PROTECTED TREE FOR THE CHOP

Lewes District Council's planning committee gave the scheme the go-ahead despite Cllr Kim Clark calling for a deferral to see if the landmark tree could be saved.

Officers told her a great deal of thought had gone into the scheme and it was accepted the tree stood in the optimum position for a new access into the site.

Cllr Jim Daly said: 'I am sorry to see the yew tree go but the place desperately needs developing.

'The scheme is a good use of the site.'

Lewes Town Council had objected to the scheme on the grounds of possible flooding.

But officers on Wednesday said that, while the site did flood in 2000, it was now protected by the recent flood defence works alongside Malling recreation ground.

However, at the lower end of the site integral garages were to be provided on the ground floors of homes.

The site was not considered suitable for permeable/soakaway drainage and surface water would therefore need to be dealt with on site.

The submitted scheme showed the provision of a reed bed with a permanent pond in the corner of the site adjacent to Malling Brooks.

The Environment Agency was satisfied with those plans.

The loss of a protected yew tree would harm the street scene but could be compensated for by new planting and landscaping along the frontage of the development, added officers.