VITAL MEETING ON TOWN'S FUTURE

And the Friends of Lewes have called a public meeting to thrash out the many development issues facing the town.

Said a spokesman: 'The Lewes townscape is changing and new buildings and developments have sometimes sparked protest.

'Now several new major schemes are coming forward which could radically transform the town for better or worse.

'If all these developments are considered piecemeal, without an overall vision of what we want for Lewes, the result could blight our town irreparably.

'As Lewes's civic society, the Friends believe that this is too important a matter to be left to even the best-intentioned politicians, officials, developers and architects.

'The people of Lewes should have their say.'

The public meeting, called Threat or Opportunity?, takes place on Thursday (20th) at 7.45pm at Lewes Town Hall.

A team of speakers will open up the key issues.

Nigel Barker of English Heritage will show how well-designed developments can improve historic towns and will discuss what is needed for that to happen.

Local residents - TV producer Bob Lockyer, historian and former Mayor Graham Mayhew, and architect Robert Smart - will comment on Lewes's experience, and Chichester architects Geoffrey Claridge and Richard Cole will explain how their town has responded to similar pressures.

The meeting will then be open for questions and comments. Councillors, officials and local organisations have been invited.

Among the schemes coming forward in the near or far future are 800 houses and flats in the general area of the Phoenix industrial estate, the potential redevelopment of County Hall, housing in the rear Lewes House gardens, and potential redevelopment of the West Street police station and Lewes Bus Station in Eastgate Street.