What do you think about the Newhaven incinerator? It’s our own shit and we deserve to wallow in it. If we all recycled and composted properly there’d be virtually nothing to burn and the incinerator would be redundant.
What’s your favourite Lewes landmark? My favourite view is from the east end of the Avenue looking up towards the castle at the six levels of Lewes.
How would you spend a perfect Sunday afternoon? I live in Nevill, so I’d spend it walking on the Downs with my daughter and wife. I read an article saying that skylarks had disappeared. Well you can hear them from my house: maybe they’ve all gone to the Racecourse. The density of central Lewes is the same as inner London, but within five minutes you’re out on the Downs. I like that extreme.
What newspaper do you read? The Guardian, and the Independent when I feel brave enough.
What do you think about the proposed Phoenix Development? I think it’s potentially very exciting. I’d much rather we were building on underused light industrial sites than on the Downs. But it does beg a number of questions. The government has decided that we need new houses in the South East, so thousands of new homes are being built here. Whereas in the North East they are planning to destroy 40,000 homes. That’s just stupid. On the other hand it annoys me when people say ‘I came here for a quiet life’ and they oppose development. Get real. You’re living in one of the nicest parts of one of the most densely populated islands on the planet. Development doesn’t have to be negative, it can be amazing. To a certain extent legislation will ensure that if it happens it will be pretty green.