Sheikh Abid Gulzar, the chairman of the Lion Hotel Group, says he has reached an agreement with East Sussex County Council and Eastbourne Borough Council to resurface all the pavements around three of his hotels, the Albany Lions, Mansion Lions and the Chatsworth.

The three hotels, which are all in Grand Parade, will have new red tarmac surfaces in front of and around the hotels.

Sheikh Gulzar said, "I have enjoyed making many improvements to our hotels but I have been concerned about the presentation of the council's pavements.

"Many have not been replaced for some years and they are cracked and uneven. For many of our elderly guests this can be quite unsafe.

"I would also like the approach to our hotels to be smarter and give a good impression on arrival."

Work is due to start later this month and is expected to cost £24,000.

MP Nigel Waterson said, "I commend this act of generous public-spiritedness by the Lions Hotels group. Thanks to Sheikh Gulzar the pavements on our seafront will be both safe and attractive."

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