come along and enjoy the Buxted Symphony Orchestra’s next concert on Saturday 10th December, which will be held for the first time at Uckfield College, in its excellent theatre with tiered seating, and plenty of free parking on site. The concert starts at 2.30 pm and refreshments will be served during the interval.
We are excited to welcome Miriam Teppich as our guest soloist, who will be performing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 1 and Dvorák's Romance in F minor. The varied programme also includes works by Schubert, Johann & Josef Strauss.
Tickets are £12 at the door, with free entrance for students and under 18s.
Wealden landmarks placed on ‘at risk’ register
10
Two familiar landmarks in Wealden have today been placed on a register in a bid to help save them and restore them to their former glory.
The Mint House in Pevensey and Cross in Hand Windmill have been included on this year’s Heritage at Risk Register, which identifies historic sites most at risk and most in need of safeguarding for the future.
Historic England works with owners, friends groups, developers and other stakeholders to find solutions for those historic places and sites across England which are ‘at risk’ of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
The Mint House, opposite Pevensey Castle, is a Grade II* listed building which contains medieval timbers taken from the hall of neighbouring Pevensey Castle.
The high-status 16th century hall is listed due to the high quality of the surviving timberwork including the roof structures, finishes, and the surviving wall paintings, decoration and carved panelling.
The Mint House has seen many uses over the years - occupied as a dwelling, used as a brew house and from the early 20th century it became a large antique shop, owned by Charles Henry Allen. In 1937, it was visited by Queen Mary who bought some antique furniture to be sent to Buckingham Palace.
Then, in the early 2000s, the site was sold off separately from the rest of the complex and The Mint House and its associated buildings stood vacant for a decade before being sold in 2018.
Historic England says water penetration is causing wet rot and deterioration of the timber frame and structural movement has caused further damage. The chimney has been removed as far as the eaves for safety, and further investigations and a comprehensive programme of repairs are now urgently necessary.
A newly formed charity, the Friends of Mint House is working to further understand the building, find a future use which will support the local community and fundraise for the much-needed repairs.
Harriet Tait, chair of trustees for the Friends of Mint House, said, “In April 2021, we formed the Friends group with the idea of conserving it for the future so that all visitors could once again share it, and lucky for us, we had a very understanding and supportive owner in Jason Rolf, who gave us custodianship of the building in August 2021 so that we could open it to the public. We continue to raise much-needed funds for its purchase and conservation.”
Councillors Pam Doodes and Ray Cade, who represent Pevensey at Wealden District Council, said, “The Mint House is a familiar landmark to so many residents and visitors and steeped in history.
“The inclusion of it on the Heritage at Risk Register can only be seen as a good thing as it has identified the historical importance of the building and the need to preserve it.
“The Friends of Mint House is working to further understand the building, find a future use which will support the local community and fundraise for the much-needed repairs. We are delighted that as a council we will be supporting this initiative and look forward to helping with the aim of the building being restored to its former glory.”
Cross in Hand Windmill, also a Grade II* listed building and known as New Mill, is on Mill Lane, Lewes Road, and was originally built at Framfield in 1806 but moved near to this site in 1855 before moving again to the exact site in 1868 with a two-storied roundhouse erected around it.
A lean-to was added to the roundhouse in 1900 to accommodate two further millstones powered by a steam engine. Repairs were carried out to the mill in the 1930s, 50s, 60s and finally in 2018.
Historic England says the mill, which has five floors and was one of the last remaining working corn mills in Sussex, has survived particularly well, including the weatherboarding and timber-framing to the buck, the machinery, and the roundhouse; the rare surviving internal machinery which remains in place, French burr stones, a bell alarm and sack hoist.
Councillor Ann Newton, who represents Framfield and Cross-in-Hand at Wealden District Council, said, “The windmill is a hugely important part of our landscape and its inclusion on the register will come as good news for those who have and continue to work to establish a meaningful dialogue with all the correct parties to halt its decline.”
Sussex Community Foundation Winter Support Fund for East Sussex
09
Please see below fund that you may be interested in regards to the cost-of-living crisis. Please pass to local contacts who you believe may be interested in applying.
Sussex Community Foundation has set up the Winter Support Fund in partnership with East Sussex County Council. The Winter Support Fund is a new small grant fund offering grants of up to £10,000 for not-for–profit organisations working to support people most affected by cost-of-living issues. The Fund has been informed by results of our cost-of-living survey and aims to help local voluntary sector organisations in East Sussex manage increasing costs to deliver services this winter.
What can you apply for?
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to locally based not-for-profit organisations working to support people most affected by cost-of-living issues. We will consider applications for funding to:
- Meet increased organisation running costs such as salaries, fuel, electricity, heating, and volunteer expenses – some of the areas hit hardest by rising costs.
- Build capacity by bringing in additional resources to help meet increased community needs. For example, by recruiting additional staff and volunteers, by building local partnerships or by delivering additional training and support for staff and volunteers.
- Support organisations in adapting to and providing alternative support to those in need over the winter. For example, through the provision of warm banks and spaces, including those where food and other activities can be provided.
A total of £405,000 is being made available up until the end of March 2023. Applications will be made on a rolling basis, with first grants made before the end of November 2022.
For more info: https://sussexgiving.org.uk/named_funds_posts/winter-support-fund-for-east-sussex/
Christmas Bin Collections 2022
07
See image for Christmas Bin Collections 2022
WDC will not be sending out Waste and Recycling Collection Calendars to residents again this year and we will not be producing bin hangers with the Christmas Collection Dates on.
CIL payments go to Wealden town and parish councils
07
Hundreds of thousands of pounds for much needed infrastructure and leisure facilities have been passed on to town and parish councils by Wealden District Council.
Each year councils across the Wealden district are passed Community Infrastructure Levy payments – funds paid by developers to contribute towards providing much needed facilities for the communities in the area.
Spending by many of the town and parish councils has seen improvements ranging from new equipment in playgrounds to a roadway being reconstructed.
Over the past year the parish and town councils have spent an amazing £414,300 on infrastructure projects throughout the district. These include £77,872 on our community buildings, £35,093 on provision of new and repairs to recreational facilities for all age groups and £53,341 on landscaping and street furniture such as benches and seating.
The possible uses for CIL are wide and far reaching and in addition the councils spent almost £7,000 on speed surveys and speed watch schemes; £14,172 on local transport infrastructure works; £53,341 on highways works; £4,944 on Finger Post repairs; £29,585 on street lighting; £8,536 on repairs to bus shelters; £38,356 to footpaths and green lanes; £1,600 on Christmas lights; almost £21,000 on CCTV and local security; £13,115 on allotments; £20,000 towards a new mini bus for the use of the community and £33,425 on drainage works.
Some councils have not yet spent their CIL payments while others did not receive them due to there being no CIL liable developments in the areas.
For detailed information on town and parish councils spending please visit: Infrastructure Funding Statement and CIL Annual Monitoring Reports - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council
Leader of Wealden District Council Councillor Ann Newton, who is also the portfolio holder for Planning, said, “CIL payments are a legal commitment by developers and they help pay for vital infrastructure that is needed where developments are taking place. All but the smallest development projects will make a contribution.
“The regulations require Wealden to pass a
proportion of CIL funds raised to the relevant parish council/s. This is called
meaningful proportion and the figure is 15%, subject to an annual cap. The cap
is equivalent to £100 per dwelling in the parish. When development is built in
an area covered by a neighbourhood plan, the parish council will receive a
higher CIL proportion of 25%, uncapped.
“Money raised via the meaningful proportion can be spent on anything that deals with the demands that development places on the area. We encourage parish councils to work closely with neighbouring parishes and us (at the district council) to agree on infrastructure spending priorities. If the parish council shares our priorities, they may agree that we should keep the parish portion of CIL to spend on that infrastructure.”
Winter Support Fund for East Sussex
03
Sussex Community Foundation (SCF) and East Sussex County Council (ESCC) have teamed up to create a new small grant fund for not-for–profit organisations working to support people most affected by cost-of-living issues.
The Winter Support Fund for East Sussex will go live on Monday 7th November, and will make grants to successful not-for-profit organisations of up to £10,000, a total of £405,000 is being made available up until the end of March 2023. All grants will need to be fully spent by the end of May 2023.
SCF will consider applications for funding to:
• Meet increased organisation running costs such as salaries, fuel, electricity, heating, and volunteer expenses – some of the areas hit hardest by rising costs.
• Build capacity by bringing in additional resources to help meet increased community needs. For example, by recruiting additional staff and volunteers, by building local partnerships or by delivering additional training and support for staff and volunteers.
• Support organisations in adapting to and providing alternative support to those in need over the winter. For example, through the provision of warm banks and spaces, including those where food and other activities can be provided.
The first two types of support have been informed by the results of the SCF Cost of Living Survey administered to VCSE groups and organisations, and also chime with the insight that we are hearing from VCSE sector partners.
We are sharing this information with Parish and Town Councils to enable you to consider how you might work in partnership with your locally based not-for-profit organisations to provide support for adapting and providing alternative support to those in need over the winter in your local communities.
Although applications for this grant fund are not open directly to Parish and Town Councils, this is a great opportunity for you collaborate with your locally based not-for-profit organisations that would like to apply to the Winter Support Fund for East Sussex.
SCF and ESCC will be promoting the grant fund to not-for-profit organisations form Monday 7th November.
If you are interested in learning more on the support to individuals in East Sussex you can visit the ESCC webpage Support with the cost of living, ESCC will be updating this webpage on a regular basis through our work with the multi-agency financial inclusion steering group.
Household Support Fund (HSF) grants - food poverty/insecurity in Wealden
01
3VA’s Household Support Fund (HSF) grants - food poverty/insecurity in Wealden October 2022
3VA has been asked to co-ordinate the second round of the Household Support Fund (HSF) grant to groups/organisations who are working to address food poverty and/or food insecurity in Wealden.
In the first round we gave out grants to support some excellent work which is making a real difference to our communities.
Examples included:
- Community fridges and sharing tables focused on reducing food waste by receiving food from supermarkets and redistributing it to community members.
- Community growing projects bringing people together to grow and cook fresh food.
- Delivery of cookery training to staff and volunteers focusing on low cost, healthy eating for people on low income.
- Development and support for new and existing lunch clubs.
- Cookery leader training.
We’d like to help small organisations with these grants. The money could be used to support existing work, or to start something new.
Is there something you’ve wanted to develop, whether it be around training, developing infrastructure or delivering something collaboratively? We’re here to help! We can support you in your application through discussing, connecting and helping to enable your ideas come to life. Think big! Think creative!
To make an application or to have an initial discussion about your ideas, please email helen.graham@3va.org.uk
In your email please outline:
- what you’d like to do
- who you envisage supporting, e.g. families, older people
- how much you’d like to apply for
- how you would spend the money
- any other organisations you’d like to collaborate with
Closing date for applications is Friday 18th November 2022, with the panel meeting the following week to consider each application.
Urgent Plea - Foster Carers
25
Dear Districts, Boroughs and Parish Clerks,
This is an URGENT plea. As ESCC Lead member for Children and Families I am asking for your help.
Below you will find a link to a new national campaign on fostering. Our foster carers make such a difference to young people and have the ability to change lives. We are constantly searching for new recruits to our foster carer service, and the need has never been greater than now. The new national campaign is accompanied by a short film, which can be viewed via the link on the ‘Becoming a foster carer’ page of the ESCC website, by clicking here.
We are always happy to have preliminary discussions, without obligation, with anyone interested in becoming a foster carer. Even if now isn’t the right time for a family to begin their fostering journey, it’s always a good time to discover more. We offer online information sessions throughout the year on our ‘Contact us’ page too.
We are asking for all our Boroughs and Districts and all parish clerks to please distribute this information to their elected members/councillors and residents as widely as possible. Also attached are posters which we would be very grateful if you could consider putting up in places where they might catch people’s eye.
Working together, YOU could make a difference by spreading the word across East Sussex.
On behalf of our young people, thank you.
Tesco's Community Grants & Tackling Inequalities Fund
20
To Local Organisations, Schools and Parish and Town Councils,
Please see below funds you may be interested in:
Tesco’s Community Grants of up to £1,500.
Who is eligible to apply?
Grants will be awarded to voluntary or community organisations (including registered charities/companies), schools, health bodies (e.g. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), NHS Hospital Trust, Foundation Trust), Parish/Town Councils, local authorities and social housing providers to deliver community projects.
At the moment Tesco’s are accepting applications in the Hailsham region (postcode BN27 1DN), Crowborough Region (postcode TN6 3DZ), Uckfield (TN22 1BA) and Heathfield.
Here is the link to the eligibility checker : https://tescocommunitygrants.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/ which takes you through to the application form.
If you are interested and would like to contact the fund please email Elizabeth from Groundwork South: Elizabeth.M@groundwork.org.uk or call her via 07736 132697. Elizabeth is happy to give further advice and support.
Last chance to apply for Tackling Inequalities Fund:
Tackling Inequalities
WDC’s Wellbeing team are pleased to announce that we will be able to support and enable partners to reduce physical activity inequalities and deliver better health outcomes within Wealden through a new funding programme.
This is an exciting prospect which has been made available by funds being released by East Sussex County Council Public Health.
The funding programme is available to one or more delivery partners who can apply for between £1,000 and £15,000. Projects must support and enable Wealden residents to become more active. This will help individuals realise the many mental wellbeing and health benefits associated with living a more active healthier lifestyle and enable them to make positive health choices.
The deadline for the application is the 28th October 2022 with all funds to be spent by the 30th June 2023.
Funding Aims
The aim of this funding programme is to develop approaches to supporting physical activity in Wealden. These must focus on the impact that COVID-19 has had on the local sport, the physical activity sector and residents. The project will seek to identify and implement the actions needed to address the issues that have arisen due to the pandemic and support physical activity delivery and participation.
Funding will be prioritised to projects that demonstrate how they achieve this aim and the following objectives:
- To work with residents to understand the impact of COVID-19 has been on people’s physical activity behaviour and support them to begin/return to activity.
- To work with sport and physical activity clubs and organisations to understand the impact of COVID-19 on future delivery and participation, supporting the development of the physical activity sector through effective communication and networking.
- To develop pathways into and out of the service which seek to increase uptake by high priority individuals
- Provide participants with access to wider advice and guidance services to address wider determinants of health (e.g. housing, debt, unemployment). Note: assistance may be provided by us with this aim, if required.
If you are interested in applying please email wellbeing@wealden.gov.uk to be sent an application form. The form needs to be done online, but a word document can be sent to complete a draft before you complete the final application.
Survey - Council Tax Reduction Scheme
20
A consultation is underway to make changes to a scheme which could improve the overall level of financial support to low income and vulnerable working age people in Wealden.
Wealden District Council wants to implement changes to the existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working age people from 1st April 2023.
The scheme gives Council Tax bill payers a reduction on the amount they pay, and the level of discount is based on the income of the household.
The maximum discount for working age households is currently 80 per cent but could be increased to 100 per cent which would cut bills even further.
In the Wealden District Council area, almost 6,689 people currently receive a Council Tax reduction. Some 3,504 are working age and are therefore potentially affected by the proposed changes.
The remaining who receive a Council Tax reduction are pensioners, and they will see no changes as they are part of a national scheme.
The council says changes to the working age scheme will assist low-income households, provide further assistance to certain Universal Credit applicants, and provide flexibility in the scheme to allow for changes in government welfare benefits and initiatives.
All councils are required to review their schemes each year and decide if they want to make any changes. Before any changes can be implemented, they must be subject to public consultation which is why Wealden is consulting – from now until 27th November - on whether to the keep the scheme the same as it is now or make changes that will benefit some residents.
Councillor Neil Waller, Wealden’s lead member for Benefits, said, “We are proposing a number of changes to our Council Tax Reduction Scheme that could improve the overall level of support to low income and vulnerable working age applicants.
“This is important, especially at a time when many residents are struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
“The council has a duty to consult its residents on these changes and provide them with the opportunity to tell us their views on them.”
To take part in the survey visit https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/WEALDENCTRLIVE/ or contact our Benefits team at benefits@wealden.gov.uk or 01323 443500 to request a paper copy.
Hailsham woman fined for asbestos fly tip
18
A Hailsham woman has been fined for her part in the fly tipping of asbestos on the Pevensey Marshes.
Phoebe Ripley, 33, from Hailsham, pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 20 September 2022, following a prosecution brought by Wealden District Council.
In April 2021, around 16 black sacks filled with broken asbestos roofing sheets, tarpaulin and debris were dumped along the verge of New Bridge Road, Rickney, near Pevensey.
The council’s Street Scene Enforcement Team traced the waste back to a resident based in Lancing, who had hired Miss Ripley and another person to renovate a garage roof.
Despite assuring the resident that the asbestos would be disposed of in the correct manner, the waste was subsequently found dumped across the Pevensey Marshes.
During the investigation the Lancing resident showed the council evidence of duty of care, a legal requirement for all waste producers, so avoided any action being taken against them.
However, Miss Ripley was unable to provide any documentation for disposal of the waste nor did she offer the Street Scene officers or the court an explanation as to what had happened to the asbestos or how it came to be fly tipped.
At court, Miss Ripley was fined a total of £1,000 for the waste disposal offence, ordered to pay £100 victim surcharge and must pay £1,005.66 towards the council’s costs.
Councillor Ray Cade, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Waste, said, “I would like to advise anyone who produces or handles waste that they have a legal duty to ensure that it is disposed of correctly to prevent our beautiful countryside being tainted.
“The council will not tolerate the actions of fly-tippers and will investigate and take action against crimes like these happening in our district.”
Funding - Community Fridge
18
Hubbub - Community Fridge Food Hub Fund
The funding is intended to increase the social and environmental impact of community fridges by allowing them to deliver their own activities that will bring local people together and provide access to healthy, affordable and sustainable food.
Each successful applicant will receive a grant of £6,000.
This will be in the form of £5,000 towards costs of setting up the hub and then a further £1,000 one year after opening.
Constituted voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) groups may apply.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must:
• Be operating a UK based Community Fridge which is open to the public.
• Be registered members of the Community Fridge network.
Funded activities must fit within one of the following themes:
• Skills - providing access to training and knowledge-building activities, including: Training, Events, Growing, Budgeting, How to set up a food surplus enterprise
• Affordable food - supporting collaborative purchasing and/or local food retail, including: Food co-operatives, Food box schemes, Fruit and vegetable stalls, Meals on wheels or a community cafe
• Community Connection - providing opportunities for communities to come together around food, including: Community cooking, Community meals, Youth activities, Recipe sharing
• Growing - increasing the amount of food grown locally, including: Community gardens, Edible greening, Neighbourhood ’grow and watch’ schemes, Workshops, Skill and seed shares
The fund will close at 1159pm on 7th November 2022.
There will be a Q&A webinar on 20th October 2022, 1pm to 2pm.
Email: communityfridge@hubbub.org.uk
Council pledges £250K to help tackle cost of living pressures
18
Councillors at Wealden District Council have agreed to earmark a £250,000 fund to help ease the current cost of living pressures for local residents and services.
The money will be put aside to support local initiatives and fund any increased service demands within the council. It will also be available for additional support for residents and businesses when needed.
There are real concerns that council services such as housing, benefits, economic development will see an increase in people, businesses and other organisations needing assistance in the coming months due to the rise in day to day living costs and expenses.
To combat that, a cross-departmental working group has been set up to monitor the ongoing situation and identify areas where additional support is needed for residents and businesses. The group will work with stakeholders including town and parish councils, voluntary organisations and community groups.
Councillor Richard Hallett, Wealden’s portfolio holder for Governance, Customer Services and HR, said, “The present cost of living crisis is beginning to impact on Wealden's residents, communities and businesses.
“As many of the services the council provides form an important safety net to protect residents’ health and wellbeing, the setting aside of funding to react to pressures from the cost of living crisis will enable officers to act promptly and effectively as pressures arise.
“I am pleased this co-ordinated approach will help us provide support to those in our communities who are going to be hardest hit.”
Wealden Crematorium open day hailed a success
18
An open day at Wealden Crematorium saw more than 150 people from all over the district and beyond come and take a look ‘behind the curtain’.
The event at the Wealden District Council facility in Horam was held to demystify cremation and saw the intrigued public discover every step of the cremation process as well as meet the friendly staff and ask any questions they had about the range of services to promote the celebration of life.
All were welcomed at the facility and served refreshments. Among the guests were council chairman Councillor Ron Reed, fellow councillors and the council’s new Head of Waste, Assets and Crematorium Chris Bone.
Councillor Philip Lunn, portfolio holder for economic development, said, “We were delighted to welcome the public to Wealden Crematorium’s open day.”
“It’s clear that the public have a great interest and that the open days at the crematorium are essential for the district and beyond to dispel the myths surrounding the cremation process.”
Wealden Crematorium is set in 25 acres of Sussex countryside in Horam, and people do not have to be from the Wealden district to use its range of services.
Crowdfunder - Community Wellbeing Fund
10
We’re delighted to tell you about a great funding opportunity for ideas in East Sussex that are making positive change in the county!
Crowdfunder and East Sussex County Council have teamed up to award a share of £25,000 in +Extra funding to 5 community projects across the county. Better yet, you’ll get £500 as soon as your project goes live!*
We’re on the lookout for projects that are helping to create social equity, economic prosperity, cultural vitality and environmental sustainability in East Sussex.
To be in with a chance of getting up to £5,000, organisations must set up a crowdfunding campaign before Sunday 23 October and apply to the East Sussex Community Wellbeing Fund - 2022. Don’t worry, this is just the first step and the campaign can be a rough draft!
Shortlisted eligible participants must then set their project live between 17 November - 15 December. Once your project is live, you’ll receive the initial £500 pledge from the East Sussex County Council.
*The entry pledge will only be paid out if the project raises £500 from the crowd, with 20 unique supporters, i.e. reaches a total amount raised of £1,000. Please see full terms and conditions for more information.
If you have any questions, please contact support@crowdfunder.co.uk.
Good luck!’
Wealden signs up with service to help homeless
05
Beam, a social enterprise initiative focused on supporting homeless people to rebuild their lives, has been launched in Wealden.
Wealden District Council’s Housing Options team has agreed to work with the award-winning service to deliver better outcomes for clients who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and help them find stable employment and accommodation along with financial security.
Using an online platform, Beam encourages members of the public to donate money to help pay for training, smartphones, transport costs and more, so homeless people have everything they need to find a job and move into a home.
Clients are given support to find new jobs and homes, a dedicated caseworker to help keep them on-track and progress with rebuilding their lives and acquiring a secure future.
Beam is working in partnership with other local authorities across the country - the scheme in Wealden went live on Wednesday 28th September.
Councillor Ray Cade, portfolio holder for Housing, said, “We are pleased to launch Beam in Wealden. This will give homeless people and those at risk of homelessness the chance to get stable jobs and make life changes.
“It is great that we are working to tackle homelessness with this award-winning organisation which has a wealth of experience and many success stories.”
New planning powers to deliver foul sewerage updates
04
A new way of working is evolving to combat sewerage and drainage issues in new developments planned across the Wealden district.
Wealden District Council and Southern Water have agreed to work collaboratively in a pilot scheme ahead of a rollout to all other local planning authorities in the water company’s catchment area.
Following a meeting between the two recently, it was agreed to look at new ways of working targeted at better quality information in response to planning applications; Southern Water will continue to be held to account at Wealden’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings; and new planning conditions will be attached to large developments so that occupation will be restricted until vital infrastructure works are completed by Southern Water.
The partnership working comes after the council called on Southern Water to update and upgrade the sewerage and water infrastructure systems so they can deal with existing sewage issues and accommodate new development in the future.
It also comes on the back of a Full Council Motion earlier in the summer when councillors unanimously agreed to hold Southern Water to account and take a lead on addressing issues of sewage backing up in the homes and gardens of local residents.
Leader of Wealden District Council Councillor Ann Newton, also the authority’s portfolio holder for Planning, said she welcomed the opportunity for the council to be the first local planning authority to work hand in hand with Southern Water.
She said, “We stand by our commitment to our residents and communities to ensure Southern Water delivers the much-needed infrastructure in our area. Our new approach will ensure a more collaborative approach between Southern Water and developers to ensure that upgrades take place to serve new and existing communities.
“We will continue to work with Southern Water and developers to identify gaps in their planning for growth and hold both to account for their records of delivery. We are also working with our partner local authorities across the region to establish a local authority working group to ensure that the voice of our community is heard."
Wealden Crematorium Open Day
28
Wealden Crematorium will be welcoming the public with an open day where they will be invited to go ‘behind the curtain’.
The Wealden District Council-run facility is opening its doors on Wednesday 5th October between 11am-3pm.
Opened in 2019, the crematorium in Horam is set within 30 acres of beautiful landscaped grounds surrounded by wildflower meadows and woodland.
In addition to the crematorium – which has a ceremony hall that can seat more than 120 mourners, car parking for around 160 vehicles, services which can be relayed outside under cover via screens and speakers and webcast facilities – there are Gardens of Remembrance, vaults where ashes can rest peacefully and other memorials.
Since opening, more than 3,000 cremations have been held at the venue as more people choose the tranquil setting Wealden Crematorium offers rather than the increasingly busy crematoriums in neighbouring towns outside the district.
The crematorium has also donated more than £40,000 to various charities in the district through the ICCM Metals Recycling Scheme which, with written consent, allows bereaved families to donate metals after a cremation.
Councillor Pam Doodes, Wealden’s community and public health portfolio holder said, “Death is still a difficult subject for many of us to talk about, so for many hosting an open day at a crematorium may, at first, seem a little feel strange.
“The reason we are opening our doors to the public is to give an opportunity for people, from Wealden, East Sussex and further afield to come, take a look and ask questions to staff in a relaxed and friendly way atmosphere.”
For more information on Wealden Crematorium visit www.wealdencrematorium.co.uk
New funding programme to help deliver better health outcomes in Wealden
28
A new funding programme to support and enable community and voluntary groups to reduce physical activity inequalities and deliver better health outcomes within the Wealden area has been launched.
The initiative has been made available by funds from East Sussex County Council’s Public Health department. Funding will be used to enable groups to develop a placed-based approach or approaches to support physical activity programmes that look to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes over a specified period.
The aim of the funding programme is to develop place-based approaches to supporting physical activity in Wealden. These must focus on the impact that COVID-19 has had on the local sport, the physical activity sector and residents. The project will seek to identify and implement the actions needed to address the issues that have arisen due to the pandemic and support physical activity delivery and participation.
The funding programme is available to one or more delivery partners which can apply for between £1,000 and £15,000 for projects enabling Wealden residents to become more active.
Applications for funding are invited from voluntary and community organisations. The funding programme opened on Tuesday 13th September. If you would like an application form please email wellbeing@wealden.gov.uk. Applications must be received by the 28th October 2022.
Research undertaken by Active Sussex identified older people, people living in deprived areas, disabled people/ people living with long-term health conditions and black and south Asian people as the four priority groups within Wealden most at risk of inactivity.
Councillor Philip Lunn, portfolio holder for Leisure, said, “We are thrilled to be able to increase the physical activity levels of the four priority groups within Wealden. The funding is welcomed to tackle inactivity and to promote inclusion across disadvantaged communities.
“We recognise that the pandemic has affected many people and this funding will address the issues that arose during the pandemic with lack of physical activity, delivery and participation.”
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
19
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The Councillors and Officers of Buxted Parish Council are deeply saddened and our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.
New funding pot for sports clubs, community groups and voluntary organisations
13
Message from Wealden District Council:
We are pleased to announce that we will be able to support and enable partners to reduce physical activity inequalities and deliver better health outcomes within the district through a new funding programme.
This is an exciting prospect which has been made available by funds being released by East Sussex County Council Public Health.
The funding programme is available to one or more delivery partners who can apply for between £1,000 and £15,000. Projects must support and enable Wealden residents to become more active. This will help individuals realise the many mental wellbeing and health benefits associated with living a more active healthier lifestyle and enable them to make positive health choices.
The deadline for the application is the 28th October 2022 with all funds to be spent by the 30th June 2023.
Funding Aims
The aim of this funding programme is to develop approaches to supporting physical activity in Wealden. These must focus on the impact that COVID-19 has had on the local sport, the physical activity sector and residents. The project will seek to identify and implement the actions needed to address the issues that have arisen due to the pandemic and support physical activity delivery and participation.
Funding will be prioritised to projects that demonstrate how they achieve this aim and the following objectives:
- To work with residents to understand the impact of COVID-19 has been on people’s physical activity behaviour and support them to begin/return to activity.
- To work with sport and physical activity clubs and organisations to understand the impact of COVID-19 on future delivery and participation, supporting the development of the physical activity sector through effective communication and networking.
- To develop pathways into and out of the service which seek to increase uptake by high priority individuals
- Provide participants with access to wider advice and guidance services to address wider determinants of health (e.g. housing, debt, unemployment). Note: assistance may be provided by us with this aim, if required.
If you are interested in applying please email wellbeing@wealden.gov.uk to be sent an application form. The form needs to be done online, but a word document can be sent to complete a draft before you complete the final application.
We look forward to hearing from you
Wealden Community Sports Hub
07
Plans for the proposed multi-million pound Wealden Community Sports Hub have taken a major step forward this week.
Members of Wealden District Council’s Cabinet committee agreed to progress the scheme – on a 20 acre parcel of land at Knights Farm East between the A267 and A271 – towards a planning application.
The proposed onsite sports facilities are for two full size 3G floodlit football pitches, four dual use floodlit tennis / netball courts, two padel tennis courts along with a walking and cycle route, BMX Pump track, skate park, children’s play area, outdoor tennis tables, outdoor gym equipment and a community café.
This facility mix is informed by a mix of leisure research including the Playing Pitch Strategy as well as the results of our public consultation and stakeholder engagement undertaken during 2021.
As plans for the site develop, officers will continue to engage with a number of key stakeholders such as sport governing bodies, sports clubs and town and parish councils to further develop and agree the preferred operating model and programming.
Councillor Philip Lunn, Wealden District Council’s portfolio holder for Commercial, Economic Development and Leisure, said, “This is very exciting and I am delighted to see this project take a major step forward following research, which showed a gap between the existing and required facilities in the district, and a public consultation exercise where we asked residents what they wanted to see included in the plans.
“The results of that consultation were overwhelmingly in favour of such a facility.
“The delivery of top-end sporting facilities on the site will provide opportunities for a large number of Wealden residents.”
Wealden pushes Southern Water for action
05
A fresh call has been made by Wealden District Council for Southern Water to update and upgrade the sewerage and water infrastructure systems so they can deal with existing sewage issues and accommodate new development in the future.
The council issued the plea as part of its response to a consultation on the water company’s Draft Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan, which proposes how it will meet its infrastructure challenges up until 2050.
It also comes on the back of a Full Council Motion earlier in the summer when councillors unanimously agreed to hold Southern Water to account and take a lead on addressing issues of sewage backing up in the homes and gardens of local residents.
Southern Water is consulting with many stakeholders across the south east, including Wealden council especially as there have been major concerns regarding existing water infrastructure, considering the number of homes the council is expected by the government to provide in the future.
In the response, the council says it has concerns around the low level of upgrading water systems both in terms of pipework capacity and treatment for new development.
These works are funded directly by developers’ contributions and is generally meant to be undertaken within two years; yet this is not always happening in practice.
The response also says that the council and its communities in Wealden have lost faith in Southern Water and that the water company should consider reducing profits and shareholder dividends instead of funding these improvements through customer bills in the first instance.
Wealden District Council leader Councillor Ann Newton said, “It is considered imperative for both the health of the public and state of the environment that this plan from Southern Water acts as a catalyst to deliver the change necessary across our sewerage network.
“As can be seen from the council’s Full Council Motion on 20th July 2022, the council and our community have lost faith in Southern Water to deliver the infrastructure needed for our area.
“All too often communities are promised action and investment, be that to remedy a historic issue or through upgrades to support new growth, only to find that action is not forthcoming and the situation is made worse.
“Over the last few years, the council has been pressing for change, encouraging action, but seeing little. Staff at Southern Water will know well the issues at Station Road in Hellingly; Back Lane in Cross-in-Hand and Horebeech Lane in Horam, to name but a few.
“In all these cases investigation, investment and solutions have been promised, but been slow to materialise, all the while residents suffer with sewage backing up in their homes and gardens.
“We consider it is appropriate that first Southern Water considers reducing profits and shareholder dividends, to increase investment, in conjunction with a greater level of central government funding to correct historic issues rapidly.
“It may be necessary for increased customer contributions, but only where it is evidenced that the step change in delivery is taking place on the ground. Simply ‘maintaining’ our water infrastructure considering the identified challenges is not a genuine option; investment to correct the mistakes of the past is clearly required.
“Developer contributions received by Southern Water also needs to be spent where growth is taking place, rather than putting the funding emphasis on existing bill payers in the first instance.
“We do consider it necessary to update and upgrade current water infrastructure, to investigate new alternatives and futureproof the network. The council’s emerging Local Plan will of course pursue efforts to achieve this - subject to financial viability -and is also actively considering policy issues around surface water drainage - the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems - and water efficiency for new developments, including measures that will reduce water consumption, including water re-use and recycling.“
Local Development - Buxted Parish Council Statement
16
In the light of the recent submissions for a large amount of development in Five Ash Down, Buxted Parish Council would wish to make the following statement.
The Council feels badly let down by Wealden District Council which has failed to produce a timely Local Plan or indicate preferred development sites which would have allowed the parish council to respond to planning consultations in a focused detailed way based on policy grounds, and where possible, obtaining benefit to the local area (should applications be approved). Instead, we are responding having no knowledge as to whether each site will be allocated for development within any emerging local plan and without WDC having considered the accumulative effect that the development of these sites will have on the village and surrounding area.
We have been told time after time that each site would be considered on its own merit, but this would not now appear to be the case. This became apparent at the recent North Wealden Planning Committee when officers advised that the appeal to build at the Coopers Green crossroad has been allowed on appeal and therefore the application to develop land to the rear of Coopers Row should therefore also be approved otherwise, they would be subject to ‘unreasonable case processing’.
We are not experts in concerns such as road safety, sewage capacity, infrastructure, and flooding. However, we can gauge the impact that an unacceptable level of acceptance of numerous local planning applications would have on Buxted and Five Ash Down, namely doctor and school capacity, local parking for commuters.
Also worrying is that appeal inspectors are putting the most amount of weight on the fact that WDC does not have a 5-year housing land supply. For example, when reading the appeal inspectors decision for the Cooper Green crossroads application, the inspector even agreed with some of the reasons for refusal but commented the lack of a 5-year housing supply and lack of any significant environmental reasons for refusal, they had no choice but to approve the application. So, this reason appears to supersede every other. Will this continue to be the case until WDC reach the housing target? In a recent communication from WDC, dated 12th August, Planning appeals update, external lawyers advised the council that their objections, mainly on traffic matters, was not defensible, and the objections would be withdrawn. Does this mean any future meaningful, previously material objection, from a local point of view, is rendered useless?
The Parish Council will however continue to work on resident’s behalf, listening to concerns and representing local knowledge when responding to all planning applications. We just hope Wealden listen and accept that town and parish councils should have a say in the planning process, otherwise it would seem our opinions are rendered worthless and unconsidered.
A lack of a local plan and any meaningful interim guidance from WDC who appear not to consider the quality of life of those currently residing in the area makes it increasingly difficult to respond proactively to when considering new large-scale development within our parish.
Living Well in East Sussex survey
14
Together with its residents and partners, East Sussex County Council is developing a long-term plan, its strategy, for adult social care.
To understand what really matters to local people, and so that the strategy can be informed and led by what is important to people who need care and support, their unpaid carers and their families, the adult social care team has created the ‘Living Well in East Sussex’ survey.
This survey is the starting point for creating a strategy that will set the future direction of adult social care for everyone who has – or will have – care and support needs within the county, the projects and services that support them and their carers and families.
It opens on 08 August 2022 and will close on 18 September 2022.
Mark Stainton, East Sussex director of adult social care, said: “Long-term funding, a workforce crisis and living with COVID-19 are just three of the challenges facing adult social care.
“But there are also opportunities, such as exploring new ways of developing and delivering services, the greater public focus on the role and value of social care that the pandemic has brought, and the government’s social care reforms.
“Our strategy will describe the priorities for adult social care in East Sussex, provide direction for services, and offer a clear understanding of what our clients, their carers and families, can expect from adult social care.”
So, whether you have lots of experience of adult social care - or none at all - East Sussex would like to hear from you.
Talking with East Sussex staff, independent sector care providers, NHS colleagues and wider stakeholders will follow in the autumn/winter, informed by what local people have told us about their priorities.
To complete the survey, please use this link: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/ASCsurvey, or contact the adult social care team using the details below for paper and other formats:
Email: ASCPersonalisation@eastsussex.gov.uk
Phone: 01273 481565
Write: Adult social care strategy survey, FREEPOST, ESCC, PUBLIC HEALTH
Completing the survey also brings a chance to win one of four Love2Shop vouchers, each with a face value of £25.
Lower fares initiative for bus services - Brighton & Hove Buses
14
East Sussex County Council and the bus operators have worked together to introduce a range of bus travel discounts across the County this Summer. This is part of the East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan, with more affordable bus travel being especially important when family budgets are under pressure due to other cost increases.
Bus travel has been significantly impacted by changing travel habits over the pandemic period. Your help in encouraging more bus use, by doing what you can to help promote these lower fare ticket options, will also mean operators will be in a much stronger position to continue running the services in East Sussex that our residents rely upon.
Information about these lower fares can be found on our website, which we would ask you to direct people to for more information, through this link: New lower fares on East Sussex bus services | East Sussex County Council
The website will be updated with any changes to these fares offers and news of any new participating operators. We are also promoting the fares in a social media campaign using TikTok, Twitter and Facebook as well as by other means. We particularly need to encourage people to use bus services who do not do so currently.
The lower fare offers most relevant to your area are summarised below.
Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus
- Introduction of a new £5 East Sussex day ticket valid on any Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus bus route that runs through the county of East Sussex. Buy this East Sussex day ticket on the Brighton & Hove Buses or Metrobus phone app.
- Up to four children or young people age between 5-18 years can travel free in East Sussex with an adult who has a valid ticket or concession pass.
- For young people travelling independently there is a £1 single fare, available on any Brighton & Hove or Metrobus bus journey in East Sussex. This offer was previously limited to Brighton & Hove Buses only and will be available up to 31st August. Young people travelling on Brighton & Hove Buses will need to show their BusID. Those travelling on Metrobus may show other forms of proof of age.
- The £5 East Sussex day ticket, the free accompanied travel young children/young persons, and the £1 offer for young people travelling independently, are also available on Brighton & Hove and Metrobus routes into the city of Brighton and Hove, West Sussex and Kent. But the passenger’s first trip must start in the East Sussex County Council area. They are not valid for individual trips wholly outside East Sussex.
New Application - 65 dwellings north of Budletts, Five Ash Down
09
Buxted Parish Council has received a consultation for 65 dwellings at land north of Budletts, Five Ash Down.
We are required to respond to this consultation by 30th August.
Please forward any comments regarding this application to: clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk and copy in planning@wealden.gov.uk
See below a link to the details on the WDC website:
https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=158557
8/8/22 - Planning Applications for Consultation
09
Applications for consideration by Buxted Parish Council
1.1 1.2 1.3 |
Planning Applications
Application No. WD/2022/1061/F Description: GROUND AND FIRST FLOOR REAR EXTENSION AND LOFT CONVERSION WITH REAR DORMER AND INTERNAL ALTERATIONS Location: 31 GORDON ROAD, BUXTED Application No. WD/2022/0758/F (amended plans) Description: FIRST FLOOR EXTENSION - Amended Plans dated 26 July 2022 Location: STONEHOUSE COTTAGE, HOWBOURNE LANE, BUXTED Application No. WD/2022/1710/MAJ Description: FULL PLANNING APPLICATION FOR THE PHASED DEVELOPMENT COMPRISING THE CONSTRUCTION OF 65NO. DWELLINGS INCLUDING THREE CUSTOM / SELF-BUILD PLOTS, ACCESS, PARKING, LANDSCAPING AND ANCILLARY WORKS. Location: LAND NORTH OF BUDLETTS LANE, FIVE ASH DOWN |
Applications determined/updated by Wealden District Council Application No. WD/2021/1831/FA Description: VARIATION OF CONDITION 9 OF WD/2018/1258/F (DEMOLITION OF EXISTING SINGLE STOREY DWELLING, GARAGE, OUTBUILDINGS, AND SWIMMING POOL. PROPOSED REPLACEMENT DWELLING, GARAGE AND ANNEXE. ASSOCIATED LANDSCAPE WORKS. AMENDED SITE AREA.) TO CHANGE THE POSITION OF THE GARAGE AND ANNEXE, ALONG WITH MINOR CHANGES TO THEIR MATERIALS AND FENESTRATION DETAILS. Location: MEADOW COTTAGE (TURKLAND), CHILLIES LANE, HIGH HURSTWOOD, BUXTED, TN22 4AB Decision: Approved (PC had no objections) Application No. WD/2022/1094/F Location: REPLACEMENT STABLES, TACK ROOM AND SOLARIUM. Description: HURSTWOOD FARM, ROYAL OAK LANE, HIGH HURSTWOOD, BUXTED, TN22 4AN Decision: Approved (PC had no objections) Application No. WD/2022/0855/F Description: INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PANELS TO PROVIDE DOMESTIC ELECTRICITY FOR THE PROPERTY Location: HERMITAGE FARM, FOWLEY LANE, HIGH HURSTWOOD, BUXTED, TN22 4BG Decision: Approved (PC had no objections) Application No. WD/2022/1565/F Description: SINGLE STOREY REAR EXTENSION, CONVERSION OF INTEGRAL GARAGE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UPPER FLOOR AND ASSOCIATED WORKS. Location: GRASMERE, FRAMFIELD ROAD, BUXTED, TN22 4LE Decision: Approved (PC had no objections)
Application No. WD/2022/0970/RM Description: RESERVED MATTERS PURSUANT TO OUTLINE PERMISSION WD/2019/2456/O (OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION WITH ALL MATTERS RESERVED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 5 NO. DWELLINGS AND ASSOCIATED ACCESS, PARKING AND LANDSCAPING). Location: ABBEY HOUSE AND GRASMERE, FRAMFIELD ROAD, BUXTED Decision: Approved (PC objected) Officer Response to Parish Council: Outline planning permission for a similar indicative layout has been approved under the Outline Planning Permission. It is not considered the development would result in an overdevelopment of the site. There is no precedent in planning and the acceptability of development of this nature on this site was outlined fully in the Officer Report at Outline Planning stage.
|
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES THIS WEEK
09
Please find below a message regarding changes in Waste Collections this week due to the extreme heat.
We will be sending out a press release and putting it on the website and also on social media and are trying to reach as many people as possible. Anyway you can help to promote this message so that we can reach as many people as possible would be greatly appreciated
Waste Collections To Start at 6am
Due to a Level 3 Heat-Health Alert issued by the Met Office, Wealden District Council is asking residents expecting a rubbish, recycling or garden waste bin collection this week between Wednesday 10th August and Friday 12 August to place their bins out ready to be emptied by 6am on their normal collection day or, preferably the evening before, during this period of intense heat.
To help reduce the risk to operatives emptying bins during this period where temperatures are expected to exceed 30ºC, crews will be starting work earlier than normal from 6am.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Wealden submits bid for second round of Levelling up Fund
03
A bid for almost £20m of the government’s Levelling up Fund has been made by Wealden District Council.
Last year the council missed out on the first round of Levelling Up funding but hopes to secure a portion of the £4.8bn available to local authorities in the second round.
Wealden is applying for a grant of £19.8m to help towards the cost of a new £43m Health and Wellbeing Hub as phase one of the ambitious Hailsham Aspires scheme to regenerate Hailsham town centre.
The plans encompass a new leisure centre - to replace the existing ageing Freedom Leisure Centre – with a range of new facilities promoting physical activity for all, and a long-awaited new medical centre co-located with the leisure centre, and shared amenities supporting better health outcomes.
The Hub, which would be built on council-owned land near the current council offices, forms part of the wider vision for the regeneration of Hailsham town centre. This seeks to ensure Hailsham is fit for a future which will see both an ageing and a growing population, in addition to improving the overall health and wellbeing across the community.
Improving the vitality and attractiveness of the town centre will also be key to widening the employment offer and improving the quality of life of residents.
The project will unlock potential development sites by freeing up the land where the existing leisure centre is located, as well as two existing and one proposed GP surgery sites within the town.
Councillor Philip Lunn, the council’s portfolio holder for Commercial, Economic Development and Leisure said, “This Round 2 bid to the Levelling Up Fund builds on our unsuccessful Round 1 bid, and proposes an immediately deliverable project on council-owned land that will deliver wide-ranging benefits and kick-start the wider regeneration of Hailsham town centre.
“It is a hugely exciting project and we hope the government will recognise this and we will be successful.”
The government’s Levelling up Fund, which brings together the Department for Transport, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Treasury to invest £4.8 billion in local infrastructure, was announced in a Spending Review March 2021 by the then Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Help shape Wealden’s future
03
Tell us what you think and help shape Wealden’s future
Wealden residents are being invited to give their views on how they want the district to look in years to come and what priorities there should be.
A consultation is underway asking residents, along with relevant stakeholders, what is important to them and what should be focused on from 2023-2027.
The feedback will help draft a Corporate Plan which will then go before Wealden District Council’s decision making Cabinet committee and Full Council for further input and final agreement.
The progress and delivery of the Corporate Plan will then be measured and reported to council committees on a regular basis.
The last Wealden District Council Corporate Plan covered a period from 2019-2023 and despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the council achieved many of its aims.
The authority delivered more than530 affordable and 1,200 market homes across Wealden; is taking an active role in delivering new healthcare facilities in Mayfield, Hailsham and Polegate; declared a detailed climate action plan to become net zero by 2050 or sooner and provided more than £320,000 to charities and organisations within the community.
In addition, the council secured more than £28m for infrastructure within the district; is continuing to work with partners to deliver new school places and major highways improvement;, and is also providing £2.5m to town and parish councils.
Wealden District Council leader Ann Newton said, “The Corporate Plan sets out our direction, aims and priorities as a district council for the next four years.
“We are consulting on our next Corporate Plan now as we want to know what is important to our residents and what our priorities should be from 2023-2027. Whether it's supporting local businesses and our high streets, helping older people and disabled people that need support, delivering housing for local people, promoting activities that improve health and well-being or creating new employment opportunities, we want to know what's important to you.
“I would urge everyone to let us know by filling in the survey online or by completing a form and sending it back to us.”
The consultation runs from now until 30th September and to take part visit: www.wealden.gov.uk/corporateplan where information and achievements of the previous Corporate Plan can also be found.