Homes fight continues

A public meeting is to be held on January 28 at Framfield Memorial Hall at 7.30pm to discuss the proposals for 500 houses to be built on Bird in Eye and Harlands Farms put forward in the first draft of the Wealden Local Plan which goes out for public consultation this month.

Framfield Parish Council is firmly opposed to the development on four counts, the amount of traffic which would be generated, increased flood risk, development within the green belt and urbanisation of a rural parish.

Wealden planners and county highways officers are being invited to the meeting which parish council chairman Cllr Eryl Thomas said he hoped would be a 'full and frank discussion rather than people shouting at officers.'

Cllr David Jenner urged fellow councillors not to join in any arguments. 'We must keep our cool whatever happens. It could easily get difficult for the planners and highways people.'

The parish is still waiting to hear what Uckfield Town Council thinks of the plan and members commented that time was running out for the town to formalise a view by the closing date for consultation on February 28.

Parish clerk Mrs Ann Newton said she had been told that the town council would not be formulating its view until after a meeting of the town forum on February 4 which is due to discuss alternative development proposals put forward for Downlands Farm to the north of the town.

Cllr Jack Gore, who said it would be a disaster if development of Bird in Eye Hill went ahead, offered to speak to Uckfield mayor Cllr Barrie Murray and to district councillors representing the town to try and gauge their views.