Former chairman is behind new Stone Cross authority

A petition – containing almost 500 signatures – was recently sent to Wealden District Council by Keith Stevens, the former head of the parish council who stood for re-election in last May’s parish council elections and because he was unopposed, automatically became a councillor again.

But Mr Stevens then resigned before the election actually took place.

The petition calls for a separate parish council for the communities of Stone Cross and Hankham – currently under Westham Parish Council – and for Wealden District Council to carry out a Community Governance Review.

The news sparked anger among the current chair and councillors on Westham Parish Council as they say they were not told where the petition had originated from when they discovered it existed.

Chairman Mike Haffner said the council was also surprised as the two wards of Stone Cross and Dittons, which between them have eight seats allocated on the parish council, only managed to attract three candidates in last May’s election.

This week Mr Stevens revealed he and other former Westham Parish Council members were behind the petition.

He said, “Some former councillors were asked by a number of residents to consider setting up a separate parish council for Stone Cross and Hankham. It is felt each parish council would be better placed to meet the ever changing needs of Stone Cross, Hankham and Westham. Stone Cross in particular has increased substantially in size especially over recent years and looks set to increase again.

“Both parish councils would remain in Wealden and would not form part of either Eastbourne or Hailsham. Westham residents would just pay the precept for their village, Stone Cross and Hankham residents would just pay for the precept for their villages.

“Nearly 500 hundred residents signed the petition for a Community Governance Review. Part of that review will be to seek the views of Westham Parish Council as well as local residents.”

Wealden council said it regretted it ‘had been unable to find the time’ to notify Westham council about the petition – as it was organising the General Election in December – but that it did not have a duty to do so.

The spokesperson also said, “No decisions have been made about the validity of what is being proposed in the petition. The appointment of a consultant and drawing up a timetable and consultation arrangements for a forthcoming Community Governance Review have been approved and part of that review will be to seek the views of Westham council as well as local residents.”

Mystery over parish split petition