Wheelie bin woe 

There has been an increase in the number of complaints of wheelie bins being left out in Mayfield High Street. This is a polite request to ask residents and retailers to bring wheelie bins back in as soon as possible after your collection day. When left out on the high street, they can block the pavement for wheelchairs and prams, cause a bit of an odour, and impact how our lovely High Street looks. Please help with keeping our community safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone!

Assistant Clerk

The Parish Council is pleased to announce that it will be seeking to employ a part-time Assistant Clerk starting 1st April 2027 with recruitment commencing in the new year. This new position represents a strategic step for our council’s future, as the role is explicitly designed with succession planning in mind. The successful candidate will work closely with the Clerk and Councillors to gain comprehensive knowledge of local governance and procedures with the eventual possible promotion to the role of Parish Clerk. Please contact the Parish Council office for more information.

Speed Indicating Devices Update 

At the Community Safety and Traffic Committee meeting in October the following speed data from the speed indicating devices in Five Ashes was shared. The data covers the period from July to August 2026. Data shows that traffic has returned to normal levels (the previous period having covered the road closure at Argos Hill). The figures do seem to show a gradual improvement in traffic speed and hopefully this will continue. 

The figures in bold indicate those that would receive a ticket if logged on a speed camera.

Period	Jul-Aug 2026	Apr-Jun 2026	Jul – Sep 2025
% Under 35mph	93.36	93.07	92.20
% Over 30mph	31.25	30.66	32.38
% Over 35mph	6.64	6.93	7.80
% Over 40mph	1.33	1.41	1.72
% Over 45mph	0.28	0.30	0.39

Community Speed Watch

There are now ten members in the Five Ashes and Mayfield group however work commitments do limit how often sessions can be arranged. Additional members would give greater flexibility and allow sessions to be undertaken more frequently. In the first nine months of 2026 there were 26 sessions, 13 in Five Ashes and 13 in Mayfield. Three had to be cancelled due to lack of resource. 

243 vehicles were exceeding the allowed limit out of a total of over 8552 (2.84%). Those logged will have received a letter from the police to that effect. If anyone appears on a list twice, they receive another ‘reminder’ letter and if they appear regularly they are visited by the police and may be cautioned. Data is held centrally (by registration number) so someone could be noted on a Five Ashes list and on one from Horam for example. Two vehicles this year have been logged in different sites and one has appeared twice on here in the Parish. If you are interested in joining the group please contact the Parish Council office for more information.

Wealden Local Plan consultation

Wealden District Council is preparing a new Local Plan. The new Local Plan will be the key planning document for the district, excluding the area covered by the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). The Wealden Local Plan will guide how the district develops up to 2042 and will set out a vision, identify where development will take place and include strategic and non-strategic policies supporting social, environmental and economic (sustainability) goals. Once adopted, it will form part of the Development Plan for the district, replacing all existing local plan policies, guide decisions on planning applications, and help inform investment and infrastructure provision. Overall, this Plan will help meet the district’s needs while protecting the natural and built environment. It will support growth alongside infrastructure, services and facilities that communities need and help deliver the Council’s climate change objectives. You will need to be prompt as the consultation closed at Monday 02 November 2026 at 5pm. The link for more information is: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/new-local-plan/

Crowborough Army Camp

Wealden District Council has welcomed the start of work intended to support the return of more local cadets to facilities at Crowborough Army Camp. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has confirmed that fencing work began this week around two buildings used by cadets. The work is intended to prevent access to the buildings at any time by anyone other than the cadets and their adult volunteers, providing further reassurance to them and their parents and carers.

The first phase is under way, with the MOD intending for some cadet activity to resume by the end of October and training potentially to restart in November. A contractor has also been appointed to install fencing around the second building, with completion expected in time for the Air Cadets to start parading there before Christmas.

Wealden District Council has repeatedly raised concerns about the displacement of cadets from the camp and the loss of access to important training facilities since being used to house asylum seekers in January. Earlier this year, the council called on the Home Office to take the action needed to enable the cadets to remain, including funding additional works where necessary.

Beware of scam calls

Scammers purporting to be from the Sussex Police Cyber Crime Unit have been targeting members of the public and requesting personal information, including passwords and other sensitive details. It has been reported that the caller ID may appear to show a legitimate police phone number, however, these calls are being made from alternative sources. Please remember Sussex Police will never ask for your passwords, bank details, PIN numbers or other sensitive financial information over the phone. These fraudsters may change the name of the police unit they claim to be from, so remain vigilant.

Sussex Police would like to reassure the public that their phone lines are operating as normal. If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from Sussex Police, let them know by filling an online reporting form or you can call 101.

Wealden election job vacancies

Wealden District Council is looking to increase their pool of local people available to work at elections. This is an opportunity for residents to support their local community, earn some extra income and gain valuable experience. Poll Clerks work alongside the Presiding Officer to ensure the polling station runs smoothly, safely and efficiently throughout the day. You will welcome voters, issue ballot papers, assist with paperwork and help maintain the integrity of the election process. Previous election experience is not necessary, as full training and support are provided. You can find details of how to express an interest by contacting the Elections Team at elections@wealden.gov.uk with any questions.

Remember hedgehogs: simple checks before lighting a bonfire

The Chief Executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) has informed of the simple steps everyone can take to protect hedgehogs and other wildlife when lighting bonfires this autumn. This bonfire season, BHPS is asking people to follow a three-point plan to help reduce the risk of harming hedgehogs. A bonfire pile looks like a perfect readymade home to a hedgehog seeking a safe winter nest to hibernate in. They have no idea we’re about to set light to it! By taking a few minutes to stop, move, and check your bonfire pile:

Stop – do you need to have a bonfire? Can you attend an organised community event instead? The fewer bonfires there are, the fewer wildlife casualties there will

Move – if you do decide to have a bonfire, only build it on the day you plan to light it. Move all collected materials to a new site just before burning, in case hedgehogs, other wildlife, or pets have decided to hide inside.

Check – before lighting from one side only, check the entire bonfire pile carefully for wildlife, shine a torch inside and gently lift each section with a pole or broom as you look. Never use a spade or fork as these can cause great harm. Also listen for the huffing sound of a hedgehog which has been disturbed.

If you do find a hedgehog, using gardening gloves, gather it up with its nest and place in a high-sided box with a lid with plenty of torn newspaper or towelling. Ensure the lid has air holes and is firmly secured – hedgehogs are great climbers! Place the box somewhere safe and quiet, such as a shed or garage and offer the hedgehog some meaty cat or dog food or cat biscuits and water. Once the embers are totally dampened down that night, release the hedgehog under a hedge, bush or log-pile near where it was found, with its original nesting materials and some more food and water.