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Chris
Gilbert of QED seems to think that critics of the station site
development are simply indulging in the luxury of objection
for its own sake (Argus Saturday 16 Feb). Believe me it is not
a luxury, it's a necessity, it's bloody hard work and unlike
his job, it's unpaid. He says this development has been widely
discussed. I can tell him that the only reason for those discussions
is that objectors have arranged the public meetings which should
have been organised by the developers and the council. The same
objectors pressured the council into displaying the model for
more than two days in Brighton so people can see what a truly
mediocre proposal is being trumpeted as an "Exemplar of
21st century urban development". Finally, and most importantly,
great numbers of the public have written to the Argus and Leader,
and I don't remember seeing any letters in support.
Brighton
Urban Design and Development (BUDD) has gone through the developer's
plans very carefully and compared them with the council's plan
for the station site which is more than the developers appear
to have done. This process has highlighted serious discrepancies.
For example, one would think that the developers would at least
be able to come up with a supermarket that was the right size,
but no, their's is bigger than allowed for in the council's
plan. They have also understated the number of additional car
parking places by 200. The scheme does not fulfil the requirement
to move away from the dominance of the car and will create traffic
chaos. The council has claimed that the retail element (Sainsbury's)
is essential to make the scheme financially viable. This is
not only contrary to government planning guidance, it is untrue.
The council's own consultants concluded that there were alternative
ways of funding development of the site.
But
perhaps the most damning aspect is the effect that this traffic
and retail led development will have on the local community
and environment. Government figures show that when a supermarket
opens, it has an adverse affect on local business, with job
losses and small traders closing down. You only have to look
at the disastrous effect the new Sainsbury's has had on the
Lewes Road and the effect of the new Churchill Square has had
on the Western Road to see what will happen to the London Road
if a massive new supermarket with a car park opens up the hill.
BUDD
has sent a letter detailing all these points and more to the
council. The full text is available on the website (www.BUDDbrighton.org
<http://www.buddbrighton.org/> ). What is being proposed
is not the "exemplar of 21st century urban development"
claimed by the developers, it is an object lesson in what to
avoid, and Brighton and Hove council should listen to the people
who would have to live with it and refuse the application.
Richard
Paul-Jones
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