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

Road Closure: Framfield Road (from Turn off to Tanyards) 21st September to 13th November

20

August 2026

Road Closure: Limes Lane into Framfield Road 21st September to 13th November

IMPORTANT ROADWORKS INFORMATION

Framfield Road, Buxted

Dear Resident / Business owner,

20 August 2026 We’ll soon be carrying out repairs to the culvert headwall located on Framfield Road, Buxted, to help stabilise the road and maintain the drainage system.

When are the works taking place?

We’ll be working on Framfield Road, Buxted, from Monday 21 September to Friday 13 November 2026. To allow the work to be completed safely, Framfield Road will be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week between Limes Lane and Orchard Lane for the duration of the scheme. Our teams will be working on site between 7:30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

If there are any changes to the planned dates or working hours, we’ll update advance warning signs on site.

What are we doing? The project involves extending the upstream end of the stone culvert beneath Framfield Road and constructing a new headwall. We’ll also be installing new kerbs and a drainage gully, building timber fencing and fitting verge markers.

Traffic management and diversion route

During the closure, through traffic (including pedestrians) will not be able to use Framfield Road between Limes Lane and Orchard Lane. A signed diversion route will be in place via Limes Lane, Nan Tucks Lane and Orchard Lane, and vice versa. Temporary stop/go boards will also be used on Limes Lane to help manage traffic.

Access for residents

Access to properties will be maintained throughout the works. Residents will need to access their properties by foot and by vehicle from the Orchard Lane end of Framfield Road. It will not be possible to access Framfield Road from the Limes Lane end during the closure.

Please be polite and respectful to the site teams, who are working to keep everyone safe.

Information for residents and businesses Parking: If required, we will put out ‘no parking’ signs and cones to advise where parking is restricted. Please avoid parking in these locations as it may delay our works.

Waste collection: Waste collection will continue as normal.

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 may experience temporary disturbance while this work takes place, including noise, 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 https://one.network/. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter) https://twitter.com/esccroads or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EastSussexHighways/ for updates. If you would like to know more about East Sussex Highways and what we do, please visit our website https://live.eastsussexhighways.com/.

Thank you,

East Sussex Highways

19

August 2026

Free health checks available for eligible residents this autumn

One You East Sussex supported by Wealden District Council is bringing the free NHS health check roadshow to communities across Wealden this autumn.

Following the success of the previous roadshows, One You East Sussex will again be using its community outreach campervan, COLIN, to provide bookable NHS health check appointments and health advice. The appointments will take between 30-40 minutes and results will be discussed during the session. Spaces are limited and unlikely to be available on the day, so we encourage booking in advance. To make an appointment, email them or call 01323 404600.

Residents need to fulfil the following criteria to be eligible:

Aged between 40-74.
Be an East Sussex resident.
Are not currently prescribed blood pressure or cholesterol medications.
Do not suffer from Diabetes, heart, circulatory, kidney conditions or have not previously suffered from any cardiovascular events.
Have not previously had an NHS health check in the last five years.

New to this autumn roadshow, will be checks offered from Sea Road Car Park in Pevensey Bay.

The Roadshow dates and locations are:

Tuesday 8 September – Station Road East Car Park, Heathfield

Wednesday 9 September – Vicarage Lane Car Park, Hailsham

Tuesday 15 September – Luxford Car Park, Civic Approach, Uckfield

Wednesday 16 September – Croft Road Car Park, Crowborough

Tuesday 29 September – Vicarage Lane Car Park, Hailsham

Wednesday 30 September – Station Road East Car Park, Heathfield

Tuesday 6 October – Croft Rd Car Park, Crowborough

Wednesday 7 October – Luxford Car Park, Civic Approach, Uckfield

Wednesday 14 October – Sea Road Car Park, Pevensey Bay

Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health and Asset Management, said, “We are pleased to offer free health checks again, a healthy community begins with everyone taking the time to care for themselves. Even when you feel fine, taking the time to have a check-up can help protect your own health. Small steps today can prevent bigger challenges tomorrow, and together we can create a healthier future for all.”

Hattie Deacon, NHS health checks lead, One You East Sussex, said, “The Wealden Roadshow has been a huge success over the past couple of years. Each session has consistently booked up very quickly, reflecting the demand across all the communities in Wealden. Feedback from attendees has been positive, with many expressing gratitude for having access to such an important health service right on their doorstep. The convenient, accessible locations and the warm, welcoming environment have helped break down barriers to healthcare and encouraged more people to take proactive steps in looking after their health.”