07 May 2008
Steering Group sets course for infrastructure improvements
Public landowners in Uckfield have begun to map out how best to re-invigorate the town centre through a series of infrastructure improvements.
East Sussex County Council, Wealden District Council, Uckfield Town Council and East Sussex Fire & Rescue each own parcels of land in the town centre and are working together to produce a range of improvements for residents and visitors to the town.
Through the Uckfield Steering Group, they will be working together to produce proposals which dovetail into the Local Development Framework, the guide to new development in Wealden over the next 20 years.
At a meeting early this month, the steering group made a number of key decisions.
"As well as setting out how the four authorities will work together to help set up infrastructure improvements, we have also agreed to create a stakeholder group consisting of a much wider representation of interested organisations. The stakeholder group will be consulted on all the key proposals," said Councillor Michael Harker of Uckfield Town Council, who chairs the Uckfield Steering Group.
"It is important from the start that we best identify the town's priorities and ambitions, so we can then set about devising consistent policies that can put these into practise."
One key factor the steering group will take into account is the potential re-instatement of the Uckfield to Lewes railway line.
"This is a very exciting time for the people of Uckfield," added Councillor Harker. "We are now in a position to make some long-awaited changes to the road layout in order to ease traffic congestion in the town and improve its standing as a major destination in Sussex
