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Green light given for residential centre
THE GREEN light has been given to the JPK Project to build a residential centre for people with learning disabilities.
After seven years of fundraising and searching for a site, trustees of the project were this week told they can build at Ocklynge Chalk Pit in Willingdon Road.
Plans to build a residential centre for 24 people with a bakery and tea room and administration offices were approved by Eastbourne Borough Council's planning committee on Tuesday.
The new development will be on the site of the Ocklynge Chalk Pit site, originally used by Sussex Downs College as an annexe to teach motor mechanics.
There will be 24 individual en-suite bedsitting rooms, over two floors together with a communal lounge, dining room and central kitchen area.
There will be 22 parking spaces and cycle parking for 14 bikes.
JPK Project co-ordinator Jill Parker, who has been at the forefront of the drive bring the centre to fruition, said she was delighted at the committee's decision.
"For two years the trustees along with CPL Architects have been working on the plans and liaising with the planning officers at Eastbourne to insure the plans met with all the necessary conditions for the site and area and in addition the concerns this new development might have in relation to the neighbours," said Jill.
"Most importantly the plans had to include the requirements of the client group, those people with a learning disability, for whom the project is to be established.
"At times, it appeared that this would not be possible, but good sense has prevailed, and the first major hurdle of planning approval has been achieved.
"We are very pleased the planning committee has given permission for the development to go ahead after all the hard work which went into preparing our application.
"We should like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us over the last seven years, both financially and in general support.
"It has given us the necessary encouragement and strength to pursue our aims and objectives to this stage.
"Somebody said to me yesterday we reached base camp and now we must prepare ourselves for the extremes to reach the summit!"
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 26 May 2012
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