Bid to transform town

FAR-reaching ideas which could transform the face of Newhaven were debated at a packed meeting on Wednesday.

So many townsfolk turned out that a crowd of up to 20 were turned away.

More than 100 people crammed into a conference room at the Denton Island Training and Business Centre. They came to hear details of the joint 10-year plan by the Newhaven Economic Partnership (NEP) and Newhaven Community Development Association (NCDA) to regenerate the town.

The crowd applauded as proposals for the target areas the town centre, North Quay, Denton Island and The Drove were outlined.

We need to make Newhaven a thriving town again, but to achieve that there is something everyone must do we must believe in Newhaven, said Sarah Ireland, NEP programme manager.

She said the number one priority was to attract more people to the town centre to safeguard its future. Over the years it had become a neglected island, cut off by the ring road, scattered with empty shops.

Mrs Ireland said: If you do not live here the chances are you will not find the town centre.

To solve this, action should be taken to make the town more welcoming and visible from the ring road, improve parking and provide good quality paving, benches and street lights. A Newhaven manager would be employed to promote the town.

But the most controversial plans were saved for Newhaven s biggest eyesore, North Quay.

It does not give a good image. It is a sad and depressing place, said Mrs Ireland.

Although earmarked by East Sussex County Council as the preferred site for an incinerator, to burn Brighton and Hove s rubbish, it was suggested it undergo a major facelift with high quality housing, a new secondary school, a modern mainline railway station and an eco-friendly electric bus system linking it to the port, Newhaven Fort and Paradise Park.

Pam Perry, NCDA chairman, said this could be the best defence against incinerator plans. If we develop it they have no site to build an incinerator on.

The Drove was identified as Newhaven s weakest environmental link, with its derelict buildings and wastelands often the first view people had of the town as they travelled along the flyover.

To combat this a new road could reduce ring road congestion from Lewes Road to The Drove area, and an avenue of trees and shrubs planted along the A259 from the roundabout to the river could block out industrial areas. Shipping could be moved nearer the ferry terminal to reduce the number of swing bridge openings to keep traffic moving.

Townsfolk were passionate in their opinions. Speakers praised Newhaven s natural resources, its sandy beach and Downs setting, and called for better facilities for youngsters in the town. Others criticised the lack of police resources to tackle town centre crime and the ineffectiveness of politicians.

A woman speaker said people were fed up being passed from pillar to post by councils, who failed to take responsibility. Previous

plans for Newhaven had all ended in disappointment, she added. Nothing is very concrete. We have heard it all so many times before. What can we expect in the near future?

The Denton Island Training and Business Centre was held up as an example of a town success story and what could be achieved.

Joelle van Tinteren, Newhaven resident and chairman of DOVE (Defenders of the Ouse Valley and Estuary), said: We should be looking at what is really exceptional about Newhaven. Newhaven when viewed from the Downs is beautiful, It has so much going for it. This could be the jewel in East Sussex s crown.

Newhaven farmer Roger Foxwell asked why, if all 5,500 homes in Newhaven had received details of the meeting in a free paper, had such a small room been used.

He said: I consider myself very fortunate to be here this evening. It is a shame you did not find a bigger venue. We need to learn lessons from this.

Two further meetings, on November 20 and 27 at 7pm, have been arranged for the people who were unable to get into Wednesday s meeting.