Uckfield scaffolding and traffic lights at unsafe building causing disruption and lower footfall, say high street businesses

On March 22, the Sussex Express reported that cracks had been discovered in the façade of the former Maiden’s Head Hotel.

A temporary highway closure was put in place and a qualified structural engineer confirmed the need for ‘temporary support to the façade’ of the Grade II listed building.

Now, three months later, some businesses are concerned that the combination of scaffolding and temporary traffic lights is affecting footfall in the area.

Levent Yalcin, owner of Café 212, told this newspaper: “No one’s coming because we’re already on the secondary position of the high street. It’s on the top end so it’s already difficult for people to come up here. Now it’s even worse. There are car parks opposite but people have to get into traffic to get there so they’re avoiding that.”

“It’s putting off everyone,” he said, adding that business down the road are being affected too because people are avoiding the high street.

Levent said he understands that addressing the issue of the unsafe building will be ‘a long process’. But he said: “I’m hoping that they can just close the footpath instead of the whole road.”

“They have to find another solution maybe,” he said. “Because even at lunchtime, when there shouldn’t be any traffic, there’s cars queueing up a mile maybe.”

In a recent BBC article, Bobbie Moore, the owner of Love Coco Boutique, said the high street was ‘very quiet’ after the temporary traffic lights were installed, while Piratheepan Siva, owner of Weekes Newsagent, said his business was down nearly 40 per cent.

In a recent update, Wealden District Council said the partial closure of Uckfield High Street had been necessary ‘due to structural safety concerns and to keep the public safe at the former Maidens Head building (situated beyond Church Street)’.

The council said: “Uckfield High Street is open for business as usual and we remain committed to supporting trade, improving access and keeping you informed. We know this continues to affect business and we’re actively exploring solutions.”

On Wednesday, June 4, the council said internal inspections have taken place with further external high level inspections likely to happen over the next two weeks.

The council said the ‘structurally unsafe’ building, with its risk of falling debris, presented ‘a serious danger to both pedestrians and passing motorists’ because of its height and close position to the pavement.

The council confirmed that the base of the scaffolding extends beyond the footway with a partial road closure affecting the western side of the road and pavement, and four-way temporary traffic lights at the junction of Church Street, High Street and Hempstead Road. This was implemented under emergency highways legislation in coordination with East Sussex Highways and ‘other relevant authorities’.

According to Historic England, one half of the former Maiden’s Head Hotel dates back to the 18th century, while the other half dates back to the 19th century.