This February, many residents received an anonymous flyer through their doors advocating that the old Fire Station should be used as ‘Plan C’ for the new medical centre in Mayfield. Ian Parker (Parish Council Chairman) has already re-assured residents on Facebook that the flyer and its content have nothing to do with the Parish Council (PC) and that there is no intention of changing course from the current scheme to build the integrated community hall and medical centre, which is backed by the majority of our community.

The flyer also provided no provenance for the information it contained and had errors. For example, the Fire Station does not have the facilities needed as the available floor area is only about half that of the current planned medical centre. Plus, suggestions that a mezzanine floor could be inserted in the Appliance Hall where the fire engine was parked are misguided as the position of roof trusses do not give sufficient height. 

The scheme in the flyer suggested that a re-purposed Fire Station scheme suitable as a Health Centre, together with a new Community Centre on the site of the Memorial Hall, was said to cost around £5 million, however the PC does not have that amount of money.  The combined community hall and medical centre is a joint project with Wealden District Council (WDC) and Mayfield & Five Ashes Parish Council’s contribution is capped at £3.1 million. Much of this is financed by a Government loan and grants from various sources which would have to be renegotiated if we changed course – causing delays and with no assurance of success. Importantly, the project has chiefly been made possible through substantial financial support from Wealden District Council, for which we are most grateful, and who have made it clear that they would not support a scheme involving the Fire Station. Neither is there any suggestion that the NHS would approve the Fire Station scheme.

We can therefore confirm that the PC has no intention of changing course for this scheme or any other which has no planning permission, proper costings or finance. In fact, following considerable amount of time and dedicated work, the project is progressing as planned and we have planning permission, funding, contractors and the necessary final draft agreements in place.  These documents received approval at the PCs February 2026 meeting and are due to be signed shortly, with work on site currently scheduled to begin in a few weeks. Meanwhile, we remain on course for a 60 week build schedule with competition in Spring 2027.

The completed project will provide a 460m2, state-of-the-art community centre, including a dedicated Mayfacs office, a purpose-built lower ground floor health centre (350m2), and  car parking for 80 cars (50% more than currently exist). The top-level design drawings can be seen on the Parish Council website.

There will inevitably be disruption during the build as for the whole time the Court Meadow car park will be out of action since it will be a building site. In addition there will be no parking permitted for 30-40 metres of Tunbridge Wells road downhill from the car park entrance to allow large vehicles to enter and leave the site. Pedestrian access will be via a footpath available 24/7 from the main gate to the schools, Scout & Guide Hall, Court Meadow and separate, dedicated walkway to the Band Hut. The site itself will have a fence and hoarding surrounding making it safe and secure. We are also liaising with the schools and making arrangements for parents to use the Fire Station car park as a short term drop off point.

We apologise for this inevitable disruption but we are doing our best to reduce it as far a possible.

Updates will continue be available in the newsletter and on the Parish website https://mayfieldfiveashes-pc.gov.uk/ and the village Facebook, however, if further news is issued that residents need to be informed of before the next newsletter is published, it will be posted on the above platforms.

17 February 2026