WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL - TAXES

 

  INVESTORS IN FOSSIL FUELS, AND HOUSES FOR OVERSEAS INVESTORS, CAUSING HIGH COUNCIL TAXES AND  LOCAL ECONOMIC INSTABILITY

Please use our A-Z INDEX to navigate this site or see HOME

 

 

 

We are hopeful that with a change of heart in the Wealden District that policies which have driven the planet to the brink in terms of global warming, acid oceans, desertification, and a failure to accord heritage assets beneficial uses to offset routine maintenance costs, may now become priority areas, in line with economic policies to get make this country fiscally solid - after years of irresponsible borrowing and overspending by the government of the day. Leading to the £2.7 trillion pounds of debt, that nobody in their right mind would have contracted for. A breach of trust that breaks all bargains with the present administration. Boris Johnson being the most recent lead, according to the media. We don't just need a change of leader with business as usual policies, we need change to something better. We must find a way to stop politicians from any party borrowing to sustain an unsustainable lifestyle based on the poorly founded belief, that any country can afford to keep borrowing. Our national debt is staggering, almost doubling with 'The Johnson' at the helm. And it all begins on our doorstep. What is happening locally, is happening in Whitehall.

 

 

 

 

Daisy the cow is worried about the future of life on earth

 

 

DAISY SAYS - Pardon me for asking, but if there are thousands of houses being built in and around Herstmonceux, where are all the infrastructure improvements? Daisy wonders if Wealden's policies as to fossil fuel investments, and the promotion of executive housing over affordable homes, is un-sustainable?

 

 

 

Wealden District Council under the former lead, was identified by some local groups as a kleptocratic administration, working for the rich against the poor. Or, we'd have genuinely low cost housing. But we don't.

 

They also spent a ton of ratepayers cash seeking to prevent the restoration of one the most important historic assets just outside the village of Herstmonceux, 500 yards from Gardner Street (A271), in one of the worst cases of institutionalised discrimination this country has seen, since Adolf Hitler set up his concentration camps in Nazi Germany. At least when Adolf set out on a eugenics agenda, he did it overtly. Wealden, operate covertly, because it would be illegal for them to openly admit to targeting people they deem to be undesirable. It makes us wonder if we would have been better off under Adolf.

 

Even today, in June 2023, Wealden have denied the 'Trust,' that is seeking to protect the old generating buildings, a reasonable and beneficial use; Fraud. This is not simple maladministration, as in a straightforward error. This is deliberate and calculated misfeasance in public office as an ongoing agenda, thus malfeasance, a common law offence. A crime. We could not print it, if it was not true.

 

Why would anyone do such a thing? Maybe it is because they can - or could. In May 2023 the Conservative task masters lost control of the region. In the past, they appear to have enjoyed causing harm to the historic built environment, since they had spent well over Five Hundred Thousand Pounds (£500,000) of your tax dollars, to hide the truth, between 1981 and 2000.

 

Up to 2019, they were batting for Peter Townley. Now in 2023, we are trying to decide who they are batting for. Our opinion. Peter Townley was the owner of The Rectory, until 2019, a stooge for the council, and the council operating to benefit their patsy for well over 30 years. The new, and present owners are Ms Finn and Mr Flood, a couple who have developed the Old Rectory, without a Historic Assessment, without parking controls, and without complying with the Party Wall Act. All such requirements swept aside with help from Councillors Ray Cade and Pamela Doodes, who appear to have done nothing to protect our local heritage, and of course Wealden's planners, who lied to at least 3 planning inspectors and just as many High Court judges, denying the history on their doorstep, in the process, fraudulently denying the occupier(s) grants from 1985/6 - the rest one massive cover up. The councillor's responsible have gone, but perhaps one or two the planning officers remain, or at least there earlier agenda. And it's worth remembering that in the past, the civil servants controlled the members, with selective reports, gossip and the like. All geared up to steering a decision a particular way. Instead of telling the truth.

 

We will report on the events as they happen, and you can decide for yourself what is happening. Let us have your opinion of local politics, and maybe then, collectively, we'll be able to influence policy at national level.

 

The vendetta that has taken place, was only possible because our Parliament created statute that allowed such rampant civil servant abuses. The target building, still has no reasonable or beneficial use in 2023. We are though hopeful the war of attrition is over, as the occupying Trust seek Museum Accreditation into 2024.

 

In theory, the Head of State is ultimately responsible. But so far Her Majesty and King Charles III, have (effectively) simply washed their hands of it, distancing themselves from the reality that their Realm, is rife with corruption. The sad truth is, that historically, the land was ruled by corruption and corrupting, bribing, or otherwise cajoling powerful landowners to support the King or Queen. Today, we have the honours system, Gongs for those towing the party line. This included granting lands for supporting the King/Queen. Including, licensing pirates on the high seas, as privateers, to loot and sink ships of other nations, where such ill gotten gains boosted the Treasury.

 

 

 

WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL - GREEN PARTY MEMBERS IN 2023

 

 

 

 Patricia Patterson Vanegas

Forest Row

 

 

 Rachel Millward

Hartfield

 

 

Ian Tysh

Maresfield

 

 

 Alison Wilson 

Arlington

 

 

Graham Shaw

Buxted

 

 

Martyn Everitt

Crowborough St Johns

 

 

Christina Coleman

Danehill & Fletching

 

 

Sarah Glynn-Ives

Frant & Wadhurst

 

 

 

 

 

Cornelie Usborne

Horam & Punnetts Town

 

 

 Greg Collins

Horam & Punnetts Town

 

 

 Jessika Hulbert

Withyham

 

 

 

WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL - INDEPENDENT PARTY MEMBERS IN 2023

 

 

 

 KEVIN BENTON

HEATHFIELD SOUTH

 

 

 DANIEL BROOKBANK

PEVENSEY BAY

 

 

MIKE GADD

HEATHFIELD NORTH

 

 

 SPIKE MAYHEW

UCKFIELD NEW TOWN

 

 

BERNADETTE REED

UCKFIELD & LITTLE HORSTED

 

 

DANIEL SHING

POLEGATE SOUTH & WATERMILL

 

 

OI LIN SHING

POLEGATE NORTH

 

 

RAYMOND SHING

UPPER WILLINGDON

 

 

 

 

 

STEPHEN SHING

LOWER WILLINGDON

 

 

DAVID WHITE

HELLINGLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCILLORS - LIBERAL PARTY MEMBERS IN 2023

 

 

 

 ALISON ARTHUR

CROWBOROUGH SOUTH WEST

 

 

ANNE BLAKE-COGGINS

HAILSHAM SOUTH

 

 

GAVIN BLAKE-COGGINS

HAILSHAM EAST

 

 

 JANE CLARKE

CROWBOROUGH CENTRAL

 

 

NEIL CLEAVER

HAILSHAM CENTRAL

 

 

PAUL COLESHILL

PEVENSEY LEVELS

 

 

 MARK FAIRWEATHER

HERSTMONCEUX & PEVENSEY LEVELS

 

 

PAUL HOLBROOK

HAILSHAM NORTH

 

 

GARETH OWEN-WILLIAMS

POLEGATE

 

 

JAMES PARTRIDGE

CROWBOROUGH NORTH

 

 

GLYNN WHITE

HAILSHAM NORTH

 

 

KELVIN WILLIAMS

UCKFIELD EAST

 

 

 

 

 

ANDREW WILSON

CROWBOROUGH SOUTH EAST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNCILLORS SERVING IN 2017 INTO 2018

 

 

Dick Angel - Kevin Balsdon - Jo Bentley - John Blake - Bob Bowdler - Don Broadbent - Norman Buck - Raymond Cade - John Carvey

  Lin Clark - Nicholas Collinson - Nigel Coltman - Ronald Cussons - Barby Dashwood-Morris - Dianne Dear - Phil Dixon - Pam Doodes

  Claire Dowling - Jan Dunk - Louise Eastwood - Philip Ede - Helen Firth - Jonica Fox - Roy Galley - Richard Grocock - Chris Hardy

Steve Harms - Jim Hollins - Peter Holloway - Johanna Howell - Toby Illingworth - Stephen Isted - David Larkin - Andy Long - Michael Lunn

Philip Lunn - Barry Marlowe - Nigel McKeeman - Rowena Moore - Kay Moss - Douglas Murray - Ann Newton - Ken Ogden

Amanda O'RaweCharles R Peck - Diane Phillips - Mark Pinkney - Major Antony Quin RM - Ronald Reed - Dr. Brian Redman

Carol Reynolds - Greg Rose - Peter Roundell - William Rutherford - Daniel Shing - Oi Lin Shing - Raymond Shing - Stephen Shing

Angela Snell - Robert Standley - Susan Stedman - Rupert Thornely-Taylor - Roger Thomas - Bill Tooley - Jeanette Towey - Chriss Triandafyllou

Peter Waldock - Neil Waller - David Watts - Mark Weaver -Graham Wells - David White - John Wilton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNCILLORS SERVING IN 2006 INTO 2008

 

Lord Abergavenny
Christina Berry
Bruce Broughton-Tompkins

Don Broadbent
Frank Brown
Norman Buck
Raymond Cade 
Jane Clark Mrs
Ronald Cussons
Nick Ellwood
Dr Ian Haffenden
Steve Harms  
Paul Holbrook
Jim Hollins
Pat Kennedy
Margaret Kirkpatrick
David Logan
Mrs Sylvia Martin
Roy Martin
Nigel McKeeman
Linda McKeever
Ian McKirgan
Ian Mein
Anna Monaghan
Laura Murphy
Lynda Myers

The Lord Newton
Ian Nottage
Niki Oakes
Raymond Parsons
Diane Phillips

Eddie Powell
Geoff Rowe
Ivy Scarborough
Tony Seabrook
Paul Sparks
Robert Sweetland

Rupert Thornley-Taylor
Sylvia Tidy
Stuart Towner 
Brian West

Alan Whittaker
Keith Whitehead

 

 

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL WARMING - The Sun provides us with an infinite supply of energy upon which all life on earth depends. Our blue planet has experienced many climate changes in its history, including the ice age when amazing creatures such a the Dinosaurs and Mammoths suffered extinction. Man is artificially warming the planet by burning fossil fuels in some kind of economic arms race that cannot be sustained and must be brought under control if we are not to extinguish the lives of many more species such as the Polar Bears in the Arctic.

 

  

 

 

COUNCILLORS SERVING IN 2017 INTO 2018

 

Dick Angel
Councillor Dick Angel

Heathfield Nth & Cenrl - Cons

 

KIevin Balsdon
Councillor Kevin Balsdon

Pevensey and Westham - Cons

 

Jo Bentley
Councillor Jo Bentley

Hailsham South and West - Cons

 

Bob_Bowdler
Councillor Bob Bowdler

Heathfield East - Cons

 

Linda Clark
Councillor Lin Clark

Pevensey and Westham - Cons

Deputy Chairman Standards

 

Nicholas Collinson
Councillor Nicholas Collinson

Hailsham Central & North - Cons

Portfolio Community Leadership Human Resources

 

Nigel Coltman
Councillor Nigel Coltman

Hailsham Central and North - Cons

Chairman of Licensing

 

Dianne Dear
Councillor Dianne Dear

Pevensey and Westham - Cons

Dep Chair of Planning South

 

Phil Dixon
Councillor Phil Dixon

Rotherfield - Conservative

Dep Chair of Audit Finance

 

Pam Doodes
Councillor Pam Doodes

Ninfield & Hooe with Wartling

Conservative - Vice-Chairman

 

Claire Dowling
Councillor Claire Dowling

Uckfield Central - Cons

Dep Ldr Public Health Safety

 

Janet Dunk
Councillor Jan Dunk

Heathfield North & Central - Conservative

 

Philip Ede
Councillor Philip Ede

Alfriston - Conservative

 

Helen Firth
Councillor Helen Firth

Uckfield New Town - Cons

 

Jonica Fox
Councillor Jonica Fox

Cross-in-Hand/ Five Ashes - Conservative

 

Roy Galley
Councillor Roy Galley

Danehill/ Fletching/ Nutley - Cons

Portfolio Economic Dev & Waste Man

 

Richard Grocock
Councillor Richard Grocock

Hailsham South and West - Cons

 

Chris Hardy
Councillor Chris Hardy

Hartfield - Cons- Chairman

 

 

 

Jim Hollins
Councillor Jim Hollins

Crowborough West - Cons

 

Peter Holloway
Councillor Peter Holloway

Forest Row - Conservative

 

Johanna Howell
Councillor Johanna Howell

Frant/ Withyham - Cons

Ch Planning North

 

Toby Illingworth
Councillor Toby Illingworth

Buxted & Maresfield - Cons

 

 

Stephen Isted
Councillor Stephen Isted

Crowborough Jarvis Brook - Independent

 

Andrew Andy Long
Councillor Andy Long

Herstmonceux - Cons

 

Michael Lunn
Councillor Michael Lunn

Buxted & Maresfield - Cons

 

Phillip Lunn
Councillor Philip Lunn

Crowborough East - Cons

 

Barry Marlowe
Councillor Barry Marlowe

Uckfield Ridgewood - Cons

Dep Ch Licensing

 

Rowena Moore
Councillor Rowena Moore

Forest Row - Conservative

 

Kay Moss
Councillor Kay Moss

Crowborough St Johns - Cons

Dep Chair Overview & Scrutiny

 

Douglas Murray
Councillor Douglas Murray

Willingdon - Conservative

 

Anne Newton
Councillor Ann Newton

Framfield - Cons

Portfolio Planning & Dev

 

Amanda O'Rawe
Councillor Amanda O'Rawe

Hailsham East - Conservative

 

Mark Pinkney
Councillor Mark Pinkney

Hellingly - Conservative

 

Dr Brian Redman
Councillor Dr Brian Redman

Mayfield - Conservative

Chairman of Standards Committee

 

Ronald Reed
Councillor Ronald Reed

Crowborough North - Conservative

 

Carol Reynolds
Councillor Carol Reynolds

Uckfield North - Cons

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greg Rose
Councillor Greg Rose

Crowborough East - Cons

Chair Overview & Scrutiny

 

Peter Roundell
Councillor Peter Roundell

Danehill/ Fletching/ Nutley - Cons

Chairman Audit Finance

 

William Rutherford
Councillor William Rutherford

Frant/ Withyham - Cons

 

Daniel Shing
Councillor Daniel Shing

Polegate South - Ind Democrat

 

Oi-Lin Shing
Councillor Oi Lin Shing

Polegate North - Ind Democrat

 

Raymond Shing
Councillor Raymond Shing

Willingdon - Independent Democrat

 

Stephen Shing
Councillor Stephen Shing

Willingdon - Independent Democrat

 

Angela Snell
Councillor Angela Snell

Polegate North - Conservative

 

Robert Standley
Councillor Robert Standley

Wadhurst - Conservative

Leader of the Council

 

Susan Stedman
Councillor Susan Stedman

Horam - Conservative

Chair Planning South

 

Roger Thomas
Councillor Roger Thomas

Heathfield North & Central - Cons

 

Jeannetter Towey
Councillor Jeannette Towey

Crowborough West - Cons

 

Chris Triandafyllou
Councillor Chriss Triandafyllou

Hailsham South and West - Cons

 

Peter Waldock
Councillor Peter Waldock

Uckfield North - Cons

 

Neil Waller
Councillor Neil Waller

Crowborough North - Cons

Dep Chair Planning North

 

David Watts
Councillor David Watts

Chiddingly & East Hoathly - Cons

 

Graham Wells
Councillor Graham Wells

Wadhurst - Cons

Portfolio Housing & Benefits

 

David White
Councillor David White

Hellingly - Independent

 

John Wilton
Councillor John Wilton

East Dean - Conservative

 

 

 

Sunset in the Wealden District 2017 copyright photograph

 

 

RED SKY AT NIGHT - A view looking from Herstmonceux Museum in East Sussex toward the village. A classic sunset of which we hope there will be many more. The old Generating Station just outside the village envelope of Herstmonceux, once provided electricity to the whole village. The industrial complex is a contender as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the only surviving early example anywhere in the world, where battery storage was used for load-levelling. A feature some 125 years ahead of its time. Under the Conservatives, Wealden District Council kept this heritage asset deprived of any reasonable or beneficial use, by way of a deliberate agenda of attrition - contrary to their Duty of Care - to protect the historic built environment. Copyright photograph June 2017 all rights reserved Lime Park Heritage Trust. For years near neighbours in Lime Park denied the history of this building, engaging in slanderous character assassination, with WDC, helping Peter and June Townley, and Henry Arnell (trading as Lime Park Estate Ltd) to acquire the historical premises at an undervalue, by refusing to accept the history attaching to the buildings. Procurement to order, to effect a change of ownership is illegal. Isn't it about time Wealden told the truth?

 

 

 

 

 

COUNCILLORS SERVING IN 2006 - 2010

 

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Lord Abergavenny
Councillor Lord Abergavenny

Frant/Withyham Conservative

 

Councillor Raymond Cade   

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Christina Berry
Councillor Mrs Christina Berry

Polegate North

Liberal Democrat

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Bruce Broughton-Tompkins
Cllr Bruce Broughton-Tompkins

Crowborough St Johns Cons

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Frank Brown
Councillor Frank Brown

Danehill/Fletching/Nutley Cons

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Norman Buck
Councillor Norman Buck

Buxted & Maresfield

Cons Deputy Leader Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Change Management

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Jane Clark
Councillor Mrs Jane Clark

Crowborough East

Liberal Democrat

Chairman Select Committee

 

Councillor Ronald Cussons

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Nick Ellwood
Councillor Nick Ellwood

Hailsham South and West

Wealden Independent

Leader, Wealden Independent Group

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Dr Ian Haffenden
Councillor Dr Ian Haffenden

Hailsham South and West

Wealden Independent

 

Councillor Steve Harms 

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Paul Holbrook
Councillor Paul Holbrook

Hailsham Central and North

Liberal Democrat

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Jim Hollins
Councillor Jim Hollins

Hartfield Conservative

Deputy Chairman, Environment Scrutiny Committee; Chairman Liquor & Entertainments Licensing Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Pat Kennedy
Councillor Mrs Pat Kennedy

Buxted & Maresfield

Conservative Chairman of the Council

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Margaret Kirkpatrick
Cllr Mrs Margaret Kirkpatrick

Heathfield North & Central

Conservative

Cab Port Holder Housing 

& Community Development

 

photo - link to details of Councillor David Logan
Councillor David Logan

Rotherfield

Conservative

Cabinet Portfolio Holder Finance & Assets

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Sylvia Martin
Councillor Mrs Sylvia Martin

Danehill/Fletching/Nutley

Conservative Dep Chairman

Select Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Roy Martin
Councillor Roy Martin

Polegate North Liberal Democrat

Deputy Chairman Dev Ctrl

South Sub-Committee

 

Councillor Nigel McKeeman

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Linda McKeever
Councillor Mrs Linda McKeever

Pevensey and Westham

Conservative

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Ian McKirgan
Councillor Ian McKirgan

Crowborough Jarvis Brook

Wealden Independent

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Ian Mein
Councillor Ian Mein

Crowborough East

Lib Dem Vice Chairman and 

Deputy Chair Dev Nth Sub-Com

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Anna Monaghan
Councillor Mrs Anna Monaghan

Wadhurst

Conservative

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Laura Murphy
Councillor Mrs Laura Murphy

Hailsham Central and North

Leader of the Liberal 

Democrat Group

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Lynda Myers
Councillor Mrs Lynda Myers

Frant/Withyham

Conservative

Deputy Chairman 

Regulatory Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Ian Nottage
Councillor Ian Nottage

Uckfield Liberal Democrat

Dep Chair Liquor and 

Entertainments Licensing

 

 

 

 

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Niki Oakes
Councillor Mrs Niki Oakes

Heathfield North & Central

Conservative

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Raymond Parsons
Councillor Raymond Parsons

Forest Row

Conservative

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services and Chair Personnel Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Diane Phillips
Councillor Mrs Diane Phillips

Crowborough West

Conservative

Chairman Community Scrutiny Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Geoff Rowe
Councillor Geoff Rowe

Hailsham South and West

Wealden Independent

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Ivy Scarborough
Councillor Mrs Ivy Scarborough

Polegate South

Wealden Independent

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Tony Seabrook
Councillor Tony Seabrook

Willingdon

Liberal Democrat

Deputy Chairman Community Scrutiny Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Paul Sparks
Councillor Paul Sparks

Uckfield North

Liberal Democrat

Deputy Chairman Internal Scrutiny Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Robert Sweetland
Councillor Robert Sweetland

Uckfield Ridgewood

Liberal Democrat

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Sylvia Tidy
Councillor Mrs Sylvia Tidy

Chiddingly & East Hoathly

Conservative

 

Stuart Towner

Councillor Stuart Towner 

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Brian West
Councillor Brian West

East Dean

Conservative

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Keith Whitehead
Councillor Keith Whitehead

Alfriston

Conservative

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development &

 

 

Rupert Thornley-Taylor

Conservative - Former Leader

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 - Herstmonceux in Sussex is not what it used to be. Villagers are being forced to rent in towns, rather than being able to live where they were brought up - at reasonable prices. In modern England, councils are operating against the interests of young families. Rents for new builds in Herstmonceux are exorbitant. The rich get richer and the poor, poorer.

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS IN OIL

 

Word has it that Wealden's officers have been investing your tax dollars in oil companies. If that is the case, and with oil set to devalue progressively as diesel and petrol vehicles are phased out, should the council not think about re-investing in renewables, and cutting their (our) losses?

 

Your taxes have been used to perpetuate reliance on fossil fuels, with petro-dollars being used by Russia to invade the Ukraine, does that make Wealden fossil fools?

 

We wonder if your CIL payments are being used to provide fat pensions for council chiefs, rather than going to improve access roads and other facilities. What do you think. And what about all those potholes. Why do we pay so much for our Road Fund Licences, when only 5% goes on building and maintaining roads? Presumably, that leaves 95% for backhanders.

 

 

REFERENCE

 

https://www.wealden.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/heritage/heritage-statements/
https://www.wealden.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/heritage/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please use our A-Z INDEX to navigate this site