Traffic restrictions set to ease as hotel repairs begin

Four-way traffic lights and extensive scaffolding were put in place after cracks were found in the Maiden's Head hotel building in March

Disruptive traffic restrictions on an East Sussex high street are to ease from next month as repairs begin on an unsafe listed building.

Scaffolding was erected on the pavement and four-way traffic lights set up after vertical cracks were found in the Grade II listed former Maiden's Head Hotel building in Uckfield High Street in March.

Wealden District Council (WDC) said planned changes to existing scaffolding will mean restricting vehicle access is "no longer needed".

The changes, part of a series of works set to last three weeks, are due to begin later on Tuesday subject to safety checks and weather conditions.

Vertical cracks were found in the façade of the Grade II listed building

Local businesses had blamed the traffic measures for a decline in footfall in the high street, with one business owner dubbing the situation "terrible" for the town.

Others described the town as "quiet and dead" and suggested people were "avoiding Uckfield" because of the traffic disruption.

Piratheepan Siva, owner of Weekes Newsagent for 16 years, said his business was nearly 40% down since the scaffolding went up and he had reduced its opening hours.

In its latest update, WDC said "there is no need for a full road closure" when the scaffolding is modified as part of the first phase of works.

It added: "If all goes to plan, we expect the High Street to fully reopen to traffic towards the end of the week beginning 4 August – most likely around 8 or 9 August."

East Sussex Highways said it was continuing to work with council and building control colleagues on the project and added that: "traffic management will remain in place until we are asked to remove it by the district council."

Parts of the building, which received listed status in 1953, date back to the 18th Century, according to Historic England.