Interview with Mayor Merlin Milner (continued)

Which Bonfire Society do you go to? South Street, since I live there.
Which newspaper do you read? The Independent, and the magazine The Week.
Are you pro or anti the Phoenix development? At the moment I’m 50-50. You can’t really take a balanced view until the planning application is submitted. Of course any rapid growth raises environmental concerns. But if the ESCC HQ is moved from County Hall then a large number of people who come to the town will be lost, and trade will suffer accordingly. Also, if the current developer doesn’t go ahead with his plans, you’ve got to take into account that a future developer for the site might be better, but they might also be a whole lot worse. We don’t want to see a quarter full of Barratt Homes.
Favourite Lewes landmark? Harvey’s Brewery, a symbol of the town’s independent spirit.
How would you spend a perfect Sunday afternoon? Walking my dogs on the Downs or the Railway Land. Or having lunch in the Snowdrop, who do a great vegetarian roast.
What cd is in your hifi? The Isley Brothers’ Get Into Something. It’s recently been re-issued. I’m into late 60’s-early 70’s rare groove/funk. The title track is fantastic.
Lewes would be better if… There was more appreciation of the manufacturing industries.
What Lewes really doesn’t need is… An expanded Tesco. 75% of convenience items sold in Lewes are sold in Tesco. Make that 76% and another business may go down.