Uckfield continues to fight for share of new homes bonus cash
Pressure continues to be put on Wealden District Council for it to share “bonus” money from the government with towns and villages where new homes are being built.
Wealden has allocated the money it has received to its own projects, turning down requests to share some of the money with Uckfield Town Council.
Wealden has money from the bonus is being spent in Uckfield – on improvements to the leisure centre and to the car parks – but town councillors say this is a case of the district “maintaining its assets”, which it should do in any case.
The nub of the issue is that the government money – known as New Homes Bonus – is intended for “local communities”. It is the interpretation of that phrase which is at the centre of the disagreement.
This year the total amount for Wealden amounts to £1.4m. In some other areas the district council has shared 25 per cent of its bonus money with parishes and towns which have seen new housing built.
Town councillors are now to consider capital projects in its Business Plan and to seek, through the town’s district councillors, contributions from Wealden to carry them out in this and in future years.
Pictured above - the Sandpits site off Lewes Road, Uckfield, which has now been redeveloped for 60 new homes.
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.jpg "Snatts Road, Uckfield, to be closed")
