Assurance over town centre plans

EVERYONE with a vested interest in the development of Uckfield town centre will be invited to join a partnership to draw up a strategy for its future.

This assurance was given by the leader of Wealden Council at a public meeting of Uckfield Town Council on Monday.

Mr Rupert Thornley Taylor went to the meeting to talk about concern over the district council 'taking over' decision making about the Tesco proposals to expand their store on to the Luxford Field.

His promises that the district council would consult with the town council, interest groups and residents and consider all aspects raised by the proposals and provide community leadership were greeted angrily by town councillors and members of the public.

Cllr Tony Parker said: 'We don't want the district council executive to make this decision. We want a partnership.''

Cllr Kathy Fordham said the issue was all about control and the district council did not have a monopoly on community leadership.

She said: 'Wealden District Council has excessive control. We are going in this direction, we are driving the bus, we decide when to start, who gets on and when to stop and let people get off. What we need is a shared car scheme. You can't have a strategy without the town centres and the people who organise the town centres, the local people, being an integral part from the very beginning.'

Cllr Martha Whittle said: 'Can you not see that the perception of Uckfield people is that Wealden is driving this show all on its own and that perhaps the working party idea could be expanded not just to district councillors but to include the town council, those involved in the regeneration of Uckfield and those involved in the commerce of Uckfield.'

Towards the end of the meeting Cllr Thornley Taylor gave the assurance everybody wanted, that a forum would be created, a partnership, and a list drawn up of all the organisations to be involved. There would also have to be a decision on when it should first meet and what its task would be.