Parking concerns

THE impending exit of printers Baxters from the town could be the start of a dangerous trend, fears Lewes Chamber of Commerce.

If planners are not more realistic about transport and environmental issues, the town could lose more businesses, claims chamber president, Malcolm Heaven.

'Parking is currently a key issue which, if not resolved, will have far reaching effects on the future economy of the town,' he said.

'We are fully in support of green initiatives to improve traffic flow and increase walking, cycling and public transport use.

'However we genuinely believe that you cannot simply make things increasingly difficult for employees and employers without having economic implications.'

The chamber says recent parking consultation showed that residents had mixed feelings about the county council's proposals for a controlled parking scheme.

Added Mr Heaven: 'The over-riding concern for businesses is the need for additional all-day parking.

'Despite this, it appears that the county council will agree in principle on March 4 to implement a scheme which will worsen the commuter parking problem.

'Businesses in Lewes already have difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff.

'If parking and traffic flow problems are not overcome soon, businesses will have no option but to consider relocation.

Task force

'Retailers too will see the effects, with fewer employees to spend their income in Lewes.'

A newly formed transport and environment task force has been set up by the chamber.

Most of the members are both business owners and Lewes residents and while they agree in principle to a controlled parking scheme, they believe designated commuter parking must be made a priority to improve the current situation.

'The county council's vision for Lewes is broadly in line with the interests of residents and businesses, but unless specific projects and improvements are driven by the people of Lewes they will not come to fruition. And where will that leave us in 10 years time?', asked Iris Buckley of Jackson Lowe Marketing, who has been co-ordinating the chamber's task force.

The chamber also claims that the county and district councils have contributed to the current parking crisis.

'Apart from making no investment in parking for more than 20 years, they continue to accept planning applications that reduce parking throughout the town,' added Mr Heaven.

'Sussex Downs College, where students' parking is currently being built on, and the Lewes House development, which will provide insufficient spaces for residents and remove all existing public parking spaces on the site, are two recent examples.'