Give business a boost

A GROUP of Newhaven businessmen and women want to change the town's industrial image of pre-fab buildings and smoking chimney stacks but they need help.

For two years Sussex Enterprise, the Newhaven Economic Partnership and East Sussex County Council, have funded work on the Avis Way Regeneration Scheme.

This aimed to improve the working conditions and appearance of Avis Way and create a hub to promote more environmentally-friendly practices.

But funding ends in March and there were fears all the good work would come to halt.

As a result enterprising business people have stepped into the breach under the banner Newhaven Business Parks (NBP) Ltd, with the slogan: Making Newhaven a better place for business.

Andrew Spink, of Concorde Lighting, was one of the group who felt the work on Avis Way should continue and expand to other areas.

He said: 'It's all well and good redeveloping Denton Island and the West Quay area, but it is vital that businesses are encouraged into the local area to provide employment opportunities for local people.'

'Terrible'

He and other NBP committee members felt that it was time to focus on the needs of the business community rather then residential areas.

He added: 'Some parts of Newhaven's industrial areas are in a terrible state of repair. But it's not just about looks, but also developing a network for the businesses, sharing staff skills and developing supply chain opportunities.'

More than 5,000 has been pledged to get the new scheme off the ground but more is needed.

NBP co-ordinator Nicky Green said: 'We need to raise finances from local businesses for the scheme to be a success.'

Contributions will be set on sliding scale, linked to the size of the businesses, and funding will be sought from the Government and environmental agencies.

Newhaven Business Parks will be officially launched in March at an event on Denton Island. For more information call Nicky Green on 01273 616384.