Parish Council elections on 4^th May 2023

Reminder: Residents wishing to be considered at the Parish Council elections must submit their nomination papers to the Elections Office at Wealden District Council in Hailsham by 4pm on Tuesday 4 April 2023. It is strongly advised to submit them by hand at their offices in Hailsham. It is possible to post them, but it is inadvisable as they will not be accepted if the post is delayed. The deadline is absolute and no nominations will be accepted after that time.

Bike ramp

Unfortunately, during the last month the bike ramp that was installed in the wooded area adjacent to the skate park has been dug into and it is now not fit for use. The Council Tax funds used to install this have therefore been completely wasted. The possible removal of the ramp will be considered at the Council meeting in April as in its current form it is too dangerous to be used.

Compensation for loss of water supply

Information from Nus Ghani’s MP on the South East Water compensation complaints is that a dedicated platform has been launched to gather evidence and there have been several hundred submissions. Another meeting with SEW directors was convened to demand answers about the compensation chaos. The campaign has had some success and nearly £1M worth of compensation payments have already been distributed to impacted households and businesses. There is more to be done and a review of all postcodes affected has been requested so that Wealden customers do not miss out on compensation payments. 

Great British spring clean

Residents in Wealden are encouraged to help in clearing litter that blights the district during the Great British Spring Clean 2023. This year’s mass campaign brings together individuals, community organisations, businesses and councils to make a difference to the environment on our doorstep.

Wealden District Council is calling on residents to show pride in their area by pledging on Keep Britain Tidy’s website to pick a bag or more of litter, helping make a huge difference to the environment. In partnership with Biffa, Wealden council is keen to support volunteers by providing litter picking equipment and arranging for the litter to be collected. Priority for new equipment will be given to any new groups volunteering and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Waste sacks and waste collection services are available to all groups.

Snow clearance

Hopefully any more possible snow and ice is now behind us. Complaints that the High Street was not cleared during the winter cold snap have been recently discussed. The responsibility to clear the snow does not fall on the shoulders of the Parish Council, however, in previous years, this has been done by the owners of the High Street businesses. Fear that a business could be sued if someone slips on cleared snow might account for why this was not done.

Government advice confirms that despite some media reports to the contrary, it is extremely unlikely that someone who has attempted to clear snow in a careful manner will be sued or held legally responsible if someone slips or falls on their property. This view has been reflected on its website https://www.gov.uk/clear-snow-road-path-cycleway and the Government expects people walking on snow and ice to have responsibility to be careful themselves.

Further to this, there is an obligation on business owners to clear the publicly accessible areas of their premises. It is more likely that a business will be held responsible for a slip on ice or snow where it is perceivable that they would have known of the hazard and done nothing about it.

How to clear snow and ice

When you clear snow and ice:

• do it early in the day – it’s easier to move fresh, loose snow
• don’t use water – it might refreeze and turn to black ice
• use salt if possible – it will melt the ice or snow and stop it from refreezing
• you can use ash and sand if you don’t have enough salt – it will provide grip underfoot
• pay extra attention when clearing steps and steep pathways – using more salt may help

Council Tax reduction scheme

Council Tax demands from Wealden District Councils (WDC) have now been issued. Households with low incomes across Wealden are set to benefit after a scheme to reduce the amount of Council Tax they have to pay was approved. Previously only pensioners, subject to their income, could receive 100 per cent support towards their Council Tax and some working age people could receive 80 per cent support.

Following a decision by WDC, people of working age can also get the full amount of support in a bid to ease the financial pressures being experienced by low-income households. The revised scheme increases the maximum relief from 80% to 100% and will support those in the greatest financial distress irrespective of Council Tax band. Crucially it will support working families. To find out more about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme visit: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/benefits/who-can-get-council-tax-reduction/

Temporary road closure

Lake Street is scheduled to be closed from the junction with Little Trodgers Lane to the junction with Pennybridge Lane from 20^th April 2023 to 17^th May 2023 to allow UKPN to carry out apparatus repair works. The diversion will be via the A267, B2100 Wadhurst Road, Best Beech Hill, Tidebrook Road and vice versa.

Explore Wealden

A new Explore Wealden Guide has been launched by WDC offering readers the chance to explore the beauty and diversity of the local area. The guide is the ultimate companion for those seeking adventure and exploration with Wealden’s unspoilt views of dramatic coastlines, rolling downland, ancient woodland and stunning heathland.

The council is encouraging residents and visitors to get out and support local businesses and tourist attractions. It is estimated that the total value of tourism activity to Wealden is £358.2 million and supports 8,743 jobs (2019 figures). 

Whether people are seasoned locals or curious tourists, the guide is packed with everything needed to make the most of time in Wealden. It includes details of all visitor attractions, vibrant market towns to unspoilt villages with heritage architecture. Visitors can satisfy their hunger by sampling locally sourced food in one of the many excellent pubs, restaurants, cafes and bistros, visit a brewery or vineyard to experience how local beers, wines and ciders are made or experience the creativity of some of the world’s most revered artists, writers and creatives at award-winning galleries, houses, gardens, and festivals.

For a copy of the guide go to a local library, garden centre or alternatively, visit: www.explorewealden.co.uk/whats-on-and-more/maps-and-attractions-guide

Handyman

We are still 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.

Street Learning programme released

The Street Learning programme has been released for April to July 2023. It offers FREE practical, educational and wellbeing courses to residents in Wealden, aged 19 and above. The project offers free courses to help develop new skills, enhance existing ones, and expands on education, encouraging growth and self-confidence. The booklet is split into different areas:  Health and Wellbeing, Employment and Education, Creativity, Family and Practical Skills – so there really is something for everyone.

Visit www.wealden.gov.uk/streetlearning, @StreetLearning.Wealden on Facebook, or email streetlearning@wealden.gov.uk for more information and feedback left by others who have attended the courses. Street Learning is a project run by Wealden District Council in partnership with ACRES, East Sussex College, East Sussex County Council Library, Job Centre Plus, GRH Training, Compass Community Arts and Heathercroft.

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.org.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: http://www.mayfieldfiveashes.org.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