Buxted Parish Council

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

The parish is divided into two wards – Buxted/Five Ash Down (10 councillors) and High Hurstwood (5 councillors). Councils are elected for a term of 4 years. Council meetings are held on the second Tuesday in every month (except August and January), alternating between High Hurstwood Village Hall and Five Ash Down Village Hall, at 19.00. Meetings agendas are displayed one week in advance on the Parish notice boards in Buxted (on the Ionides Trust site), High Hurstwood (outside the village hall) and in Five Ash Down (outside the Village Hall) and on the website. The agenda includes a list of any planning applications received from Wealden District Council for consultation. All meetings of the Council and its committees are open to the public, who are welcome to ask questions or raise issues with the Council before the meetings formally begin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Latest Parish News

Merry Christmas to residents from Wealden District Council

22

December 2025

As Christmas fast approaches and we say goodbye to 2025 and welcome in 2026, Wealden District Council leaders are wishing residents, businesses and organisations a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The year began with work to shape what the council landscape would look like in 2028 when local government reorganisation will see Wealden cease to exist and new, larger, unitary councils formed alongside locally elected Mayors. Wealden’s focus for the next two and a half years is to leave a legacy of fairer and kinder communities which are more climate and biodiversity friendly.

Leader of the council and Alliance for Wealden councillor James Partridge and chief executive Trevor Scott have highlighted the work and achievements of the authority over the last 12 months.

Councillor Partridge says “We have achieved so much this year, making a lot of progress in so many different areas and holding true to our promise to reduce the problems our communities experience and leave a lasting legacy for the district.

“We secured planning permission to build two brand new GP practices, one at Polegate and Willingdon and another at Mayfield. Building will start next year. The buildings will be owned by the council and rented to the NHS. The income will create a long-term sustainable source of income for the council and provide state of the art medical facilities for those communities.

“We built 18 homes for social rent and for two for shared ownership at Coronation Place in Uckfield. These stunning homes meet the highest environmental standards and two of them are adapted for people with disabilities. We were delighted that the development was shortlisted for an award at the Inside Housing Development awards.

“We have invested in the Cuckoo trail - the old disused railway track that connects Heathfield and Horam and is now a thriving space for 300,000+ visitors every year who walk or cycle the track. In January we will open a newly constructed cycling café that sits on the site of the former railway station. For families, we launched new interactive virtual trail games and activities.

“£16m is being spent on a state-of-the-art multi-sports park on the outskirts of Hailsham and building started back in the Summer. Due to open in 2026, it will have 3G football pitches, tennis courts, padel courts, netball courts, a skate park(designed with local skaters) and a 1.5km jogging path.

“Plans for a new solar farm and sustainable waste depot at Knights Farm West have been agreed and the final touches to our £5million employment centre in Crowborough are being made before the first tenants move in in the New Year.

“We have allocated over £1.1million in grants to local community groups, helping to fund cricket nets, rugby facilities, resurfacing two hockey pitches and investment in other sports clubs.”

Trevor Scott, Chief Executive said:

“The Climate emergency and drive to net zero is fundamental to our Council’s mission.

“We gave grants totalling £465,000 to two local community bus companies to fund new electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Money saved on running costs will allow both companies to convert their entire fleet over the next five years taking out tonnes of carbon and ensuring a vital service to our rural communities.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in electric vehicle ownership across the district, thanks to our investment in off street charging points across our car parks

“Work on our Local Plan continues at a pace with more than 12,000 responses to our recent consultations.

“A ‘Wealden takeover’ of the Sussex Arts magazine, ROSA, to promote the cultural sector in the district was an arts and culture first for the South East, and not only promotes our cultural offer but has sound economic justification with a £12 return on every £1 we invest in this sector.

“We are doing what we can to help local people remain in the district. Over the last 3 years, we have seen over 3000 new homes built in our district. Within that, we have secured more than1000+ affordable homes and we have given planning permission for a further 9000 units.

“In addition, just under half of the £52 million of council spend this year has been with local businesses and we have collected £14million in Community Infrastructure Levy money – to support infrastructure across the district.”

“It really has been a remarkable year for us here at the council and it just remains for me to wish all of our residents a very happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year.”