Support for a move by Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP from St Ives, to write into the localism bill a duty on local authorities to take into account the sustainability of their high streets, has been urged by local shopkeeper Pete Skolimowski.  He is urging support for this move and you can contact your MP at http://www.writetothem.com/ to ask them to sign up to the campaign. This original email from Mr Pete Skolimowski to local district councillors comes at a time of an application for a Sainsbury’s mini mart in Hassocks:

“Early Day Motion 1453 Sustainable and Diverse High Streets
22-24 Keymer Road Hassocks 10/03696/FUL

I am the owner/manager of a local shop in Hassocks & a resident.

High streets come in all shapes and sizes, from major city centres to local parades. I hope you agree that successful local high streets are vital to the social and economic health of communities. Their success relies on careful management and strong planning rules.

Traders are calling for the Localism Bill to be amended to include provisions that will place a duty on local authorities to promote sustainable high streets. In particular the new law would require councils to resist harmful retail development and put in place management plans to promote sustainability and diversity.

I hope you will agree that this an important issue locally and nationally and support EDM 1453.The EDM states:

That this House believes that vital and vibrant high streets are the focal point for economically successful communities; further believes that, at a time when economic downturn has contributed to the closure of over 12,000 high street shops, planning rules must incentivise town centre development, regeneration and retail diversity; and calls on the Government to bring forward amendments to the Localism Bill to include a duty to promote sustainable high streets in order to ensure that local people have the legal power they need to promote the shops they want and to resist those they do not want in places they will do harm, thereby securing the future of local high streets.

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=42482&SESSION=905

The Localism Bill presents a not to be missed opportunity to achieve this, but until that time & in the knowledge that over 2200 local people have objected,  I request that you continue to protect the vibrancy of our village by rejecting planning application 10/03696/FUL (22-24 Keymer Road) & any subsequent applications that would create a large retail unit, that seeks to push the increased burden of parking & servicing onto the highway & pavement, affecting road users, pedestrians, local traders & residents alike & that would certainty lead to many independents closing & the loss of the diverse high street that the community now enjoys. ”


Yours sincerely,


Pete Skolimowski

Downsview Delicatessen and Coffee Shop
15 Keymer Road
Hassocks