A busy August! Here is my report. Subjects covered include:
- Planning appeals -update
- Spring Barn Farm Centre
- Planning appeals -update
- Shooting Lodge
- On the Buses!
- South Downs National Park Plan
Also covered in this report: Highways and road problems – Report a planning threat – Check bus times – On street parking in Lewes.
It has been a busy summer and there’s still more to come. Not only has there been the usual high level of planning applications in the area but we have had three planning appeals to contend with. Two are over and we have one yet to come. This is about the game bird breeding activity at Iford farm. This appeal will be heard on Wednesday, 23 September in Lewes. Click for full report.
Here is the rest of my report:
Spring Barn Farm Centre: The first planning appeal we had to deal with in the Ouse valley was at Spring Barn Farm Centre. This appeal was held in writing and submissions had to be in by 17 July 2015. Click for full report
Shooting Lodge:
This has been the most difficult appeal to date. This hearing was held on 25th of August. There was little or no publicity in the lead up to the hearing which I believe disadvantaged many people. No one from the public gallery spoke in favour of the shooting lodge. It was a great pity the inspector would not accept written submissions by people who could not get to the hearing. We have not been served well by the local authority and by the Planning Inspectorate processes. I will be lodging a complaint to both of these departments. Click for full report
On the Buses!
A story of good news (well a small amount!) and bad news. The bad news is that the 130 bus service, which runs once-a-day from Rodmell to Brighton, will be withdrawn unless subsidies can be found. The good news is that there is to be a small, but useful improvement made to the 123 bus service. This month, in August, I met with the Managing Director of the bus operator. I am pleased to advise you that the services, in both directions which run just after 9 am, will now take concessionary fares. Click for full report
South Downs National Park Plan

Public Roadshow! An opportunity to see the draft South Downs National Park Plan and make your view known. Drop in session between 15:00-20:00 on Tues 8 September at Lewes Town Hall about South Downs National Park Plan. The plan will cover all of the villages in the Ouse valley from Kingston to Piddinghoe as well as St Ann Without and Falmer. If you miss this date you can still see and comment on the draft plan up to 28 October 2015 Click for more details
Highways and road problems?
Report a pothole, drain problem, lighting issues or footpath problems? Just click on the link on the right side of this page or click here
ESCC Highways also has a Facebook and Twitter site. Just click the image on the left.
Report a planning threat
Is there a planning threat near where you live? Let the CPRE know and they will help spread the word. Complete the CPRE on-line form and they will add it to the interactive on-line map:
http://www.cpresussex.org.uk/news/protect-sussex/report-a-planning-threat
Check bus time?
For the 123 bus service check Compass travel timetable:
http://www.compass-travel.co.uk/compass-timetables/places-we-serve-east-sussex/
Or to check your next bus use this link:
http://www.traveline.info/
or get the app for your mobile phone – click the image for the link:
On street parking in Lewes
ESCC are considering making changes to existing parking and waiting restrictions in the Lewes area (both Lewes town and Lewes district). The council are looking for comments of their proposals regarding Lewes Town right now See: https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/economy-transport-environment/lewes-town-and-district-parking-review-2015.
Consultations Run from 4 Sep 2015 to 25 Sep 2015
Previous reports: My ‘Report Back’ of 31st July covered the following topics:
Kingston, Spring Barn Farm — Shooting Lodge Planning Appeal (on 25th August) — Piddinghoe, two barns at Court Farm — Planning issues — Broadband in Rodmell — Kingston to Lewes Cycle Path (Cockshut Lane) —Traffic Survey in Rodmell — C7 Road Safety — Egrets Way — Walkabout in Iford —Iford & Swanborough Community Embroidery Project — Waste! — Encouraging Public Participation — Petitions to the Council — Planning, Wider Consultation — Cabinet or committee? — Local Plans — Housing — The ‘49’ sites — Business rates — Lewes District Council organisation — Potholes, Hedges and Verges — Key Issues for the Ouse Valley Villages — Cuts to the 123 bus service — C7 Road / Safety /Speeding — Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere — Kingston Ward in Figures.