At Lewes Town Council’s September 19 meeting, the Mayor of Lewes, Councillor Imogen Makepeace, welcomed members of the public who were looking for reassurance that they would be supported by their local council, after the devastating decision by the South Downs National Park Authority (SNDPA)’s Planning Committee to grant planning permission to the former bus station site. 

During the meeting, Lewes Town Council agreed to “taking immediate action” on the situation.

Since the decision, officials on behalf of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government have issued a Holding Direction for the plans for the former Bus Station site. Members of the public representing groups including The Friends of Lewes, Save Lewes Bus Station and Lewes Conservation Area Advisory Group (LCAAG) were keen to understand what else can be done to challenge the decision on the site.

Lewes Town Council agreed to write a “strongly worded” letter to the Secretary of State as well as all other relevant parties including the case officer assigned to the application, and welcomed information and copies of other letters given by the public that it would consider in the letter, and welcomes further information to be sent to the Mayor or the Town Clerk.

The Mayor assured the members of the public gathered that “we will gather your views and write to the Secretary to ensure she fully understands the detrimental impacts of the development on Lewes.

“There is a broader national precedent at stake, and it is important that the Secretary of State understands this.”

The letter will be made public, and the council will ensure that the process is fair and transparent.

The council also agreed to create a task and finish group to seek legal advice exploring if a judicial review of the decision is valid. Councillors Ross, Maples, Morgan and West will form the group and co-opt those residents who have an high level of knowledge of the application to assist the exploration.

The Mayor added: “We are committed to working alongside the community on this vital issue. Our focus as a Statutory Consultee remains on ensuring that any development is aligned with our policies in the Lewes Neighbourhood Plan, and in the SDNPA’s Local Plan.”

When asked as to the possibility of Lewes leaving the SDNPA, Councillor Makepeace explained that this was something that had been mentioned, but that there were several ramifications to consider.

Statement 17 September 2024:

Lewes Town Council is extremely disappointed that the South Downs National Park Authority’s Planning Committee has disregarded the voices of Lewes residents, who have campaigned so hard for a plan that benefits the town.

Our planning committee objected to this plan for a number of reasons including that it does not fit the expectations that were stated by our residents in the Neighbourhood Plan.

Every elected representative of this town has opposed this plan, which will set a devastating national precedent for dismissing public transport services within a national park.

We are exploring what can be done, and although there is currently no agreed way forward, we will be discussing how we can support Lewes residents in their need for a safe bus interchange at our next meeting this week.