Skatejam – Thursday 30th October from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm
Come along to the Skatejam on Thursday 30th October from 10.00 to 3.00 pm at Horam Recreation Ground
Changes to Bus Services as from September 2025
As from September 2025 there are significant service alterations made by Stagecoach in Eastbourne and Wealden although there are other changes, notably made by Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company and Cuckmere Buses.
Precept increase explanation
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE:-
EXPLANATION OF THE RISE IN THE HORAM PARISH PRECEPT FOR 2025-26
I think it is necessary to explain the rise in the Parish Council precept for the 2025-26 financial year. As Chairman I will be making a presentation on this topic at the Horam Annual Parish Assembly on Thursday 27th March at the Horam Village Hall from 6.45pm. This will be an opportunity for residents to ask questions and highlight their concerns.
The Parish Council budget and precept must by law be Resolved (i.e. approved) by the Full Council.
In the approved budget and Precept there are three items which together amount to 93% of the increase in the Precept:-
- Rental costs for the Parish Council office and meeting room.
The office rent has increased by 41%. This was due to a new agreement between the Parish Council and the Horam Club Rooms Charity who own the building. The rental costs are still below commercial rental rates.
- The General Reserves budget.
Due to changes in National Guidelines the Parish Council needed to increase the General Reserves. For a Council of our size, we should now have General Reserves of between 50 – 80% of the Precept. General Reserves can only be raised through the Precept, not from CIL. The Parish Council made the decision that it was necessary to be financially sound in order to be an active council and to avoid the risks of bankruptcy in the future. Therefore, an additional £25,000 had to be set aside to ensure the Parish Council complies with National Guidelines. Previously General Reserves had been used to part fund the Precept, at a time when National Guidelines allowed that. This had kept the precept down but had also reduced the General Reserves.
- A Landscape Sensitivity Assessment of the Coxlow area where the Wealden Draft Local Plan shows a proposed development of 750 dwellings.
When Wealden’s Draft Local Plan was published the Parish Council noted the strength of residents’ concerns regarding the effect this development would have on the village and on the Cuckoo Trail. Also, during the Horam Neighbourhood Plan public consultations the Parish Council had noted residents’ desire to maintain the rural aspect and nature of the Cuckoo Trail within the Parish. Horam Parish Council had been given confidential sight of some early outline plans showing where dwellings might be built in Coxlow; some close to the Cuckoo Trail and would likely impact on some environmentally sensitive areas close to the Cuckoo Trail and Cinderghyll. As the Coxlow development would be the biggest thing to hit Horam since the arrival of the railway, the Parish Council believed it was in the interests of the whole community to have their own impartial Landscape Sensitivity Study covering the whole Coxlow area. This would be independent of the reports prepared for Wealden District Council which only covered Coxlow in a piecemeal fashion. There is a narrow window of opportunity to commission the report which as a council we believe would be vital in building an independent, evidence-based case for preserving the rural nature of the Cuckoo Trail; funds of £14,000 have been budgeted for this. As such this is a one-off item in the budget so would not be in the budget for next year.
These 3 items account for 50.5% out of the 54.3% increase in the Precept. The remaining 3.8% is due to the national increase in employers’ NI contributions and marginal increases in other budget line-items and is still lower than each of East Sussex County Council, the Fire Authority and the Police & Crime Commissioner increases.
None of these decisions were taken lightly. Parish Councillors are very aware that this is public money coming directly from the residents who pay the Precept.
I can confidently state however, that Horam Parish Council sets a budget to only cover what is believed to be needed for the coming year.
Post Office Limited – Bank Buildings Drop & Collect – TN21 0EH starting on 28 February 2025
The Post Office are introducing a new lighter format Post Office branch in your area at: Horam Convenience Store, 2 Bank Buildings, High Street, Horam, Heathfield, TN21 0EH on Fridays only. This service starts on Friday 28 February 2025 at 1.00 pm.
Opening times: Mon; 07:00 – 21:00, Tue – Sat; 07:00 – 22:00, Sun; 08:00 – 21:00
Post Office services available:
Mails; Parcel collect and return – prepaid only
Other; Bill payments, mobile top-up service
For information about product availability call 03457 22 33 44
For further information please visit our Consultation Hub via the link below:
Consultation Hub – Bank Buildings Drop & Collect TN21 0EH
Unfortunately the Post Office have cancelled their service at the Horam Centre on a Monday morning from 11.00am to 12 noon.
Age Concern Medical Car Service
Age Concern Heathfield and District operate a transport service for medical appointments for residents who reside within the TN21 area and are over 60 years of age or with mild disability
Our volunteer drivers will take clients to medical appointments at hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, opticians, vaccination centres etc. within Kent, Surrey and Sussex
The cost to clients is kept to a minimum.
For further information or assistance please call our main line on
01435 515090
As we are a volunteer service we will always welcome any new drivers to assist us with this invaluable service
Information on Deer Collisions
PRESS RELEASE October / November 2024
If motorists hit deer they should to park in a safe place with hazard lights on and call 101 if the deer is on the side of the road and not causing a danger to others, or 999 if someone is injured of the deer is in the road and a danger to other road users.
Motorists warned to stay alert to avoid deer collisions
Advice to motorists includes;
- • Drivers are advised to use full-beam headlights at night if no other cars are around, as they will reflect the deer’s eyes, but dip their headlights when they see a deer to avoid startling it.
- • Deer often cross the roads in the same locations. Where there are deer warning signs motorists should slow down, stay alert and be prepared to stop.
- • Deer often travel in groups so if drivers see one crossing the road they should slow down and drive with caution as others may follow.
AS the nights draw in, motorists in East Sussex are being urged to be #DeerAware and avoid collisions with animals on rural roads.
There are estimated to be more than 74,000 deer-related traffic collisions across the UK every year, and that risk increases during mating season in October and November.
As part of its #DeerAware campaign, East Sussex County Council is encouraging people to take care in heavily wooded areas or where there are deer warning signs as these are places where deer are most likely to venture out, particularly around dawn and dusk.
Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said: “Collisions with deer can result in injury or death for animals and drivers, and significant damage to vehicles. “With plenty of rural roads across the county, I would urge drivers to take extra care this time of year as deer can appear on the road unexpectedly.
“By following some simple tips, we hope that drivers can keep themselves safe and ensure our deer population can roam freely and thrive in our countryside.”
More information and advice available at
Be deer aware | East Sussex County Council
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