Anger erupts at town meeting over seafront

FEELINGS ran high at Tuesday's meeting of Bexhill Town Forum when controversial plans for the seafront came under the spotlight.

The multi-million pound Next Wave project aims to regenerate the seafront by excavating behind the Colonnade to provide six shops/restaurants.

There are also plans to pave over part of the putting green, construct new shelters, replacing benches and form a new home for Bexhill Rowing Club.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was, however, denounced as "undesirable, unnecessary and a complete waste of public money".

This was voiced by spokesman for the Save Our Seafront campaign group Jack Seabrook, who gave a statement on Rother District Council's scheme to a packed forum meeting.

He said, "It seems incredible to me that a council which claims to be so prudent and careful with our money can agree to spend nearly 5m on a scheme which they now describe as only a concept.

"If money really must be spent on the seafront it could be more effectively used to improve the appearance of the completely run-down area between the Pavilion and the Sailing Club.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It is the focal point of the town. Spare money could be used to provide off-street parking."

Mr Seabrook told the forum only one other local authority in the country had received a substantial regeneration grant from CABE, the organisation which has given Rother 1m for Next Wave.

Berwick-upon-Tweed plans to restore a five-storey granary building, making the top floor a 39-bed youth hostel with the other four floors given over to community use.

Mr Seabrook said. "This scheme has been carefully costed and has enthusiastic public support.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It is a thoroughly laudable proposal and contrasts completely with what is being proposed here.

"There remains the question of why on earth the council would want to carry out this work at this very sensitive time of economic recession.

"The carrying out of the Next Wave scheme would be of no benefit to the commercial life of the town or the appearance of the seafront.

"It would be a thorough waste of public money. The council should remember the old saying '“ if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Several Bexhill residents spoke out against Next Wave at what became a heated meeting.

Sylvia Last said, "I've heard the memorial seats could go on the seafront. How would the relatives feel about that?"

Another resident from Little Common said, "Let's not change our seafront, we like it as it is."

Enid Newman told the forum she felt that Rother had been "dazzled" by the 1m CABE grant.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She also drew attention to the idea of replacing wooden memorial benches with steel seats, suggesting one be installed first.

She said, "Every member of the council should go down to the seat in shorts on a very hot day and see what happens. Small children could get blisters."

Leader of Rother District Council Carl Maynard defended Next Wave, pointing out the CABE grant was from the government and needed to be spent in a specific way.

"We need to accept there are restrictions on when and how that money is to be spent," he said.

"Our scheme for the seafront will not please everybody."

n Next Wave is still going through a consultation process and final plans have yet to be drawn up. The rest of the funding for the scheme will come from Rother District Council.