HOOE COMMUNITY NEWS REPORTS.

Local Author Margaret Siddal has made available some of her books at publisher's prices.  We will have a selection of these at our events.
Local Author Margaret Siddal has made available some of her books at publisher's prices.  We will have a selection of these at our events.
At our Coffee Mornings we often have some 50 to 60 people enjoying each other's company, the coffee and cakes and the lending book and jigsaw free to use libraries.  

Road and Rural Issues
On Friday 10th January HVCG was delighted to welcome our MP, Dr Kieran Mullan to Hooe. A group of 14 residents spent an hour and a half with Kieren outlining the concerns and problems experienced in the village and chewed over possible solutions. We started our road safety campaign way back in 2007 but sadly, since then our problems have increased. The opening of the new road and the designation of the Top Road as a dispersal route has added to the weight and speed of traffic using the rural road. Some of the topics we raised with Kieran were speeding vehicles and speed limits, rat runs, heavy vehicles, unsocial driving, use by oversized heavy vehicles, the dangerous junction with the A.259 at The Lamb Inn, lack of clear diversion routes in the event of unexpected closure of the A259 as a result of accidents or road works. And of course, potholes and the general state of the road surfaces. We all left the meeting with ‘homework! Kieran has agreed to meet with us again in a few months to enable us to compare progress which we hope we will have been able to make. 

Our January Morning was well attended.
At this event we were delighted to be able to present a £500 cheque to the Bexhill Food Bank. You can read about the work of this important organisation HERE.

At our December Coffee morning, we were joined by Sherrie from the East Sussex Deaf Children’s Society and were pleased to make a £500 donation to this important cause. You can learn more about the work of this important society >HERE<








Remembrance at Hooe

HVCG was delighted to be able to help Dick Cary and Jane Vitler prepare and dress the Flag Green ready for the annual time of remembrance. We are all very proud of our Remembrance Display which is admired and appreciated by many who pass by. The whole display has been made in Hooe which celebrates not only the skills of Hooe residents but also their commitment to the village. A tradition we hope will be repeated in years to come.


Our 2024 Hooe Village Community Litter Pick again collected a huge amount of rubbish dropped and dumped by thoughtless and uncaring individuals.  But the HVCG, assisted by other members of the community spent a morning clearing it, ready for collection by Wealden District Council.
Please click on the below for a full screen image.

Hooe Open Gardens
The 2024 Hooe Open Gardens days were a great success, with something of interest for the many people that attended.   You can read more about this and the next Open Gardens Event on their Website >HERE<


Petition to increase the safety of the B2095 Lower Street Ninfield – Marsh Road A.259

To take steps to reduce the speed and weight of vehicles and address the growing problem of dangerous and inconsiderate driving.  In 2016 a petition was presented to East Sussex County Council requesting the reclassification of the B2095, as this had resulted in an increase in volume, weight and speed of traffic using the road.

When the A269/B2095 junction at Lower Street Ninfield was realigned, the B2095 to the A259 Marsh Road running through Russells Green and Hooe was designated by East Sussex County Council a dispersal route to Eastbourne and new signposts were erected on the A269 reading ‘A259 Eastbourne’.  Sadly, our petition was unsuccessful at that time as the County thought the new Link Road would alleviate the problem.  However, since then the problems have increased.  This narrow winding country road attracts many more vehicles than it can safely accommodate. The speed limit varies from 30mph, 40mph and an unbelievable 60mph. The changes in speed limit are confusing for drivers resulting in noncompliance.   We strongly support the request that ESCC examine the safety of this road. That serious consideration is given to reducing the maximum speed limit to 40mph on the entire length of the road from A259 to Lower Street, particularly the stretch of road between Hooe village and the A259, where the speed limit is currently is 60mph, where there have been several accidents, including the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy. At the same time please consider the introduction of a vehicle weight reduction order

This petition is being organised by Wealden District Councillor, Pam Doodes and her husband, Revd Peter Doodes, at the request and with the active support of many of local residents. There was a meeting on the 16th February with MP Huw Merriman to discuss our concerns, and he agreed to take them further.