Town Farm cash boost

CALMER traffic, safer streets and a more relaxed atmosphere will be created on the Town Farm estate in Hailsham thanks to a cash boost from the Government s Homes Zones Challenge Fund.

The estate, which contains 860 homes, was one of nine projects in the south east to win a share of the 30million fund. It is not known exactly how much money Town Farm will receive, but the original bid, submitted by the county council, was for 440,000.

The money will be added to Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) cash and used for the further improvement of the estate. The plans may include traffic calming measures, pavement widening, tree planting and a new parking layout.

A Government spokesman said: 'The effect should be a much better environment where people will want to come out into the street to relax and talk to neighbours, and where children can play safely.

The ultimate plan is to give people priority over cars by making pavements wider and roads narrower. Kerbs may also be removed to distinguish the home zone areas from roads where cars have priority.

Large speed humps (or 'tables ) across Town Farm s main circular road will slow traffic enough to allow cycle routes to cross the street safely.

A council report suggests that there is much wasted space at present, where the car dominates. Money from the Single Regeneration Budget and Home Zones Fund could be used to provide green playing areas for children.

An exhibition was held at the community centre in Vega Close just before Christmas to find out what the public would like to see done on the estate. Carolyn Lambert, of the Hailsham East Community Partnership, said: 'We received some useful comments from the local community which will help us to develop the plan further.

'The home zone money will give us the funding to deliver some key aspects of this overall design. The other important part of this story is, of course, that the partnership and the county council are now working together, which is good news.