Uckfield heads into the future

Contractors Colas have finished the first of ten sections of stage two of the Town Centre Highway Improvement Scheme with work well underway on the second section, three weeks after it began. And a programme of promotional activities was launched by the Uckfield - the Future working group in the High Street last Saturday. Members greeted shoppers, handed out leaflets and balloons as a prelude to touring local villages reinforcing the message: ‘Yes - Uckfield is open.’

Coordinator Cllr Donna French explained: “It’s our mission to make it clear that the town’s businesses are open and easily accessible from all points of the compass.”

Chamber of Commerce president Bernard Smith added: “Despite ominous predictions, traffic is flowing well on all routes and local traders are ready and waiting to provide quality services they are famous for.”

Members want to promote easy parking including the station car park, now free at weekends. A new flyer details of how to access car parks from where people live. Chairman of UckfieldFM, Mike Skinner reassured: “Our presenters give regular travel bulletins including up-to-the-minute situation in our high street and local roads. There’s a Facebook ‘shop selfie’ competition plus an array of prizes including tickets for the upcoming Uckfield Theatre Guild production, The Wizard of Oz. We all aim to promote and protect the vitality of local shops while the roadworks carry on.”

Work at the bottom of the High Street has finished with new paving, kerbs and street lights, upgraded street lights, traffic signals and work for tree planting to mitigate flooding. Board chair Cllr Claire Dowling said: “We’re really pleased with the way the project is going and while we’re still in the early stages, people can begin to see progress made and how it is improving the High Street. Feedback we’ve had on traffic management has been overwhelmingly positive. The Board, traders and the Chamber of Commerce work hard to spread the work that Uckfield is open for business as usual during the scheme and it’s vital people continue to support local shops while works are carried out.”

Find out more at: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/uckfield.

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