Those who remember the catastrophic flood at the Fifteenth Century Bookshop at the Bottleneck which happened in mid January, will be almost as pleased as Susan Mirabaud to know that a solution is in sight. More water poured in last Thursday, January 26th, and on Wednesday, about a week later than promised, an engineer from County Highways did turn up, and on time. The conclusion reached was, I believe, the one advocated some weeks ago: the recent road resurfacing has left insufficient space between the road and the kerb, leaving nowhere for the water to go. At least I think that's what its about, because with uncharacteristic silence on the matter, the County has not come back to me. Susan believes she was told they will be back to dig the kerb out a bit and install an additional drain. Let's hope they pay out for damages too, and I am heartened to note that the matter is now being treated as urgent.
More fun and games are predicted on the planning front when the ire of not a few local residents becomes public when recent plans for an ‘iconic’ building with a self-rusting roof go on show. These are for a plot at the far end (south end) of South Street. Having been told that the District would like to see a building of landmark quality, the designers have come up with their idea of what ‘landmark’ should be. The result is not necessarily what was envisaged, perhaps, and there will be interesting times ahead.
On the same topic, there is to be an appeal against the District Council's refusal to allow the demolition of The Canon O'Donnell Centre at the top of Western Road, The date for the informal inquiry is not fixed yet, so if you have an axe to grind, prepare to sharpen it now.
And the Magistrates' Court building is now publicly offered for sale. "Offers on £1,000,000" I am told. Nice bomb-proof accommodation, might cost a mint to demolish. My own feelings, hopelessly anachronistic as ever, are that we would have been far better to have rehabilitated the old railway station which stood there. That did have merit, while, in my opinion, the precinct and all about it are euro-bland at best and Lewes deserves better.
There was a fascinating talk about urban landscape gardening organised by Lewes Garden Society on Wednesday night, and Ruth O'Keeffe and I were inspired. Inspired to ask for help with the little gardens scheme that is. Sadly I went off topic at one point, due to some sotto voce murmurings in the front row, but hope the message got through that we will be at those odd square boxes outside aforementioned redundant magistrates' court on Friday morning at 11 to weed like fury and plant snowdrops and bluebells. Enthusiastic amateurs I'm afraid, according to more reasoned advice given at the meeting, so if you want to come to laugh, point and say "told you so" or even actually help for an hour or two, we shall be pleased to see you.
These are only my own points of view and must not be taken to be representative of Lewes Town Council or vivalewes.com
