New firms interested in town

TESCO'S interest in expanding their business in Uckfield is already having spin offs for the town centre with two multiple retailers hunting premises.

Commercial agent Chris Lawson told fellow members of the Chamber of Commerce last week that the problem was there were no premises to accommodate them.

Both stores wanted in the region of 2,500 to 3,000 sq ft of space but most shops in the High Street had no more than 700 sq ft.

Mr Lawson said the inquiries came from 'the sort of stores you see in big high streets.'

'It is enormously encouraging they want to come to Uckfield. They have heard that there is going to be a new Tesco and that is why they want to come'.

Alternative

He supported a suggestion that Chamber of Commerce members pooled their expertise to come up with their own alternative plan for a redevelopment of the town centre to improve on that suggested already by Tesco and which could incorporate additional shops.

One idea put to the Chamber and reported in last week's Express was to give Tesco the extra space it wanted by using its present site and the whole of its car park while providing new car parking underneath, but above the flood line.

The scheme was put forward by Mr Martin Eastwood, an Uckfield resident, who works for Haywards Heath company Earth Tech Engineering. He believes it would be possible to find a different solution to redeveloping the town centre without digging into the Luxford Field and adjacent car park.

His vision is for his company to link up with architects and planners to drive an alternative scheme.

Mr Lawson supported that view. 'I do think the Chamber should take a role and be pro-active. I don't like the idea of a monumental Tesco. When I asked Christopher Borkowski (of the developers acting for Tesco) why such a big store, he said it needs to be that big to create the value to pay for the new road scheme.

"The question is, is that the right solution to our traffic problems. I am not convinced though I understand East Sussex County Council thinks it's a wonderful idea.

'I think it is important that we do something. There may be a way forward if a group of people with knowledge and interest will put their skills together and the Chamber calls for a meeting with Wealden and Uckfield councils to present the ideas as a business community.'