HERSTMONCEUX PARISH COUNCIL A to Z

 

  THE PARISH COUNCIL A TO Z FROM 2015 TO 2025 - HERSTMONCEUX COUNCILLORS - CORE MEMBERS REMAIN UNCHANGED ALLEGEDLY OVER TEN YEARS OF LOCAL ELECTIONS?

 

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GREED IS DESTROYING OUR HERITAGE - Heritage views are fast disappearing from villages as councils scramble to give developers free reign in return for more rates to bolster their coffers, despite the fact that we are in the middle of a climate emergency. Such councils and the developers taking advantage of them are nothing short of climate criminals in the view of country lovers and history buffs. Charles Church Developments Limited shares the same registered office as Persimmon plc. Potentially raising questions as to water pollution, stemming from their conviction in Wales around 2021, when they were fined something like 433,000 in Newport Magistrates.

 

 

 

 



Q. Why would a good honest and hard working councillor want to be un-contactable? We were somewhat confused, so asked a hard working AI Chatbot:

 

A. In the UK, the tension between a councillor s right to privacy and the public's right to transparency is governed by a specific legal framework. While "concealing" an address might feel like a deception, there are specific statutory mechanisms that allow and increasingly encourage councillors to keep their home addresses off public-facing websites for safety reasons. This may be 'Association' advice to make it difficult for victims of crime to identify local government corruption on their doorstep.

However, there are strict limits to this, and "identity hiding" is generally not permitted under the law.

1. The Statutory Requirement (Localism Act 2011)

Under Section 29 of the Localism Act 2011, every Parish Council is required to maintain a Register of Interests. This register must be published on the Parish Council's website (if it has one) and on the District/Borough Council s website.

The Address Rule: Traditionally, a councillor s home address is considered a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) because they have a financial interest in that land. And that is the rub. We do not know if any of these councillors, past or present, have shares or other financial arrangements, with any of the developers within Wealden: Charles Church; Clarion; Persimmon. Beginning with Timothy Watson and his wife, the owners of land, under investigation. And any other relationship with a councillor, pecuniary or otherwise. If so, any such interest must be recorded in a public Register of Interests. Another interest, is keeping development away from their own property boundary. Though it could be that Wealden have the pecuniary interest, including of course, CIL payments and increased council tax revenue.

The "Sensitive Interest" Exception (Section 32): If a councillor (and the Monitoring Officer of the principal council) believes that disclosing their home address could lead to violence or intimidation, they can register it as a "Sensitive Interest." In this case, the public register will simply state that an interest exists but the details are withheld.

 

Have their been any violent incidents in the sleepy village of Herstmonceux? We suspect not. And if not, we suspect the/any Section 32 exception is falsely claimed. On the other hand, a Parish councillor recently threatened to "get" a member of the public, when the question was asked as to footpaths and photographing children, allegedly.

2. Can they use a "Generic Office Address"?

While councillors can withhold their home address from the public website via Section 32, they cannot "hide their identity."

Transparency Code: The Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities (and the Local Government Transparency Code 2015) requires the names of councillors and their responsibilities to be public.

The Role of the Monitoring Officer: All Parish Councillors must still provide their true home address to the Monitoring Officer at the District or Borough Council. The Monitoring Officer is the legal gatekeeper. If the councillors are hiding their addresses even from the Monitoring Officer, or providing false information, they are committing a criminal offence under Section 34 of the Localism Act 2011.

3. Misfeasance and Accountability

If the entire Parish Council is using a single office address as a "shield" to prevent the public from knowing who they are or where they live (without a legitimate "Sensitive Interest" designation from the Monitoring Officer), this could be argued as:

A Breach of the Code of Conduct: All councils must adopt a code consistent with the Nolan Principles (Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership).

Willful Lack of Transparency: A blanket policy of hiding identities is contrary to the spirit of the Local Government Act 1972, which assumes that councillors are representatives of their specific community.

4. How to Obtain Proper Representation

If you believe the Parish Council is acting as a "secret society" to avoid accountability for the planning issues mentioned herein, there are several "Common Law" and statutory routes:

Challenge the Monitoring Officer: Write to the Monitoring Officer at East Sussex County Council (or the relevant District Council). Ask them to confirm if the "Sensitive Interest" designation has been formally granted to every member of the Parish Council. If not, they are in breach of the law.

Freedom of Information (FOI): While FOI cannot usually force the disclosure of private home addresses, you can request the correspondence between the Parish Council and the Monitoring Officer regarding the decision to withhold addresses.

The Seven Principles of Public Life: You can file a formal complaint that the council is failing the principle of Openness. Under the Localism Act, the council must have a process for dealing with such complaints.

The "Qualifying Address": To stand for election, a councillor must have a "qualifying address" (living or working in the parish). If they are concealing their residence, you can challenge whether they are even legally qualified to sit on the council.

SUMMARY

If the Parish Council is concealing their addresses to avoid being "served notice" regarding (for example) the alleged well poisoning, or footpath issues, this looks like an aggravating factor in a conspiracy. In the eyes of the law, a councillor who hides their identity to facilitate an environmental crime is likely (allegedly) crossing the line from "private citizen" to "corrupt official."


 

 

Banner protest at planning application Lime Cross for 70 houses

 

 

Banner put up in support of the protest by the Herstmonceux Action Group, on the North facing garden fencing of the Old Rectory. The owners of the Rectory building are potentially one of the most affected by applications: WD/2014/2663/MAO and WD/2015/0090/MAO.

 

 

 

 

 

HERSTMONCEUX PARISH COUNCILLORS 2025

 

 

Peter Goodman

Josephine Angear

Ketrill Game

Emma Goodsell

Peter Goodman

Josephine Angear

Ketill Game

Emma Goodsell

Michael Goodsell

Sheelagh Game

Colin Keane

Bryan Naish

Mick Goodsell

Shelagh Game

Colin Keane

Bryan, Naish

David Harding

Jeremy Harrison

Ian Stewart

Claire Harrison

David Harding

Jeremy Harrison

Ian, Stewart

Claire Harrison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EVIDENCE - Is this evidence of a crime in progress? This roadway, allegedly constructed by Charles Church and Persimmon Homes, leads to what locals are calling 'Shit Creek', from Suicide Junction on the A271, just before the brow of a hill, leading into Herstmonceux village. In the distance you can see what is believed to be the earliest electricity generation station in the world, dating from C.1896. A fact that Wealden and Herstmonceux Parish councils, working with East Sussex County Council, are alleged to have done their utmost to conceal from the heritage experts at UNESCO HQ in Paris. Copyright picture Injustice Alliance, 20 December 2025. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HERSTMONCEUX PARISH COUNCILLORS 2021

 

 

Josephine Angear

Ketrill Game

Jenny Alder

Josephine Angear

Ketill Game

Emma Goodsell

Michael Goodsell

Bryan Naish

Mick Goodsell

Heather, Kenward

Graham, Lee

Bryan, Naish

Nick, Porter

Catherine Stirling-Reed

Ian, Stewart

 

 

 

 

THE DEATH OF DEMOCRACY - 10 FEBRUARY 2015

 

Our understanding of democracy is that elected members of the public agree to do their utmost to represent the wishes of the people. The term "people" means the wishes of the majority of people.

 

So it was that on the evening of the 10th of February 2015, the main hall of Herstmonceux Primary School, a packed audience (standing room only) attended to join in the debate on the application that is causing serious controversy and stands to create a dangerous precedent.

 

Despite hundreds of villagers voicing their concerns as to the lack of infrastructure, overcrowding, and loss of tourism from ignoring a historic monument, the assembly were told by this council that they could only consider what they'd been told to consider by Wealden District Council. That is of course toffee. A district council does not dictate to a parish council what parts of National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) they should consider.

 

In all of this meeting there was not one mention of the historic monument likely to suffer, and how this application was going to meet the objectives of the NPPF, to protect that monument. This was because the applicant, a former estate agent and/or his family, had not included any tourism or other statements concerning access and enjoyment of such heritage assets. In other words, as alleged by the audience on the evening of the 10th, it appears to be a cook up job between Wealden, the Developer and this Parish Council and we'd like to know what was said behind closed doors, that may be the reason for this serious omission. A VERBATIM RECORDING of this meeting is available to interested media on request at no charge.

 

 

 

 

Herstmonceux Parish Councillors

 

 

Herstmonceux Parish Councillors - Being herded by Wealden's officers, members and other Conflicts of Interest. Declarations (or lack of declarations) of interest may want to be checked concerning this major outline application for 70 houses WD/2015/0090/MAO. It is alleged that the parish council are not acting democratically, as in not representing the wishes of the people. Rather, they appear to be representing the wishes of the district council. If that proves to be the case, or if a valid planning consideration has been deliberately omitted on the say so of the district council (Kelvin Williams and Robert Standley), then that is a decision that may be judicially re-viewable as per R v Canterbury City Council (ex parte Spring Image) and the Samuel Smiths Old Brewery case precedents. Any decision by a committee that fails to include in deliberations any planning consideration, the wishes of the people or the effect that such development may have on a monument at risk, is demonstrably ultra vires = invalid. That would then be a matter for the Administrative High Court.

 

 

 

 

Vote for a parish council and an MP that will represent the wishes of the people

 

 

CALLS FOR RESIGNATIONS 10 FEB 2015

Where a parish councillor, or any public servant, fails to conduct themselves in accordance with the strict rules set down for those pursuing a career in public life, they should be disciplined. This proposed development is fraught with issues, causing virtually the whole of the assembled audience to burst out spontaneously, calling for resignations. Here, here to that.

 

 

HERSTMONCEUX PARISH NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN - (SHAMBLES) FEBRUARY 2014

 

A meeting of Herstmonceux Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group was held at 7pm on 11 February 2014 in the main hall in Herstmonceux Primary School. The meeting was open to the public. The public more or less filled the hall to capacity.

 

During the meeting, two officers (Marina Brigginshaw and Natalie ?) from the Wealden District Council (WDC) attended in order to give a short presentation with visual aids. They could not get the projector working, but continued to give answers to questions, that did not really satisfy those asking. 

 

What is clear is that a/the Neighborhood Plan, if it is passed, will prevent Wealden from having a say. Whereas, if Wealden get their act together first, their plan takes precedence. We all know that WDC are always behind when it comes to Policy, and that might be because J D Moss is still enmeshed in the works, but that that officer should have been shown the door years ago against his conspiracy in the matter of copyright theft and related issues. But enough on that for now.

 

 

SUSTAINABILITY

 

When it comes to sustainability, it seems that there is no requirement for a developer to provide any affordable housing at all for applications of less than 6 units. Thus, all a developer has to do is apply in smaller batches to avoid having to provide any low cost housing - which will surely defeat the intention of this legislation - a sure sign that Wealden are still pandering to the wealthy, so effectively discriminating against local workers on a low wage. Surely, this is time for change.

 

In addition, there was no explanation as to what constitutes an affordable house? Is it one that a local worker might reasonably expect to be able to purchase with a mortgage based on his or her salary? As we say, there is no guidance. 

 

 

WINDFALLS

 

When asked about houses already built in the consultation period, Ms Brigginshaw explained that those do not count against the allocation of 70 new units. This took many of the audience by surprise - and indeed is somewhat of a shock. That means that the village could expand several times over the 70 units strategically identified as needed before 2027. So, when does the clock start ticking and who says what houses are included in the 70 and what houses are not. There is a lack of transparency and accountability when there is no strict tally. It's boom and bust time again by the looks of it. We'd rather see sustainable, steady development.

 

 

PARISH CLERK

 

From the discussion about members standing down, it seemed from the comments that the Parish Clerk may have been bullying members, in so doing crafting who could vote, and in so obtaining a decision more to her way of thinking. Has the Parish Clerk declared her interests? Hmmmm. If not, perhaps she ought to. It surely cannot be fair that she is wheedling out opponents to a scheme using their own honest declarations of interests - where each person may interpret what constitutes "an interest" differently. So, is the Parish Clerk subject to the same scrutiny. Surely, everyone in the village has a vested interest, meaning that the whole Steering Committee should disband - and leave the decision up to the Secretary of State. Can we trust local councilors to do the right thing when for years they have done nothing to protect local history that is recognized by no less than English Heritage. We believe in transparency in local government and accurately recording the facts. What about this council?

 

 

 

 

 

HERSTMONCEUX ACTION GROUP

 

The proposal eventually came to nothing, where an action group was formed and presented in strong numbers, in this case filling the village hall to capacity. The problem is that the developer, learned from the exercise and applied again to the District Council, all the while refining his application - and with 17,000,000 million pounds of windfall profits, he is likely to keep on banging on the door. This is surely cause for a windfall planning tax, where affordable housing in this case is not for real, but simply a phrase incorporated to tick the right boxes, to enable the building of expensive houses for maximum profits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE is clear from the number of signs that have been posted about the village. How then could the Parish Council ignore this depth of feeling. The village school hall is always overflowing when the subject comes up. We don't make the news, we just report it.

 

 

 

 

http://www.herstmonceuxparish.org.uk/

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Herstmonceux villagers do not want any more sheep to represent them. They want good honest people with minds of their own and the interests of the village at heart. The electorate do not want short term fixes, but long term stability and sustainable development. It is time to swap out the old practices and bring in some new blood with high moral standards and a good idea of what the term 'affordable' means, from their own experience of the local property ladder. http://www.lgo.org.uk/

 

 

 

 

More information can be obtained from the Parish Clerk on 01323 833312 or 

 

clerk@herstmonceuxparish.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

HERSTMONCEUX PARISH COUNCILLORS 2015

 

 

Bill Gower

Mr Bill Gower (Chairman)
Rewa
Lower Road
Herstmonceux BN27 1QG

01323 832532

Josephine Angear

Mrs Josephine Angear (Vice-chairman)
Penlands
Church Road
Herstmonceux BN27 1RJ

01323 832210

 Sheila Charlton

Mrs Sheila Charlton
Ivy Cottage,
New Road,
Herstmonceux, BN27 1PX

01323 833673


Angela Ashley

Ms Angela Ashley
22 Fairfield
Herstmonceux
East Sussex BN27 4NE

01323 832789

Ketrill Game

Mr Ketill Game
The Keys
Gardner Street
Herstmonceux BN27 4SU

01323 831917

Michael Goodsell

Mr Michael Goodsell
Little Hollingwood
Chilsham Lane
Herstmonceux BN27 4QQ

01323 832178

Bryan Naish

Mr Bryan Naish
Cobwebs, 29 Pippin Close
Orchard View
Windmill Hill BN27 4TU 

01323 833747

 Stephen Nash

Mr Stephen Nash
1 The willows
Gardner Street
Herstmonceux BN27 4TQ

01323 833203

Johnathan Tate

Mr Jonathan Tate
Two Acres
Lime Cross
Herstmonceux BN27 4RS

01323 833229

Kenneth Wheatley

Mr Kenneth Wheatley
Higham Farm
Gardner Street,
Herstmonceux, East Sussex BN27 4SX 

01323 832177

Irene Willson

Mrs Irene Willson
Butlers Farmhouse
Butlers Lane
Herstmonceux BN27 1QH

01323 833770

 

 

Finance Officer

Simon Goacher

Mr Simon Goacher
Cosi
Old Road
Magham Down
Hailsham BN27 1PR

01323 843210
Mob: 07802 416840
Fax: 01323 843210

finance@herstmonceux

Wealden District Council - District Councillor

 

Mr A Long
Allis Farmhouse
Marklye Lane
Rushlake Green
Heathfield TN21 9QH

Tel: 01435 830164
Mob: 07654 306738

 

East Sussex County Council - County Councillor

 

Mr W Bentley
15 Sandbanks Close
Hailsham BN27 3TJ

Tel: 01323 442582

cllr.bill.

 

 

 

Janet McInnes, Parish Clerk

 

PARISH COUNCIL CONTACTS

 

Mrs Janet McInnes (resigned)
The Parish Office
Herstmonceux Village Hall
Hailsham Road
Herstmonceux BN27 4JX 

Tel: 01323 833312
Mob: 07889 159824
Email: Parish Clerk

 

 

 

 

Windmill Hill as seen from Lime Cross, Herstmonceux

 

 

A view is an irreplaceable economic asset when it comes to tourism. In the picture above you can see the windmill that ground the wheat for the bakery (behind us), that baked the loaves, using electricity from Herstmonceux's very own generating station in Lime Park, just out of sight to the right on this photo. The local parish council is advocating building on this site, creating a cramped housing estate with no provision of infrastructure for schooling, drainage and a whole host of issues, not least of which is that the majority of villagers do not want this development. New houses can be built anywhere. A heritage asset such a a historic view can never be replaced, once it is lost. Why are the councillors of this Parish, the only ones in the village, who want this development? And, why are they not listening to the wishes of their constituency?

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/Herstmonceuxactiongroup  

 

 

 

 

 

Say no to large scale village development

 

 

The wishes of the people could not be more plain. Hundreds of people in the village are so concerned as to the inappropriate development, that they have hoisted banners or put signs in their windows and on vehicles. A decision that does not reflect the wishes of the voting public in not only un-democratic, it smacks of impropriety. How then did Herstmonceux parish councillors approve an application that so many of the electorate are opposed to ? To the many attending the meeting it stinks to high heaven - and they said as much on hearing this council's decision. http://www.cps.gov.uk/

 

 

 

 

Sussex Trugs, Herstmonceux - traditional craftsmanship in wood chestnut and willow

 

 

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Where it is alleged, that this parish council may be acting as a "closed shop," they may potentially, be breaching several areas of UK local government law and the Seven Principles of Public Life (The Nolan Principles).

Here is a breakdown of the law and codes of conduct as they apply to these specific issues:


1. Heritage Assets: The "World s Earliest Surviving" Power Station

The deliberate omission of a potentially globally significant asset from local lists or websites may be a breach of the Local Government Transparency Code.

The Duty: Under the Localism Act 2011, councils are encouraged to identify "Assets of Community Value." While a Parish Council isn't always the "Listing Authority" (that is usually the District Council or Historic England), they have a moral and ethical duty under the Nolan Principle of Openness to promote local heritage. But what can be done about it?

The Solution: Concerned locals can normally bypass their Parish Council entirely by applying to Historic England for "Listing" or to the District Council to have it added to their "Local List." However, in this instance Wealden District Council have no local list. Allegedly, for the same reasons as the Parish Council: keeping quiet about the heritage asset, as it may hamper their empire building aspirations, as in generating taxes.

If the Parish is suppressing information to facilitate development (like the 70 houses they helped Wealden to secure permission for), this reinforces the "Conspiracy" argument mentioned earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Unrecorded Footpaths: The "20-Year Rule"

Parish Councillors have walked these paths for at least 10 years, in the process speaking with dog walkers, but the legal threshold for a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) is 20 years of continuous use "as of right" (without force, secrecy, or permission). In this case some Herstmonceux residents confirm 40 years, and others 20 years. If anyone can add weight to these numbers, please use the Museum post box to provide your information. But, only if you have walked the unregistered paths seen on the Google Map above, for at least twenty years. Spread the word, if you are a dog walker, and would like this community asset protected in law.

The Conflict: If councillors have used these paths but refuse to register them, they are failing their duty to "Protect and Assert" the rights of the public under Section 130 of the Highways Act 1980.

Urgency: There is a "cutoff date" (currently projected for January 1, 2026) for registering historic paths based on pre-1949 evidence. If these are modern paths, you need 20 years of evidence from local residents to force the County Council to record them.


3. Photographing Children and Privacy

The police have confirmed and are correct that photography in a public place is generally legal. Thus, a member of the general public may photograph a councillor. However, for a public official, the context changes:

Code of Conduct: A councillor is bound by the Code of Conduct whenever they give the impression they are acting as a councillor. If they are "patrolling" paths and photographing private gardens/children, this likely breaches the requirement to "Treat others with respect" and "Not bring the office into disrepute."

Harassment: Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, a "course of conduct" (two or more incidents) that causes "alarm or distress" is a criminal offence. If children are "worried," the parents should document the dates/times and file a formal complaint with the Monitoring Officer, not just the police. Provided, of course, that their Monitoring Officer is not part of the chain of corruption. Where, sometimes the Chief Executive is the Monitoring Officer, a sign that a council is corrupted beyond belief. Perhaps? Especially, if that Chief Executive was part of a cover up, as to a heritage asset, from years before. As is alleged in this case.

 

Privacy: While you can take photos from a public place, pointing a camera into a private garden where there is a "reasonable expectation of privacy" can be a civil tort (invasion of privacy) and a safeguarding trigger.

 

There have been complaints, that a Parish councillor is regularly photographing children locally. The children are the complainants, and of course, their mother. The guardians of these children, hope this practice will cease.


4. Solicited Complaints (Victimisation)

If the council, or a councillor, is "soliciting" complaints against you for speaking out, this is a serious breach of the Local Government Act.

Malicious Reporting: It is a breach of the Code of Conduct to use council resources or influence to "bully" or "intimidate" a complainant.

Joint Enterprise: If one councillor says, or knows, this is happening, that councillor has a duty to report it. If they don't, they are also in breach. The same applies to any councillor, or council officer, who may have seen pictures of children, taken by another councillor or officer of any council.

 

 

 

LINKS

 

Cllr.Jo.Angear@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk
Cllr.Ketill.Game@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk

Cllr.Peter.Goodman@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk

Cllr.Shelagh.Game@herstmonceuxparish.org.uk

Cllr.Emma.Goodsell@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk

Cllr.David.Harding@herstmonceuxparish.org.uk

Cllr.Jeremy,Harrison@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk

Cllr.Peter.Goodman@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk

cllr.colin.keane@herstmonceuxparish.org.uk

Cllr.Ian.Stewart@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk


Cllr.Jo.Angear@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk
Cllr.Ketill.Game@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk
Cllr.Peter.Goodman@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk
Cllr.Shelagh.Game@herstmonceuxparish.org.uk
Cllr.Emma.Goodsell@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk
Cllr.David.Harding@herstmonceuxparish.org.uk
Cllr.Jeremy,Harrison@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk
Cllr.Peter.Goodman@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk
cllr.colin.keane@herstmonceuxparish.org.uk
Cllr.Ian.Stewart@HerstmonceuxParish.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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