A mayor has opposed controversial plans for the demolition of a former bus station.

The Mayor of Lewes Imogen Makepeace is backing residents who she says have been “abandoned” over the proposed replacement of Lewes bus station with a residential and retail development.

Under plans submitted by developer Generator Eastgate Street Ltd in July last year, the bus station would be replaced with three houses, 32 flats with a mix of one, two and three bedrooms and a “ground floor commercial space”.

Alternative bus facilities have been proposed under the plans, including three bus stops on either side of Eastgate Street.

The final decision on the application is due to be made today.

Councillor Makepeace, who is also chairwoman of the Lewes Town Council planning committee, said: “We are bitterly disappointed that this plan has been recommended for approval by the South Downs National Park Authority’s officers, and wish to rally its planning committee to make the right decision for the people of Lewes.

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“The park’s own condition that the bus station be relocated to a fully functional and accessible location is not being upheld. Instead they apparently believe that three bus stops either side of a busy 30mph road complies.

“East Sussex County Council and the SDNPA have highlighted the importance of public transport for climate change, air quality, public health and economic reasons, yet are utterly failing to support their own policies.

“The committee hasn't visited the site, despite several invitations from local groups eager to help them judge this application fairly. Every elected representative of this town has opposed this plan, which would set a devastating national precedent for dismissing public transport services within a national park.

“This is why, if the committee approves this plan, I will support a decision by campaign groups to request a judicial review.

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“I also want to emphasise that the bus station building has been given an asset of community value status.

“The plans to demolish it in favour of high-end housing, with only two designated affordable homes, and commercial outlets, when we already have several empty shops, does not fit our expectations that were stated by our residents in the Neighbourhood Plan.

“The new application is hardly any different from the first and if it is approved Lewes residents, who have campaigned so hard for a plan that benefits the town, will feel abandoned by the park.”