Rob Shepherd
"I believe that before Lewes District Council grants planning permission to any major development proposals, it should construct a comprehensive, visionary plan for the whole town, with proper consultation. If elected, I will fight for a freeze on major building developments while we create a proper vision for Lewes."
I’m standing in these elections because I feel Castle ward would benefit from an independent councillor, just as Priory ward benefits from its independent, Ruth O’Keefe.
But I’m also standing on a specific issue. With the present wave of building proposals – in places like North Street/Phoenix, the bus station, Wenban-Smith and Chandlers – Lewes faces huge expansion, as big as anything in living memory. If they all go ahead, Lewes’ piecemeal developments together will rapidly add an extra 3,500 people to our town, putting a massive strain on our roads, parking, schools, healthcare, employment and flood defences.
It's the district council's duty to face this challenge with vision, foresight and a long-term strategy for the entire town. Its job is to ask: do we want such growth? And if we do, what should it be like and how do we handle the consequences?
But instead, the council is against considering the developments together, despite overwhelming popular demand. Some officials have even said that such joined-up thinking isn’t possible, which is, frankly, wrong. So I’m taking the issue to the ballot box.