Eastbourne Borough Council is to ask the public for its views on a major regeneration plan that will shape how the town develops.
The proposed Area Action Plan (AAP) is a blueprint document designed to deliver a vision of how the town will look by 2026 – the timeframe for the plan.
To ensure the public has the chance to comment on the document, the council this week voted in favour of a local consultation programme. The Council wants to know what residents think are the main issues that are important to solve in the town centre.
Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor David Tutt, said, “This is one of the most important plans the council will produce and will ensure the town meets a number of key challenges from how to cope with predicted population growth to enhancing our retail offer.
“We therefore believe it is essential to engage the residents of Eastbourne so they have the chance to comment and ultimately shape the long term design of the town centre so future generations can benefit from it.”
The council has already consulted with key stakeholders to produce a draft version of the plan which will cover an area from the seafront to Upperton Road and from DevonshirePark to Bourne Street.
The AAP seeks to establish what the overall vision for Eastbourne should be and looks at the structure and identity of the town with a proposal to expand the town centre boundary to take in key gateway sites such as the WishTower and the Post Office site in Upperton Road.
Ensuring the town centre’s infrastructure meets future demand and can support a viable mix of uses is also central to the strategy. Four areas identified for immediate development include a western extension to the Arndale Centre, the Network Rail car park area, the Post Office area in Upperton Road and an area adjacent to Marks & Spencer.
The plan looks at how the towns key retail areas can be reinforced and developed and how new housing can be increased successfully in the best location.
Other issues covered by the AAP include improvements to public spaces, various options for busses and access in Terminus Road to benefit pedestrians and how to and how to enhance links into Devonshire Park and build on opportunities with the new Towner gallery. The plan also looks at how to boost the town’s evening economy and broaden the appeal of the town centre to new audiences.
Councillor Tutt added: “Plans to dramatically improve the town centre remain a key priority for the council, and we have not abandoned our ambition to deliver real change to the Arndale Centre and the town’s retail, leisure and tourism offer.
“However, making sure these goals best meet public need is crucial and we hope as many people as possible take part in the consultation process.”
Public consultation on the Area Action Plan is due to run from June 14 to September 6. The results of the consultation will then be studied by the council to create a final fully detailed document which will pass through further consultation and a public examination led by a Government inspector.
The plan will be officially adopted by the Council in September 2012.
