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Boardwalk :: Forum List The Phoenix Quarter General Discussion

<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >> Robert A   Re:Phoenix Action - 2006/04/19 16:26 What on earth is going on here? Here are a just few of Charles Style's recent comments... "I have no objection to people voicing concerns and criticising my company's plans for Lewes, it is entirely natural to want to question the proposals." "I appreciate Marco getting involved in this matter and do not consider that he has compromised his editorial independence in doing so." "I just will not put up with the dishonest way you go about propogating your views." "I will be taking legal advice tomorrow to see whether we can get an injunction stopping your lies and distortions. We will also look into suing you either for damages or defamation, or both." "If you make claims you cannot substantiate and the result is that you predudice our proposals, in any way, including delay, we will sue you for any consequential loss." The first two comments are unpleasantly patronising, which is bad enough, but the latter three are outright bullying and utterly unacceptable. What right has Charles Style (or anyone else for that matter) to prevent our right of freedom of speech? And who's to say he is telling the truth and John Stockdale is not? Either way, Charles Style has just blown any credibility he may have been gaining. Bad move Charles - in the this type of situation bullying will not get you what you want - you'll just end up with all of us against you.   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. S Enfield   Re:Phoenix Action - 2006/04/19 16:55 Whatever happened to everyone's right to an opinion? It seems to me that in Charles Styles' opinion the Phoenix development would be a good thing, and in John Stockdales' it wouldn't - neither of them can be certain. As to distortion - exhibiting photos of the narrow stairwells that lead to a bell in Tuscany and suggesting that 8 or 10 storey blocks that would be at least one whole flat wide are somehow comparable seems like distortion to me. Why can't we continue the debate about this proposed development many elements of which are undecided, undefined and not yet immutable fact without trading threats to sue private citizens.   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. Holly Long   Re:Phoenix Action - 2006/04/19 17:14 I have read the messages on this board, and be his views accurate, exaggerated or intentionally provocative, I applaud John Stockdale for having the strength of character and dynamism, to do something in order to challenge a development that he feels will not be of benefit to Lewes. There is too much apathy in general about such matters, too much complicity and a large development like this has serious implications for the town that need to be openly discussed and debated. I welcome his input and the fact that he CARES. This forum and debate should be taking place very visibly on the phoenix development website (which I have tried to look at but is still ‘coming soon’.) Having grown up in Lewes I have seen it change dramatically from a very real (but beautiful) town full of butchers and green grocers shops and a real mix of people who’s families have been part of bonfire celebrations for generations - to a town full of lavender soap and elegantly twine bound tea towel shops and a more generic population who have moved to Lewes looking for a picture postcard lifestyle. I dont blame them - it is a great place to live, but it should be enjoyed for what it is, rather than the new money of those moving into the town being used to turn it into their picture postcard ideal. It is a sure fire way of killing off the heart of Lewes. My heart really sank when Café Nero arrived. The things that I love about Lewes – a mix of REAL people and professions with a love of community, people with local history and therefore a real respect for the town, people with character and purpose, a town full of creativity and ingenuity but with a bit of a grungy edge … seems to be disappearing. It is almost as though the BEAUTIFUL town (in terms of location, history and architecture) is in danger of becoming a soulless shell. I am not adverse to change, but I think that this new development needs to be carefully thought through rather than undertaken with haste and profit in mind. Even if it takes five years to get it right, then it should take five years before building proceeds. It also needs to be a development that will bring about POSITIVE change and ADD to Lewes rather than take away from it. I am certain that the development needs to be undertaken with great care and taste – soulless, bland and cheap-to-construct buildings that do not blend into the architectural heritage of the town or draw on local materials would be absolutely disastrous. Why we cant build beautiful and traditional looking buildings with wonderful interiors baffles me. There needs to be housing that local people can afford rather than housing that will only attract an additional number of London-based commuters into the town - and lead to higher house prices forcing families who are embedded in Lewes history out. Business sites need to encourage and be available to local enterprises – or else the businesses that buy or rent these parts of a development, the related jobs and housing will also be taken by people moving into the town rather than those from the town. Thus adding very little in terms of local need. Shops and eateries in the area will OF COURSE also have implications for existing businesses. There are only so many people shopping and eating out in the town – OF COURSE it could spell trouble for existing businesses on the High Street. An Arts Centre needs to take into consideration and not undermine existing arts venues (All Saints Centre etc)… There also need to be spaces for people to congregate in (Lewes could do with a decent sized town square (but of course that cuts building related profits)… Essentially, this isn’t about the buildings on the development per se but the debate that John is rightly starting is really about the impact that such a development has on the general wellbeing and community of our town. I am glad that John is leaping into action and more of us should. This is about CARING about Lewes and making sure that what is good about our town isn’t lost by a need to make profit and build on every space available. Mr Style should recognise that this debate is not only about the asthetics and infrastructural implications of the proposed development, but about ensuring that any development ADDS to the vibrancy of the town, to the sustainability of current enterprises and enables existing communities to remain and new communities to understand and add to the wellbeing of our home. Threatening legal action against someone who cares and therefore challenges is tragic.   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. S Oliver   Re:Phoenix Action. Free the Market Lane Two - 2006/04/19 17:41 Mr Style's comments on this site are disturbing. There are many local residents who are deeply concered by his plans. Mr Style's attacks on an individual do not inspire confidence in his ability to work with a local community to develop a sensitive site in a Conservation Area. I would suggest to Mr Style that if he really does care about Lewes and Lewesians, that a good start would be to produce a basic model of his propsosals. This was promised by Angel at the Town Hall meeting, is common practice when consulting on such a large development, and was conspicuous by its absence from the recent re-presentation of proposals in North St. It seems to me that without such a model, Mr Style is as ignorant as the rest of us about the visual impact of his own proposals. He should limit his debate to the facts he has presented us with. These include building tower blocks of up to 8 storeys, with capital city level housing densities in a flood plain, having engaged in an industrial 'clearance. I believe it is perfectly reasonable to find some, or all of these facts completely unacceptable, and to share that opinion with others without fear of being threatened by Mr Style.   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. Dirk Campbell   Re:Phoenix Action. Free the Market Lane Two - 2006/04/19 17:54 Dear Charles Style Well done, you have shot yourself in the foot! Now the real Charles Style has emerged for us all to see. Underneath the carefully worded platitudes about 'bringing benefits to the Lewes community', when someone starts saying in public what most of the Lewes community already feels, you threaten legal action for damages. Now it can be shown that you employ bullying tactics to get what you want, opposition to you in the town will be almost unanimous! Don't forget that a vote was taken at a public meeting in December which indicated that the majority of the town does not want your development. Current questionnaire returns make this a fact. The inappropriateness and sheer tastelessness of your proposals, together with your obvious disregard for their impact on the quality of life for this unique town, is breathtaking. Many thanks and kind regards Dirk Campbell   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. Anthony Dicks   Re:Phoenix Action - 2006/04/19 17:57 Oh dear! I guess we all knew things might get nasty. And now they have. All those of you who have discussed Phoenix with me know that I do not share many of the views held and often vigorously expressed by John Stockdale. I am, or was, cautiously optimistic about the fantastic opportunity presented to Lewes by exciting but prudent and sustainable development of a part of my town that definitely does not live up to most of the rest of it. But I am both concerned and saddened at Charles Styles' latest forum offering in which he first reasonably attempts to answer Stockdale's criticisms (in the Phoenix Action Flyer), but then goes on to endeavour to muzzle him with crude public threats to sue. Stockdale, through his group Phoenix Action, is only saying publicly what a substantial number of others believe. I do not know whether or not Style has a legal case; doubtless he has plenty of legal back-up. I do know that this kind of bullying is exactly what so many of us fear from property developers who profess to wish to listen to - and to take account of all shades of opinion, but have no real intention to do so. I had thought Style was not like that. Anthony Dicks   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum.

Boardwalk :: Forum List The Phoenix Quarter General Discussion

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