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Shelleys Hotel

On 20 Jul 2008 at 3:56pm J.Fox wrote:

Hi all, I would be interested to know if any other lewesians had eaten at or visited Shelley's Hotel recently.
My partner and I went the other day and have to say we were really dissapointed. The food was much the same as ever but it really does seem that the new owners have ruined what made the hotel so nice; the historic garden has been bulldozed and now looks like a building sight, the large inappropriate bamboo plants that have been added hardly remedy the situation. On top of this, the "renovation" of the bar area has stripped away much of its historic character and the manager who used to make our visits so special has now left.
We'd be interested to hear other people's thoughts on this.

On 20 Jul 2008 at 8:45pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:

Apparently retrospective planning permission is all the rage here in Lewes, so Shelleys cut down all the trees without permission. A few locals were most upset (refer to earlier posts).

On 21 Jul 2008 at 10:44am sashka wrote:

Councillor Peter Gardiner will probably approve it as long as the clock in the bar has a 'green' battery made using a lemon, or a potato
See other retrospective debacle in Prince Edwards Rd. regarding solar panels. the applicant is an ex-planning officer from Brighton who was apparently encouraged to 'retire early'

On 21 Jul 2008 at 1:11pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:

I heard about that and this is where some of the protestors go OTT. A person deliberatley sells land to Rees Elliot by there house to make a nice bit of money.
The original planning application had solar powers included at the back of the house and that was agreed by all parties. When the house was built they found out that the Solar panels didn't work at the back of the house and wanted retrospective planning permission to move it to a side where they could. By they way the solar panel I hear were an inch thick and not very wide either, so it's not like they have stuck a wind turbine outside there house.
My understanding is that a lot of people were pissed off when the the land was sold and I only see that they made the fuss with the solar panels due to trying to deflect blame about the development.
It was their decision to sell to Rees Elliot, fully knowing that Martin Elliot is the number one hated figure in the town. Do I feel sorry for the people in the Twittens, Yes. Do I feel sorry for them, No.
I also find it strange why Greens could accept the house on planning reasons, but then oppose on the basis of solar panels, strange!

On 21 Jul 2008 at 2:50pm sashka wrote:

I don't think that the land should have been sold either, and don't know the owners, but here is what is so bad.
The building is erected, with provision for a blacony where the solar panels should be. the panels do work, and a n environmental report was written by an authority connected with our super green Lead member of planning, Cllr gardiner. There is also apparently a covenant preventing panels facing the east, and as they shadowed by a house, you wonder why they would work any better than South.
They can be seen from the Conservation Area (public domain), an expert authority explains why they do no need to be where they were placed without permission, it was done without permission, and even the planninbg report recommended refusal. but guess what!?
our elected representatives know better, and one of them didn't bother voting at all, he abstained.
This is the kind of rubbish that protestors are fed up with, and I am afraid it is very commonplace. Just take a look at the east st car park, and look at the mess there. yet another planning application after the event, and it is Council owned.

On 21 Jul 2008 at 3:10pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:

From what I hear you've got a couple of the details wrong, however what I am certain is that the people sold there house for a fee that would probably be enough for many of us to have early retirement, get on the property ladder or put the kids through University etc.... This pissed of a lot of people in the area and I do see this as nothing more than deflecting attention from themselves.