Minutes of a meeting held on Wednesday 04th February 2026, at 8.00 pm, at the Chapter House, Southover Church.
Present: Roger Maskew, (in the Chair), Will Dorman, Luke Bray, John Gower, Charles Meloy, Andrew Winter and Carolyn Beckingham.
(1) Apologies for Absence:- An apology for absence received from Alex Durn.
(2) Minutes of Previous Meeting:- The minutes of the meeting held on 07th January were approved.
(3) Executive Committee Meeting:-
There was a meeting of the Executive Committee Meeting on the 28th January 2026.
Key items discussed:-
(a) Lewes Planning Group. A discussion over the membership and the objectives of the
group, which includes employing consultants, which they expect members of the group to
pay for. It was agreed that a representative of FOL would attend as an observer only.
(b) Tim Slaney meeting regarding the Lewes Planning function moving to the SDNPA. Roger and Will
to attend the 09th February evening meeting on behalf of the Friends.
(c) North Street Quarter & Bus Station. No movement, but a revised scheme for the
Wenban Smith site now delayed to the end of February.
(d) Coffee morning held on the 24th January was considered to be extremely successful.
However, it had become apparent that we needed to clarify the role of the FOL as a society
run by volunteers, which has no specific planning powers regarding the future of the town.
For example, we were asked “why don’t we buy the Bus Station”, and also misconceptions that planning decisions are made locally rather than by the SDNPA.
(4) Planning Decisions from 01/01/26 to 29/01/26:-
SDNP/25/00011/FUL: Tesco’s Supermarket, Brooks Road. Installation of Timpson pod with steps for access and 8 no. 1m high Flex bollards. Approved.
SDNP/24/02292/FUL: 64 High Street. Change of use of part of ground/lower ground and first and second floors to 4 residential units together with alterations to the roof to create a new third floor for a further residential unit. Alterations to side and rear elevations to replace windows and doors, various changes to rear parking area to create amenity space, parking and ancillary facilities. Approved.
(5) New Planning Applications from 01/01/26 to 29/01/26:-
SDNP/26/00062/CND: Land East of Malling Brooks Industrial Estate, Brooks Road: Variation to Condition 2 (Approved Plans) for SDNP/22/03451/ FUL – To update approved plans.
Although the Friends of Lewes appreciate that this proposal has already been approved, the Society would like to make the following suggestions to improve the accessibility of this site for local residents, as a means of improving its integration within the adjacent residential neighbourhood.
- It is an opportunity to create better permeability through the site.
- Pedestrian access from Spences Lane should be retained at all times.
- The new path to meet the existing pathway in the north western part of the site is supported.
- The new pedestrian access from the PROW into the site from the west is also supported.
- A new public access from The Spinneys into the southern part of the site would create another route through the site for local residents.
SDNP/25/04946/HOUS: 199 High Street: Demolition of lower ground floor rear extension and replacement with two storey rear extension, rear dormer window, detached single storey garden room to the rear, changes to fenestration and various internal alterations – Amended description.
The Friends of Lewes object to this proposal for the following reasons:-
- There is insufficient information to demonstrate that the proposed alterations at the rear of the property would be sympathetic to a Listed Building.
- There is insufficient detail submitted to demonstrate that the proposals are indeed buildable, with the use of Corten Steel in the very slimline rear windows, although it is appreciated that this material has been extensively used on other projects for cladding purposes.
- The Society is not convinced that the proposed “electric dimming glazing” would be compliant with the dark sky requirements, given the amount of glazing proposed, and especially as a result of the use of top lighting in the roof of the proposed extension.
- The installation of three new wood burners in both the basement and in the ground floor would also be contrary to policy within the local “Air Quality Management Area”.
The Committee examined the following applications and had no observations to make:
(6) John Gower’s Flood Report 02nd February 2026:
January has been very wet with around twice the usual rainfall for the month. On 26 to 28th January, Storm Chandra brought serious flooding to Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. Lewes has so far escaped flooding this winter, but Barcombe and Alfriston have had flooding impacting properties, roads and cars. Train services between Lewes and Eastbourne have been disrupted and there has been flooding of roads and low lying levels around Plumpton after the Bevan Stream overtopped. The River Ouse catchment is now fully saturated and Lewes might experience problems if the forecast wet conditions and rainfall continues.
Flooding at Alfriston 27 Jan 2026
Flooding at Barcombe 28 Jan 2026
John Gower provided some ‘flooding’ slides for the FoL Coffee Morning on 24 January and had some valuable conversations with visitors on the morning. He is also helping Lewes Town Council by reviewing their report on the Lewes Floods Conference and Public Meeting held on 31 Oct and 1 Nov. Juliet Oxborrow has been invited to present the final report and Resulting flood action plan at the Friends of Lewes AGM on 22nd April.
(7) Proposed development in the flood plain:-
Following some discussion, it was decided that John would prepare a draft of a formal policy for further discussion at this Committee, as a basis for forwarding a more detailed draft for consideration by the Executive Committee.
(8) Charging points for Electric Vehicles in Conservation Areas:-
John presented a number of current options for providing charging for drivers unable to have the benefit of off street parking. The committee were concerned about the likely visual impact within a sensitive townscape, but agreed to maintain a “watching brief” on any future options for addressing this issue.
(9) Any other business:- None.
(10) Date of next meeting: – Wednesday 04th March 2026, at 8.00pm in the Chapter House.
