Long-standing local councillor Nigel Coltman has been elected Town Mayor and Chairman for another year at the annual meeting of Hailsham Town Council held on Wednesday [25 May].
On accepting the chain of office Councillor Coltman stated that his long term vision is for a town that is more community driven and ‘people focused’, and will continue working towards an improved town centre later this year that will become an attractive focus for the growing population of Hailsham:
“It’s vital that we continue to invest in the high street to ensure it’s an attractive place that people want to visit, shop and explore.
Work will soon be underway on a major project to improve the town centre, which includes road layout improvements, changes to parking and a new pedestrian crossing. The scheme, which is being overseen by steering group MASHH (Movement and Access Strategy for Hailsham & Hellingly) of which Hailsham Town Council is a partner, seeks to establish road and transport improvements for Hailsham and Hellingly to help minimise the impact of more housing on the transport network.
My fellow town councillors will continue our work on improving Hailsham as a whole – not just the town centre – and carry on the excellent partnership work with other councils and organisations and projects including MASHH and Hailsham Forward.
The Town Council is also working hard and fast to on the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan for Hailsham under the powers granted by the Localism Act 2011, the aims and objectives of which will be to create a vision for sustainable development within the parish of Hailsham, identify transport infrastructure requirements within the parish and determine education, health and community facilities needs of parishioners amid future housing development in the town.
The local planning authority, Wealden District Council, is in the process of preparing a draft Local Plan, as well as a Hailsham Action Plan, and expects that our neighbourhood planning work will both respond to and inform the content of those emerging Plans.
We will ensure that residents and the community at large are consulted along the way and given the opportunity to get involved in the neighbourhood planning process.
I feel honoured to represent the people of Hailsham and hope to get out and about, meet you all at future civic engagements and help to raise the profile of local charities and voluntary organisations, all of which work selflessly to help others and make individuals lives just that much better and brighter.
In closing, I would like residents to know that the Town Council is here for you. If you have any issues about the town you should get in touch with us. While we can’t promise to be able to have a solution to every problem, we will always do our best to attempt to get some sort of positive outcome
Please be assured of my very best wishes.”
Cllr Nigel Coltman,
Town Mayor & Chairman, Hailsham Town Council
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Terry Hall, Communications Officer
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk