'Clock is ticking for Bexhill'

SINCE the latest phase of consultation on regeneration proposals was started at the end of November, we have stood back to listen to the community's views.

Now I would like to respond to some of the comments I've heard and dispel some dangerous misconceptions being perpetuated.

1. Why is Sea Space so focused on developments on the seafront?

The seafront is Bexhill's greatest asset which we simply must harness with new developments if we're to create the economic regeneration impact the town desperately needs.

The fact is that we need to attract high-spending business, educational and cultural visitors '“ and they will simply expect a hotel and high class restaurant with sea views. In addition, seafront offices will attract the calibre of new firms we need into the town.

All this will draw money into the town centre and boost the quality of shops, which in turn will encourage more residents to shop locally instead of going to Eastbourne and Tunbridge Wells.

With the right seafront plans, we can transform the profile of Bexhill-on-Sea, without spoiling any of its positive character, to create new purpose and a revitalised town centre economy, busy from Monday through to Saturday, leading to new jobs for the whole community.

It's also crucial to point out that both the seafront sites we are proposing for development have had large hotels on them in the recent past: the Metropole Hotel to the west of the De La Warr Pavilion and Marine Court to the east. The original vision for the Pavilion always included high quality complementary buildings close by: and today they will be crucial to its success, and it to theirs.

2. How big are the proposed buildings?

There has been a huge amount of misinformation over the scale of our proposed office and residential buildings '“ particularly generated by pictures drawn by protesters which have misled the public.

We have taken community comments about scale carefully into account in our revised designs to ensure our proposals are sympathetic to the surroundings. But the protesters' sketches have exaggerated our designs out of all proportion. Our proposed developments are, in fact, no higher than the existing buildings nearby.

3. Why create these developments when there aren't enough visitors in the town to support them?

People need to look beyond Bexhill as it is today, to what it could and should be.

Top quality seafront offices, homes, a hotel and restaurant, next to a refurbished and thriving De La Warr Pavilion, will help to transform the image of the town. They will generate confidence and attract businesses, conference delegates and cultural visitors with money to spend. Right now, Bexhill doesn't have these facilities. And people do not come.

4. Will our regeneration ideas work when the transport links are so poor?

People continually point out that the transport links need to be fixed first, and we are pressing hard for improvements. The Link Road has been approved and upgrades are being made to the A21. But the fact is that the government will never significantly upgrade road - and particularly rail - links until there is a demonstrable need. We must revitalise the town first for these improvements to follow.

5. How will the proposed developments affect parking?

We have an absolute commitment to put parking considerations at the heart of our plans. As part of any planning application, we will undertake a Traffic & Parking Impact Survey to ensure there are no detrimental effects on the town, and we will be sure to replace any parking spaces our developments displace.

This is another issue where so much misinformation has been spread by protesters. There have been claims that we are removing the entire De La Warr car park with a dramatic loss of spaces. In fact, we've only ever proposed to remove 90 of the 154 existing spaces, while ensuring these are replaced elsewhere.

6. Why is there urgency around the need to claim regeneration funding?

The town has a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of the regeneration funding the government has offered for Hastings and Bexhill. In truth, I believe this may be Bexhill's only opportunity to reverse its economic decline. But there are always time limits attached to government funding '“ this is simply how the government works. The clock is ticking fast for Bexhill: all the money disappears in March 2006.

So the community has an urgent choice. It needs either to grasp the opportunity fast and help breathe new life into Bexhill, or consign it to being the permanent backwater that some appear to prefer.