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

Residents to begin to receive food waste collection letters across Wealden, Hastings and Rother

17

March 2026

Residents to begin to receive food waste collection letters across Wealden, Hastings and Rother

Residents in Wealden, Hastings and Rother will soon receive a letter confirming the date for their first food waste collection.

Under the Simpler Recycling Regulations, the government requires all councils to collect food waste every week. Wealden District Council, Hastings Borough Council and Rother District Council are therefore implementing weekly food waste collections from March.

Food waste makes up around 30% of the average household rubbish bin. The weekly food waste collections will help reduce the amount of waste that is sent for incineration.

Collections will be introduced in phases from the end of March, so not all households across Wealden, Hastings and Rother will start at the same time. Because of this staggered rollout, it is important that residents do not begin using their food waste caddy until they have received their letter confirming their start date and collection day.

Each household will receive a letter shortly before their service begins, explaining when to start using the caddy and which day food waste will be collected.

Councillor James Partridge, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) lead councillor for Governance, Waste & Local Economy and leader of the council, said, “Please wait until you have received your letter before starting to use your food waste caddy, as the service is being introduced in phases across the district, and not all collections will start at the same time. It is important not to use your caddy until you know when its contents will be collected!”

“This is a good thing that will help us reduce the amount of waste in our household bins. By separating food waste, we can reduce the amount of waste which is incinerated and make a real difference to the environment.”

Councillor Jo Walker, lead for Environment and Neighbourhood Wellbeing at Hastings Borough Council and chair of the East Sussex Joint Waste Partnership, said, “We are pleased that very soon residents across Hastings, Wealden and Rother will be able to use the new food waste service. Once processed at Veolia’s composting facility, the food waste will be turned into soil conditioner that can be used to help plants grow. This will then be used by local farmers, and it will be available to buy from local Household Waste Recycling sites in East Sussex called Pro-Grow.”

Councillor Hazel Timpe, portfolio holder for neighbourhood services, tourism and waste at Rother District Council, said, “The introduction of a food waste collection service in Rother is a very positive move. It will reduce the amount of waste that is incinerated and help to protect our environment.

“I urge all residents to please wait until you have received your letter informing you of your collection date before starting to use your caddy.”

Trevor Elliott, Biffa’s senior business manager, said, “We’re pleased to support Wealden, Hastings, and Rother as weekly food waste collections are introduced across the area. This development will help households recycle more and reduce the amount of waste sent for incineration. We’re working closely with our council partners to help ensure a smooth rollout for residents. By separating food waste, we can all contribute to a more sustainable environment.”

For more information, visit:
https://www.wealden.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/how-does-your-service-work/food-waste/

12

March 2026

East Sussex Fire and Rescue - free Home Safety Visits

We offer free Home Safety Visits where our team visit homes to:

Identify fire & rescue related risks and take steps to prevent them, for example fitting free smoke alarms and other equipment
Offer a range of guidance to keep people safe and independent in their own home. This includes identifying health and wellbeing needs to give advice or refer individuals (with their consent) to one of our partners to help them gain the support they need.

Please refer to the links below for more information: