‘CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC’

Many of you will by now have read the Sussex Express article on the 'Phoenix Quarter' and wondered at Lewes Matters' "cautiously optimistic" welcome of the scheme.

Two innocent words that, when taken out of the context in which they were used, indicate overall approval of the proposal. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Our spokesman used the words to describe our reaction to the changes made to the scheme following the original presentation a year ago. They do not imply any approval by Lewes Matters whatsoever as anyone who reads the rest of the Lewes Matters’ comment will appreciate.

Whilst the three page article claims to be exclusive, it seems to us, more a well timed press release secured by Angel property in reaction to events that have been rumbling on our website over the last fortnight. First, the publication of the Michael Royde website.  Second, Angel’s commitment to put plans on their website by the end of this month.  As an article it poses few serious questions and the short piece on Lewes Matters' view, seems to put the whole subject neatly to bed.

So where do Lewes Matters stand at this point?

For the last 15 months we have sought and continue to request information on this proposal from the developer and Council, using where appropriate, the Freedom of Information Act. Our research into the potential implications arising from such a development, have lead to more and more precise questions, as you will see
from the 'checklist' of questions we have put to the developer and soon to be published.

All our meetings and correspondence with the developer, are conducted on a 'without prejudice' basis and our 'cautious optimism' needs to be seen in the context that the scheme has changed and appears open to change, in parts, since the September 2005 public exhibition.

All this has been against a backdrop of near silence from the various Councils. We have been advised to let the planning process prevail; that no comments can be expressed until an application is received and even then, District Councillors need to be mindful not to give the impression that they have an opinion for or against.

Lewes Matters does and will continue to apply pressure, ask awkward questions, but it has no remit beyond that.

It is time, indeed well past time, that the District and Town councils stepped into what has become a clear leadership vacuum, take a lead, to create a development framework and vision, based on incoming planning policy, for the future of this area. Giving any developer the chance to design a scheme that will truly reflect the aspirations of Lewes townspeople.