Image lift planned

CRIME-busting initiatives will form part of a new scheme pioneered by Newhaven business people.

A group of people from the town's industrial estates have banded together under the banner Newhaven Business Parks (NBP) to change the town's image of prefab buildings and smoking chimney stacks.

Local MP Norman Baker has met the board to discuss their plans and initial donations from local businesses have been promising. NBP chairman Andrew Spink, of Concorde Lighting, said: 'We have been delighted by the response from local businesses, who so far have pledged more then 5,000 towards the formation of the company.'

Mr Baker was taken on a tour of the estates to see first hand what needed to be done. Mr Spink said: 'We felt it was the ideal opportunity for him to see for himself the situation on the estates. We have some vital improvements that need to be made including drainage improvements on the Avis Way, repairs to the road in the Quarry Road area, and the provision of security across all the estates.'

Security was a key issue for NBP board member Alan Stride of Premier Impressions, based on the E-Plan estate. He said: 'We have operated a scheme among the residents of the estate where they make donations to allow essential repairs to take place. A recent improvement was to install security fencing and a new gate at a cost of 12,000.'

But what followed was heartbreaking to people who had dug deep in their pockets. Mr Stride said: 'One night youths appeared to deliberately crash their car into the new gate, causing irreparable damage. We will now have to try to raise additional funding for the gate to be repaired.'

Police have welcomed the NBP initiative and agreed to support it by supplying a central point of contact for security issues. Mr Stride added: 'NBP will be looking at a complete overhaul of security including the provision of security cameras and the possible presence of a security guard who would patrol the estates.'

MP Norman Baker has agreed to look at ways of raising awareness of the project and increasing funding. Mr Spink said: 'Having your local MP on side is wonderful. We are hoping that this will be the turning point for the company and that we can shortly begin the vital work that Newhaven Estates require. All we want is to make Newhaven a better place for business.'

NBP's first priority will be to recruit an estates manager who will act as the first point of call for all of the Newhaven industrial estates and seek funding for essential improvements.