Wealden Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · South East · 45 seats in 41 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Wealden Council is run by a Liberal Democrats / Green coalition. The council has 45 councillors in 41 wards. Seats by party: Lib Dem 12, Other 10, Green 10, Conservative 9, Reform 2, Labour 2. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

A government plan to replace the councils in this area with two unitary councils was paused for review on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Liberal Democrats / Green Coalition

45 seats - 23 for a majority

Reform 2Labour 2Conservative 9Lib Dem 12Green 10Other 10

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Reform +2 Lib Dem −1 Green −1

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (45 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Conservative33.8%9

Green20.9%11

Lib Dem18.9%13

Other18.0%10

Labour8.2%2

Reform0.3%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 45 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Lib Dem 12

11 short of the 23 needed for a majority

Closest result

Uckfield New Town

Independent won the last seat by 21 votes over Labour, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Horam & Punnetts Town

Green hold, 10 July 2025 (3 since 2021)

Constituencies

4 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

54%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeLib DemReformGreenIndependent

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 41 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Arlington Alison Wilson	4 May 2023 Green 54.6% lead 18.1 pts
Buxted Graham Shaw	4 May 2023 Green 60.2% lead 20.4 pts
Chiddingly, East Hoathly &Waldron Geoffrey Draper	4 May 2023 Conservative 61.2% lead 22.4 pts
Crowborough Central Jane Clark	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 54.8% lead 15.8 pts
Crowborough Jarvis Brook Gareth Owen-Williams	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 75.3% lead 50.6 pts
Crowborough North James Partridge	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 54.4% lead 30.6 pts
Crowborough South East Andrew Wilson	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 73.9% lead 47.8 pts
Crowborough South West Alison Arthur	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 58.5% lead 17.0 pts
Crowborough St Johns Martyn Everitt	4 May 2023 Green 49.5% lead 6.1 pts
Danehill & Fletching Christina Coleman	4 May 2023 Green 64.2% lead 32.6 pts
Forest Row Patricia Patterson-Vanegas	4 May 2023 Green 78.0% lead 56.0 pts
Framfield & Cross-in-Hand Ann Newton	4 May 2023 Conservative 57.5% lead 15.0 pts
Frant & Wadhurst Sarah Glynn-Ives, Johanna Howell	4 May 2023 Green 29.0% lead 0.5 pts
Hadlow Down & Rotherfield Michael Lunn	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Hailsham Central Neil Cleaver	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 66.1% lead 32.2 pts
Hailsham East Gavin Blake-Coggins	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 71.1% lead 42.2 pts
Hailsham North Paul Holbrook	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 74.6% lead 49.2 pts
Hailsham North West Glynn White	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 52.4% lead 4.8 pts
Hailsham South Anne Blake-Coggins	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 47.0% lead 8.9 pts
Hailsham West Richard Grocock	4 May 2023 Conservative 36.9% lead 4.7 pts
Hartfield Rachel Millward	4 May 2023 Green 62.9% lead 25.8 pts
Heathfield North Mike Gadd	4 May 2023 Independent 46.8% lead 13.1 pts
Heathfield South Kevin Benton	4 May 2023 Independent 66.0% lead 32.0 pts
Hellingly David White	4 May 2023 Independent 64.0% lead 35.2 pts
Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels Mark Fairweather, Paul Coleshill	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 52.4% lead 14.3 pts
Horam & Punnetts Town Diane Gould, Greg Collins	4 May 2023 Green 64.8% lead 29.6 pts
Lower Willingdon Stephen Shing	4 May 2023 Independent 54.7% lead 23.6 pts
Maresfield Ian Tysh	4 May 2023 Green 69.1% lead 38.2 pts
Mayfield & Five Ashes Brian Redman	4 May 2023 Conservative 55.4% lead 28.8 pts
Pevensey Bay Daniel Brookbank	4 May 2023 Independent 64.9% lead 29.8 pts
Polegate Central Chris Primett	4 May 2023 Conservative 37.8% lead 12.8 pts
Polegate North Stephen Shing	4 May 2023 Independent 34.4% lead 4.0 pts
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill Daniel Shing	4 May 2023 Independent 54.1% lead 23.7 pts
South Downs David Greaves	4 May 2023 Conservative 47.9% lead 7.6 pts
Stone Cross Daniel Upton	4 May 2023 Conservative 46.5% lead 12.6 pts
Uckfield East Kelvin Williams	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 46.6% lead 14.2 pts
Uckfield New Town Ben Cox, Donna French	4 May 2023 Labour 44.2% lead 14.4 pts
Uckfield North Daniel Manvell	4 May 2023 Labour 51.6% lead 25.7 pts
Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted Bernadette Reed	4 May 2023 Independent 41.3% lead 10.8 pts
Upper Willingdon Raymond Shing	4 May 2023 Independent 55.2% lead 28.4 pts
Withyham Jessika Hulbert	4 May 2023 Green 72.3% lead 44.6 pts

Arlington

Alison Wilson Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green54.6%

Conservative36.5%

Lib Dem8.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alison Jane Wilson Elected	Green	668	54.6%
David Russell Watts	Conservative	446	36.5%
Catherine Naledi Hall	Lib Dem	109	8.9%

Buxted

Graham Shaw Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green60.2%

Conservative39.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Graham Shaw Elected	Green	671	60.2%
Laura Jane Stevens-Smith	Conservative	444	39.8%

Chiddingly, East Hoathly &Waldron

Geoffrey Draper Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative61.2%

Labour38.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Geoffrey Joseph Draper Elected	Conservative	578	61.2%
Tony Fielding	Labour	367	38.8%

Crowborough Central

Jane Clark Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem54.8%

Conservative39.0%

Independent6.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Carolyn Jane Huntington Clark Elected	Lib Dem	576	54.8%
Ronald George Reed	Conservative	410	39.0%
Peter James Bucklitsch	Independent	65	6.2%

Crowborough Jarvis Brook

Gareth Owen-Williams Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem75.3%

Conservative24.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Gareth Huw Owen-Williams Elected	Lib Dem	648	75.3%
Craig Barrington Edwards	Conservative	212	24.7%

Crowborough North

James Partridge Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem54.4%

Independent23.8%

Conservative21.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
James Partridge Elected	Lib Dem	605	54.4%
Kay Jane Moss	Independent	265	23.8%
James Turgoose	Conservative	243	21.8%

Crowborough South East

Andrew Wilson Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem73.9%

Conservative26.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Andrew James Ashton Wilson Elected	Lib Dem	732	73.9%
Philip Malcolm Lunn	Conservative	258	26.1%

Crowborough South West

Alison Arthur Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem58.5%

Conservative41.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alison Clare Arthur Elected	Lib Dem	454	58.5%
Neil Harry Waller	Conservative	322	41.5%

Crowborough St Johns

Martyn Everitt Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green49.5%

Conservative43.4%

Labour7.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Martyn Everitt Elected	Green	572	49.5%
Richard Vaughan Hallett	Conservative	501	43.4%
Sarah Bammann	Labour	82	7.1%

Danehill & Fletching

Christina Coleman Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green64.2%

Conservative31.6%

Independent4.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Christina Nanna Mary Coleman Elected	Green	1,107	64.2%
Roy Galley	Conservative	545	31.6%
Wes Constantinou	Independent	73	4.2%

Forest Row

Patricia Patterson-Vanegas Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green78.0%

Independent22.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Patricia Patterson-Vanegas Elected	Green	937	78.0%
Rowena Clare Moore	Independent	265	22.0%

Framfield & Cross-in-Hand

Ann Newton Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative57.5%

Labour42.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ann Elizabeth Newton Elected	Conservative	571	57.5%
Peter Ullmann	Labour	422	42.5%

Frant & Wadhurst

Johanna Howell ConservativeSarah Glynn-Ives Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green29.0%

Conservative28.5%

Independent21.6%

Labour20.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sarah Glynn-Ives Elected	Green	882
Johanna Christina Dorothy Howell Elected	Conservative	865
Gill Weavers	Conservative	766
Serena Jane Gadd	Independent	655
James Walker	Labour	635

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hadlow Down & Rotherfield

Michael Lunn Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Uncontested. Elected: Michael Peter Lunn (Conservative).

Hailsham Central

Neil Cleaver Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem66.1%

Conservative33.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Neil Andrew Cleaver Elected	Lib Dem	432	66.1%
Doina Rusu	Conservative	222	33.9%

Hailsham East

Gavin Blake-Coggins Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem71.1%

Conservative28.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Gavin Michael Blake-Coggins Elected	Lib Dem	520	71.1%
James Ian Cottenham	Conservative	211	28.9%

Hailsham North

Paul Holbrook Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem74.6%

Conservative25.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Paul Steven Holbrook Elected	Lib Dem	583	74.6%
Antony James Hayes	Conservative	199	25.4%

Hailsham North West

Glynn White Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem52.4%

Conservative47.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Glynn Richard White Elected	Lib Dem	412	52.4%
Steven David Keogh	Conservative	375	47.6%

Hailsham South

Anne Blake-Coggins Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem47.0%

Conservative38.1%

Reform14.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Anne Barbara Blake-Coggins Elected	Lib Dem	381	47.0%
Nigel Stephan Coltman	Conservative	309	38.1%
Rob Stevens	Reform	121	14.9%

Hailsham West

Richard Grocock Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative36.9%

Lib Dem32.2%

Independent26.6%

Social Democratic Party4.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Richard Grocock Elected	Conservative	293	36.9%
Alexa Claire Clarke	Lib Dem	255	32.2%
David John Radtke	Independent	211	26.6%
Stephen Gander	Social Democratic Party	34	4.3%

Hartfield

Rachel Millward Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green62.9%

Conservative37.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Rachel Millward Elected	Green	774	62.9%
Janie Robinson	Conservative	456	37.1%

Heathfield North

Mike Gadd Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent46.8%

Conservative33.7%

Labour18.3%

Independent1.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mike Gadd Elected	Independent	523	46.8%
Raymond Andrew Cade	Conservative	376	33.7%
David Warden Newman	Labour	204	18.3%
Naz Mian	Independent	14	1.3%

Heathfield South

Kevin Benton Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent66.0%

Conservative34.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Kevin Owen Benton Elected	Independent	716	66.0%
Tom Guyton-Day	Conservative	369	34.0%

Hellingly

David White Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent64.0%

Conservative28.8%

Independent7.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
David George White Elected	Independent	690	64.0%
Chris Bryant	Conservative	311	28.8%
David Roger Alfred Alan Younge	Independent	77	7.1%

Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels

Mark Fairweather Lib DemPaul Coleshill Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem52.4%

Conservative38.1%

UKIP9.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Nicholas Coleshill Elected	Lib Dem	1,012
Mark Fairweather Elected	Lib Dem	1,000
Pam Doodes	Conservative	737
Nuala Geary	Conservative	620
Laurence Victor Keeley	UKIP	183
Mike Pursglove	UKIP	163

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Horam & Punnetts Town

Diane Gould GreenGreg Collins Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green64.8%

Conservative35.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Cornelie Usborne Elected	Green	1,720
Greg Collins Elected	Green	1,697
Bob Bowdler	Conservative	933
Susan Stedman	Conservative	812

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 10 July 2025

Green36.0%

Reform33.1%

Conservative19.8%

Independent11.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Diane Gould Elected	Green	611	36.0%
Stephen Potts	Reform	561	33.1%
Susan Stedman	Conservative	336	19.8%
Barry William Carpenter	Independent	188	11.1%

Lower Willingdon

Stephen Shing Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent54.7%

Conservative31.1%

Lib Dem14.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Stephen Sai Hung Shing Elected	Independent	602	54.7%
Douglas Murray	Conservative	342	31.1%
Sarah Louise Whitehead	Lib Dem	156	14.2%

Maresfield

Ian Tysh Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green69.1%

Conservative30.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ian Michael Tysh Elected	Green	950	69.1%
Helen Margaret Galley	Conservative	424	30.9%

Mayfield & Five Ashes

Brian Redman Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative55.4%

Green26.6%

Labour18.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Brian Terence Redman Elected	Conservative	716	55.4%
Simon Peter Cramond	Green	344	26.6%
Jason Keith Scott-Taggart	Labour	233	18.0%

Pevensey Bay

Daniel Brookbank Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent64.9%

Conservative35.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Daniel David Brookbank Elected	Independent	524	64.9%
Dianne Janet Dear	Conservative	283	35.1%

Polegate Central

Chris Primett Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative37.8%

Lib Dem25.0%

Independent18.9%

Labour18.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Chris Primett Elected	Conservative	394	37.8%
Andy O'Kane	Lib Dem	260	25.0%
Malcolm James Cunningham	Independent	197	18.9%
Paul William Hunt	Labour	190	18.3%

Polegate North

Stephen Shing Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent34.4%

Conservative30.4%

Independent23.7%

Lib Dem11.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Oi Lin Shing Elected	Independent	351	34.4%
James Edward Heward	Conservative	310	30.4%
Nathan John Dunbar	Independent	241	23.7%
Kate Edmons	Lib Dem	117	11.5%

Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill

Daniel Shing Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent54.1%

Conservative30.4%

Lib Dem15.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Daniel Dak Yan Shing Elected	Independent	554	54.1%
Cherie Dawn Berry	Conservative	311	30.4%
Andy Watkins	Lib Dem	159	15.5%

South Downs

David Greaves Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative47.9%

Lib Dem40.3%

Green11.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
David Martin Greaves Elected	Conservative	660	47.9%
Katrina Ruth Best	Lib Dem	555	40.3%
Tom Michael Harrison	Green	163	11.8%

Stone Cross

Daniel Upton Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative46.5%

Lib Dem33.9%

Green19.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Daniel Oliver Upton Elected	Conservative	335	46.5%
Carolina Rosena Adcock	Lib Dem	244	33.9%
Nick Mawdsley	Green	141	19.6%

Uckfield East

Kelvin Williams Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem46.6%

Independent32.4%

Conservative21.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Kelvin John Williams Elected	Lib Dem	429	46.6%
Duncan Alastair Bennett	Independent	298	32.4%
Petrina Voelcker	Conservative	193	21.0%

Uckfield New Town

Ben Cox LabourDonna French Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour44.2%

Independent29.8%

Conservative26.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ben Sebastian Cox Elected	Labour	1,078
Spike Mayhew Elected	Independent	727
George Robert Keith Wilson	Labour	706
Helen Firth	Conservative	634
Ginny Heard	Conservative	471

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 4 April 2024

Independent37.0%

Labour36.7%

Conservative26.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Donna Rachel French Elected	Independent	582	37.0%
George Robert Keith Wilson	Labour	578	36.7%
Helen Firth	Conservative	413	26.3%

Uckfield North

Daniel Manvell Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour51.6%

Independent25.9%

Conservative22.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Daniel James Keith Manvell Elected	Labour	444	51.6%
Jackie Love	Independent	223	25.9%
Peter John Waldock	Conservative	194	22.5%

Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted

Bernadette Reed Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent41.3%

Conservative30.5%

Labour28.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ben Reed Elected	Independent	306	41.3%
Adrian Stuart Marshall	Conservative	226	30.5%
Christopher Field	Labour	209	28.2%

Upper Willingdon

Raymond Shing Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent55.2%

Conservative26.8%

Lib Dem17.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Raymond Dak Wai Shing Elected	Independent	616	55.2%
Robert Findon	Conservative	299	26.8%
Dionne Joanne Michelle Daniel	Lib Dem	200	17.9%

Withyham

Jessika Hulbert Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green72.3%

Conservative27.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jessika Simone Hulbert Elected	Green	850	72.3%
Stephen Michael Banham	Conservative	325	27.7%

Councillors

Changed party since the election

3 councillors now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Crowborough South East	Andrew Wilson	Lib Dem 2023	Conservative
Hailsham Central	Neil Cleaver	Lib Dem 2023	Reform
South Downs	David Greaves	Conservative 2023	Reform

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

3 by-elections since July 2021, 1 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
10 July 2025	Horam & Punnetts Town	Green hold	36.0%
7 April 2024	Uckfield New Town	Independent hold
22 September 2022	Maresfield	Green gain from Conservative

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Sussex Weald	57%	Conservative	Conservative 40%
East Grinstead and Uckfield	19%	Conservative	Conservative 32%
Lewes	18%	Lib Dem	Lib Dem 39%
Bexhill and Battle	6%	Conservative	Conservative 36%

Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in Wealden

160,151 residents in 68,262 households

Voted Leave in 2016

54% 2 above GB

Degree or higher

33% 1 below GB

No qualifications

15% 3 below GB

Own their home

77% 16 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

8% 9 below GB

Rent privately

14% 6 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

22% 9 below GB

Aged 65 and over

31% 9 above GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

FarehamConservative (Majority)New ForestConservative (Majority)TeignbridgeLiberal Democrats (Majority)BroadlandLiberal Democrats / Labour / Green Coalition East DevonLiberal Democrats / Green / Independent Coalition

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.