Uckfield - A Practical Town

Once again they are dusting off masterplans and talking about “improving” the town. Uckfield isn’t broken but we could very easily break it. There is talk of “revitalising” a town because it is “tired” in places. I’m not saying we shouldn’t change anything but I am saying we shouldn’t rush to use a sledgehammer to crack the “tiredness” nut.  I am using this piece to set out what I think about the essential character of the town, the things I value and what I think needs fixing.

This is just off the top of my head and my own opinion.  I’m sure others with have more and better thoughts.

Essential character

Historically Uckfield is a market town where people from miles around came to sell and buy produce and services. The old postcard below shows congestion in the market area (behind the fence), which is now occupied by Waitrose. The horses and carts have been replaced by cars and the market stalls by supermarkets. There is still a railway that comes into town, even if it is a shadow of its former self. Uckfield is now also a commuter town. Many commuters travel to London, Brighton and Gatwick by train, bus and car.

Horses and carts lined up at the market in Uckfield

Uckfield still attracts people in from the villages who use the shops and attend events such as the carnival. Like most British towns it’s a hodge-podge of different types of building, all squeezed in here and there as space allowed. In my opinion the jewel in the crown is the Picture House cinema, a historic building, thriving business and cultural centre all rolled into one. 

So Uckfield is a bit messy but practical and attractive like a busy working mum who makes time to play with her kids then puts a bit of lippy on and has an evening out. The people are diverse in the truest meaning of the word – different opinions, different skills and different ways of living.  In short, a classic British compromise with a bit of muddle and a bit of make do and mend.

I’ve drifted in and out from the mid-80s, having first lived in the London suburbs, gone to Uni in Sheffield and then dipping in and out depending on when contracts took me away.  Nowadays the wonders of virtual working enable me to work at home and the relatively local offices in London, Leatherhead and Reading. Electronic communications also help me keep in contact with local people and join in volunteering activities etc.

Space and shops

Uckfield's Big Day Out on Luxford Field

The first thing I notice about Uckfield is the sense of space. We are not crammed into a concrete jungle. In the centre we have Luxford field, a large, simple space that can be used for gatherings and games of all sorts.  From nearly everywhere in the town you can pause, look round and see a view. It is also heaving with Natural Jewels. The people of the town  have a fantastic relationship with nature. Kind people put out food for birds or nurse hedgehogs and keen naturalists put their knowledge into action to care for our natural assets.



A Charity shop's window reflecting commercial outlets on the other side of the road.

There is a terrifically diverse range of shops and other businesses.  I’m going to single out Uckfield Electrics as a traditional style electrical shop, who hire local guys to deliver on Manor Park without the sort of fuss and bother we encounter with deliveries from outside.  Then shops like Fross and PC Home and Office (Print Clearly) who have innovative “clicks and bricks” business models that combine a traditional high-street presence with a thriving web-based business.  A whole range of independents respond quickly to local conditions whether it is dressing their windows blue and yellow for the festival to changing their opening hours to fit round the disruption caused by the roadworks.

A practical, talented town

This is a town that rolls its sleeves up a deals with things. Stuff happens, we react. Often we react loudly and let officialdom know we are not happy. We are Sussex folk that "wunt be druv”. Having let off steam we start working together to fix the problem.  They move the doctors’ surgery to the bypass, far away from a bus – a local residents’ association sets up a car service. Flooded? Just watch River Uck And Surrounding Areas Flood Group leap to the rescue with their 4x4s and their desire to help their fellow citizens.

Uckfield is bursting with talent. Artists, Writers, Musicians and so much more. As a town we get to enjoy seeing and hearing them at the Uckfield Festival, Art Trail and so many other occasions.

The town has an exceptional electronic life.  Facebook is full of lively groups and I defy anyone to find a better hyperlocal news source than the Uckfield News. There seem to be increasing numbers of people working in virtual teams – i.e. they work at their home in Uckfield and communicate with their team via the internet. My belief is that these 21st Century methods are giving us a way to return to a version of the type of community we had when people shared information round the parish pump and would work in their cottages.

What needs fixing – my opinion

1. The assumption that every problem can be solved by building.
2. Failure to synchronise development proposals with each other and inputs from neighbourhood plans.
3. Transport. People travel to and from and within this town:
• Public transport – has been suffering death a thousand cuts
• Parking and congestion – soon, the population will grow by about 20%, this is going to get worse and is not easy to fix.
4. Flooding.
5. Information flow – Official communications need to match and join with the brilliant local sources mentioned above. We all need to help individuals who are not being reached to keep up. 
6. Officialdom needs to be able to access the massive amount of talent and expertise we have in this town. They need to listen and act on this expertise.
7. Use of IT – Can we support virtual working, “Clicks and Bricks” business models, better access for everyone with better broadband, education, support etc?
8. Holes in the shopping experience:
• For me, it’s office smart size 18 clothing. If am obliged to get in my car and go elsewhere for that, I’ll usually load up with other things too.
• For a working parent, there is difficulty shopping in the high street due to opening hours. Maybe one evening a week late shopping would help?