Gyratory plan back on the cards

East Sussex County Council has revealed a 14million proposal to create the scheme.

It would see a new northbound link road built from the Tesco roundabout along the side of Luxford Field and east to the High Street.

The ring road would create a virtual island of shops and the Civic Centre.

Public and civic opinion opposed two similar schemes proposed in 2000 and 2007.

The current proposal was aired at a public inquiry into three housing developments - two at Bird in Eye and one at Downlands Farm - which would build almost 1,300 new homes.

Although district and town councils formally objected to all schemes Wealden District Council issued a 'preferred options' list which was topped by Bird in Eye, to the fury of townspeople.

Town councillors dubbed the decision undemocratic.

Now the one-way gyratory proposal has been submitted to the inquiry by the county council as the best option for the town centre so that highways objections to the Bird in Eye sites can be dropped, the Express has been told.

Highways objections focused on potential traffic congestion at the Framfield Road/High Street junction caused by traffic at peak periods and on-street parking.

If it goes ahead the road system will require a compulsory purchase order.

Town council planning committee chairman Cllr Len Ashby said: 'We thought this scheme was dead and buried.

'Bird in Eye developers have pledged about 5-6-million plus improvements at the level crossing - where is the extra money going to come from?'

'Developers are pushing at an open door but how are we going to get 1,000 extra vehicles along Framfield Road?

'People living in homes in Framfield Road will find parking spaces outside their houses reduced to ease traffic flow.

'Where are they going to park?'

'A scheme has now been proposed for the centre of Uckfield which will have absolutely no effect on the Framfield Road traffic.

'How can this be considered sensibly now giant building firms are laying off thousands of building workers?'