Ambitious plan to 'move' town centre

AMAZING plans that would radically overhaul Uckfield s town centre were unveiled this week.

Discussions have taken place to move the town centre half way up the High Street.

Ambitious proposals to tackle problems such as future flooding, traffic congestion, lack of town centre space and the need for retail growth were announced by Uckfield Mayor Mike Skinner on Tuesday.

Bold ideas included building a super-sized Tesco into the hill at Luxford Field and turning an area to the north of the River Uck into an open communal space.

Although most of the land in question is in public ownership, it has been estimated that the development would be at no cost to the public purse.

Cllr Skinner presented the post flood strategy to a meeting of the council s Policy and Resources committee on Tuesday.

He revealed that discussions had taken place with London-based developers Saint James Investment (SJI) regarding possible solutions to traffic and flooding problems in Uckfield.

He said that agreement had been reached on four key points, namely:

l The need for a central relief road in the town;

l A need to preserve town centre open space;

l A need for upgraded community facilities; and

l The need for improved pedestrian access between Tesco s and the High Street.

Wealden planners had already identified Uckfield as a possible area for retail growth. Mr Skinner said these proposals would help turn that potential into reality.

He said: The centre part and northern part of the town has slowly begun to die. Some retail outlets have even been sucked into the industrial estate.

This will pull retail back up the High Street and should bring further investment into the town.

Of all the Wealden towns, Uckfield has been identified as the most likely to support retail growth.

Mr Skinner revealed how discussions with SJI started after a chance remark by the mayor was picked up by a Sun reporter.

In the aftermath of last October s flood, he was quoted as saying: If we were living in medieval times we would simply pack up and move up the hill to escape the flood misery. There s no reason why we can t do it in this day and age.

The LibDem councillor revealed how an employee of SJI the developers behind regeneration in Hailsham and Crowborough and also agents for Tesco approached him to say the idea could work.

Mr Skinner recommended that the town council enter into a partnership with Tesco and SJI, as well as other public authorities and landowners. He said: I would envisage there would be no cost whatsoever to the public purse. If this had cost money it would be a non-starter. This development should be self-financing.

The mayor also stressed the importance of including the public in the process.

No decisions have yet been made, he said, There are no maps, plans or costs for it. There have been no negotiations, just discussions.

This has been placed out in the open right from the first ball of the first innings. It must be carried out in full public glare.

This could be the biggest opportunity Uckfield has had in ten years. We would really like to know what landowners, retailers and people in the town think about it.

The proposals will be discussed further at a meeting of the full council on Tuesday September 25.

What the proposals would mean to the town: Page 3.