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CHAIR'S
REPORT 2004-5
Lewes Living Streets Chair’s Report 2004-5
This report covers the first year
of Lewes Living Streets following the highly successful launch meeting in
January 2004 through to April 2005. That meeting when Norman Baker MP and
Tom Franklin, Director of Living Streets, spoke to over a hundred people showed
the great interest that there is in the town in improving the street environment
and public spaces.
At our first group meeting held in February 2004 the committee was agreed
and in the last year it has comprised: Michael Cahill (Chair), Richard Kemp
(secretary), Sue Richards (Treasurer) Joyce Barlow (Membership Secretary )
Ruth O’Keefe, Shirley Collins and Jack Wilkinson. Liz Mandeville became
Press Officer later in the year and Simon Anderson joined the committee in
2005. Due to pressure of work Shirley Collins has had to resign and we thank
her for her work over the past year.
The committee meets on a monthly basis. I have listed here the events which
we have organised and campaign issues we have taken up over the past year.
These are linked to on the left of the page.
Street Audits
David Early from Living Streets national office spoke to a public meeting
in on Street Audits in July and we undertook a demonstration audit in Station
Street and around the station that evening. Subsequently we have done audits
of the High Street and Fisher Street. These have been sent to ESCC Transport
and Environment Department.
Local Transport Plan
We responded to the consultation in September with our 10-point plan for Lewes.
We are now organising a response to the draft consultation.
Meetings
with ESCC
We have held two meetings with ESCC. The first was with John Robbins, the
Lewes Transport Manager, in May and the second with Cllr Matthew Lock, the
lead member for Transport, in November.
Local
Strategic Partnership
Living Streets has recently joined the LSP and intends to work with other
groups on transport issues through this body.
Direct
Action
On a number of Saturday mornings last year LS members met at the then parking
black spots of Cliffe Bridge, bottom of School Hill and the Post Office. We
persuaded a large number of motorists to obey the law and park elsewhere.
Offham
Road
We have recently supported Offham Road residents who have demonstrated for
lower speeds and improved conditions for pedestrians. The next demo will be
Saturday 30 April at 10 am.
Speeds
in the town
We welcome the decision by ESCC to introduce a 20 mph speed limit for the
historic core of the town but wish to see a 20 mph limit for the entire town.
Speed reduction is one of our campaign themes this year and we are working
with other groups on this issue. We are currently in negotiation with Lewes
Town Council to obtain a grant towards the cost of a speed gun.
Pavements
Pavements should be for pedestrians. Via our street audit and other work we
have pressed for greater priority to be given to the street environment making
it safer and easier for all of us to take the healthy option and walk.
Other
activities
In May Ruth O’Keefe worked with a number of Lewes primary schools in
Walk to School week to organise a local event.
In August we held the Lewes Living Streets Treasure Hunt organised by Jack
Wilkinson. We have also advertised the existence of the organisation by running
stalls at the Sustainability Fair and the Farmers’ Market.
Michael Cahill, Chair, Lewes
Living Streets
April 12, 2005
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CHAIR'S
REPORT 2004-5 |
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