Current Concerns

The Society will continue to take up issues that are likely to maintain or improve the historic and environmental aspects of Lewes to the benefit of the people who live in and visit the town. Two themes of wide concern, on which the Society is likely to be engaged for more than a brief period, are preserving the beauty and character of Lewes and the South Downs around it, and making the traffic problems in the town more tolerable.

The Traffic

Southover High Street - flint wall restoration supported by Friends of Lewes after the 1960 flood (Civic Trust award)

All the older residents state that the biggest single change in the character of Lewes in the last fifty years is the gradual dominance of the car. Thus the Society's first ongoing concern reflects the long-standing interest of its members - and many others who live in the town - in reducing the noise, pollution and physical damage caused by the heavy flow of traffic into and through the main streets.

We can summarise and enumerate various actions as follows:-

1. Currently, the County Council acknowledge their decision to operate a 20mph zone in central Lewes was a result of our campaign for this and we are continuing to progress its introduction. This was one of the recommendations of a Sustainable Transport Study commissioned by the District Council which aimed to increase the number of non-car journeys within Lewes. There were many other recommendations to facilitate and improve conditions for both pedestrians and cyclists which the Society believes would bring about improvements and we will gradually be working on these.

The Star Brewery; drawing © Marietta van Dyck

2. We have again been pressing the Highways Agency to reduce the highly unsatisfactory noise from the A27 Bypass, which has been a serious concern to a large number of residents of Lewes for many years, by their resurfacing the road with a low-noise surface. They still refuse to act until structural conditions necessitate it although the cost is relatively small for road working. They will not act to reduce the speed limit, the other main factor causing the noise.
3. We were consulted by the County Council throughout their drawing up of the parking scheme in Lewes and suggested some changes both in its planning stages and as a result of experience in its operation.
4. We have been working with the County Council on plans to make Cliffe High Street more pedestrian friendly.
5.  We consider that the exit from Waitrose should be improved to enable traffic to turn right on to Phoenix Causeway so as to avoid circulating through East Street.  Any improvement should allow for a possible road into the Phoenix Quarter if development eventually takes place there
6. We have pressed for an integrated transport interchange at the railway station.

The Built Environment

The second ongoing theme is a continuation of a hard-fought and largely successful series of campaigns to prevent the spread of housing and supermarket development into the countryside around Lewes.

Candle Factory and The Needlemakers - demolition prevented by Friends of Lewes campaign

We can summarise and enumerate various actions as follows:-

1. We play an active part in commenting on the various statutory plans proposed by the relevant authorities. In particular we oppose any proposal to build on the green fields around Lewes or any major development outside the town, which might have an impact on the town.
2. We consider carefully and make appropriate suggestions on any proposals for development in the town to ensure that it will be a worthy addition to the townscape. At present all the proposals for major developments in Lewes are being rigorously monitored.
3. We are working on the restoration of The Magic Circle, an appealing garden retreat near the Castle, and the provision of more plaques on significant buildings in the town.
4. We will oppose any proposals to demolish significant buildings such as the West Street Police Station, part of which was formerly the Mechanics Institute.
5. We worked with the South Downs Campaign, and helped financially, to have Lewes included in the new South Downs National Park.   That was achieved.  We will press the National Park Authority to encourage enhancement and conservation of the historic buildings and street scene in the town. (See below, Recent Papers, December letter to the NPA).

White Lion - inn sign saved from pub demolition

6. We continue to press for shop front improvements to maintain and enhance the street scene.
7. We support proposals that encourage better maintenance of flint walls and oppose their demolition.
8. We are requesting that pavements in the conservation area should be of a material appropriate to the location and that where possible they should be widened to assist pedestrians: and are pressing for a standardisation of street lighting in keeping with an historic town.
9. We have supported other worthy environmental projects in the town such as the purchase of Baxter's playing field and the cost of roof repair for the historic St Anne's Church.