Seaford residents hopeful Talland Parade scaffolding will go

The Argus revealed on Thursday that Lewes District Council will be taking the owners to court for common law public nuisance.

The case could lead to a final injunction which would mean the scaffolding has to be removed without delay.

Seaford Residents' Voice, a group that has been researching the “blight” scaffolding for some two years, said it hopes the High Court order "moves things along".

Talland Parade scaffolding in Saxon Lane, Seaford

Bob Downing, spokesman for the group, said: “We are very hopeful that it’s the beginning of the end. It isn’t the end but we hope it’s a start.

“Members of SRV have been doing a heck of a lot of research and digging. Lewes District Council asked if we could provide anything because it knew we were doing research.

“Although all the legal routes had been blocked before because the legislation is totally inadequate to deal with something like Talland Parade.

“We’re very pleased a route has been opened up in the collaboration between East Sussex Highways and Lewes District Council. We felt there wasn’t much collaboration before.

The towering structure can be seen from across the town centre

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the solution proposed by Lewes will have an effect, the judge will come down on the right side and it will move things along.

“We don’t quite know what will happen next if the scaffolding does go.

“The High Court order won’t get the site developed as it should have been a decade ago.”

Lewes District Council granted planning permission in January 2012 for ten self-contained flats above a row of shops.

Gary Bedford is one of the business owners who said they felt 'invisible' under the structure

But the site has remained largely untouched, with the scaffolding causing issues for businesses in the area.

The council said despite exhausting every possible legal avenue, it has seen every attempt blocked by “legislative loopholes” and “hollow promises” from the owners.

Its lawyers believe the council has a good case due to the length of time the scaffolding has been there, as well as the negative impact on Seaford residents.

Neil Smith, another resident, said: “Seaford residents are sick of the sight of this installation and Seaford businesses don't need a huge eyesore blighting the town and denting its commercial appeal.

“More recently, safety concerns have arisen over the structure's ability to survive our occasionally severe coastal weather.

The structure was cordoned off in February during Storm Eunice due to safety concerns

“The owner has had since 2016 to complete proposed construction work on the building and has failed to respond accordingly. A full six years later, I sincerely hope that the council manages to fully resolve this seemingly endless saga.”

There have been concerns about the safety of the scaffolding after it moved about six inches from the building during Storm Eunice in February. 

Conservative MP for Lewes Maria Caulfield said: “I am glad that Lewes District Council is finally listening to residents and taking the owner to court to have the scaffolding removed which has had such a negative effect on the town and the traders that have been severely impacted since the scaffolding was put in place.

"I hope that this legal action will lead to the scaffolding finally being removed and I will continue to campaign on this issue until it has been."