Heathfield voices mark tragic anniversary with action
Heathfield, Cross in Hand and surrounding villages are keeping up pressure for safer roads a year on from the Mayfield Flat fatal crash.
On 1 October 2025, residents marked the anniversary of the collision at Mayfield Flat, Cross in Hand, where a northbound waste tanker and a southbound Ford Escort collided. One person died at the scene; others were left with life-changing injuries. That tragedy — alongside the March 2022 fatal crash at Isenhurst Junction — sparked a community response that now stretches from Mayfield and Five Ashes through Heathfield & Waldron to Horam.
How the A267 Road Safety Group began
Soon after the incidents, local resident and PR consultant Sarah Jones teamed up with Sussex Express contributors Melvyn Butcher and Susan King to form the A267 Road Safety Group. The group set up a Facebook page that has grown to nearly 700 members, giving Heathfield and Cross in Hand residents a place to report issues and share updates on the A267.
From the start, the focus has been the busy A267 corridor between Mayfield and Horam, a prime route linking Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne. Volunteers have addressed four parish councils — Mayfield & Five Ashes, Hadlow Down, Heathfield & Waldron, and Horam — gathering data on past efforts and current problem spots, including:
- Wellbrook Hill (Mayfield)
- A272/A267 junction (Cross in Hand)
- Isenhurst petrol station area (scene of the 2022 fatality)
- Little London
What’s changed in the last year
- Visibility and signs: David Collumbell and Brighter Crowborough volunteers cleaned and cleared foliage from road signs from Mayfield to Horam, extending to Boship roundabout.
- Police engagement: Residents heard directly from officers about enforcement on the route.
- Wildlife risk: Local deer warden Julian Butcher shared figures showing High Weald deer strikes are among the highest in the UK outside parts of the New Forest and Scottish Lowlands, with fencing gaps and dense woodland increasing risk — a key concern for Heathfield drivers at dawn and dusk.
- Political support: Local MP Nusrat Ghani (now a Deputy Speaker) met with county, district and parish members, plus senior police, at the A272/A267 junction.
- County plans: East Sussex County Council has begun a £500,000 consultation targeting sections of the route for speed reductions and signage improvements. The consultation is set to run nine months, with works, if approved, expected in 2026.
The group also mapped existing speed limits and sought input from a senior highways planner on which measures deliver results. A stark reminder underpins their approach: a single road fatality is estimated to cost the community around £2 million once police, health, legal and repair costs are counted — not to mention the human loss felt across Heathfield and nearby villages.
Collisions, inquests and next steps
While there have been no further fatalities on the group’s stretch of the A267, 20 collisions have been reported since January 2025. The Isenhurst Junction inquest took almost two years to reach court; the driver involved was charged in January 2024, though the case was dropped weeks later. For the Mayfield Flat death, Sussex Police say their investigation continues with expert reports, and the inquest remains suspended.
How Heathfield residents can help
- Join the A267 Road Safety Group on Facebook and share local hazards (potholes, obscured signs, near-misses, deer activity).
- Support Community Speedwatch teams in Heathfield and Cross in Hand.
- Report deer collisions and sightings to help build the risk picture along A267/A272.
- Respond to ESCC consultation stages when they open — local evidence strengthens the case for change.
As Melvyn Butcher put it: “If we can save just one life it will be worthwhile.” For Heathfield, that remains the measure that matters.
