Your Views Matter: Consultation on Hailsham Neighbourhood Plan Continues

Hailsham Town Council is reminding residents that there is still plenty of time to have their say on the future of the town by taking part in the public consultation on the revised Hailsham Neighbourhood Plan.

The consultation, which launched last week and is being conducted by Wealden District Council, gives local residents, businesses and community organisations the opportunity to comment on the updated Plan before it progresses to independent examination.

Running until Monday 31 August, the consultation is one of the final opportunities for the community to help shape a document that will influence planning decisions and guide Hailsham’s future development for years to come.

The revised Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared by Hailsham Town Council in partnership with local stakeholders following an extensive review of the original Plan, which was adopted in 2021. The updated document reflects changes in national planning policy while responding to local priorities and the evolving needs of the town.

The Plan sets out a long-term community vision for Hailsham and includes policies designed to:

• support and improve community facilities
• strengthen the vitality of the town centre
• ensure new development respects Hailsham’s character and identity
• improve walking, cycling and public transport connections
• protect and enhance green spaces and biodiversity
• encourage sustainable development and help address climate change.

Councillor Mary Laxton, Chair of the Town Council’s Neighbourhood Planning Committee, said: “The Neighbourhood Plan will help shape how Hailsham develops over the coming years, so it’s important that as many people as possible take the opportunity to have their say while the consultation is open. Whether you’ve lived in Hailsham all your life or have recently moved to the town, your views matter.”

“The revised Plan reflects many years of work and extensive engagement with the local community, but this consultation is an important part of the process. We would encourage residents, businesses and community groups to read the document and let Wealden District Council know what they think before the consultation closes.”

The consultation documents, supporting information and online response form can be viewed on Wealden District Council’s website.

For anyone wishing to read the documents in person, hard copies are available throughout the consultation period (excluding Bank Holiday Monday on 31 August) at:

• Hailsham Town Council Offices, Market Street (Members’ Room): Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm
• James West Community Centre, Brunel Drive: Tuesday to Friday, 10am-2pm
• Hailsham Library, Western Road: Monday 12pm-5pm, Tuesday 12pm-5pm, Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday 10am-5pm, and Saturday 10am-5pm.
• Wealden District Council Offices, Vicarage Lane: Monday 8.30am-5pm, Tuesday 8.30pm-5pm, Wednesday 9am-5pm, Thursday 8.30am-5pm, Friday 8.30am-5pm.

Once the consultation has closed, all responses will be considered before the revised Neighbourhood Plan is submitted for independent examination. Subject to the examiner’s recommendations, the final stage of the process is expected to be a local referendum, giving residents the opportunity to decide whether the updated Plan should be formally adopted.

Hailsham Town Council is encouraging everyone with an interest in the future of the town to take part and ensure their views are represented before the consultation ends on 31 August.