Flats for day centre site 'best option'

The closure of Downlands Day Centre in Roundhay Avenue, angered residents in 2006.

East Sussex County Council took the decision to close because it said not enough people were using the centre.

The council later announced it would enter into a deal with a housing

association, Saxon Weald Homes, for sheltered accommodation.

Now a planning application has been submitted to Lewes District Council to demolish the current building and replace it with 41 apartments.

Community activist John Hodgson said the plan would mean vulnerable

people living in Peacehaven would lose out.

He said: 'They have said they are going to open it up to local people and some of the flats are to sell and some are to rent but unfortunately to have a flat you have to be over 60.

'The whole point of the controversy was the most disadvantaged people in the community are supposed to travel to Lewes for support and day services now Downlands has closed.

'This also discriminates against younger, chronically sick people who cannot have a flat.'

But a county council spokesman said this was the best option for the town. She said the old Downlands was small with relatively few people using the services.

She added that 100,000 had been invested into Downlands and two other centres to create similar services in the community.