Repositioning of Bench Outside Hailsham Parish Churchyard

Hailsham Town Council has been advised by Hailsham Parish Church that work on the construction of a new path from the Victoria Gates to the west doors of the church will commence on Monday 7th June.

During the works it will be necessary, for several weeks, to temporarily divert the Public Right of Way “Hailsham 10” which normally passes through the churchyard and out through the Victoria Gates. The Church has arranged for a formal temporary diversion with East Sussex County Council, and this came into force on 1st June. The diversion will be across to the Vicarage Field precinct steps, and the path will remain open throughout the works.

With the reopening of the central gates, it will be necessary for the bench owned by the Town Council that is in front of the gates to be moved, and it has been agreed that contractors will re-site it within the churchyard (inside the gates) once the works are concluded.

It is anticipated that the works will be complete by the end of August.

The Vicar, Revd David Bourne said: “We are delighted that the work on the new path is about to start. The planning for these alterations started over ten years ago, and the internal re-ordering work to make the west doors the main entrance to the church was completed in late 2019. Once the external path works are completed we will finally be able to use our new entrance.”

Deputy Town Clerk & Business Enterprise Manager Mickey Caira said: “In very rare occurrences, a bench may have to be moved for operational reasons. We apologise in advance for having to remove the bench outside the church gates on the High Street, whilst work on the churchyard path reconstruction is taking place.”

“However, as it is Hailsham Parish Church’s intention to re-open the central gates and their works plan does provide for two benches to be installed within the churchyard near the gates, this is necessary.”