Fears over plans to reduce guest house capacity

A proposal to convert the second floor of a guest house to owners' accommodation should be refused because of the loss of tourist accommodation.

That was the advice due to be given by officers to Rother planning committee yesterday (Thursday). Members deferred the Park Lodge application last month for a site inspection.

Conversion would reduce the number of guest rooms at the Egerton Road property from 10 to six.

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Details submitted for the past two years showed that the establishment, rated Four Star by Visit Britain, only once reached 77% of its bed occupancy.

Members were due to be advised that there has been a loss of tourist beds in Bexhill recently and that the Hotels Future Study, prepared by Hotel Solutions in October 2007, said there was a need to retain smaller serviced accommodation near the seafront.

Tourism South East opposes the conversion for the same reasons.

Members were due to be advised: "Visitors to Bexhill bring important benefits to the local economy.

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"The loss of existing tourist accommodation to other uses should therefore generally be resisted unless it is of unacceptably poor quality or where a genuine lack of demand for the accommodation is demonstrated."

An external retractable roller awnings proposed for the Devonshire Arms would 'undermine the visual appearance of the ornate facades', according to Rother planning officers.

They were due to recommend the planning committee yesterday to refuse an application to fit the awnings. The pub is in the town's Edwardian conservation area.

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