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Autumn Update from our Trustees

Dear Villagers,

We thought you might like an update on what we’ve been doing since the Village Poll.

But first—THANK YOU.

We’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by your enthusiasm, engagement, and turnout. 42% of residents came out to vote—an extraordinary result in the world of village polls and referendums. It’s a clear sign of just how deeply Hadlow Down cares about its shared spaces and its future.

Your voices have been heard. Together, we’re shaping a vision for a new Community Centre at the Playing Field—a place that will stand at the heart of village life for generations to come.

A Place Rooted in Landscape and Belonging

Set in the beautiful open landscape of the Playing Field, the new Community Centre will sit comfortably in its surroundings—framed by trees, open sky, and the hum of everyday village life.
Imagine arriving to a space that feels both welcoming and uplifting: light-filled rooms, a café terrace alive with conversation, and flexible spaces for movement, creativity, and celebration. With improved accessibility and parking, everyone—from those with pushchairs and wheelchairs—will be able to enjoy the building with ease. The flexible design means more opportunities for fitness, sport, and wellbeing activities. And at its heart, the café and community hub will become a daily meeting place—a space to reconnect, relax, and belong.

“This isn’t just about a building. It’s about creating a shared experience—a place where life happens, where stories are exchanged, and where our community continues to grow stronger together.”

Where We Are Now

The village has voted in favour of releasing the economic value of the old hall site and borrowing up to £250,000 from the Public Works Loans Board. The Parish Council has now confirmed this decision—an important milestone in bringing our shared vision to life.

We’re now preparing our application to Wealden District Council for match funding. If successful, this will provide up to £1 million in seed funding, opening the door to even greater opportunities, including major grants such as the National Lottery.

How You Can Help

We’re currently raising funds for our technical package—the detailed architectural and mechanical drawings we need before going out to tender. This is a vital step in turning ideas into action.

Be a Local Hero: Help us fund the technical design phase that will unlock the next stage of our new Community Centre.

Donate: via JustGiving (scan the barcode below)
Contact: Jules for more information on how you can help be a founding partner – jscltd01@gmail.com
Join the Team: Get in touch with Sarah or Mandy to be part of our fundraising group  – sarahprall@btinternet.com, mandy.chapman45@gmail.com

Every contribution—large or small—makes a difference a difference.

Let’s Build Something Extraordinary

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something truly meaningful for Hadlow Down. It’s not just about bricks and mortar—it’s about connection, creativity, and community. Let’s build a place that reflects who we are—and who we aspire to be. Let’s build something extraordinary.

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Thank You for your support in the Parish Poll

On behalf of the HDCC committee, I would like to thank everyone who took part in the recent parish council poll.

The result is a clear and exciting mandate: the community has voted in favour of investing in the future of our village through our development of a new community centre. This is an important and historic moment for our local infrastructure, and one that will benefit generations to come.

We know from speaking to you on the doorstep and at our pop-up surgeries that this decision was not taken lightly. Many of you have considered carefully what you want for our lovely village, weighing the costs and the opportunities. We remain fully committed to listening to your feedback and addressing concerns as we move forward together. We also recognise that not everyone supports the project, and we respect the views of those who will find this result disappointing.

With this community endorsement, we can now work confidently with the Parish Council and Wealden to secure the Community Led Infrastructure Funds that are vital to our fundraising strategy. This will also strengthen our bids to major funders such as the National Lottery, enabling us to take the project forward in earnest.

We are deeply grateful to all who took the time to vote, to our supporters, and to our brilliant team of volunteers, committee members, and trustees whose energy and commitment have brought us to this milestone. Special thanks also go to the Parish Council for ensuring that this important decision was put to the community in a democratic way, and to the Parish Clerk for her hard work in organising the poll and reporting the result.

This is a big step forward for our village, and we are excited to continue this journey with you.

Bob Lake
Chair, HDCC

📢 Parish Poll Results – In Case You Missed Them!

We know some of you may not have seen the Parish Poll results when they were first released, so we wanted to share them with you again.

A total of 268 votes were received — a 42% response rate, with zero spoilt votes.

🗳️ Count Results

Question 1:
Do you agree in the Parish Council realising an economic value from
the old village hall to help pay for the new community centre at the Playing Field?
➡️ Yes – 166 votes (62%)
➡️ No – 102 votes (38%)

Question 2:
Do you agree for the Parish Council to apply to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) for a loan, limited up to £250,000, to assist in achieving a new community centre at the playing field?
➡️ Yes – 153 votes (57%)
➡️ No – 115 votes (43%)

🙏 A huge thank you to everyone who engaged with the poll, attended the public meeting, and came out to vote. Although the poll was organised and held by the Parish Council, HDCC is delighted by the enthusiasm and level of support shown by the community.

We are now actively engaging with Wealden District Council to secure Community Led Infrastructure funding. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our progress every step of the way.

💙 Thank you for supporting your community centre project!