On 5 Jun 2008 at 10:40pm sashka wrote:
A miracle has happened.
A woman who has never commented on the rash of terrible architecture that her Council has systematically rubber stambed over the past 5 years, has suddenly become its biggest criric.- see Sussex Express.co.uk
I wonder if her schizophrenic behaviour relates to the recent anti-planning uprising and increasing publicity of her Council's goings on that are now attracting interest from national media.
The hypocrisy of criticising Pinwell Lane, when LDC have been approving overlarge blocks crammed with flats with no parking permit policy beggars belief.
That this woman thinks we are so daft as to believe her miracle transformation into a lover of sensitive architecture that respects our wonderful historic environment is astonishing. She seems to have lost the plot. I wonder if she applies the same view to the monolithic affordable housing block being built on LDC's own land,
Norman Baker must be cringing with embarassment!
On 6 Jun 2008 at 7:08am expat two wrote:
Hey, I've got a tenner that says she'll get away with it. Regardless of the overwhelmingly crass arrogance of this move, the Sussex Express will just lap it up.
Never mind this forum, get some letters written to the Evening Argus, I bet they'll print them.
On 6 Jun 2008 at 8:38am Local wrote:
De Vecchi says she is allowed to comment as she is not on the planning committee. Perhaps a few more Lib Dem councillors not on the committee will now take the opportunity to say honestly what they think about some of the proposed devedlopments in Lewes - particularly the monstrous 'Phoenix Quarter'. If they do, they may be able to save their seats at the next elections.
On 6 Jun 2008 at 9:48am sashka wrote:
The inane smiling picture of Ms de Vecchi, makes me wonder what the Express think of her claims.
I doubt Lib dem Councillors will say anything unless Ms De Vecchi lets them. It s a dismal spectacle.
On 6 Jun 2008 at 2:58pm Enoch wrote:
What a turn around. It is amazing how damning they can be when it is not their sites in question, you will notice she does not mention the blocks of flats on the land between Walwers Lane and Church Twitten and how awful they are. In last weeks Express Storming Norman was in the picture and giving his support - it seems there is a bandwagon being jumped upon by the Lib Dems now they have the green light for their plans.
On 6 Jun 2008 at 8:58pm Retired archbishop wrote:
Everything this woman does is like a cancer closing in on Lewes and its surrounding areas. Pop her on a fire alongside Capt Car Park, the tory idiot Matthew Lock.
In the same way that perhaps Guy Fawkes was the only man with honest (if not perverse) intentions to enter Parliament, we await with bated breath for someone with similar intentions to enter the chambers of LDC & ESCC.
What do these idiots get from their pontifications on our behalf apart from a lot of expenses?
On 7 Jun 2008 at 4:14pm Local wrote:
Retired archbishop asked why they do it - an over-developed sense of self-importance I assume. It certainly isn't to represent the people.
On 8 Jun 2008 at 9:44am print wrote:
have to say .that she did give me some information on the Canon O'Donnell community centre: - mainly on traffic stress on the Prison traffic lights.
While I'm writing can anyone offer illumination on this? As part of planning, officers have, I believe, to consider the issue of community use. Someone last year tried to buy the CanonO'Donnell centre and retain it for community use. the Catholic church chose the significantly higher developer's tender saying to the alternative bidders that they would be providing replacement community facility with the new church rooms to be built within the precints of the church. The planning dept reiterated this. Recently Peter Young has also said to me that we, the forgotten public, will get a'wonderful' alternative facility being built by the church so ripping down the hall is not important - and certainly, he said, there is no change of usage issue.
I have been told by the local priest recently that the new church rooms are not meant for community use rather 'for parishioners.' Hhe suggested alternative venues!
Is this sleight of hand or what ?The church has gained a hefty profit by going for demolition. And the public have lost their community hall - while a smallish flock has gained state of the art exclusive facilities. Not much Christian charity there.Canon o'Donnell Community Centre has been used by secu lar groups through generations.Meetings of the Residents Association were held there until deteriorating facilities - heating etc hounded local groups out. It has been a meeting place for old people - with a bar! -, and genarally an invaluable resource for sporting and social use by the whole community.This use is mentioned in the deeds of covenant.
This is nothing short of plundering from Lewes people with what I do believe is the connivance of the planners.I might add that the Centre is structually sound and has been deliberately allowed to become superficially run down. People in this 'Catholic quarter' feel bitter, sad and frustrated. I would welcome any information about the Centre's history. I would also welcome public reassurance from the church and the planning Dept that the new rooms will be open to all at all times and that they will offer the same facilities.Ha!
On 8 Jun 2008 at 6:46pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
Anne De Vecchi sees the light? She is just demonstrating what a hypocrite she is.
Was it not the same Anne De Vecchi that ordered her councillors NOT to communicate with their electorate regarding planning issues?
With elections looming in the not too distant future, I suspect that her outburst is engineered to show sympathy for the architecture of the town and the values of the residents.
I would not believe a word she says as I believe that she speaks with a forked tongue!
On 8 Jun 2008 at 7:18pm Local wrote:
I think Spinster is probably right about De Vecchi. One thing that might be worth doing is to write individually to our councillors asking them what they think of each proposed development as it comes up - saying that as De Vecchi has commented on Harveys it is okay for them to comment if they're not on the planning committee. It might also be worth mentioning that we'll be bearing their co-operativeness in mind when the elections come round. Then we can come back here with the name of any councillor who refuses to comment.
On 11 Jun 2008 at 11:19am sashka wrote:
of course I don't believe Ms De Vecchi for one minute. Her comments are a ridiculous. That she thinks people are so stupid as to not wonder why she has broken her silence after all these years indicates the quality of Councillors we have.