Boost for police station

The station has been used in recent years as a base for the scenes of crime department, which will now be moved to Eastbourne to allow grass-roots officers to move back to the parish.

Sussex Police won the major grant from the 20 million Home Office Premises Improvement Fund, set up to help modernise stations and improve conditions for police officers.

Chief Inspector Grenville Wilson, who is Wealden district commander, was delighted by the news. He said: 'We can soon return the Neighbourhood Policing Team to Heathfield station and provide facilities for dealing with and receiving members of the public from that area in a pre-arranged way.

'In time, as resources allow, I would also hope that a police surgery, open to the public, will be made available through the station.'

It is hoped the move will help to address complaints from local residents, which have been expressed via Heathfield Parish Council in the past, that 'there is never a policeman in Heathfield'.

Some of the money will also be used to modernise Hailsham police station, which now accommodates response officers for the South Weald 24 hours a day.

Ch Insp Wilsons said: 'The funding will ensure that the fabric of the building is brought up to modern standards and facilities are available to all the officers and staff, to ensure that the best possible service can be provided to all the communities of the South Weald area.'

Chief Constable of Sussex, Ken Jones, said: 'This will enable us to take forward our plans to bring a neighbourhood style of local policing to this part of East Sussex.'