A ten-storey building is set to mark the first part of a major regeneration scheme in a Sussex town.

Representatives from Haywards Heath town council and Mid Sussex District Council have seen the outline plans tabled by Thornfield Properties.

They include the ten-storey building at the station site in Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, to include flats, offices, and shops and a new theatre and entertainments venue to replace the town's Clair Hall.

Clair Hall, which is opposite the proposed station site, will be demolished to make way for 250 new homes in a six-storey block. The cricket grounds and pavilion to the rear of Clair Hall will not be affected by the development.

Town clerk Carole Preston said the proposal was "pretty horrendous."

She said: "I don't know how people will react to the development at Clair Hall.

"I think the biggest problem with people in Haywards Heath is the fact the Clair Hall site was actually bought for the purpose it has been serving.

"Now the council is taking it off the site and putting it the other side of the road so they can sell of the old site for flats. And when you think about 250 flats, that's an awful lot."

The height of the proposals has also been criticised. When the town centre master plan was approved in July, there was no height restrictions placed on new developments.

Last month commuter Barbara Woods expressed concern highrise building at the station would make it an ideal environment for crime. She said such heights were fine in London and other cities where there was a 24/7 culture but not in Haywards Heath.

Town mayor Richard Goddard opposes the plan but fears the town council will be by-passed when the application is decided.

He said: "I think the fact we're a consultee is totally ignored by the district. It must be because if you look at the town council comments and what the decision has been on recent applications it looks like they're going out of their way to go against what the town council wants.

"I can't see the point of consulting if we're going to be ignored. We meet once a month and spend three hours looking at planning applications.

"It seems we're just bolstering up a system that is crumbling really. There's no local input at all now into planning."

Spokesman for Mid Sussex District Council Martin Faulconbridge said: "There is no doubt that there is overwhelming support for the upgrading of the station site at Haywards Heath. The redevelopment of the station site will improve the quality of residents' lives and enhance their environment.

"Thornfield will present outline proposals to the district council later this year.

"Assuming the council's aspirations are met, there will then be a six-month period of community engagement starting in Spring 2008, before any planning application for the site is prepared. Residents, businesses and local interest groups will have the opportunity to inform the proposals.

"Any planning application that is subsequently submitted will go through the usual rigorous process allowing for public comments to be received."

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