19/11/2014 – Press Release - Consultation needed on town development
The redevelopment of Burgess Hill town centre should be open to public consultation to get the best deal for residents, Labour councillors have insisted.
Planning for the redevelopment of the town centre will likely be sought before the end of 2014, and Burgess Hill Labour Party is calling for consultation on the proposals to ensure the development is in keeping with the town. The Party has also called for a replacement for the Martlets Hall, an essential community facility for which the plans currently have no replacement, to be secured.
In the current plans, The Lidl supermarket will be moved to Wolstonbury Way, but Burgess Hill Labour Party is concerned that this will attract more shoppers out of town rather than encourage them into the town centre, which will be detrimental to the small traders in the town.
Councillor and leader of the Labour group David Andrews said “Burgess Hill Labour Party provisionally supports Burgess Hill Town development, but plans need to take into account what our community needs. It is crucial we have a replacement for Martlets Hall and ensure the Orion Cinema is protected. All sections of the community need to work together to ensure that the development is appropriate for Burgess Hill”.
Labour Councillor Janet Smith said: “The proposed plans should ensure development is in-keeping with Burgess Hill’s heritage as a brick making town, rather than favouring glass and steel. Mid Sussex District Council has a number of questions to answer on this, including what community land will be given to the developer New River; if the library and Martlets Hall will be sold to the developer at market value; and why the district council chooses to do business with a company avoiding UK taxes because it is registered in Guernsey."