7/29/2019 Quora Developers Ignore Residents Direct Appeal 13-09-13

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Quora Developers ignore residents direct appeal !!

The future of the Old Magistrates Court site in Lewes

Last month a group of 10 residents wrote directly to Quora asking them to reconsider their plans for

the erection of a flat roofed boxlike structure in place of the Old Magistrates Court in Lewes to serve ashotel and shops . That was over 2 weeks ago. Not even an acknowledgement has been received!

It looks as though Quora (whos HQ is in Nottinghamshire) are determined to ignore local views and

press ahead with the erection of a modern eyesore in Lewes.

The group of residents were asking Quora to reconsider their plans to tear down the old building and

save themselves the money of building afresh by just adapting the existing building with additions such

as more windows.

Gavin Barker, who is a member of the group and who also, runs the website No to Lewes Premier Inn

said things may have gone quiet because the planning authority will not be considering this matter

until 14 November, but if we are to avoid an architectural disaster in Lewes we must keep the pressureup on the developers (Quora), their ultimate customer (Premier Inn) and the planning authority

(SDNPA, South Downs National Park Authority).

We implore everyone to write or email their local councillors in Lewes and directly the SDNPA.

Go to this web site to get a link to your local councillors:http://www.writetothem.com/

Go to the SDNPA to register your views:

http://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/Enter the application number

(SDNP/13/02497/FUL) and click the comments tab. You will them be able to send your comments on

line. You can also simpley object to the application to demolish the courthouse by entering that

application number: SDNP/13/02499/CON

The letter: (see nest page:)

http://www.writetothem.com/http://www.writetothem.com/http://www.writetothem.com/http://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/http://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/http://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/http://www.writetothem.com/

7/29/2019 Quora Developers Ignore Residents Direct Appeal 13-09-13

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The letter:

The Directors

Quora Developments

QUORA (LEWES) LIMITED

The Old Candlemakers,

West Street,

LewesBN7 2NZ

Copy to the registered office:

67 London Road, Newark,

Nottinghamshire, NG24 1RZ

Date 28/08/2013

For your urgent attention:

Dear Sir/Madam,

As you must know, there has been considerable concern over the design of the proposed replacement

building on the site of the old magistrates court in Lewes. As you can see from this letter a number of

local residents have come together because of our concern over many aspects to do with theredevelopment of the site and none the least of those being the damage which will be caused to the

architectural heritage of Lewes. As I'm sure you will agree, the town of Lewes is attractive to many

people and one of the major attractions is its appealing architectural scene of bricks and tiled roof

buildings interspersed with more ancient mediaeval, Georgian, Victorian and modern styles; all in all,

architecturally in sympathy with each other. Yes, there are exceptions and the flat roofed precinct

buildings at the bottom of School Hill, where Boots and the other shops are is a prime example. We

could quote other examples of eyesores but suffice to say, - let's not make it worse!

This development is bland and large in scale. It might be acceptable in a new town context or on the

fringe of an industrial area but is out of scale with the historic core of Lewes and will neither conserve

nor enhance the South Downs National Park. The building proposed echoes much of the architecture of

the 60s & early 70s which are in many towns and cities in the UK and are seen as eyesores now. We

will have to put up with whatever structure is constructed on this site long afteryou have disposed ofit. We will have to live with the architectural failures and mistakes of the past. We hope you would

agree that your company would not want to be remembered for an architectural failure.

We appeal to you to withdraw your applications to demolish the existing building and to build the

boxlike structure proposed. We believe that good use can be made of the existing magistrates court

building which is built of good quality, durable traditional brick and tile materials, although from a

rather sombre pallet. It has a complex tiled, pitched roof which reflects its context in the area. We

believe that with small changes, such as removing a high brick wall and adding more windows and

changing the dark smoked window glass the existing building could be made to be more attractive &

useful.

We await your reply.

Yours faithfully,

V S Ient, Gavin Barker, Angela Wigglesworth, Kay Andrew, Averil I Garritt, John Curtis, John Anderson

Alison Field, Tony Leonard, Charlotte Curtis