May-Oct 2007

The following stories appeared on the cwassoc website between May and October, 2007.

Plans for wind turbine at farm
Plans have been submitted to set up a domestic wind turbine at a farm in Hadlow Down. The turbine would be 15 metres tall with three rotors measuring nearly five and a half metres in diameter.
The application has been submitted on behalf of landowner Peter Gillies at Spoods Farm, Tinkers Lane, and documents before Wealden Council say that while the location is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the visual and landscape impact is minimised.
The turbine would generate electricity and replace grid-sourced power and over time reduce the revenue costs of Spoods Farm. It might also generate a small income from the sale of excess electricity to the national grid.
The turbine is described as small-scale in comparison to the utility turbines becoming familiar within the rural landscape. Those can be 100m tall with rotor diameters of 80m or more. WD/2007/2983 (Added to site Tuesday, October 30, 2007)

Council HQ could be built at Maresfield
The Ashdown Business Park at Maresfield is being considered for the location of a new headquarters for Wealden District Council.
A full meeting of the council on Wednesday (October 31) is being asked to approve additional consultancy work, at a cost of £24,900, to consider this new option along with further studies about a currently favoured option to have the headquarters at Hailsham.
The suggestion came from the council’s Internal Scrutiny Committee following a meeting last month which heard of concern about the condition of the council’s premises in Hailsham and disruption that would be caused if the council went ahead and made that site its headquarters.
Minutes of the internal scrutiny committee said some members thought the Ashdown Business Park would be ‘an ideal opportunity for the council to be a role model and develop this site with the lowest carbon footprint, in accordance with the latest building control regulations’.
The minutes go on to say that there would be minimal disruption to staff and public while the work was being undertaken and on completion both Hailsham and Crowborough sites could be sold.
Other members of the committee thought the site would be a difficult place to have a headquarters because of accessibility for staff without transport and for members of the public.
But it was agreed that the business park was more geographically central and members were told there would be a reception area in each of these locations. (Added to site Monday, October 29, 2007)

Plan for nine homes approved
Permission has been given for nine homes to be built on land to the north of Hempstead Lane on the Manor Park Estate in Uckfield. Plans approved by Wealden Council show them arranged in two terraces with 16 car parking spaces provided. Access will be from Hempstead Lane. WD/2007/2547 (Added to site Thursday, October 25, 2007)
   

Competition for developers
Competition between developers could be encouraged as part of a drive to redevelop Uckfield Town Centre which is being led by the town council.
Its efforts have already been supported by both Wealden District Council and by East Sussex County Council and at a meeting tonight town councillors will be looking at how to manage the regeneration.
One of the early actions identified in a report to the council in August was the preparation of planning/development briefs for key sites. It said council-owned sites should be the subject of developer competition(s) either separately or packaged together with other sites or projects against a clear design and development brief.
At tonight’s council meeting members will consider a recommendation to set up a core steering group to include representatives of local businesses and organisations.
Other recommendations are to set up a ‘dedicated delivery team’ with skills in property, design and project management and a consultation panel representing landowners, developers and businesses.
The consultation panel would advise the delivery team and steering group and ensure the involvement of the private sector and other interested parties in the overall approach to the Master Plan proposals. (Added to site Monday, October 22, 2007)
 

Plan shows how town centre could develop
Proposals for the future development of Uckfield town centre include a new town square in the area of White Rails - where shops are currently set back from the High Street next door to the Post Office.
The town council sees this site, and the car parks behind, as having potential for retail and commercial development as well as for creating a focal point.
It suggests balancing the square with development of the river frontage at the bottom of the High Street to offer an hotel and specialist shopping area.
The council has been drawing up a master plan for the town centre and in looking at infrastructure it suggests building a new two-way road between the Framfield Road traffic lights and Bell Lane, crossing a proposed reinstated railway line and river by bridge.
It also supports building a new road between Bell Lane, the proposed new town square and the north of the town and providing a car park under Luxford’s Field.
The council says there is scope to build flats, terraces or town houses in the town centre and this could help improve levels of natural surveillance so improving safety and security.
Consideration is also being given to relocating the industrial estate from the Bell Lane area.
The next stage of work on the master plan is due to be discussed at a full council meeting on Monday (October 22). (Added to site Friday, October 19, 2007)

Plans for community centre
Uckfield Town Council is making plans for the future of the former Adult Learning Centre now that it has bought the building from East Sussex County Council.
A report is due to go to a full council meeting on Monday which outlines the need for its use as a community building, particularly by young people, and the costs of operating it which are estimated at nearly £40,000 a year, including loan repayments of £28,600.
Local contractors, keen to see the building brought back into community use, have offered help and advice and it is hoped at least some redecoration work could be carried out by other voluntary groups, says the report.
The council has earmarked £50,000 from reserves for initial works – which include urgent weatherproofing work on a roof leak in the entrance hall – but hopes to find cost effective solutions to minimise expenditure from this budget.
A timetable has been drawn up to bring the building into use at the earliest opportunity with a meeting for potential users scheduled for October 29 and opening of the centre on January 1, 2008. (Added to site Wednesday, October 17, 2007)       

Plans for 45 homes approved

Plans for 45 homes, a doctor’s surgery and business units on land east of South Street and south of The Mews, East Hoathly, have been approved subject to conditions.
The parish council had sought a new community centre and specialist housing for the elderly as part of the scheme but minutes of a meeting of the Wealden development control, south, sub-committee, held last month, record the view that neither suggestion was appropriate.
The minutes report that Non Statutory Wealden Local Plan did not seek provision of a community centre and go on to say that a number of smaller homes was available should elderly people living in the parish wish to ‘downsize’. (Added to site Wednesday, September 26, 2007)

Ninety share avenue responsibility
Ninety home owners on the Manor Park Estate, Uckfield, are responsible for maintenance and repair of a section of Lime Tree Avenue and associated footpaths, according to deeds produced at a meeting last week.
Now Lime Aid, the group campaigning to restore the former carriageway, is asking for pressure to be put on those home owners to contribute towards work needed there. More (Added to site Tuesday, September 25, 2007)       

New website highlights Uckfield attractions

A new website has been launched with the aim of attracting tourists to Uckfield. It includes what to see and do, where to stay, visitor attractions and local events and is linked to surrounding tourist centres. It can be found at www.uckfieldcountry.co.uk. (Added to site Thursday, September 20, 2007)

Cottage could be venue for weddings
Weddings and civic ceremonies could be held at the historic Bridge Cottage, Uckfield, in the future. The building could also be used as an artistic space for exhibitions and performances.
A report to last night’s meeting of the town council’s general purposes committee said the Uckfield and District Preservation Society was considering potential uses as part of a management plan to be submitted with a Heritage Lottery application later this year.
Planning permission has been given for alterations at the cottage and listed building consent is currently being considered by Wealden Council. (Added to site Tuesday, September 18, 2007)

Plans for former restaurant are approved
Planning permission has been given for the former Thai Barn restaurant building at Ringles Cross, Uckfield, to be extended to provide an office and five flats.
The existing building, which has been unoccupied for about three years, will be kept as the dominant feature with stepped side and rear extensions added in the same style.
Town-based developers Clearwater will be closing an access from the site on to London Road while improving another on to the Coopers Green road. (Updated on Friday, September 14, 2007. First added to site Tuesday, July 10) More

Plans for Bridge Cottage
Listed building consent is being sought to carry out alterations to historic Bridge Cottage in Uckfield making it more accessible for public use.
Plans before Wealden Council look into the history of the Grade II listed building - even revealing that it was built from timbers felled during the spring of 1436.
The scheme submitted by the Uckfield and District Preservation Society involves removing first floor partitions and the second floor to provide a large room with the roof structure exposed above it.
The building would be accessed from the annexe, currently housing a sweet shop, and a room would be built above that to create additional space.
There are also plans to rebuild the main staircase and add an extension at the rear to house a kitchenette and servery to allow light catering for functions. (Added to site Thursday, September 6, 2007) 

Inventor brings light to avenue

Pedestrian cats' eyes have been installed in Lime Tree Avenue, Uckfield, in a bid to bring light to the darkest section during winter nights.

The 'cats' eyes' have been invented by an Uckfield man, Phil Lancaster of Sycamore Court, who has fitted them free of charge to help the community and to test his product.

The lights absorb light during the day and are luminous in the dark. Their brightness should be the equivalent of full moonlight and last throughout a winter night, he says. More (Added to site Monday, September 3, 2007) 

Developers win Grampian site appeal
Developers have won an appeal to build up to 140 homes on the site of the former Grampian chicken factory at Five Ash Down.
This means the developers, Prem (Rooster), now have planning permission for two proposals for the land because while Wealden Council refused permission for the 140 homes and employment development councillors did approve another plan which included 100 homes.
The planning inspector, Mr Roland Punshon, said that in approving the second application Wealden had accepted the site was not in a wholly unacceptable location and would not amount to unsustainable development.
He went on to say that the first application for the 140 homes would make efficient use of previously-developed land at densities around the national indicative minimum … while the scheme for 100 houses did not reach this minimum target.
‘In addition the appeal proposal would deliver a mix of houses which would better address shortcomings in the existing supply of housing in the district,’ said Mr Punshon.
The inspector said he had taken into account the developer’s argument that 'brownfield' sites in highly sustainable locations were limited in the district and this had led to the allocation of 'greenfield' sites in the emerging Local Plan. This was not disputed by Wealden.
‘In these circumstances I consider that it is essential that, where brownfield sites become available for development they should be employed efficiently even if their accessibility credentials are less than ideal. To do so would reduce the need to develop alternative Greenfield locations. (Added to site Monday, August 20, 2007)

Plans to build on car park

Plans to build homes on a car park behind the Just So Bar, off Church Street, Uckfield, are back before Wealden Council.
Permission was given by a planning inspector last October for two detached houses to be built there but now the owners are asking to replace one of the houses with two semi-detached cottages.
They would be at the back of the site and documents say they would be more in keeping with the existing built form in the locality. WD.2007/2173 (Added to site Friday, July 27)

Network Rail could do line reinstatement study

Moves are being made by East Sussex County Council to commission Network Rail to project manage and deliver the Lewes-Uckfield railway line reinstatement study.
A report from the county’s director of transport is going to the lead cabinet member for transport on Monday (July 30) seeking authority to waive standing orders to allow the commission.
The report says partner agencies have agreed to contribute to the £130,000 to £140,000 cost of the study and the money would be secured before letting the commission.
It goes on to say that it is Network Rail which has to be convinced of the feasibility of reinstating the line and if they project manage and undertake the study they will not need to do further work once it is completed to test the assumptions. This is something they would have to do if another consultant was to undertake the work. (Added to site Wednesday, July 25)

Talks about new use for homeless accommodation
Accommodation used to temporarily house homeless people in Uckfield could be used in the future to provide ‘extra care’ for the elderly.
The Government wants councils to reduce the number of temporary tenancies by 50 per cent before 2010 and Wealden has already begun that process.
A report to cabinet tomorrow (Wednesday, July 4) says accommodation at Lealands Court in Uckfield can now be assessed for development of other council priorities.
Discussions had taken place with East Sussex County Council about the possibility of providing intermediate care for the elderly there but the county was now looking at alternative provision at the former Grampian Food site.
However, the county would support a Wealden application for funding to provide an Extra Care Scheme at Lealands Court, the report says.
This would provide a package of additional support for those living independently, in sheltered or retirement property, when it was needed. Support could range from cleaning and repairs services through to caring and food services.
Cabinet is recommended to approve an application for funding to the Housing Corporation in September to enable the development subject to a satisfactory financial appraisal. (Added to site Monday, July 2)

Update, Monday, July 16: The recommendation was approved.  

Market Hall scheme approved

Councillors have approved demolition of the Market Hall at Bell Walk, Uckfield, and plans to redevelop the site.

More than 1700 people signed a petition opposing the plan and 206 letters of objection were received by Wealden Council, according to a report which went to a meeting of the development control, north, sub-committee on Thursday, June 28. Nine people wrote in support of the scheme.

Concerns included the size of the new building, loss of parking, congestion from deliveries, impact on the amount of traffic at the Tesco roundabout, impact on the existing businesses in the Market Hall and flood risk.

But officers, who recommended approval of the plan, said redevelopment would create an opportunity to revitalise the area for retail purposes in a town centre location.

They said the building complemented and highlighted adjacent commercial buildings as well as Bridge Cottage and the public realm had the potential to be an area of quality with a riverside walk in accordance with local plan objectives. 

There would be space for 110 cars to park and room for delivery vehicles to access the site without affecting parking. The highays authority 'partly accepts' a transport assessment which suggests an increase in traffic associated with the development would not be detrimental to traffic flows and a financial contribution would go towards an eventual town centre solution to traffic problems.

The report said the Environment Agency had not objected to the application on the grounds of flood risk. (Added to site Friday, June 22. Updated on Monday, July 9)

Neglect of trees was 'reprehensible'

Neglect of an avenue of lime trees in Uckfield was described as 'reprehensible' by a former chairman of the Sussex branch of the International Tree Federation at a meeting on Wednesday, June 6. Mr Desmond Gunner said the avenue should be regarded as a public asset and looked after. More.

(Added to site Thursday, June 7)

Hydraulic flood model to be re-run

A hydraulic model built to simulate flooding in Uckfield after the disastrous floods of October 2000 is to be re-run to take account of new information.

The computer model, commissioned by the Environment Agency, is to be adjusted to take account of climate change figures published by Defra in October 2006 and see how a range of management options would affect the flood risk.

Simulated tests are to be carried out across the Ouse catchment area but those involving Uckfield include monitoring changes that would reduce run-off on the Uck, water storage above the town, raising walls, allowing storage south and east of Olives Meadow and removing buildings from the floodplain.

This is part of an Environment Agency project to produce a River Ouse Catchment Flood Management Plan. (Added to site Saturday, May 26, 2007)

Land sold for affordable housing

Two pieces of land are being sold by Wealden Council to enable provision of affordable housing. They are at Buxted and Five Ashes.

The garage site at Gordon Road, Buxted, is being sold for £70,000 and a former garage site at Queensmount, Five Ashes, for £45,000. Both are going to a registered social landlord. Details were given in a report attached to the agenda for a full council meeting held last week (Wednesday, May 23). (Added to site Thursday, May 17, 2007)

Townspeople are ‘gentle and friendly’
People in Uckfield are 'nice, gentle, friendly, helpful and good neighbours', according to results of a survey carried out by the town council.
The town centre was praised along with free parking, easy access to the countryside, coast, London, local towns and airports.
Criticisms included traffic congestion and anti-social behaviour from gangs of young people ‘hanging about at night intimidating ordinary residents, bad language and drunkenness’.
Excessive new housing development, litter and rubbish and a lack of national chain stores were also listed as problems.