New homes scheme

Rydon Homes wants to build 70 to 80 homes on land belonging to two properties in single ownership at Oak Rise and Sandpit to the west of Lewes Road which includes a former quarry works.

They also want to build on adjacent land in different ownership belonging to Thorncroft which also includes a disused quarry.

John Longhorn, head of strategic land for Rydon Homes, told town councillors on Tuesday he was concerned that townspeople had not had the opportunity to comment on their development proposals which were not included in the draft Local Plan.

'Contrary to what was said by Wealden at a public meeting last week we believe there are areas in the south west sector of Uckfield which are containable and not readily noticeable from the by-pass which can be developed and indeed do represent previously developed brown field sites,' said Mr Longhorn.

He was invited to speak during a full meeting of the council called to discuss the draft Wealden Local Plan.

Earlier in the meeting councillors rejected proposals to build 500 new homes at Bird in Eye contained in the plan and agreed to ask Wealden to consider alternative sites.

They listed concerns about development at Bird in Eye including pressure on school spaces at that end of town, town traffic congestion, particularly in Framfield Road, fears of increased flooding risk, lack of employment in the area, design of a bridge carrying footpath and cycle links across the River Uck and the effect on a landscape which was visible from many other parts of town.

Cllr Kathy Fordham urged councillors to remember local democracy when thinking about a response to the Bird in Eye proposal. At public and town forum meetings the vast majority of people had opposed Bird in Eye and that should be taken into account, she said.

Cllr Len Ashby's proposal that they 'object most strongly' to development at Bird in Eye, while accepting that remaining land on Harlands Farm could be developed, was carried.

Councillors accepted a policy contained the draft Local Plan calling for consultation about the future of Uckfield town centre.

But they agreed to stress that they opposed a gyratory traffic system, they wanted to retain the Luxfords Field as open space, they were keen to see traffic measures like cycle ways introduced and they supported the re-establishment of the Uckfield to Lewes rail link.