Town's joy over floral honour

GREEN-fingered folk in Newhaven and Seaford are celebrating South East in Bloom success.

Newhaven won joint second place with Battle in the South East Water Trophy for the small town class. First was Paddock Wood.

Newhaven in Bloom chairman and Mayor David Fitton said: This is the first time Newhaven has received an award. It is our eighth year of Newhaven In Bloom and we are very pleased the town has been praised and noticed. It shows progress has been made.

We want to build on this success, but we need help from areas such as the town centre traders and more cooperation between the local authorities.

He added: We are very pleased to receive the award. I hope it has improved the appearance of the town for people who visit and live here.

Judges praised summer bedding plants at the Fort Road Recreation Ground and hillside landscaping at Downland Park and Newhaven Heights.

But in addition to floral displays judges also take into account the general appearance of towns.

The judges report said: Although there was evidence of landscape planting on new sites, too many were poorly maintained.

It was apparent that the commercial side was thriving with new projects under way, but it needs to be mirrored to commercial regeneration in the pedestrian precinct.

It is to be hoped that the French presence in the port will bring ideas from Dieppe and investment to support the hard work being initiated by the Mayor and the In Bloom committee.

Seaford was the second prize winner of the P&O Trophy for the town class. Farnham was first and Swanley, third.

Seaford In Bloom chairman Isobel Stephenson was pleased the town had held on to the second place it earned last year.

But plans are already afoot to nab first prize next year. Over the years we have come up from ninth and it would have been terrible to go down. We hope to work with the council to co-ordinate the colour of the bedding plants. That may mean we have a chance of winning next year.

She added: The town looks great and people really appreciated it. The basket and planters in Seaford have been absolutely wonderful.

The South East In Bloom judges report said: The hard work of the Seaford in Bloom Committee certainly pays dividends. The overall effect is of a town with a lot of public spirit continually improving itself for residents and visitors.