Mayfield’s new Community & Health Centre forges ahead

Work will shortly begin on progressing the architects’ brief for a new combined community hall and health centre at Mayfield.

This follows the signing of an agreement between Mayfield and Five Ashes Parish Council and Wealden District Council as part of the redevelopment of the memorial hall site at Court Meadow.

“The Covid pandemic has underlined a national need to encourage healthy lifestyles,” said Councillor Bob Standley, Leader of Wealden District Council. “Providing opportunities for fitness and social activities alongside medical facilities can bring real community benefits. This has been already seen elsewhere in the District with the success of the Herstmonceux health coach project.

“The Mayfield scheme will provide the benefits of integrative health facilities with the well-being opportunities provided by a modern community hall. Wealden District Council is very pleased to be supporting local GPs through the development of the new surgery. We will be working alongside Mayfield and Five Ashes Parish Council, who will be responsible for the new community hall.”

 “We are delighted to be partnering Wealden District Council in the building of our new state of the art Community and Health Centre,” said Cllr Gill Weavers, Chairman of Mayfield and Five Ashes Parish Council.  “This is an enormous step forward for the future of our Parish ensuring that the health and wellbeing of all our residents remains high on our priorities.”

A memorandum of understanding was signed by representatives of Mayfield and Five Ashes Parish Council and Wealden District Council on 2 February. The Parish Council and District Council will work together on all aspects in the development of the Mayfield Community & Health Centre. 

An earlier survey carried out by the parish council, showed 76% of respondents supported the idea of a combined health and community facility.

If development work goes smoothly, the new Community & Health Centre is likely to be ready in 2023. The new community facilities will replace the existing memorial hall at Court Meadow which is more than 60 years old. The East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group is supporting the project. 

The new community facilities will assist local doctors in enhancing local health care by prescribing a range of physical and social activities designed to improved patients’ health and wellbeing. These can help with long term medical conditions and support people’s mental health.