Sale of land near church comes under fire

A developer will soon lodge a planning application to build six new homes on land - formerly earmarked as a garden of remembrance - with the aim of funding the restoration of the Victorian church centre.

One loser will be the Spire Pre-School which will be forced to find alternative accomodation or close, just months after two other Uckfield pre-schools shut their doors.

Proceeds from the sale of the church-owned land will be used for refurbishment of Uckfield church centre. It is hoped the project will be completed in time for the 170th anniversary of Holy Cross Church in 2009

BuCommercial property agent Chris Lawson felt residential use of the site was 'inappropriate' for several reasons.

From his office in Belmont Road he said: 'A number of people come to tend gravestones, find peace and contemplation and think about lost members of their families.

'As for selling the land to pay for improvements why has no fundraising campaign been launched?

'There has certainly been no application to the chamber of commerce.

'I hear about a figure of 100,000 - that is certainly achievable.

'I am surprised no-one has tried an alternative first.'

Mr Lawson is also concerned about the intensity of traffic in Belmont Road and the safety of children crossing Church Road.

He worries too about the loss of a nursery.

He added: 'There's a requirement for a nursery to grow, not lessen, especially with the amount of housebuilding in the town.'

Uckfield environmentalist and academic Dr Martin Stenning was horrified.

He said: 'It is a great shame they have have to build on that particular piece of ground.

'A rare and precious piece of Uckfield's dimishing stock of green spaces is being sacrificed.

'I had a part to play in planting a multi-species hedgerow and a yew tree and I believe this was intended to be a garden of remembrance.

'By delegating the detailed decision to a developer the church is taking the easy way out.

'There is nothing imaginative about this project.'