ParishPoll – Hadlow Down

We know that the future of Hadlow Down’s community facilities are being talked about widely – on Facebook, on the doorstep, and in conversations across the village. That’s a good thing. Healthy debate shows how much we all care.

We also know that sometimes worries, misunderstandings, or half-answers can spread quickly. As volunteers, trustees, and fellow residents, we want to make sure everyone has clear, evidence based information.

Here we have set out some of the most common questions and concerns we’ve heard, along with our answers . We may not agree on every detail, but we hope this helps everyone make their decision with confidence and fairness.

“I can’t attend the vote in person, how does the proxy vote work?”

The Parish Council is holding this vote, so any questions about proxy voting are best directed to the Clerk. As the Parish Council doesn’t monitor the village Facebook pages please email clerk@hadlowdown.org to make sure you get the correct information.

”It is a white elephant — we don’t need it.”
“Village tax-payers have been promised this beautiful ‘White “Elephant’ for many years”

HDCC has committed to work hard, openly, and responsibly toward our goal to build a new village hall and sports pavilion at the playing field.

Yes, it has taken time:
We agree it has been a long journey. But good community projects take time — and we’ve used that time wisely.

What we’ve achieved so far:

Undertaken feasibility studies studies and held community meetings
Appointed an architect and quantity surveyor
Secured planning permission.
Conducted visits to other village facilities
Researched best practice in rural community centres.
Appointed a fundraiser to help secure external support.
Developed a detailed business plan.
Secured the backing of our MP and District Council

Where we are now: We are committed to finding the funding to proceed. Only when funding is secured can we “promise” to build the hall.

Do we believe it can be done? Yes. We have studied other villages who have done the same, and we know it is achievable.

It is worth noting –Parish surveys (2011, 2013, 2023 [i]) show strong community demand. (You can read more about our surveys by clicking on the dates.) (The 2011 survey summary, can be viewed on page 14 of the 2014 Business Plan)
The current hall and pavilion are ageing, difficult to access, and costly to maintain. If we don’t move forward with this project, then significant costs are coming down the line to improve the existing buildings
The new centre will be used by TN22 Clubs (elderly & dementia support), health and wellbeing classes, sports teams, Drama & Variety Club, dance classes, seasonal markets, craft sessions and lots more village events.

This is not “nice to have” — it’s essential to sustaining village life

“We could have, at a fraction of the cost and no burden on the precept, a much improved current village hall. Parking has been offered from 2 sources but have never been pursued.”

In 2010 a group was created to consider the best way forward. One consideration was to refurbish the existing main building;
The 2014 Business Plan carefully considered refurbishment of the existing hall as an option.
The then sub-committee undertook a Conditions Survey which identified “significant works required just to bring the main building up to standard, with a conservative estimate of £150k–£250k”. (Page 10, 2014 Buisness Plan)
This estimate excluded key requirements:
- Extensions for additional storage.
- A larger committee/meeting room.
- Wheelchair-accessible toilets.
- The cost of purchasing additional land.
Without these elements, refurbishment alone would not have met the community’s long-term needs.
The issue of parking was explored, but land purchase costs were judged too high, making this route unviable.
Public consultation supported the decision that refurbishment, even at “a fraction of the cost,” would not deliver the facilities or accessibility improvements required.

“Why should I pay for it? It doesn’t get used.”

We understand this concern — but the reality is that the current hall is under-used not because people don’t care, but because it no longer meets the needs of our community.

Parking is one of the biggest barriers. The old hall has almost no provision, which discourages parents with children, elderly residents, and anyone driving from nearby. The new centre design includes dedicated, accessible parking, making it much easier for everyone to use.
The current building is too small, outdated, and inaccessible for many activities. That’s why some potential hirers have decided not use it.
Despite these barriers, the hall is still in use by our drama club, ballet school, line dancing, dog training classes and several other community groups — as well as our local TN22 clubs – proof that demand exists. Imagine the use when those barriers are removed.
Other villages that have invested in new facilities (such as Barcombe, Five Ashes. High Hurstwood and Fordcombe) have seen usage rise significantly once new, modern, accessible halls were built.
Our 2023 parish survey[ii] showed that most of those against the project admitted they don’t use the hall at all. In other words, opposition is often from people who don’t engage with the facilities anyway.[iii]
“The 17% against the proposal was comprised of 22 respondents. 72% of these respondents currently use the village hall only once or twice a year or never at all, and 82% rarely or never use the Pavilion. So these opinions, whilst important do not represent the major users of our community’s facilities.” HDCC Survey 2023

“People don’t care — only 20% responded to the survey.”

A 20% survey return in a small parish is actually a strong level of engagement for this kind of consultation* — far higher than many parish initiatives.[iv]
But we don’t just rely on surveys. Demand is clear from the everyday activities that already use the space: TN22 Clubs, dance clubs, groups, fitness and wellbeing groups, drama productions, family parties, quiz nights, and lots more.
Importantly, Wealden District Council has recognised the value of this project, they would not make this commitment if the project did not have strong foundations and demonstrated need.

*In community engagement, response rates are usually low compared to things like election turnouts. The benchmark depends on the method:
Parish / community surveys:
According to Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) guidance on village hall consultations, a 10–20% return rate is considered “healthy” and shows a strong level of engagement for voluntary surveys in small communities.

Neighbourhood planning guidance from Locality (the national network supporting parish and town councils) also highlights that in many parishes, response rates of 15–20% are common and sufficient to demonstrate legitimacy when combined with wider evidence (meetings, consultation events, etc.).

General public surveys:
The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) and many market research bodies report that for voluntary, non-incentivised community surveys, response rates are typically 5–15%. Anything above 20% is therefore seen as strong engagement, especially for a small rural parish.

So, in context: A 20% return in Hadlow Down is actually better than average, and compares favourably with other parishes running similar consultations.

“The decision to borrow from the PWLB is a foregone conclusion.”

The Parish Council is asking for your view on September 9^th in a Parish Poll[v].
No decision has been made
Voting will be overseen by the Parish Clerk who will be assisted by a Clerk from a different parish
It is true to say that without a YES vote, the project will struggle to attract major funding.
It is also important to recognise that a YES vote will unlock match funding from Wealden District Council.
This is not being imposed from above — it’s our parish decision; it’s up to you! Please vote.

“It’s not properly costed or researched — just like the failed Buxted project.”

The costings have been prepared by a Quantity Surveyor working in partnership with the project architect, not guessed at.
Figures were reviewed and updated in July to reflect current market conditions.
Provisions for maintenance, insurance, and all legal certifications are included in the plans[vi]. Covered in sections 4 and 5 of 2023 Business Plan
This project is grounded in best practice and professional oversight to ensure long-term sustainability.

“It’s too ambitious for a small village.”

Big ambition in a small village is something we can all be proud of.
Investing in our future is not extravagance — it’s confidence in ourselves.
The new centre is designed for all generations: from children’s clubs to elderly care, from sport to culture, from coffee mornings to community celebrations.

“How about we put the money and effort towards a new GP Practice”

These issues matter, but they fall outside the remit of the HDCC, which is a charity focused on building a new community centre.
GP surgeries and healthcare facilities fall under the responsibility of the NHS and local healthcare authorities, not parish councils[vii] or community organisations.
While parish councils can raise funds through council tax (the precept) for various community purposes—including community centres, recreation facilities, and events—they do not have statutory powers to fund or operate GP surgeries.

Spending regulations: Parish councils may support functions that benefit the community under the General Power of Competence, but only if they comply with broader legislation—and healthcare delivery is not one of them.

“Once it’s built, the costs of cleaning and maintaining it will be a burden for generations.”

All costs were built in from the start
- Maintenance, cleaning, insurance, and management expenses were fully considered during the Business Planning stage.
- We consulted the current Village Hall committee, whose advice was critical in shaping our cost analysis.
Evidence-based approach
- We benchmarked costs and income against similar-sized halls in Five Ashes, Barcombe, and two other villages. 2023 Business Plan, section 4, Finance
- This gave us real-world evidence, not guesses.
Income will cover expenses
- Even under our most conservative forecasts, the new centre will generate enough income from hires and use to cover maintenance, cleaning, and management.
- These figures have been stress-tested against comparable halls.
Regular review and oversight
- Running costs and income projections are reviewed regularly and reported to the Advisory Committee.
- This means the plan is always being checked against reality
Long-term sustainability
- By replacing two ageing buildings with one efficient, modern facility, the overall cost burden is reduced.
- The new design is energy-efficient and cheaper to run in the long term

“Whether you are for the community centre or against, the key word is community. The committee has worked tirelessly and given so much of their time to ensure we don’t lose a community hub. The new building will be a future for the village.”

Thank you for this positive comment — it means a great deal to our volunteer team.

We want to recognise the many villagers, committee members, and trustees who have volunteered, given their enthusiasm, expertise, and time over the years. We are especially proud that our Chair, Treasurer, and one of our Trustees have been with the project since its very beginning. But this has always been a shared village effort, and we are deeply grateful to the many others who have joined in along the way.

We’ve seen some comments suggesting that the HDCC team are “entitled, privileged, and working on a vanity project nobody wants.”

We’re Villagers, Just Like You. We are residents of Hadlow Down — neighbours, parents, grandparents, friends. Every one of us is a volunteer, giving our time because we care about this village and its future.

Through our work with different organisations — from TN22 Clubs to sports teams, drama productions, fundraising groups, and village events — we have first-hand experience of the challenges and limitations of the current hall and pavilion.
That insight is what drives us. We’re not pushing for something “nice-to-have.” We’re working for facilities that are accessible, welcoming, and sustainable, so they serve everyone in the parish, for generations to come.
Entitled? ✔️ Yes – we believe everyone in our village is entitled to better facilities, more opportunities, and a welcoming community space for all ages.
Privileged? ✔️ Absolutely – it’s a huge honour to work alongside so many passionate volunteers on something that could be truly game-changing for our village.
A Vanity Project? ✔️ We’re proud of what’s been achieved so far – but this isn’t about us, it’s about our whole community having the chance to decide what happens next.

That’s why the upcoming poll on September 9th is so important.
This is your village, your hall, and your decision.