What do you want for Crowborough's future?

ADVERTISING in empty shop windows, turning the High Street into a pedestrian zone and the massive improvement of public transport - these are just a small sample of what Crowborough businesses and residents want to see in the next 20 years.

Business owners also crave a purpose built enterprise centre which offers flexible business space for a low rent, scrapping town parking charges, more active promotion of the area, the creation of a tourism strategy and more pedestrian signs.

The ideas have come about after the Crowborough Visioning Project (CVG) hired the firm Dialogue to carry out a public consultation into what people want.

These ideas will be compiled into a document which will form the blueprint for future development in the town.

It will then be incorporated into the Wealden District Council local development framework.

Crowborough town Cllr George Moss, CVG leader, said: "Hopefully over the next month we will get some input back, hold a meeting with the retailers and get even more of a feel for what they want."

The consultation also revealed residents wanted to adopt the European concept of "shared space" – where motorists and pedestrians "become one".

This is achieved by removing the traditional separations between cars and walkers by taking away kerbs and signs.

What do you think? Comment on this story online at www.thisissussex.co.uk