smaller areas to the east, south and west (transferred from Arlington, Hellingly and Pevensey Parishes). A further area of Hellingly Parish (between the A22 and Anglesey Avenue) was transferred to Hailsham under the Wealden Parishes Order 1993. Geography and climate In the county of East Sussex, about from the coast, and between the well-wooded hills of the southern Forest Ridge and the undulating chalk countryside of the South Downs, Hailsham is surrounded by "much attractive and unspoilt scenery". Hailsham is the largest settlement in the southern half of the Wealden district, and the largest inland town in East Sussex with around 8,500 homes and a population of just over 20,000. Location and accessibility Hailsham is north of Eastbourne; south of Tunbridge Wells; west of Hastings; and east of the County town of Lewes. London is some away. Road: The A22 from London to Eastbourne passes through the parish north of where it intersects main roads from Kent and West Sussex (A27), including the road through Haywards Heath and Horsham to Guildford, and links with roads from the M25 and the Midlands. Bus services link Hailsham with Lewes and Brighton, Uckfield, Polegate and Eastbourne, Battle, Bexhill and Hastings. Rail: The nearest rail connection to Hailsham is at Polegate. Rail services operate from Eastbourne and Hastings to London, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Lewes, Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Air: Airline services operate from Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport reached via the M23 and M25 motorways. Demography and statistics Parish Area: Approximately 5,000 acres. Population: Approximately 20,500, measured at the 2011 census as 20,476. The published Electoral Roll for 1999/2000 shows 14,873 recorded electors (the remainder being school children and young persons under voting age). Residential Rates: (Council Tax): For the year 2013-2014 this varies from Band A @ £1,111.55, through Band D @ £1,667.33, to Band H @ £3,334.66. Average House Price: For the year 2012, £200,463 Crime Hailsham falls below the national average for reported robbery, burglaries and other criminal offences. Local/regional crime figures (statistics are per 1,000 of the population within the local authority (Wealden) area (2008/09) On Saturday 18 August 2018, a unit on Diplocks Way Industrial Estate was raided by the National Crime Agency where a large number of handguns and ammunition were discovered. Three men have appeared in court and all been charged with firearms offences. More than 30 handguns and a ‘significant’ amount of ammunition was seized in