Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field Masterplan

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Architects aerial plan/drawing showing proposed improvement options for Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field

Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field Improvements

Mid Sussex District Council plan to create a new community park at Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field.


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Background

In Spring 2020, we asked local people what we could do to improve Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field in Pease Pottage. Funding is available to begin the implementation of improvements

Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field Improvements

Mid Sussex District Council plan to create a new community park at Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field.


Get Involved and Keep Up to Date

To be kept informed of how to get involved and to receive updates about this project simply click on the 'subscribe’ button to the right of this page and enter your email address to register.


Background

In Spring 2020, we asked local people what we could do to improve Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field in Pease Pottage. Funding is available to begin the implementation of improvements at Hemsleys meadow / Finches Field. Landscape Architects prepared draft designs based on the feedback we received. The designs showed long term plans for how the space could be improved over time.

In Summer 2020, people had the chance to comment on the design and say what their priorities were. Landscape Architects refined the draft masterplan and made suggestions to the Council for priority areas for improvement based on local feedback. Funding is available to carry out the improvements at Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field.

Once funding was identified, plans were developed. A number of specialist surveys were carried out and the views of local people listened to, so the Landscape Architects had a more detailed picture about the park and what the issues were that needed addressing.

In early 2024, plans were submitted for planning permission.

The Masterplan includes a range of proposed enhancements such as better drainage of the playing field and improved signage. It also includes some more substantial improvements aimed at helping transform the Meadow into a community park with a strong sense of place and a wider offer than just a Meadow / open field.

The masterplan aims to address the main themes we heard that people wanted during the community engagement – Access to nature; formal and informal play; loops and destinations ie. circular paths



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  • Share Please can you provide a full update of the current situation on Hemsleys Meadows 15 weeks of the given 21 weeks of works has passed with what appears little progress , no staff welfare site cabins on site , weeks of no Blakedown staff on site , machinery sinking in the ground and now all machinery removed from site You would have been more than aware that the Hemsleys ‘floods’ in bad weather so why was works planned to commence in this period in the first place? Residents have asked to be patient in your December update but it is very annoying that we have to look out over The worksite week after week when nothing is being done . Please can you reply to all the above points Thank you on Facebook Share Please can you provide a full update of the current situation on Hemsleys Meadows 15 weeks of the given 21 weeks of works has passed with what appears little progress , no staff welfare site cabins on site , weeks of no Blakedown staff on site , machinery sinking in the ground and now all machinery removed from site You would have been more than aware that the Hemsleys ‘floods’ in bad weather so why was works planned to commence in this period in the first place? Residents have asked to be patient in your December update but it is very annoying that we have to look out over The worksite week after week when nothing is being done . Please can you reply to all the above points Thank you on Twitter Share Please can you provide a full update of the current situation on Hemsleys Meadows 15 weeks of the given 21 weeks of works has passed with what appears little progress , no staff welfare site cabins on site , weeks of no Blakedown staff on site , machinery sinking in the ground and now all machinery removed from site You would have been more than aware that the Hemsleys ‘floods’ in bad weather so why was works planned to commence in this period in the first place? Residents have asked to be patient in your December update but it is very annoying that we have to look out over The worksite week after week when nothing is being done . Please can you reply to all the above points Thank you on Linkedin Email Please can you provide a full update of the current situation on Hemsleys Meadows 15 weeks of the given 21 weeks of works has passed with what appears little progress , no staff welfare site cabins on site , weeks of no Blakedown staff on site , machinery sinking in the ground and now all machinery removed from site You would have been more than aware that the Hemsleys ‘floods’ in bad weather so why was works planned to commence in this period in the first place? Residents have asked to be patient in your December update but it is very annoying that we have to look out over The worksite week after week when nothing is being done . Please can you reply to all the above points Thank you link

    Please can you provide a full update of the current situation on Hemsleys Meadows 15 weeks of the given 21 weeks of works has passed with what appears little progress , no staff welfare site cabins on site , weeks of no Blakedown staff on site , machinery sinking in the ground and now all machinery removed from site You would have been more than aware that the Hemsleys ‘floods’ in bad weather so why was works planned to commence in this period in the first place? Residents have asked to be patient in your December update but it is very annoying that we have to look out over The worksite week after week when nothing is being done . Please can you reply to all the above points Thank you

    Lisawhitter asked 11 days ago

    Thank you for contacting us and for taking the time to set out your concerns regarding the works at Hemsleys Meadows. I appreciate how frustrating it is to see limited visible progress on site, and I hope the following update helps clarify the current situation and the reasons behind recent decisions.

    Current Position
     A decision has been made to temporarily pause works at both Hemsleys Meadow and Finches Field due to the extremely wet ground conditions. MSDC officers and our contractor, Blakedown, are monitoring conditions closely and works will resume as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

    Progress to Date
     Although the past few weeks have appeared inactive, significant work did take place during the early part of the programme. The first month was dedicated to carefully clearing the site under the supervision of an ecologist, as protected reptile species had been identified in earlier surveys. This ecological oversight was essential to ensure no harm came to those species. Following the clearance, a reptile exclusion fence was installed around the site to maintain protection throughout the works.

    Why Work Started at This Time of Year
     We recognise that Hemsleys Meadow is prone to saturation during periods of wet weather. Unfortunately, there is no perfect time of year to take a public open space out of use, and the project programme is influenced by multiple constraints:

    • Ecology regulations: Site clearance for protected reptiles can only legally take place between March and October. Waiting until March to begin would have delayed the project by a full season.
    • Budget considerations: Delaying the start into the new financial year would have resulted in increased contractor costs. With a finite council budget, avoiding unnecessary price rises is essential.
    • Minimising impact on site users: Carrying out much of the work over the winter months reduces disruption for those who rely more heavily on the space during drier weather.

    Machinery, Welfare Cabins, and Site Conditions
     We are aware of the issues caused by machinery sinking in the saturated ground. To avoid further damage—and to avoid unnecessary hire fees that would otherwise fall to the Council—machinery has been temporarily removed while the ground recovers.

    A hardstanding has been created at Finches Field specifically for welfare units, but the cabins themselves have not yet been placed on site for the same reason: pausing the installation avoids hire costs during periods when the workforce cannot safely operate.

    Pausing works at this stage will inevitably extend the overall programme, but this approach will protect the soil structure and support the long‑term success of the improvements being delivered.

    Impact on Local Residents
     We fully understand that the lack of visible progress is disappointing, especially for those who overlook Hemsleys Meadow directly. Another reason for stepping back now is to avoid creating even more unsightly muddy damage during a period when heavy plant cannot operate safely.

    Access from the Finches Field car park has been maintained throughout, and we appreciate your patience as we work through this challenging period.

    Next Steps
     We will continue to monitor ground conditions closely and will restart work as soon as the site is suitable. Once a revised programme has been confirmed with Blakedown, we will share an update with residents.

    Thank you again for raising your concerns. Please be assured that we remain committed to completing the improvements as efficiently and responsibly as possible.

    Kind Regards,

    The Project Team

Page last updated: 04 Feb 2026, 01:18 PM