As many of you who regularly visit these news pages, and are following our progress will know, the Parish Council held a public meeting last week to discuss a new funding opportunity for the Community Centre project.
You can view the full Parish Council Presentation by clicking on the image below.
For those who were unable to attend, here is a summary of the key information that was shared with parishioners:
There is a long history to the project to replace our village hall with a new community centre on the playing field. The Parish Council and HDCC has been working on this for over 14 years. During that time, we have overcome planning hurdles, carried out numerous surveys, and faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lease negotiations.
We were pleased to achieve extant planning permission in June 2024. However, over the years, construction costs have significantly increased, and the availability of grant funding has decreased.
The latest estimates put the cost of the project at:
- £2.3 million + VAT for Phase 1 – a modern village hall with essential facilities, parking, and disabled access.
- £0.9 million + VAT for Phase 2 – including a sports bar and changing facilities.
Some of the larger grant schemes have ceased altogether, and those that remain tend to be smaller and more limited in scope. However, a new and significant opportunity has emerged through Wealden District Council, which is allocating £20 million in reserves (linked to local government restructuring) for community infrastructure projects, such as ours, that are ready to proceed.
The Parish Council met with Chris Bending from Wealden District Council, who confirmed that there is an opportunity to apply for up to £500,000, on the condition that the Parish can show an equivalent level of commitment—commonly referred to as having “skin in the game.”
Intention to Use Public Funds
It is important to recognise that HDCC has consistently maintained that it would not seek funding from the Parish Council. A member of the public rightly noted that in the earlier stages of the project, the Community Centre Committee and its Trustees expressed no intention to pursue public borrowing.
However, the emergence of this substantial, one-off opportunity from Wealden District Council has required a reassessment of funding options. The Parish Council is now exploring how best to demonstrate the required £500,000 local commitment in order to unlock the Wealden funding.
One option under consideration is a Public Works Loan, which could be used to match the funding offer and help secure the long-term viability of the project. No decision has been made to borrow, and the Parish Council has been working on gathering information, expert advice, and financial assessments which it will make available on the village website.
Next Steps: Community Decision
To demonstrate the Parish’s commitment, the PC are considering:
- Selling the current village hall site, which has a recent valuation of £250,000 (subject to a village referendum).
- Raising additional funds through a Public Works Loan, which could result in a modest council tax increase—estimated at 85p per week for a Band D household.
Given the importance of this issue, the Parish Council believes that the community must be fully involved in the decision-making process. This is why a public meeting was held—to clearly explain the context, options, and associated costs.
The presentation and all materials shared at the meeting will be published on the Village Website in the coming days.
Financial Prudence in the Current Climate
We completely understand the concern around borrowing during a period of economic uncertainty. That is why:
- The Parish Council is moving cautiously and responsibly.
- Financial advice is being taken and cost scenarios are being fully assessed.
- No application to the PWLB will be made without a clear and positive outcome from the public vote on September 9th.
Residents will be presented with a full breakdown of the proposal, including the impact on council tax, before being asked to vote.
Consideration of Alternatives
At the public meeting, the Parish Council made it clear that—following a lengthy process of public consultation and cost analysis—the best long-term option for the village is to build a new community facility at the playing field.
That said, it is important to acknowledge that alternative suggestions—such as extending or improving the current village hall—have been carefully considered.
A detailed review of the existing site highlighted several limitations:
- Limited on-site parking, making access difficult for users, especially those with limited mobility.
- Poor road access, with narrow approaches that cannot support increased traffic.
- No continuous pavement, creating safety risks for pedestrians—particularly children and disabled residents.
Because of these constraints, East Sussex Highways have previously declined to support redevelopment of the current site. In addition, major funders have advised that substantial investment would require:
- Safe, all-ability pedestrian access.
- Adequate off-road parking.
- Full compliance with accessibility regulations.
To achieve this at the current site, significant public investment would be needed to acquire additional land and upgrade infrastructure and the unadopted road, making the option financially and logistically unviable.
In contrast, the playing field site already offers:
- Sufficient space for a modern facility and the land is already owned by the PC
- Better vehicle and pedestrian access.
- Potential to meet regulatory and funder requirements.
For these reasons, the Parish Council concluded that the playing field location represents the most practical and fundable option for the future of the village.
Doing Nothing – A Risk We Must Consider
Of course, another option is to do nothing—to continue using and patching up the current buildings. However, these facilities are already ageing, expensive to maintain, and increasingly unsuitable for the needs of a vibrant and growing community.
By taking no action, we risk a future in which the current buildings fall further into disrepair, potentially requiring closure. That would leave Hadlow Down with no community infrastructure at all—no venue for events, classes, clubs, or social support.
We believe this risk is significant and must be weighed carefully against the opportunity now in front of us.
Have Your Say
We ask that you exercise your democratic right to vote on this important issue and ensure that your voice is heard.
HDCC is committed to respecting and listening to the will of fellow village residents. If you would like to find out more about the project, please explore the news articles, project history, supporting documents, and FAQs available here on our Website.
The trustees remain committed to meeting with any residents who would like further details or have specific questions.
To arrange a conversation or request a meeting, please contact Bob Lake at bob.lake@live.co.uk.
A village referendum/poll will be held on September 9th.
To vote, you must be registered on the electoral roll.
Voting will take place from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
We encourage every resident to participate and help shape the future of our village.