Burgess Hill Town Centre Redevelopment

This is a public forum run by local volunteers for the people who live and work in and around the Burgess Hill area to comment on the recent MSDC plans to re-develop our town centre.

Background


In January, Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) in conjunction with its selected developer (Thornfield Properties plc) published its long term redevelopment plans for Burgess Hill town centre. This came a quite as shock to many residents and businesses, as none had been previously consulted.

As a result, a local action group was formed to obtain greater information and co-ordinate our efforts in ensuring that our town centre is not turned into a multi-storey car park/concretre monstrosity.

If you have something to say about the plans (positive or negative) - say it below by adding your comments to our posts. If you would like to become an editor (to make posts), please email nataly@omegadm.co.uk. We currently have 37 editors.

Recent Posts:

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Dear Burgess Hill resident.

In a few days the consultation over the Burgess Hill town centre
redevelopment plans will be over, and if approved it will be
too late to change.
The town centre redevelopment project was presented to us
sugar coated with new station, New town square and many many
more attractions, while hiding the real cost to the residents.

If you object to hundreds of low cost, high density flats (Without
parking) in 6 story buildings within town centre.
If you object to replacing the current parking areas in town
centre with buildings and creating for the town instead under
ground parking facilities.
If you object to tearing down of the row of houses across from
Waitrose and replacing them with six story flats buildings.
If you object to replacing Queens Crescent greens with a hotel.
If you object to developers taking over the town centre blocking
it for the next fifteen years.

If you would like Burgess Hill to remain a small town with low
crime rate.

PLEASE HELP BY WRITING OR EMAILING YOUR
OBJECTION TO YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR.

Let them know how you feel.

Residents of Station Road

posted by BClifton @ 11:12 am 0 comments

Sunday, May 14, 2006

I don't have a problem...

I don't have a problem with the areas proposed for redevelopment - except Station Road of course as I live there and our house is not on the new map! However I am trying to be impartial here... What I do mind is the height of the proposed buildings.

If the proposal was to the same high standard AND HEIGHT as the current Waitrose building (2 story), I think most people would agree with the development plans. But Thornfields want 4 story properties which as they are commercial units means the equivalent of 5 residential stories. I just think it is inappropriate to have this for our market town.

I also think re-developing the station is a complete red herring. Yes, it has poor access for disabled, elderly and even fit people carring suit cases! But that can be solved by installing a couple of lifts as per Haywards Heath. There is no way Railtrack will develop that area without a significant return on their investment i.e. high rise, high density shops/flats around the town centre. So I don't think we should support that.

During the consultation period, a consultant from Thornfields stated Burgess Hill has huge problems with parking - but that is simply not true. Yes it does get crowded in front of Waitrose most days, but the multi story car park behind Lidel is hardly used as is the car park next to the station off Walstonbury Way.

Brian

posted by BClifton @ 10:47 pm 0 comments