View source for Wealden District

{{short description |District in East Sussex, England}}
{{Coord|50.999|0.212|display=title|region:GB_scale:50000}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See {{Infobox settlement}} for the full list of available fields -->
<!-- Elements common to United Kingdom -->
| official_name           = Wealden District
| settlement_type         = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Library and Council headquarters, Crowborough
| image_shield            =
| shield_size             = 
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_map               = Wealden UK locator map.svg
| mapsize                 = 150px
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Wealden shown within East Sussex
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Non-metropolitan county]]
| subdivision_type4       = Status
| subdivision_type5       = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name1       = England
| subdivision_name2       = [[South East England]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[East Sussex]]
| subdivision_name4       = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| subdivision_name5       = [[Hailsham]]
| established_title1      = Incorporated
| established_date1       = 1 April 1974
| government_type         = Non-metropolitan district council
| governing_body          = Wealden District Council
| leader_title1           = [[List of MPs elected in the 2010 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| leader_name1            = <br />[[James MacCleary]] (LD)<br />[[Nus Ghani|Nusrat Ghani]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|C]]) <br />[[Kieran Mullan]] (C)<br>[[Mims Davies]] (C) 
| area_total_km2          = 835.0
| area_rank               = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000065}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_total        = {{English district population|GSS=E07000065}}
| population_as_of        = {{English statistics year}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_rank         = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000065}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000065|title=Wealden Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 96% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 1.7% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 1.4% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 0.5% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 | 0.4% [[Black British people|Black]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 49.5% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 42.1% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 6.3% not stated
 | 0.8% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.5% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 0.3% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.2% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.2% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 | 0.1% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 }}  
| timezone                = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset              = 0
| timezone_DST            = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +1

<!-- Elements common to administrative division of this type (English two-tier district) -->
| blank1_name             = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank2_name             = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]

<!-- Elements unique to this article -->
| blank1_info             = 21UH (ONS)<br />E07000065 (GSS)
| blank2_info             = {{gbmappingsmall|TQ5519524567}} 
}}
'''Wealden''' is a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] in [[East Sussex]], England. Its council is based in [[Hailsham]], the district's second largest town. The district also includes the towns of [[Crowborough]], [[Polegate]] and [[Uckfield]], along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The district's name comes from the [[Weald]], the landscape and [[ancient woodland]] which occupies much of the centre and north of the area.

Much of the district's landscape is recognised for its beauty; the south of the district includes part of the [[South Downs National Park]], and the north of the district includes part of the [[High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]]. The district has two sections of coastline, lying east and west of the neighbouring authority of [[Eastbourne]], with the western section of coastline including the cliffs known as the [[Seven Sisters, East Sussex|Seven Sisters]].

The neighbouring districts are Eastbourne, [[Lewes District|Lewes]], [[Mid Sussex District|Mid Sussex]], [[Tandridge District|Tandridge]], [[Sevenoaks District|Sevenoaks]], [[Borough of Tunbridge Wells|Tunbridge Wells]] and [[Rother District|Rother]].

==History==
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. It covered the area of two former districts, which were both abolished at the same time:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>
*[[Hailsham Rural District]]
*[[Uckfield Rural District]]
The new district was named Wealden after the landscape and woodland.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = Wealden District Council
| coa_pic            = 
| coa_res            = 150
| coa_alt            =
| logo_pic           = Wealden District Council logo.svg
| logo_res           = 200
| logo_alt           = 
| house_type         = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| foundation         = 1 April 1974
| preceded_by        = 
| leader1_type       = [[Chairperson|Chair]]
| leader1            = Gavin Blake-Coggins
| party1             = <br/>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election1          = 14 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=New appointments made to council |url=https://www.wealden.gov.uk/news/new-appointments-made-to-council/ |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>
| leader2_type       = [[Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader2            = James Partridge
| party2             = <br/>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] 
| election2          = 14 May 2025
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = Trevor Scott
| party3             = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3          = 19 July 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Council report, 3 December 2018 |url=https://rother.moderngov.co.uk/Data/Cabinet/20181203/Agenda/$cb181203%20-%206.6%20-%20Solicitor%20to%20the%20Council.docx.pdf |website=Rother District Council |access-date=19 August 2023}}</ref>
| seats              = 45 councillors
| structure1         = File:Wealden_District_Council_May_2024.svg
| structure1_res     = 200px
| structure1_alt     =
| political_groups1  = 
; Administration (24)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]] (11)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (11)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (2)}}
; Other parties (21)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (10)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}| border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independents]] (11)}}
| committees1        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = [[Plurality voting system|First past the post]]
| last_election1     = [[2023 Wealden District Council election|4 May 2023]]
| next_election1     = 6 May 2027
| session_room       = Wealden District Council offices - geograph.org.uk - 3831303.jpg
| session_res        = 
| session_alt        =
| meeting_place      = Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27{{nbsp}}2AX
| website            = {{URL|www.wealden.gov.uk}}
| motto              =
}}

Wealden District Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[East Sussex County Council]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> The whole district is also covered by [[civil parish]]es, which form a third tier of local government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

In the parts of the district within the South Downs National Park, [[town planning]] is the responsibility of the [[South Downs National Park Authority]]. The district council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 27-person National Park Authority.<ref>{{cite web |title=Members |url=https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/national-park-authority/our-people/members/ |website=South Downs National Park Authority |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>

===Political control===
The council has been under [[no overall control]] since the 2023 election, being led by a coalition of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] and [[Green Party of England and Wales|Greens]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oxburgh |first1=Huw |title=Lib Dem and Green coalition officially take up office at Wealden District Council after local election |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/politics/lib-dem-and-green-coalition-officially-takes-up-office-at-wealden-district-council-after-local-election-4157150 |access-date=19 August 2023 |work=Sussex World |date=25 May 2023}}</ref> The two Labour councillors subsequently joined the coalition in November 2024.<ref name=12Nov2024release/>

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Wealden" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name="hold">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/council/html/21uh.stm|title=England council elections|date=10 May 2011|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|accessdate=22 December 2011}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1974–1995
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1995–1997
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1997–2023
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2023–present
|}

===Leadership===
The [[leader of the council|leaders of the council]] since 1999 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Rupert Thornely-Taylor<ref>{{cite news |title=Wealden Council |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6738163.wealden-council/ |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=The Argus |date=16 April 2003}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1999 || align=right|May 2003
|-
| Nigel Coltman<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 21 May 2003 |url=https://council.wealden.gov.uk/Data/Full%20Council/20030723/Agenda/$Minutes%2021%2005.DOC.pdf |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tories retain control of Wealden |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/6624849.stm |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=BBC News |date=4 May 2007}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|21 May 2003 || align=right|May 2007
|-
| Pam Doodes<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 23 May 2007 |url=https://council.wealden.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=299&MId=2083 |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|23 May 2007 || align=right|May 2010
|-
| Bob Standley<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 19 May 2010 |url=https://council.wealden.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=299&MId=2936 |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Panons |first1=Jacob |title=Wealden council leader to step down after 12 years |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/politics/council/wealden-council-leader-to-step-down-after-12-years-3640921 |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=Sussex World |date=5 April 2022}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|19 May 2010 || align=right|May 2022
|-
| Ann Newton<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 18 May 2022 |url=https://council.wealden.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=299&MId=5095 |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Everest |first1=Lee |title=Tories say new Council 'unravelling' before it has even started |url=https://www.ashdownradio.com/news/the-guide/tories-say-new-council-unravelling-before-it-has-even-started/ |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=Ashdown Radio |date=24 May 2023}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|18 May 2022 || align=right|May 2023
|-
| James Partridge<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 May 2023 |url=https://council.wealden.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=299&MId=5480 |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Green Party takes its turn for the leadership of Wealden District Council |url=https://www.theheathfieldnews.co.uk/green-party-takes-its-turn-for-leadership-of-wealden-council/ |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=The Heathfield News |date=15 May 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|24 May 2023 || 15 May 2024
|-
| [[Rachel Millward]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 15 May 2024 |url=https://council.wealden.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=299&MId=5623 |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || align=right|15 May 2024 || 14 May 2025
|-
| James Partridge<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 14 May 2025 |url=https://wealden.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/979330/start_time/119000 |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=18 May 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|14 May 2025 || 
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2023 Wealden District Council election|2023 election]] and subsequent changes of allegiance up to June 2024, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2023/may/04/elections-2023-results-live-local-council-england#le-full-results|title=Local elections 2023: live council results for England|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=Wealden |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=wealden |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=3 July 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
| align=center|11
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| align=center|11
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
| align=center|11
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| align=center|10
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
| align=center|2
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|45
|}
The Liberal Democrats, Greens and Labour sit together as the "Alliance for Wealden" group, which forms the council's administration. Of the independent councillors, five sit as the "Independent Group", four form the "Independent Democrats" and two do not belong to a group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wealden councillors by political grouping |url=https://council.wealden.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=GROUPING&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=3 July 2024}}</ref><ref name=12Nov2024release>{{cite web |title=Change to Alliance for Wealden make up |url=https://www.wealden.gov.uk/news/change-to-alliance-for-wealden-make-up/|website=Wealden District Council |date=12 November 2024 |access-date=30 Dec 2024}}</ref> The next election is due in 2027.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

===Premises===
The council is based at the Council Offices on Vicarage Lane in Hailsham. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |title=Find us |url=https://www.wealden.gov.uk/find-us/ |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref>

When created in 1974 the council inherited two main offices from its predecessors:
*Cortlandt, 18 George Street, Hailsham, an eighteenth century house which had been bought by Hailsham Rural District Council in 1932.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1043228|desc=Cortlandt|grade=II|access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New Council Offices at Hailsham |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=20 August 2023 |work=Sussex Express |date=10 June 1932 |location=Lewes |page=11}}</ref>
*Starfield, Beacon Road, Crowborough, formerly the [[Isaac Roberts' Observatory|home and observatory]] of astronomer [[Isaac Roberts]], which had been bought by Uckfield Rural District Council in 1928.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crowborough: New council offices |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=20 August 2023 |work=Sevenoaks Chronicle |date=19 October 1928 |page=17}}</ref>

[[File:Crowborough Library and WDC.jpg|thumb|Council's former Crowborough office at Pine Grove, built 1988.]]
The council's staff were initially divided between the two buildings.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=48934|page=4268|date=26 March 1982}}</ref> The council moved its Hailsham office from Cortlandt to the new Council Offices on Vicarage Lane in 1982.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=49140|page=13471|supp=y|date=15 October 1982}}</ref> The Crowborough office moved to a new building on Pine Grove in 1988, with Starfield subsequently being redeveloped for housing.<ref>{{cite news |title=WDC move offices |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=20 August 2023 |work=East Grinstead Observer |date=17 March 1988 |page=11}}</ref>

The council subsequently consolidated its offices at the Hailsham building and sold the Crowborough building to Crowborough Town Council in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Official opening of Pine Grove |url=https://crowboroughlife.com/official-opening-enterprise-centre-crowborough/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921084320/https://crowboroughlife.com/official-opening-enterprise-centre-crowborough/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=21 September 2021 |access-date=20 August 2023 |work=Crowborough Life |date=1 May 2019}}</ref>

===Elections===
{{also|Wealden District Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 45 [[councillor]]s representing 41 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing one or two councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Wealden (Electoral Changes) Order 2016|year=2016|number=1237|access-date=19 August 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Ward!!Population<br>(2021 Census)
|-
|Arlington|| align="right" |2,963
|-
|Buxted|| align="right" |3,892
|-
|Chiddingly, East Hoathly and Waldron|| align="right" |3,309
|-
|Crowborough Central|| align="right" |4,125
|-
|Crowborough Jarvis Brook|| align="right" |4,305
|-
|Crowborough North|| align="right" |3,286
|-
|Crowborough South East|| align="right" |3,804
|-
|Crowborough South West|| align="right" |3,237
|-
|Crowborough St. Johns|| align="right" |2,935
|-
|Danehill & Fletching|| align="right" |3,886
|-
|Forest Row|| align="right" |4,135
|-
|Framfield & Cross-in-Hand|| align="right" |3,243
|-
|Frant & Wadhurst (2 seats)|| align="right" |6,941
|-
|Hadlow Down & Rotherfield|| align="right" |3,257
|-
|Hailsham Central|| align="right" |3,545
|-
|Hailsham East|| align="right" |4,785
|-
|Hailsham East|| align="right" |4,785
|-
|Hailsham North|| align="right" |2,914
|-
|Hailsham North West|| align="right" |3,738
|-
|Hailsham South|| align="right" |3,327
|-
|Hailsham West|| align="right" |4,232
|-
|Hartfield|| align="right" |3,284
|-
|Heathfield North|| align="right" |3,913
|-
|Heathfield South|| align="right" |4,163
|-
|Hellingly|| align="right" |5,011
|-
|Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels (2 seats)|| align="right" |6,931
|-
|Horam & Punnetts Town (2 seats)|| align="right" |6,902
|-
|Lower Willingdon|| align="right" |3,314
|-
|Maresfield || align="right" |3,659
|-
|Mayfield & Five Ashes|| align="right" |3,654
|-
|Pevensey Bay|| align="right" |2,890
|-
|Polegate Central|| align="right" |5,107
|-
|Polegate North|| align="right" |3,868
|-
|Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill|| align="right" |3,450
|-
|South Downs|| align="right" |2,977
|-
|Stone Cross|| align="right" |3,685
|-
|Uckfield East|| align="right" |3,225
|-
|Uckfield New Town (2 seats)|| align="right" |5,744
|-
|Uckfield North|| align="right" |3,131
|-
|Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted|| align="right" |3,152
|-
|Upper Willingdon|| align="right" |3,266
|-
|Withyham|| align="right" |2,956
|-class="sortbottom"
|Total Wealden|| align="right" |160,151
|}

==Geography==
Wealden District covers two main upland areas: the section of the High Weald within East Sussex; and the eastern end of the [[South Downs]], between which lies the Vale of Sussex, the lowlands of which are named the [[Pevensey Levels]]. The [[River Ouse, Sussex|River Ouse]], some of the tributaries of which originate in the district, is the border with the [[Lewes (district)|Lewes District]]; and the [[River Cuckmere]] is wholly in Wealden. The district's coastline to the [[English Channel]] to the south is interrupted by [[Eastbourne]]. The [[River Rother (Eastern)|River Rother]] rises on the Weald and flows easterly to the east of Rye Bay.

The Wealden basin contains significant reserves of shale oil, totalling 4.4 billion [[Barrel (unit)|barrels of oil]] in Wealden and surrounding areas according to a 2014 study, which then Business and Energy Minister [[Michael Fallon]] said "will bring jobs and business opportunities" and significantly help with UK energy self-sufficiency. [[Hydraulic fracturing in the United Kingdom|Fracking]] in the area is required to achieve these objectives, which has been opposed by environmental groups.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Massive oil reserves lie under commuter belt in South, says report|last=Prynn|first=Jonathan|date=23 May 2014|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|page=8}}</ref>

At the 2011 census the district had the highest proportion of home ownership of the 37 local authorities in Surrey, Sussex and Kent.<ref name=ons>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Office for National Statistics 2011 Census Key Statistics: Tenure]</ref>

===Towns and parishes===
This district is entirely divided into [[civil parish]]es. The parish councils for Crowborough, Hailsham, Polegate and Uckfield take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a [[parish meeting]] rather than a parish council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Town and Parish Councils |url=https://council.wealden.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?LS=17&SLS=4&bcr=1 |website=Wealden District Council |access-date=19 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="ESiF">{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/webview/|title=East Sussex in Figures|publisher=East Sussex County Council|access-date=26 April 2008|archive-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228085807/http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/webview/welcome.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wealden.gov.uk/council/electionsonline/parishresultsmap.aspx |title=Interactive map showing locations of parishes |access-date=27 March 2008 |archive-date=15 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515053833/http://www.wealden.gov.uk/Council/Electionsonline/ParishResultsmap.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Parish !! Type !! Area<br>(sq mi) !! Population<br>(2007) !! Pop. density<br>(/sq mi)
|-
|[[Alciston]]||Parish Meeting||2.7||146||53.7
|-
|[[Alfriston]]||Parish Council||3.6||774||214.2
|-
|[[Arlington, East Sussex|Arlington]]||Parish Council||7.1||490||69.2
|-
|[[Berwick, East Sussex|Berwick]]||Parish Council||1.9||289||149.4
|-
|[[Buxted]]||Parish Council||8.4||3145||376.4
|-
|[[Chalvington with Ripe]]||Parish Council||4.3||1082||252.0
|-
|[[Chiddingly]]||Parish Council||6.8||1006||147.9
|-
|[[Crowborough]]||Town Council||5.2||19988||3812.1
|-
|[[Cuckmere Valley]]||Parish Council||6.8||197||28.9
|-
|[[Danehill, East Sussex|Danehill]]||Parish Council||8.7||1927||220.3
|-
|[[East Dean and Friston]]||Parish Council||3.3||1577||474.9
|-
|[[East Hoathly with Halland]]||Parish Council||5.8||1343||229.9
|-
|[[Fletching, East Sussex|Fletching]]||Parish Council||9.9||1041||104.7
|-
|[[Forest Row]]||Parish Council||12.6||5054||402.4
|-
|[[Framfield]]||Parish Council||7.6||1855||243.3
|-
|[[Frant]]||Parish Council||12.3||1367||110.9
|-
|[[Hadlow Down]]||Parish Council||6.6||715||109.1
|-
|[[Hailsham]]||Town Council||7.5||19836||2652.3
|-
|[[Hartfield]]||Parish Council||16.2||2157||132.9
|-
|[[Heathfield and Waldron]]||Parish Council||20.4||11514||564.5
|-
|[[Hellingly]]||Parish Council||7.6||1552||205.1
|-
|[[Herstmonceux]]||Parish Council||9.5||2598||272.8
|-
|[[Hooe, East Sussex|Hooe]]||Parish Council||3.9||446||115.4
|-
|[[Horam]]||Parish Council||4.0||2583||643.3
|-
|[[Isfield]]||Parish Council||3.0||564||190.7
|-
|[[Laughton, East Sussex|Laughton]]||Parish Council||7.3||585||79.7
|-
|[[Little Horsted]]||Parish Meeting||4.1||168||40.8
|-
|[[Long Man]]||Parish Council||6.2||412||66.2
|-
|[[Maresfield]]||Parish Council||10.1||3246||319.9
|-
|[[Mayfield and Five Ashes]]||Parish Council||16.4||3562||217.6
|-
|[[Ninfield]]||Parish Council||4.1||1520||371.7
|-
|[[Pevensey]]||Parish Council||6.8||3152||463.8
|-
|[[Polegate]]||Town Council||2.8||8021||2853.6
|-
|[[Rotherfield]]||Parish Council||17.8||3151||177.0
|-
|[[Selmeston]]||Parish Meeting||2.6||190||73.1
|-
|[[Uckfield]]||Town Council||2.9||13873||4810.0
|-
|[[Wadhurst]]||Parish Council||15.5||4818||311.0
|-
|[[Warbleton]]||Parish Council||11.2||1262||112.3
|-
|[[Wartling]]||Parish Council||4.3||396||92.7
|-
|[[Westham]]||Parish Council||5.5||5829||1066.9
|-
|[[Willingdon and Jevington]]||Parish Council||4.1||6156||1511.3
|-
|[[Withyham]]||Parish Council||14.2||2651||186.7
|-class="sortbottom"
|Total Wealden|| ||321.7||142238||442.2
|}

==Transport==
The major trunk road is the [[A22 road|A22]], London to Eastbourne; it is crossed by the [[A26 road|A26]] [[Maidstone]]–[[Lewes]] road at Uckfield; and the [[A267 road|A267]] [[Royal Tunbridge Wells|Tunbridge Wells]] to Eastbourne road. There are also  three west–east roads: the [[A259 road|A259]] coastal route; next inland is the [[A27 road|A27]] Pevensey–[[Brighton]] trunk road; and further to the north the [[A272 road|A272]] cross-country route to [[Winchester]].

The [[East Coastway Line]], serving Eastbourne and [[Hastings]], uses the Vale of Sussex and has two station serving different sides of Pevensey in the district, which forms a generally suburban conurbation with Westham and a largely rural holiday and visitor coastline, [[Pevensey Bay]].  The other railway line is the [[Oxted Line|Uckfield Branch Line]] from London Bridge.

Bus service is provided by [[Wealdlink]]. 

Wealden is crossed by a number of [[National Cycle Network]] routes:

Route 2 (South Coast Cycle Route)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-2/|title=Route 2|website=Sustrans}}</ref> 

Route 21 (London to Eastbourne) which makes use of the [[Forest Way]] and [[Cuckoo Trail]] paths along disused railway lines<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-21/|title=Route 21|website=Sustrans}}</ref>

[[Long-distance footpaths]] include the [[South Downs Way]], the [[Monarch's Way]], the [[Sussex Border Path]] and the [[Wealdway]].

==Media==
Wealden is served by [[BBC South East]] and [[ITV Meridian]] broadcasting from the [[Heathfield transmitting station|Heathfield]] TV transmitter which is situated near [[Heathfield, East Sussex|Heathfield]]. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Heathfield |title=Full Freeview on the Heathfield (East Sussex, England) transmitter |date=May 2004}}</ref>

Radio stations for the area are:
*[[BBC Radio Sussex]]
*[[Heart South]] 
*[[Ashdown Radio]] (serving [[Uckfield]] and [[Crowborough]])
*[[Seahaven FM]] (covering [[Polegate]])
*[[More Radio Eastbourne]] (covering [[Hailsham]])

==Landmarks==
Major landmarks include the [[Seven Sisters, Sussex|Seven Sisters]] and [[Cuckmere Haven]] along the coast; and the [[Long Man of Wilmington]] together with all of the paths over the [[South Downs National Park]].  Roman fortified hills can be found in the north of the area and [[Uckfield]] has a large architectural [[conservation area]].

[[Sheffield Park Garden]] is an informal landscape garden now owned by the [[National Trust]] but laid out by [[Capability Brown]].  Near to this is the terminus of the [[Bluebell Railway]], a heritage, steam railway line.

A late medieval castle construction, moated [[Herstmonceux Castle]], was begun in 1440. It is open to visitors and there are organised tours on a few summer days.<ref>[[Scheduled monument]]: {{National Heritage List for England|num=1002298|desc=Herstmonceux Castle|access-date=28 January 2015}}</ref>

The north of the district includes [[Ashdown Forest]], which provided the inspiration for the [[Hundred Acre Wood]] in the [[Winnie the Pooh]] stories by [[A. A. Milne]], who lived in Hartfield.

==See also==
*[[List of current places of worship in Wealden]]
*[[List of former places of worship in Wealden]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Wealden District|Wealden}}
{{SE_England}}
{{East Sussex1}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

[[Category:Wealden District| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of East Sussex]]