Five Ashes Ash Trees

Over the past years, the Parish Council and Wealden District Council have been monitoring the condition of the ash trees in Five Ashes suffering with ash die-back. It was hoped that they might start to show some kind of resistance to the disease, but this has not happened. Following conversations with the WDC Tree and Landscape Officer, it is with a very heavy heart that it has been agreed that they should be taken down. As the trees are in the Conservation Area, planning permission will be required first. The plan is to fell the trees in the new year, grind out the stumps and replace with disease resistant strains of ash. Residents are welcome to contact us with their thoughts on this.

Mayfield High Street

There continue to be complaints that residents are still not cleaning up after their dogs in the High Street. This is particularly unpleasant if you have little ones walking to school –  what an unpleasant start to the day if it is stepped in! Further complaints have also been received of dogs not being cleaned up after at Court Meadow.  Please be reminded that all he litter bins can be used for dog waste, it does not only have to be placed in the dog bins.

Pollution update

Further to our September article with regards to the pollution event in Five Ashes, we have learned that it occurred due to an incident at the Southern Water sewage works situated off Meres Lane. The Environment Agency has carried out impact assessments and increased the oxygen levels to the River Rother in the surrounding area as a precaution.

Handyman

We are looking for someone who would be happy to be engaged for odd jobs around the Parish. This might include sweeping up bark chips in the play area, weeding and tidying up the flowerbeds etc. If you are interested and would like to find out more, please contact the office. 

Temporary road closures and upcoming works

Meres Lane in Five Ashes is scheduled to remain closed from the junction with Frog Hole Lane to the  A267 from 10^th to 11^th  November 2022 to allow South East Water to carry out apparatus repair works.

Heathfield Leisure Centre passed back to East Sussex County Council

Wealden District Council’s 20-year partnership between East Sussex County Council and Freedom Leisure has ended and has been handed back to the county council. Following a decision by the county council, from 17 October 2022, Heathfield Leisure Centre is now available to Heathfield Community College for curriculum use only. Current users of Heathfield Leisure Centre can use facilities at neighbouring leisure centres in Uckfield, Crowborough and Hailsham, which continue to be operated by Freedom Leisure.

Be aware of cost-of-living scams

With the cost of living rising the need for loans and financial support also increases as many struggle to pay household bills without extra help. This is enabling fraudsters to successfully exploit heightened emotions, needs and fears and the number of online scams is increasing. Here is a list of the scams circulating with very convincing and persuasive messages followed by some tips to help you protect yourself.

Types of scams

• Texts purporting to be from ‘Gov.org’ or the ‘DWP’ inviting applications or claims for cost-of-living payments. In fact, payments are made automatically so there’s no need to make such a claim.
• Bogus emails, texts or calls claiming to be from the local council requesting bank or card details so that the £150 council tax rebate can be paid. Again, this is not needed to receive the payment.
• Fake messages about energy payments relief purporting to be from Ofgem, the energy regulator. Payments are actually being overseen not by Ofgem, but the Treasury.
• Emails, texts, or calls claiming to be sent by energy suppliers offering switching deals, cheaper tariffs, discounts on prepayment meters or rebates.
• WhatsApp scams where you receive a message from someone on a number you don’t recognise claiming to be a family member or friend, informing you they have changed their phone number. A short while later, they request money to solve ‘a problem which needs payment’, also known as the ‘Friend in Need’ or ‘Mum and Dad’ scam.
• Advertisements, emails, texts or social media posts offering either non-existent loans or those with incredibly high interest rates, to help you through a period of financial hardship.
• An invitation to join ‘get rich quick’ schemes or jobs, with seemingly (so probably) impossible returns. These range from supposed high return pension and other investment schemes to being paid for the use of your bank account – the latter almost certainly resulting in money muling, a criminal offence in its own right.
• A general increase in ‘traditional’ scams offering great deals on tickets, holidays, vehicles, consumer goods, fashion, and other things you purchase online. What you buy is either non-existent or not as advertised.

Protect yourself

• Do your research: never send money to anyone you don’t know personally or buy anything you’re not entirely sure of.
• Look out for spelling and grammatical errors in emails and texts, not being addressed by your name and poor layouts.
• Never reveal personal or financial data including usernames, passwords, PINs, or ID numbers.
• Don’t open email attachments or click on links in communications from unknown sources.
• Make sure your antivirus software is up to date and run a scan before opening anything you’re suspicious of. Always update software, apps and operating systems when prompted, or set them to update automatically.
• Think before you click: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

To check whether a website is likely to be legitimate or fraudulent, enter its address at getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite.

Access more local information via www.westsussex.gov.uk/staying-safe-online and national information via www.getsafeonline.org.

Queen’s Green Canopy – Plant a tree in memory of The Queen and add it to the national map

This national tree planting initiative, set up to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee has been extended to create a living legacy in her name. Trees planted in community spaces and on private land from gardens to farms can be dedicated. The Queen’s Green Canopy is a network of trees to help improve the environment for everyone and celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service. For tree planting information and to see what has been happening in East Sussex visit: www.ruralsussex.org.uk and look for ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ under ‘Our Services’.

High Weald AONB Management Plan

Feedback is being sought on the next High Weald AONB Management Plan due to be published in 2024. A draft version will be available for public consultation in late Spring 2023, but in the meantime, early feedback is needed on some of the new topics they hope will be incorporated, including climate change and soil health. Your comments can help shape the next Management Plan and how the High Weald AONB is managed for the next 5 years. Visit https://www.highweald.org and have your say.

Council pledges £250K to help tackle cost of living pressures

Councillors at Wealden District Council have agreed to earmark a £250,000 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. 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.

Instagram – mayfieldvillagelife 

Available to for Mayfield and Five Ashes, this site can be messaged with details of a local event or alternatively, contact Cllr Sally Ann Tibbles: sally-ann.tibbles@mayfieldfiveashes-pc.gov.uk

and she will put it information up for you. The site ‘mayfieldvillagelife’ is a picture book of activities in this Parish. (Press ‘follow’ at the top of the page and you will be notified of posts as they appear.)

Parish Council Meetings

The meeting schedule on the website: https://mayfieldfiveashes-pc.gov.uk/ shows this month’s Council and Committee meetings as well as agendas, minutes of meetings and other meeting documentation

Janna Todd, Parish Clerk 

Old Manor House, High Street, Mayfield TN20 6AL 

Telephone 01435 873784          E-mail: clerk@mayfieldfiveashes-pc.gov.uk