I'll readily admit that I enjoy a good kvetch. Some might think I was born to kvetch. But I like to think that there is some point to my kvetching. And it would seem that the recent rating revaluations have brought some noted non-kvetchers out of the woodwork. For those unfamiliar with the peculiarly Yiddish terms I come out with from time to time, I had better explain that a kvetch is a person who seems to be in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction.
Those who are never heard to whinge in public are feeling stung by these valuations which were made just before the recession started, and are not going to be reworked to take in to account the recent collapse of the property market. To me, Reeves the photographer, Hilary Moore the florist, Fiona Kaye of the award-winning Cheese Please, Jenny Shelley at Bow Windows Bookshop and David Smith the jeweller are among those who, not usually involved in public kvetching, have made their point all the greater for coming out against the revaluations this time.
The revaluation of my own shop puts its value for rating purposes at £500 a square foot and takes it out of the level at which I could claim 50% small business relief. It could also be used by a landlord to reassess the rental value of the property. I think one main thrust of our complaint is that whereas the rateable values at the top of the High Street seem to have soared, those on School Hill and in the Cliffe, where they have ready access to Car Parking, seem to be excessively modest. It is unusual for the traders to all be acting as one, and so there is certainly thought that they have a case to argue. Many have engaged the services of an Eastbourne firm of consultants to fight their case - and since the firm acts on a no-win-no-fee basis, they must think there is a case to argue too.
I think it is worth harping on about this subject, bearing in mind that next year sees the formal start of the National Park. At a recent public meeting we were told with some pride that Lewes would be the eastern gateway to the Park and we could expect commerce to boom as visitors pour in. Where will they park? For to be sure very few will enter this gateway having walked here. It is apt to pose the question again because the Town, District and County Councils are to engage in a parking review for Lewes. I asked a councillor if there were any plans to provide decent parking to accommodate these promised visitors and was told "None that I know of."
It is worth drawing the attention of the Parking Review team, some of whom think there are hundreds of us simply desiring the inclusion of our streets in the plan, that way back in 2002 Lewes had the reputation of being an unfriendly town for visitors, and I quote Matthew Fort writing in Guardian Weekend in February that year: "If God had really wanted to break Job's resolve, he would have sent him to Lewes with instructions to park his car legally within strikinig distance of the town centre on a Thursday night. I have never come across a town less accommodating to the helpless visitor." And they have the nerve to suggest it is better now! I am grateful to the Viva Lewes Handbook for reminding me of this succinct point of view.
It is the western end of the town which needs this provision, for not many are inclined to walk up School Hill, a fact amply illustrated by the 30% drop in business experienced by many during the recent road works.
Norman Baker has written me expressing the hope that business was not too badly affected- but that 30% drop does not turn in to a comparative increase during the rest of the year - once gone it has gone for ever.
Mr Baker is keen to point out to me own his efforts and those of local Lib Dem councillors to mitigate the arrangement, neglecting to point out that Lewes has two County Councillors, only one of whom is a member of the same party as our MP. And the other, in the person of Ruth O'Keefe, did turn up at the meeting called to explain the scheme, together with her Lib Dem counterpart Cllr St. Pierre. While not wishing to disparage the hard work done by all, it must be remembered that it is the County, not the District, which controls the Highways. And this again begs the question: do we need so many levels of local administration apparently not working together?
Lastly as we are now half way through Lent, I am happy to mention that the churches in Lewes have combined to present the Lewes Passion Play, which will manifest itself during Holy Week. Too often we find ourselves divided by religious differences, when surely we should be celebrating the many things we have in common.
