Wealden Council Rejects “One East Sussex” Over Fears of Lost Local Connection

Wealden District Council’s Cabinet has confirmed it cannot support the proposal for a single “One East Sussex” authority, warning it would be too large, too remote, and financially unsound to serve local residents effectively.

The plan, which suggested replacing the county’s existing structure with one council responsible for around 550,000 people, comes with a projected £50 million shortfall. Wealden councillors say the risks to local democracy and service delivery are simply too high.

Too Big to Serve Rural Communities

Councillor James Partridge, Leader of Wealden District Council, said a single East Sussex authority would struggle to respond to residents’ needs:

“A council of that size would be far too unwieldy. It would lose touch with local communities and be unable to provide the responsive, high-quality services our residents deserve. In particular, rural areas run the risk of being under-served and under-represented. We know that residents value close connection with councillors who know their communities.”

For Heathfield and surrounding villages, the concern is clear: local voices could be drowned out by a county-wide model centred elsewhere.

Smaller Councils Could Offer Balance

Instead, Wealden’s Cabinet expressed support for the principle of five smaller unitary councils across Sussex, each serving between 300,000 and 400,000 residents. According to councillors, this approach would:

• Stay closer to communities while still finding efficiencies
• Provide stronger democratic representation
• Retain local identity and civic pride
• Be large enough to deliver services cost-effectively

Councillor Rachel Millward, Deputy Leader, explained:

“A council serving 300,000 residents would be big enough to be efficient but small enough to stay connected to the communities they serve.”

For Heathfield, this model could mean retaining a council structure close enough to understand the distinct needs of market towns and rural parishes while still benefitting from shared resources.

More Time Needed on Boundaries and Finances

While the Cabinet backs the five-unitary principle, it has stopped short of endorsing Brighton & Hove’s specific proposal, citing a lack of time to properly assess its financial and boundary implications.

Councillor Millward stressed:

“We’ve had days, not months, to assess proposals that will affect how our residents receive services for generations. That’s simply not enough time to make such important decisions responsibly.”

Commitment to Local Investment Continues

Whatever the outcome of county-wide reorganisation, Councillor Partridge reassured residents that Wealden remains committed to its local priorities:

“We will continue delivering for Wealden communities — investing in community infrastructure, nature restoration and affordable housing. We will keep lobbying government for deeper investment into our public services and do all we can to ensure any future authority is shaped around residents’ needs.”