Town spruce-up success

Brighter Uckfield Campaign co-ordinator Cllr Ian Smith outlined the group's progress at an environment and leisure comittee meeting.

He told members plans are well ahead for planting land at the foot of the Tesco steps and alongside the cinema with plants being given free of charge to the council.

But he confessed attempts to talk to Tesco about improving the land have been 'frustratingly unsuccessful'.

He is also disappointed Wealden District Council has been slow to grant the necessary approvals for the River Uck sign to be put on the wall of the former toilets on the bridge.

Cllr Smith welcomed Wealden's announcement it will impose on-the-spot fines on people who drop litter.

He said: ''Of course this is a welcome morale boost but the value of it will be seen when it can be shown the powers are in regular use and further action is taken against persistent offenders.'

The town's beautiful gardens competition is reaching its final stages with last entries submitted by today (Friday).

Cllr Smith also hopes the county's probation service will agree to people on community service working in the town and doing jobs like painting the railway station fence and clearing weeds and scrub on the former station site.

He explained other issues on the radar are further colourful plant displays, improving the look of the bus station and providing a town map at the bus and railway stations showing places of interest.

He would also like to see more public seating and litter bins.