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

Kids go free on the bus this August

31

July 2026

Kids go free this August

Children aged 5-15 can travel free on most bus services throughout August.

Each bus operator has their own rules on proof of age, numbers of passengers and if children need to be accompanied. Please check before travelling.

Bus companies with free travel for kids

East Sussex County Council - Flexibus
Stagecoach
Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus
Compass Travel
CTLA (excluding Dial a Ride) – Community Transport for the Lewes Area
Wealdlink (scheduled services) – North Wealden Community Transport
Cuckmere Buses
Rye & District Community Transport

21

July 2026

Applications being considered by the Parish Council during the summer break

Clerks: Miss B Macklen & Mrs C Feltham, PO Box 202, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 1BN

e: clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk w:buxtedparishcouncil.gov.uk

DATE: 21^st July 2026

NOTICE OF PLANNNG APPLICATIONS

Wealden District Council have notified Buxted Parish Council of the following planning application(s).

The deadline set for our response is prior to the next planning committee meeting, so the council members will be considering this application via email.

We are placing this notice on our website to make residents/neighbours aware of the application(s).

Wealden District Council are the Local Planning Authority who will make the final decision on this application.

Please submit any comments to Wealden District Council via email (planning@wealden.gov.uk) and cc: the parish council (clerk@buxted-pc.gov.uk)

1. Application: WD/2026/0359/F

Expiry date for responses to WDC: 11 August 2026

Location: WHITE COTTAGE, BURNT OAK ROAD, HIGH HURSTWOOD, BUXTED, TN22 4AE

Description: proposed demolition of existing single storey detached double garage and erection of a new two storey detached holiday let/AirBNB

2. Application: WD/2026/1353/LB

Deadline for responses toWDC: 4^th August 2026

Location:The Old Maypole Farm, Hurstwood Road, High Hurstwood, Buxted, TN22 4AH

Description:specialist repair and conservation works to the timber frame, infill panels, replacement of brick infill to timber frame with breathable lightweight insulated panels following removal of internal modern stud walls linings, replacement of modern wall lining with breathable lightweight insulated wall lining, associated works.

3. Application No. WD/2026/1277/PIP

Description: application for permission in principle for erection of a single residential dwelling

Location: Land at Spindles, Howbourne Lane, Buxted, TN22 4QB

Wealden District Council has received the above mentioned application and in accordance with the requirements of Articles 5J to 5M of the Town and Country Planning (Permission in Principle) Order 2017 (as amended) invites you to comment on the proposal. The application is not a full planning application but seeks permission in principle in accordance with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Permission in Principle) Order 2017 (as amended). If you wish to comment on this application, you should do so in writing, any comments you may wish to make should be made by 7^th August 2026.

Details of this planning application, including plans, drawings and other documents received, can be viewed on-line by visiting: https://planning.wealden.gov.uk/Planning/Display/WD/2026/1277/PIP

4. Application: WD/2026/1427/F

Deadline for responses to WDC: 13 August 2026

Location: The Folly, High Street, Buxted, TN22 4LA

Description: exterior material changes to dwelling and extension to existing bathroom with additional proposed garage and driveway extension. Proposed solar PV panels to be put on garage roof. New gates at entrance.

Planning Inspectorate – Appeal

The below application is subject to an appeal. Planning Inspectorate Ref: 6013214

Application: WD/2026/0324/PIP

Location: Sandpits Yard, Pound Green Lane, Etchingwood, Buxted, TN22 4PU.

Description: application for a permission in principle for erection of a dwelling and associated development. Demolition of workshop/storage building.

Information: The Secretary of State considers that the written representations procedure be followed for this appeal. The procedure to be followed is set out in Part 2 of The Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (England) Regulations 2009, as amended. Please Note: Any views received in writing by the Council at the application stage will have been forwarded to The Planning Inspectorate, the Inspector will consider these comments when determining the appeal. The Planning Inspectorate have released a new online appeals service which you can use to comment, or modify/withdraw your previous representation: https://appeal-planning decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/enter-appeal-reference

Deadline: 1^st September