Staplecross Village Voice

STAPLECROSS VILLAGE VOICE 8th MARCH 2026.

COMMUNITY NEWS & REVIEWS –

ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL – LOCAL PLAN - The ’Local Plan’ is the blueprint for how Rother could develop and change up to 2042. It sets out where new homes, jobs, facilities and infrastructure may be located, while protecting the district’s valued landscapes, heritage and character. The Government has set higher housing requirements for all Councils. For Rother, this means planning for many more homes than has been the case in recent years and this requires difficult decisions about where development takes place. The draft Local Plan being consulted on provides for 8,427 new homes to 2042.This consultation focuses on the potential development sites proposed to meet these needs. The proposed new sites for development are grouped by area and settlement so that you can easily focus in on the area that you wish to. The plans for this project and the proposed sites for the suggested development sites can still be seen at Bexhill Town Hall, TN39 3JX. Telephone number 01424~ 787000. Please contact prior to visiting. The closing date for this public consultation closes on Monday 23rd March 2026. The Rother District Council – ‘Local Plan’ is sure to effect many residents throughout the council’s various areas and it is important you are aware of what is proposed to take place within your own neighbourhood and this consultancy is your chance to make your concerns and comments known and to have your say.

W.I. CRAFT GROUP. These interesting craft meeting always take place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The actual W.I. Member monthly meetings take place on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Both meetings take place within the Village Hall, in Staplecross and both begin at 2.00pm. The only difference between the two is that the Craft Group is open to anyone with an interest in craft work. The next date for the Craft Group will be Tuesday MARCH 17th. It is hoped that more ladies will be encouraged to come along, bring their own piece of craftwork or have a go and something new whilst spending a few hours amongst good, congenial company and just enjoy doing whatever craft they wish to do. The cost of this is a mere £2:00 per person and includes a cuppa and biscuits or cake and hopefully covers the hire of the venue. For all further information on what takes place, please contact Pauline on 01580~830570;

ROTHER RAMBLERS Eagerly looking forward to the weather changing to allow members to enjoy the peace and quiet of our countryside without downpours and freezing temperatures – or the unbelievable, unexpected and often unbearable, heatwave of last year, are the Walk Leaders of this popular walking group who are busy arranging walks for us all to enjoy. Just one walk has been arranged for us to consider this week – and this is a an 8 circular mile meander of Punnetts Town and Vines Cross, a delightful market town area, just west of us- close to the South Downs and a charming change of direction. This has been arranged to take place on WEDNESDAY 18th MARCH at a time to allow the walk to commence at 10.am. The meeting place is at the Punnetts Town Recreation Ground car park – off the B2096 opposite the school. (Satnav TN21 9DE) Grid Ref.TQ619204. What3Words:///marked.roughness.marching The ‘walk notes’ state ”Leaving Punnetts Town & it’s views of the South Downs, we’ll go east, then turn south at Cade Street, pass Old Heathield church and Vines Cross village, before having our lunch at Warbleton church. Please bring a snack lunch and drinks. After lunch we’ll have a combination of quiet lanes and footpaths. On a fine day, this is a very pretty route across undulating fields and through woodland. There are several stiles, all in fair condition with only one needing dogs to be lifted over. This walk can be muddy if weather has been wet, so please check the previous evening in case of cancellation. The walk is graded as Moderate. Your ‘walk leader for today is to be Chris (H) and you may contact via mobile: on 07871~187057 or email via website.

EWHURST. PARISH. COUNCIL. - ‘OPEN MEETING’ Continuing with their monthly ‘Parish Council ‘Open Meetings’ – the next meeting will take place on Wednesday MARCH 18that the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross TN32 5QG. The meetings commence at 7.00pm and a ‘Public Question Time’ is in the early part of the proceedings to allow you to ask any questions.Come and meet your local councillors – from all levels – Parish- District or County. All are here to serve you, our community and have the Parish of Ewhurst – as well as your own best interests at heart. They do their best to help solve any problems or concerns you may have. Please come along, ask any questions & “Have your Say!”

E.P.C. “COMUNITY OPEN SPACES” ( C.O.S.) Continuing with a full and enjoyable programme for 2026 - another warm and open invitation is extended to all residents to come along and enjoy a short time here with us. These welcoming and simple little events are always a pleasure to go to and be a part of. The venue, as always, is at the Staplecross Village hall, with the next meeting planned for Monday MARCH 23rd. between 12 Noon ‘til 2.00pm. An additional event – with children only in mind is planned for Monday 30th March 2026 - End of Term - so if you’d like your wee ones to take part, please contact Sue on 01580 - 831775 to book your place/s The 'Grown Ups' play-time is always a fun and friendly get-together which often have superb guest speakers offering a wide and varied range of talks and topics. Lots of different and interesting events are being planned to ensure everyone enjoys the results. Please come along and join us.

STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB – ‘GRAND JUMBLE SALE’Advance notification of the Staplecross Bowls Club Grand Jumble Sale. This is arranged to take place on Ssturday MARCH 28th. and will be held at Staplecross Village Hall. Donations for the Jumble Sale can be brought to the hall on the morning of the sale.- from 9.30am. Doors open at 2.pm. and the entrance is just 20p. There are loads of amazing bargains just waiting to be discovered. The popular Raffle Stall as well as a busy Cake Stall will be available and refreshments will be served during the sale, to help any loss of energy.

CHURCH SERVICES – CHURCHSERVICES for the Parish of Ewhurst will continue with a Holy Communion service (CW) on Sunday 15th MARCH – Lent 4 – Mothering Sunday at 9.30am at St. James the Great church, Ewhurst Green. This will be followed directly after at 11.15am by a Parish Communion service which will take place at St. Giles church, Bodiam. There is NO SERVICE today at St.Mark’s church, Staplecross. Please remember that F‘OOD BANK COLLECTIONS ’ at St.James, Ewhurst Green are on the 1st of every month. Every donation is always gratefully received and warmly welcomed - even more so in these difficult and worrying times. PRAYER REQUESTS; - Opportunities to leave requests for prayers – the ‘prayer basket' is available again at both churches to enable anyone who wishes to have a prayer said for a loved one - a neighbour, friend or just for humanity! If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further guidance or assistance, - however large or small, especially Baptisms – Weddings – or sadly Funerals, then for the time being please get in touch with any of the Churchwardens. - For St. James church Ewhurst Green ~ 01580~830601. For: St. Mark's church, Staplecross ~ 01580~830830 - For St. Giles church, Bodiam ~ 01580~830203 or 830327. Messages can still be left on the Rectory telephone - 01580~830925 - and are dealt with daily. Help in some way is always at hand and always so generously given so please do contact them.

HAVE YOU NEWS FOR THIS COLUMN ?PLEASE CONTACT ME. ~ If you are planning any event, - indoors or out and you would like to attract new members, clients, customers or interested browsers to your event whether it is a social group, a sports club, a charity or working project, then please get in touch. It’s never too early to send in your proposed event and if you’d like some FREE coverage of it, - courtesy of the Observer Newspaper, then please send me your planned details and we’ll spread your news.