Town Team Discusses Key Projects at Meeting

Local councillors, businesses, community groups and other key stakeholders came together at the latest stakeholder group meeting for Hailsham Forward, which was held at Diplocks Hall this morning [30 October].

The tidiness of town centre shopfronts, the success to date of the Hailsham Street Market and the forthcoming town centre improvement works were just a few of the things discussed by the’ Town Team’, which aims to bring together key local stakeholders including Hailsham Town Council to review the best ways to revitalise the town centre and surrounding urban environment in the coming years.

Updates were provided on the the Movement & Access Plan for Hailsham and Hellingly’s (MASHH) project to ensure that improvements in infrastructure keep pace with current and forthcoming housing developments and supporting local economic growth.

Also discussed were the frequency and dates scheduled for the Hailsham Street Market in 2016, and it was agreed that they will continue to take place in Vicarage Field every Saturday, except the second Saturday of each month when it will be held on Thursday instead due to the Farmers’ Market taking place.

Wealden District Council’s Local Plan Issues and Options were also discussed, in particular, the involvement of Hailsham Forward in the consultation of the housing development proposals for the local area. Their exact role will be determined in the near future.

“Hailsham is already on the road to regeneration with the opening of new businesses in the town centre and the further development of Hailsham’s town revitalisation objectives, said Hailsham Forward Executive Chairman Rob Slater.

“My fellow Town Team members and I are delighted to be working closely with the Town, District and County Councils as well as local businesses on a range of important projects for our town and bringing town revitalisation aspirations into fruition.”

Deputy Town Clerk and Business Enterprise Manager Mickey Caira commented: “Hailsham Forward’s various different projects are all for the betterment of the town, including the revitalisation of the high street, encouragement of inbound investment from retailers, promotion of footfall and the creation of more jobs as a result.”

“We’ll continue to build on our successes to date, continue to help make a real difference to our town and develop even more new ideas in the near future.”

Further information on Hailsham Forward’s town revitalisation plans can be found on their website: www.hailshamforward.co.uk.