Quality Council praised

Lord Lytton, chairman of the National Association of Local Councils, said the village was the eight council in Wealden to attain the status.

He said: 'Becoming a Quality Council is very much about making a statement to the commujity that the parish council has achieved a level of competence to a nationally recognised standard.

He said a Bill before Parliament would give Quality Councils greater powers to carry out activites for the benefit of residents.

Lord Lytton praised the council's clerk, Tony Allen adding: 'Well done everyone in Maresfield, Nutely and Fairwarp who had a part to play in this success and in particular your chairman, William King.