Richard Winter
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Infrastructure summary - 2006/01/28 01:06
‘Joined-up thinking’.
Initial premises:
We cannot keep back the tide of change, like anywhere else.
Improvements in infrastructure should come first or at least alongside new developments and to a co-ordinated plan.
Some background facts of life….
County, District and Town councils often have opposing views and diverge from already agreed strategic plans.
District and County Councils never have sufficient funds to pay for infrastructure improvements by themselves. It then falls to commercial interests that want to develop, to provide some improvements in infrastructure (known as ‘planning gain’).
Developers are motivated by profit and usually propose to do the minimum that they think will gain acceptability by the planning authorities.
New developments have a knock-on effect causing increasing problems outside their immediate area.
Education, health and leisure facilities are unable to keep pace with a growing (and ageing) population.
Increasing air, noise pollution and danger from extra traffic generated.
Inadequate parking facilities and schemes to redistribute or calm traffic.
The number and quality of permanent jobs generated or lost through redevelopment.
…… and one particularly applying to Lewes:
Recent developments have proceeded in a piecemeal fashion on sites in the historic core on sites with very restricted vehicular access e.g. Albion Street, Lewes House and Baxter’s.
Recent proposals not thought through or implemented:
The County Council consultation on traffic in Lewes of 2002. (Even the most basic proposals have not yet been implemented e.g. Waitrose exit roundabout)
Improving and linking all the sports facilities along the southern edge of the town.
The future of County Hall (move it, or allow it to be removed from the town?).
The future of the bus station site.
The loss of car parking spaces on the intended site of the new police station
Unimplemented and inadequate flood protection measures.
The effect of the designation of the National Park (whether Lewes is included within it or not).
Needs:
Before the Phoenix development or any of the development ideas above are given the go ahead there needs to be:
A sensible transport plan which allows visitors and workers to park-and-ride from the by-pass.
A developed railway station area that includes a bus station and has a bus shuttle link with the Eastgate area.
A commitment to a minimum number or proportion of affordable housing units for local young people.
An assessment of the increasing number of school places required, in particular the need for a new primary school.
An assessment of the current medical facilities (medical centres and Victoria Hospital: including a determination of the long term future of the latter) to determine future needs.
An assessment of sporting and other leisure needs prior to the forming of an association of clubs and societies to co-ordinate improvements.
An improvement in the environment in the Cliffe and the river frontage below Cliffe bridge to benefit both shoppers and ‘non chain’ shopkeepers.
This can be only be achieved by full consultation with local people and pressure groups through the formation of working parties set up by and reporting to the relevant committees of all 3 tiers of local authority …… ‘joined-up thinking’!
Richard Winter
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