New houses rejected

THE planning saga surrounding the Maiden's Head Hotel, Uckfield took another twist last week when Wealden planners threw out an application to build two houses in the car park.

Members of the development control north sub-committee rejected the proposal for the semi-detached houses, even though the senior planning officer on the case had provisionally recommended approval.

The applicants had amended plans from an earlier proposal to build four houses on the site. The hotel and car park was split up and bought by three separate owners in 2000.

Conservationists welcomed the news. Uckfield and District Preservation Society had joined residents and Uckfield Town Council in objecting to the plans.

Bob Bonnett, chairman of the UDPS, said: 'We felt the houses would spoil the environment and change the use of the building. Our main objection was that the Maiden's Head is to be used as a restaurant area, and building houses there would take up car parking spaces.'

Other objections from neighbours and councillors were that the development would not be in keeping with the conservation area and that the proposal would be an overdevelopment. Nearby residents also claimed they would suffer a loss of privacy.

However, Wealden senior planning officer Douglas Moss said that the applicants had offered a compromise in which more car parking spaces would be available to the hotel.