Stables homes rejected

PLANS to build 14 new homes on the site of a former racing stables in Lewes have been thrown out by district councillors.

The application, to build two four bedroom houses, nine three bedroom houses and three two bedroom houses, on land between Prince Edwards Road, Leicester Road and Abergavenny Road, was refused because of concerns over the safety of the only vehicular access to the site.

A meeting of the district council's northern area planning committee heard how a track leading into the site from Leicester Road was barely wide enough for two cars. Members also heard how drivers trying to exit the site on to Leicester Road would suffer restricted views because of parked cars in the street.

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Planning officer Andrew Hill said: 'The access point is extremely narrow, with nose to tail parking on Leicester Road,' while local councillor Roderick Crocker added: 'The main access is absolutely diabolical.' Cllr Michael Parfect warned: 'If the access is too narrow for two vehicles then it's land without any beneficial use.'

However, members agreed that something should be done to take advantage of what was seen as a prime site for development.

Cllr Stuart Farrar said: 'This is a superb brown field site and although it should be refused on this traffic issue we must be able to find a secure route on to Leicester Road.'

Cllr Crocker added: 'I've had a lot of post on this. Something needs to be done with the site.'

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Mr Hill said that it was 'extremely unlikey' that development would be allowed to take place on anything like the scale applied for, adding that the county engineer would probably only allow four or five houses on that site even though that would constitute under-development on a brown field site.

But Cllr Farrar argued: 'The danger for drivers trying to exit on to Leicester Road is exactly the same for four or five cars as it is for 14 cars.'

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