Residents, businesses and organisations across Wealden are being encouraged to take part in a government consultation that will help shape the future of council services across the county.
Wealden District Council wants people to have their say on the two options submitted for East Sussex to the government in the consultation launched this week.
The first option is the One East Sussex proposal – which would create a single unitary authority covering Rother, Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, and Wealden.
A second option, put forward by Brighton & Hove City Council, would see five unitary authorities across Sussex with Brighton & Hove expanding its boundary to include parts of Lewes, and a Mid Sussex unitary authority taking in parts of Wealden and Lewes.
Earlier this year Wealden council did not submit a proposal or support one and while council leaders said they backed smaller unitaries as they are better for residents, they said there had been insufficient time to properly assess proposals and financial arrangements.
Between now and January 11, 2026, people have the chance to give their views on the options, which are designed to replace the current two-tier structure of county and district or borough councils with new unitary authorities.
Wealden council leader Councillor James Partridge, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Governance, Waste & Local Economy, said, “This is almost certainly the most important decision about the future of Wealden which will be made in our lifetimes.
“Please take the time to tell the government which of the two proposals you think is most likely to provide us with a council which provides good quality, value for money services designed for our rural district and which we can hold to account for doing so.”
Further information on the government consultation can be found at https://consult.communities.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/east-sussex-brighton-and-hove-west-sussex/
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