Talks over town centre plan

WEALDEN District Council is set to open discussions with the agents behind plans for a giant Tesco store in the middle of Uckfield.

A decision was made last week to give council officers authority to negotiate with St James Investments over the possible sale of the council s Luxford Field car park.

Part of these negotiations will involve securing advice on the value of the Luxford Field site. However, the leader of the council, Rupert Thornely-Taylor, this week insisted that no decision had yet been taken on the fate of the land, and described the proposal as 'one of the most significant to hit Wealden for decades.

Cllr Thornely-Taylor, as lead portfolio holder on the executive, last week resolved that the council should follow a recommendation by the council s head of works and services, Mike Fleming, and enter into discussions with St James Investments. This decision was subject to a 'call-in period where any member of the council can challenge the decision and hold it up for scrutiny. This ends at 5pm today (Friday). At the time of going to press, no member of the council had queries the decision.

In his report to the executive, Mr Fleming said the negotiations could 'facilitate the potential redevelopment and regeneration of Uckfield town centre . He added: 'It is known that the developer has opened discussions with both the county council and with Uckfield Town Council and are seeking ways in which a coherent approach across the public sector agencies can be achieved. It is recommended that negotiations be entered into. He proposed that any valuation or consultancy costs estimated 5,000 be financed by the developer.

Careful

Cllr Thornely-Taylor said: 'We have to be careful as we are both a planning authority and land owner, and we are also responsible for several other separate services. We have to take a corporate view and not just a planning view.

'We have to satisfy the District Auditor that we have taken what is called 'best consideration over the land, and we have to get valuation advice to ascertain what the land is worth.

'I regard this as one of the most significant proposals to hit Wealden for decades. There is no question that the decision to enter into negotiations means that we are in favour of the development.

The ambitious proposals, which included building a super-sized Tesco store on the site of the present Luxford Field and creating a new green parkland area by the river, were revealed by the Sussex Express in September.