THE Buckle car park, another major community asset on Seaford promenade, is now under threat from Lewes District Council, which is planning to redevelop the site without consultation.

The plan is to build flats resulting in the loss of facilities including toilets and a specialist toilet for the disabled which are provided in the existing car park area for the use of residents and visitors to this part of the beach. This is a vital component of all that has been stated above. The nearest toilets if these are removed will be at the Salts recreation area or at the Martello Tower. This will cause difficulty for families who visit the seafront and use this end of the beach for their enjoyment.

The much-used recycling facility which is based there will also be lost, and is much used facility the removal of which will result in the small area for recycling at Lamb’s Bridge struggling to will not cope with the excess demand.

We believe the loss of this facility will have a very detrimental effect on the lifestyle of Seaford residents. The promenade is ideal for walking, jogging, cycling and accessing the beach for sitting, swimming, fishing and surfing. Many people use it to access the nature reserve and surrounding areas at Tidemills because the A259 access is too dangerous. The Buckle car park plays an important part in encouraging activities that have a beneficial effect on health.

Seaford’s population runs at around 27,000, of which nearly half are over the age of 50.

The continuing removal of vital services and facilities does nothing for the town in encouraging interest in the good things that Seaford has to offer, and reduces our standing as a seaside town.

There are other more appropriate areas in Seaford where housing developments can take place.

The now defunct and unused Homefield Place site was closed down and some of the services offered were transferred and rehoused into the inappropriate new library building. This has poor access compared with the Homefield Place site, which should have been developed to provide more essential services for the elderly in a more appropriate setting and in keeping with their needs.

The old and now unused old site of Wynne’s garden centre is now derelict and an eyesore in this area. The old gas holder site could take a two-storey build because of its ‘hidden nature’. And the shrubland area behind Seaford railway station is another potential area, to mention just a few.

As far as we are aware, these sites have not been investigated for redevelopment. If not, why not?

We would request that these areas be looked at and considered before a final decision is made on developing the Buckle car park with reasons as to why the above suggested sites are not being considered.

We would also like to know why there has been no public consultation on this development and why decisions are being taken behind the backs of Seaford residents who are entitled to make known their feelings on the many issues that affect them.

Too many essential services have been removed from Seaford. The Buckle car park must not be one of them.

Peter Crowley, Chairman of the Seaford Seniors Forum