Big plan to lift Newhaven

RADICAL and controversial ideas to halt the decline of Newhaven will be unveiled in full at a public meeting.

The Newhaven Economic Partnership (NEP) and the Newhaven Community Development Association (NCDA) have drawn up a 10-year plan suggesting ways to regenerate the town centre shopping area, the North Quay, Denton Island and The Drove.

Sarah Ireland, NEP programme manager, said: The report provides a new vision for Newhaven that will add to the other regeneration activities taking place around the town.

Newhaven town centre is in serious decline and urgent attention and substantial investment is required. To get the necessary investment we need the residents, businesses and local authorities to support our proposals.

The report calls North Quay, the site earmarked by East Sussex County Council for an incinerator, Newhaven s biggest eyesore and suggests it is the ideal location for high quality housing and a new secondary school.

Other plans include:

l A Newhaven manager to promote the town.

l Making the town centre more welcoming and visible from the ring road.

l A tourist information bureau.

l Better car parking.

l A new road to cut traffic congestion on the ring road, Lewes Road and The Drove.

l Riverbanks to be transformed from wasteland into areas for recreational, residential and commercial use.

l Maritime-themed street art.

The report also says more work needs to be done on the industrial estates which line The Drove and the redevelopment of factory sites must be high quality and significantly improve employment in the town.

Penny Shimmin, from the Newhaven Community Development Association, said: We believe Newhaven is right for change and that the changes suggested are commercially viable. Residents in Newhaven are fed up with always getting second best and we believe that a positive planning policy is long overdue.

Under the banner Believing and Fighting for Newhaven, townsfolk are invited to have their say.

She added: We urge residents, businesses and councils to support a 10-year plan to build a better Newhaven. We hope residents will come to the meeting with their ideas to improve the town.

The meeting will be held at the Denton Island Training and Business Centre on October 24 at 7pm.