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Re:Phoenix Action. Free the Market Lane Two - 2006/04/20 07:22We will be making a physical model of the development that will be on display once we have finalised the scheme. I agree that this will be useful to people to see the development as a whole and to understand the massing better, we have not made one to date because we are still working on the design and will commission the model when the design is ready.
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charles style
Re:Phoenix Action - 2006/04/20 15:37Mr Buckwell, further to my partial withdrawal of the threat to sue John Stockdale I would like to add that having had further time to consider the matter I have decided to completely withdraw any threat of legal action on the matter of his flyer. It is misleading and full of factual inaccuracies and for the sake of clarity I will once again explain why to all who care to read this website.
The homes will not be built in high rise blocks as described.
The density will not be and is not in the scheme as presented 270 dwellings per hectare. Neither is it or has it ever been five times the Lewes average.
There are no 8 storey buildings in the scheme, the small slim tower elements are under review and may or may not form part of our planning aplication depending on feedback we get from the planners and English Heritage.
The new commercial centre will not kill off the High Street, we will be presenting evidence to show that our proposals actually add to the retail mix in Lewes and fulfil a need that is not being supplied in the High Street. If visitors choose to walk from Tesco accross the footbridge into our site that is their free choice, if Tesco continue their policy of free parking that is their choice and could maybe be considered to be a good thing for those who want to park there. We are not building a footbridge with the objective of attracting shoppers from Tesco but because the free movement of pedestrians and cyclists around through and accross our site is entirely a good thing and should be welcomed by local people. It will be a two way footbridge.
The scheme will not funnel any more traffic into Lancaster Street as we have proposed to the Highways engineers that on exiting our site traffic should not be allowed to turn right into Lancaster Street, this will be up to the Highways Department to sort out and likewise it will not funnel traffic into pinch points in the town centre, it will in fact take traffic off Little East Street and East Street.
There will be sufficient parking provided on our site for residents and visitors and the parking standards set by the Highways department will be met. It is up to the Highways department to agree the level of on and off street parking that is acceptable in North Street and Brook Street.
Hundreds of local jobs in the Phoenix will not go. Businesses are being offered space by us in Malling Brooks, most of the businesses that will be accomodated will be getting freeholds from us so the question of whether they can afford the rents will not be applicable as we will not be their landlords. However this whole procedure will be closely scrutinised by The Council and the Chamber of Commerce and will be fair, the net result will be a major benefit to the economy of the town.
If Mr Stockdale goes ahead and puts out his misleading literature than I am confident that the planning process will be able to clearly show that everything stated is incorrect and therefore he may go ahead if he wishes and has my blessing.
I willingly admit I overreacted to his flyer because I found it to be deliberately misleading however I am willing to accept that often deliberately misleading the public is what happens in public communications. You have my absolute assurance that neither I nor my company will ever deliberately mislead and we will vigorously defend our plans against unfair and innacurate criticism, however the thought of bringing a legal action against Mr Stockdale is not one I relish and I wish him well again I say that I welcome open dialogue and freedom of speech.
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It is suprising, and disappointing that no model was produced for your recent exhibition as was promised, particularly when, as you witnessed yourself at the Town Hall meeting, the issue of height, and volume caused such overwhelming disatisfaction. You will understand that this failure has caused residents to feel that no model has been produced, beacause it will reveal the inappropriate size of the development.
You say that housing will not be in tower blocks. My understanding from your exhibited drawings is that there are housing blocks, incorporating towers which are shown to be up to 8 storeys high. They are inspired by characteristic bell towers, that protrude intentionally, and dramatically from an otherwise lower urban landscape. I am confused as to why you would dispute that such buildings could reasonably be described as tower blocks and would welcome some clarity.
You say that there are no 8 storey buildings, yet we have all been told that at least one of the blocks of housing reaches a height of 8 storeys. As you will remember Mr Gough was extremely unwilling to answer a question about height at the Town Hall meeting. I would be grateful if you would clarify what the maximum height of any part of the development would be and how many blocks/towers/features will rise above 4 storeys.
You say that you disagree with the density levels that have been calculated. Could you clarify therefore what the density levels of your proposals are, and what the density levels of Lewes are, on which you are basing your view.
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John Stockdale
Re:Phoenix Action - 2006/04/20 17:02Dear Charles
I was busy writing a reply to the email you sent me when I was told you had put it up on the Lewes Matters website – and I decided to keep my head down. I’d now like to acknowledge your withdrawing the threat of legal action against Phoenix Action and against me. That is very positive and constructive. We still oppose what was proposed in your last exhibition and I don’t suppose this is the last time we will disagree. But the debate seems to have moved on in the last couple of days and I think we need to take stock too. I would appreciate your publishing details of the proposed height and density of the planned buildings when this is finalised so that we can respond on the facts rather than our best estimates and assumptions.
Regards
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Tony Bagley
Re:Phoenix Action - 2006/04/20 18:29I am very glad Charles Style has withdrawn threats of legal action against John Stockdale. It would have been brilliant PR for a London-based developer to prosecute a Lewes resident, especially when the afore-mentioned London developer plans to 're-generate' Lewes resident's town. I was hoping, following the re-generation we so badly need, we might be introduced to difficult London concepts like 'freedom' and 'democracy' that we yokels don't yet understand, but it appears we could be in for Operation Shock and Awe instead.
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Annabel Davies
Re:Phoenix Action - 2006/04/21 00:58I agree that a scale model of the propsed developement would be very helpful. Those of us who are not particularly experienced in reading plans and diagrams would find it so much easier to understand. I appreciate that a model would be expensive, but as a model already exists in the barbican, is it not possible to borrow that and just add the new buildings? On the subject of building height when the plans refer to stories is this in addition to the fact that many buildings are to be placed on top of a car park? Again this is something I do not fully understand and would appreciate clarification.
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