New course for regeneration
Uckfield Regeneration Partnership is looking to set a new course this autumn with the appointment of a town co-ordinator to replace Barry Knights, who died suddenly.
The partnership is seeking applications for the part-time job from people with vision and drive to get things done. As the group’s chairman Graham Garnsey said: “We need another Barry.”
That’s a huge testament to Mr Knights.
Mr Garnsey said: “He must have had a real belief and interest in what he was doing. It was not a question of money. It is paid, of course, but not an enormous sum.
“He knew all the local retailers and business people personally.”
The partnership’s work ranges over much of the town’s life. “It’s more than hanging baskets,” Mr Garnsey pointed out.
The partnership’s latest success is the skate park next to the Victoria pleasure ground.
Results of the organisation’s other work are embedded in Uckfield life and it is easy to assume that’s the way it always has been.
Take the Bellbrook Business Park. The roads are good and so are the pavements. It wasn’t always the case and those improvements can be marked down as another regeneration partnership success where it acted as the catalyst to get improvements.
The award-winning farmers’ market, the promotion of tourism, CCTV, the youth trust and, yes floral displays, are other examples.
“Parking amenities has been an on-going battle, led to a large extent by the Uckfield Regeneration Partnership wishing to have free parking,” Mr Garnsey added.
In recent times getting the skate park built has been a major focus. He said “the youth” had been quite demanding. “They wouldn’t settle for second best,” he said.
When the park is finally finished – there is a bit more to come – it will be up to national or even international standards, he said.
Mr Garnsey said they had now embarked on the process of recruiting a new town co-ordinator. “Then we will march on again. We have not really decided on projects because the person we appoint will be the spearhead.
Mr Garnsey said the tarring of young people with the broad brush stroke that they were all up to no good and causing trouble was “terribly unjustified”.
He said Uckfield, needed a “genuine youth centre” and the first task would be to build on the work going on at the former adult education centre, next to the civic centre.
The town council bought the premises when they were sold by the county council.
“We have premises, things have to be done to it. We have to have the necessary agencies in there,” he said. “We do know that 700 members of ‘the youth’ are actually travelling to Crowborough because we are not satisfying the need here.
“I was staggered. It is not as though it is a guesstimate because they have all their addresses and everything.”
Young people had many needs in “all sorts of areas” including employment, health, crime and homelessness.
Uckfield town co-ordinator sought
The town co-ordinator’s post is designed to deliver improvement activities by mutual co-operation and projects between the Chamber of Commerce, URP members and the town council for the benefit of Uckfield residents and visitors.
The salary, paid for by grants from Wealden district and Uckfield town councils, is £12 per hour for a 15-hour week, plus mileage and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
Applications in writing with CV to: Chairman of URP, Council Offices, Uckfield Civic Centre, Uckfield, TN22 1AE.
News in Brief
• The largest annual business event in Sussex will take place on October 13 at the Brighton Centre and is set to attract more than 1,500 delegates from across the county.
The Really Useful Business show is organised by Sussex Enterprise and this year’s key speaker will be Digby Jones, the former Minister of Trade and Investment.
The conference aims to inspire local business leaders by offering practical advice and ideas on everything from raising finance to digital marketing. To book a place at the conference call 0845 67 888 67.
•Three business premises in the Uckfield area were recognised in the Sussex Heritage Awards. They were The Barn and Byres, Pippingford Park Estate, Nutley; 7 Riverview Business Park, Forest Row; and Units 9-13, The Paddock, East Hoathly. www.sussexheritage.co.uk
•Uckfield Town Council is considering establishing a “riverine local nature reserve” on land it owns in Brambleside, Bellbrook Business Park. The land slopes down to the River Uck. Bats and kingfishers breed there.
(Added to site Tuesday, September 1st, 2009)
