September 18th, 2025.



Brighton and Hove City Council have revealed their proposal for local government reorganisation with five unitary authorities tearing through existing settlements, districts and wards of Sussex. The plans which have involved minimal consultation with those affected create a confused map of conflicting boundaries and wards sometimes splitting communities in half.

Despite public opposition, East Saltdean, Telscombe and Peacehaven would become part of Brighton and Hove in these proposals. One of the new authorities would place Crawley, Horsham and Chichester together whilst other proposals would divide Lewes District and Wealden in different directions. Lewes town and nearby villages would join Mid Sussex and North Wealden. Seaford, Newhaven and South Wealden would join a council along the coast from Eastbourne to Hastings and include Rother.

James MacCleary, Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes constituency, said: “If this wasn’t so serious then it might be possible to write it off as some sort of joke. It looks like someone has sat in a room with a map somewhere in Hove Town Hall, drawn some lines on it and presented it as a real proposal for local government reorganisation.

“It is hard to know if this is arrogance or incompetence - or perhaps both.

“It is not a plan that should be taken seriously, not least as it breaches most of the government’s guidelines. By contrast the East Sussex proposal* has been through extensive consultation, respects existing communities and would not just create a bunch of authorities that would be bankrupt before their first meeting,

“The lack of local knowledge is embarrassing. The plan would see South Heighton and Newhaven in my constituency put into different local authorities. In their table which lists which communities they have decided will go where they have forgotten to even list wards in Newhaven and Seaford.

“The whole thing is a dog’s breakfast. I will be writing to the new local government minister urging him to throw it out. If it were to proceed despite widespread opposition and not complying with the government’s own guidelines then it can only be seen as a Labour Party stitch up.”


* www.eastsussex.gov.uk/your-council/about/devolution-sussex