There are no Council meetings in August – apart from one Planning Committee meeting so it is always quieter than other months.

Parish Council grants

One of the important roles of the Parish Council is to provide grants to organisations within the Parish to help them move forward with their own projects. Our grants policy can be found on the Parish Council website at: https://mayfieldfiveashes-pc.gov.uk/latestparishcouncilnews/finance-2 It is located in the “Key Documents / Finance” dropdown menu when you access the site along with the grant application form in Word and pdf formats. Individual grants may be made available up to a maximum of £500 and they must be match funded so applicants must cover at least 50% of total project cost.

If you are planning to apply for a grant payable in 2027/28 the latest date your application and requested financial information must be submitted is 30 September 2026. If you do not have internet access, please contact the Parish Council office on 01435 873784 so a copy of the grants policy and application form can be provided.

Fletching Street Road Closure

Further to the August 2026 Newsletter article the Parish Council is greatly concerned on the impact of the Fletching Street road closure, particularly as it has been extended to midnight on 18 September 2026 – the night before the Bonfire Festival.

Scotia Gas Netwroks (SGN) engineers are replacing around 185 metres of metallic gas main with a new larger plastic main to supply businesses and homes. The delay in completing works is because tank traps were found beneath the road which was not anticipated.

Built across Britain in 1940 and 1941, as part of emergency anti-invasion preparations to slow down or immobilize enemy tanks, aroad tank trap consists of flush-topped metal or concrete sockets built directly into the road surface. In an invasion emergency, workers removed the covers and dropped heavy vertical steel rails or girders into the holes to block enemy armoured vehicles. Upright steel beams (often lengths of railway track) would wedge into the road sockets, creating a barrier that tank tracks could not easily push aside

A senior manager at SGN has informed has confirmed they will do everything in their power to reopen Fletching Street for the Bonfire Festival, and they are confident it will be achievable. For any loss of business due to the road closure, there is information on compensation at: https://www.sgn.co.uk/help-and-advice/customer-service/guaranteed-standards/compensation

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Update

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the government has announced a modified version of the One East Sussex proposal. This will see East Saltdean, Peacehaven and Telscombe become part of Brighton & Hove City Council, with the remainder of East Sussex forming a single unitary authority.

Elections for the new council are expected in May 2027. The new authority will be formally set up following that election and will initially run in shadow form until taking on its responsibilities in April 2028.  

Joint statement from ESCC leaders to the Government’s modified plan for East Sussex:

“While this decision shows that the Government has largely accepted the case that East Sussex will flourish best as a unitary county, it is deeply disappointing this has been compromised by the severing of some of our communities and an unjustified expenditure of time and resources that will bring risk and cost.

Local opposition, clearly stated multiple times, has not been heard or listened to, so we will be demanding the Secretary of State publishes his full justification and evidence base for this decision, including the outcome of both Government consultations.

As the One East Sussex partnership we maintain that East Sussex would be in a stronger position as one unitary authority on the existing county footprint and recognise that the Government announcement will be particularly concerning for many of the people, staff and organisations in East Saltdean, Peacehaven and Telscombe who opposed the Government’s plan and expressed a desire to remain in East Sussex.

We are determined to ensure that future arrangements for local government in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove are dedicated to serving local people and delivering excellent local services.

While we will be exploring the options available to us, and for some councils that includes legal action, this decision means that we will be preparing for the election of a new shadow Unitary Authority for East Sussex in May 2027.

Conversations with all our communities and partners will continue to be crucial as we work with them to shape the new council and ensure that they are well supported through the transition.

Delivery of local government reorganisation is a big undertaking but we start from a strong position because of the quality of what the existing six councils already deliver in partnership with the NHS, emergency services and voluntary and community organisations.

Throughout the reorganisation process, all the existing councils in East Sussex will continue to deliver services, and we will be prioritising service continuity through the transition.

We are committed to working closely with our partners to protect local services and secure the best possible outcome for the people and communities of East Sussex.”

Ward Budget Scheme

Following the success of 2025/2026 funding given for the Ward Budgets scheme, Wealden District Council (WDC) has provided further funding for councillors to continue to invest in projects in their wards.  Each Ward Councillor has been allocated a further budget of £10,000 to be able to provide funding for locally focussed community projects and initiatives that aim to improve outcomes for residents of those wards, as well as contributing to the delivery of the WDC Strategy. The 2026/27 Scheme will close to applications on 28 February 2027 and all organisations are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of that cut-off date, as many ward councillors make their decisions on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information visit:

https://www.wealden.gov.uk/councillors-and-committees/councillor-ward-budgets-scheme

Wealden Community Sports Hub

The Wealden Community Sports Hub is now open, creating new opportunities for residents of all ages to get active, improve their wellbeing, take part in community life and build new connections.

Located near the Boship roundabout on the A267 in Lower Dicker, Hailsham, the £16.7 million state-of-the-art sports hub has been developed to meet the growing need for accessible sport and recreation facilities across the district.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a wide range of high-quality sports and community facilities, including two full-size floodlit 3G football pitches, four floodlit netball and tennis courts, two floodlit padel courts, a children’s play area, a skate park, and a perimeter trail for running, cycling, and walking. There is also a community café, flexible community space, modern changing facilities including a Changing Places toilet, 200 parking spaces with electric vehicle charging points, and a dedicated coach drop-off area.

Leisure United has been appointed to operate and manage the Hub on behalf of WDC. For more information about the Hub and how to contact Leisure United to enquire about availability, user registration and ways to enjoy the site, visit: https://letstalk.wealden.gov.uk/community-sports-hub-exhibition Address: Wealden Community Sports Hub, New North Street, Hailsham, BN27 4GF.

Scam Alert

Sussex police is urging residents to be vigilant following several reports of rogue traders operating across the Wealden district. The men have been calling at properties claiming they are working in the area, before telling homeowners they have identified a problem with their drains. They then offer to inspect the drainage free of charge, before claiming to have found a fault and demanding large sums of money for unnecessary or poor quality work. In one reported incident, a resident has lost £800 for work that never needed to be done.

Residents are reminded not to agree to work offered by doorstep callers. If you think repairs are needed, always seek a second opinion from a reputable, trusted trader before committing to any work or making a payment. If you are concerned about rogue traders operating in your area, or believe you or someone you know has been targeted, please report it to Sussex Police on 101.