Need to identify issues faced by
Crowborough Businesses about premises, access to services,
training
Crowborough needs to encourage and
retain local businesses and therefore needs to have the sites,
premises and the local support services
The promotion of local businesses and
local purchasing could assist the development of businesses,
promote a culture of mutual respect and support and result in
more disposable spend being retained in the town
Crowborough needs a range of industrial
units including incubator units so that Crowborough businesses
can continue to grow and aren’t lost to the
town.
There are signs of recruitment and
staff retention issues because of competition from elsewhere that
need to be addressed
The training needs of Crowborough
businesses need to be identified and addressed as part of an
overall strategy of support
The Crowborough Business Association,
that mainly serves retailers, is declining in numbers. Is there a
need for a revitalised Business Association or equivalent in the
town
Although the Business Group of The
Crowborough Partnership has been actively supporting local
businesses in recent years, it requires funding and additional
resources to exploit and achieve the significant potential that
exists in Crowborough and its catchment area
There is a relatively high percentage
of self employed within the town and the immediate surrounding
area – do these businesses need locally based
support?
Crowborough has a recognised cluster of
alternative health providers and some facilities that are
regionally renown (The Birthing Centre, the Horder Centre for
Arthritis). The town would like to encourage and promote this
aspect of its local economy and facilities.
The development and further growth of
home-based businesses in the town needs to be encouraged so that
Crowborough is known as a town that nurtures and supports growing
enterprises.
Town
Centre
Town Centre redevelopment provides
opportunities but also threats to existing businesses. The
development needs to be undertaken in a sensitive way both
environmentally and in terms of the future sustainability of the
town centre – need for a town centre manager at least
during the time of great change and development to look after
everyone’s interests and to promote the town to residents
and visitors alike.
The redevelopment of some sites in the
town centre potentially presents real issues for existing
businesses and residents alike. The process needs to be carefully
managed to ensure minimum disruption and additional support needs
to be provided to help maintain existing trade and footfall
within the town centre
The Farmers Market needs to be
encouraged and must remain in the town centre.
Infrastructure
The Trading Estates generally have very
poor local access that impact on the residential areas around.
Narrow pavements and poor parking exacerbate the
problem
Future land allocations for business
development need to have good access to and from the A26 and
sites have previously been
There are shortages in childcare
provision and suitable premises in the town – mainly for
day care that enables parents to work flexibly.
The Vocational Training Centre to be
opened in Uckfield in September will also serve the needs of
Crowborough and its surrounding communities. Does the town need
to ensure that access to the facility are planned for and are
adequate?
The height of the Jarvis Brook railway
bridge remains a very real threat as it inhibits inward
investment, causes congestion in the immediate vicinity in
residential roads which in turn compromises safety of
pedestrians
Tourism
Crowborough is in an area that has a
high number of visitors and tourists but it is not able to take
advantage of that currently as it has no tourism focus and few
facilities apart from the Caravan site. There is potential with
the Conan Doyle connection and its position close to Ashdown
Forest.