Some visitors to Lewes comment on how many independent stores there are, though Bexhill has many more. Others get as far as the castle and mutter that it all seems to peter out. Of course there were more shops, and a goodly few at St Anne's too, but since the war the top of the High Street has all rather slid down hill towards Cliffe. The buses used to stand outside what is now the barristers' chambers, because that was the bus office. But then the bus station was built, and the decline in the top end of the High Street can be dated from that time. Many town mayors have made the rejuvenation of the High Street their pledge for their year of office. And a few more shops have been allowed to be converted to residential use. This is odd because section 6.13 of the Lewes Plan states that the Council's prime concern when considering planning applications will be to secure uses for town centres which will attract people to shop, visit, work and live in them. Since most shops at the top end of the High Street have residential accommodation above, I see no need for whole buildings to be given over to that purpose with the ground floor shops disappearing. Full marks, then, to Ann from Parterre who is single-handedly running a campaign to get more people to the top of the town. This is not a Chamber of Commerce scheme. All are welcome and I hope Ann receives the credit she is due for arranging this. Two more shops have gone at the bottom of the town, a flower shop and a design-led one which now only trades on the internet. The toy shop has gone too, replaced by an estate agent. And another estate agent may open in part of Knill James' offices which are relocating to the former Roche site. Could we please have everyday shops as well?