Useful Village Information

Withyham Parish Council

Withyham Parish is a beautiful parish within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It has approximately 3,000 residents and falls under the local government of Wealden District Council [which, in turn, comes under East Sussex County Council.

The Parish Council is made up of thirteen Councillors who are elected every four years and who meet every second Monday of the month as a full Council. They are also required to be members of various committees and sub-committees covering such matters as Planning, Finance, Air Traffic, Road Safety and Rights of Way.

Wealden District Council

Blackham falls under Wealden District Council. My Wealden is a self service portal, designed to help residents, as well as customers living outside the district, to use its online services. An account will give Villagers quick and easy access to popular tasks (such as access to benefits, paying a parking fine, or submitting a planning application).

The portal keeps a record of any contact with the council. Once registered onto the portal, your details are securely saved so you don’t have to retype them each time.

East Sussex Police

Blackham is on the borders of Kent and Sussex although it is technically under East Sussex Police - Frant and Withyham Jursitiction.

ALWAYS DIAL 999 in an emergency

There are 3 police stations in the locality around Blackham. They are:

Chequer Mead in East Grinstead RH19 3BS (Tues, Thurs, Sat 10-2pm)

Tunbridge Wells Police Station (Kent) TN1 2LU (Mon-Sat, 9-5pm)

Crowborough Police Station TN6 1DA (Mon-Sat, 10-4pm)

If you have seen or heard something of concern such as a crime, road traffic accident, a missing person or civil dispute, click on the link below. This will take you to the Sussex Police ‘report it’ page.

Wealden Refuse Collection

Currently the bin collections are

  • Rubbish Bins: Alternate Mondays

  • Recycle Bins: Alternate Mondays

  • Green Waste: Every other Tuesday (if registered)

Note: Ticklebelly Lane has collections Wednesdays and Green Waste alternate Fridays.

Report flytipping: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/fly-tipping/

Bulky Waste Collection:https://www.wealden.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/bulky-household-waste-collections/

All Saints Church Blackham

All Saints Church is an early Twentieth Century Church in Blackham and together with St Michaels and All Saints Withyham forms part of the Rotherfield Deanery. This stretches from Coleman’s Hatch in the West to Flimwell in East, including Crowborough. This sits within the Diocese of Chichester covering almost all of East and West Sussex.

James Campbell, the Rector, with his wife Mary welcome villagers to the sunday services. More information at withyhamchurch.org 

Rev. James Campbell, The Rectory, Withyham, Hartfield TN7 4BA

Flexi Bus

Operating in more rural areas of the county where traditional bus services don't quite reach, FlexiBus provides an invaluable link to key transport hubs such as train and bus stations, supermarkets and shopping centres and other key places of interest. It operates exclusively for places not served by a regular bus service.

Services run 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday (not Sundays or Bank holidays)

You can book a FlexiBus ride as little as 30 minutes before you want to travel and up to 7 days in advance.

Bookings can be made using an app and by telephone to the call centre. You can book for up to 9 passengers per trip, subject to availability.

Call: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Ashurst Railway Station

Ashurst Railway Station is part of the Southern Railway.

The station is not manned but ticket machines are accessible. Tickets can also be purchased online at southernrailway.com.

There is a carpark which is pay and display. You can book parking in advance using the APCOA Parking App. See Link below.

Royal Mail

There are two Royal Mail post boxes in Blackham Village.

One is by the gate at the Village Hall, and the other is a Tommy Corner at the end of Willets Lane.

Parcels can be collected - arranged via https://www.royalmail.com/collection

Adult Social Care

Contact Adult Social if you want to:

  • report abuse or neglect (please phone)

  • apply for care and support

  • get support for a carer

Phone: 0345 60 80 191
8am to 8pm, 7 days a week (including bank holidays). Calls are charged at a local rate.

Out of hours emergencies: phone 0345 60 80 191 and select option 2 to connect to the Emergency Duty Service.

Medical Services

Most villagers are patients at the Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group. There are two surgeries, the nearest being Hartfield TN7 4AD (Tel: 01892863326). There are other surgeries to be found on the NHS Website.

The nearest Pharmacy to Blackham Village is in Rusthall, 2 High Street, TN4 8RN. Tel 01892 521255.

The closest ‘Urgent Care’ centre is at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. This is a walk-in centre for urgent medical attention (e.g. sprains, injuries, cuts, pain and infections) but not a life-threatening situation. If this is the case call 999. NHS 111 (see below) will direct you to the most suitable urgent care.

A&E and 999

You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency only. Call 999 or go to A&E with:

Loss of consciousness

Cardiac arrest, heart attack or chest pains

Stroke or an acute confused state

Breathing difficulties or severe allergic reactions

Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped

Severe burns or scalds

Major trauma, such a s a road traffic accident or fall from a height

A suicide attempt

Defibrilators

Blackham is lucky to have THREE defibrilators within the village.

  • Outside the Village Hall opposite the church

  • Opposite the bus shelter where Ironchurch Lane meets the A264

  • At Villa Golf Course.

Information about how to open the device casing and access the difibrilator is on the device and instructions for use are provided.

Learn how to use a defibrilator by watching the video below.