A tactful overview

It wasn’t a very deep analysis, of course. Predictably. some people didn’t like the shelter or the new “flowers”, while businesses understandably did, seeing them as linked to the new trade brought in by very imaginative scheduling at the Pavilion.

Overall, local interests still don’t seem to be included in the mix though.

In front of a cheery crowd, three arts supremos pledged that they will work in solidarity, not isolation, to provide an attraction for visitors all along the coast. They seemed rather too pleased with themselves, or was it my imagination?

I hope this at least means that when the Jerwood and the Colonnade are eventually completed, they will all - led by the DLWP - be open appropriately, especially in the evenings.

To be fair, the DLWP has made an effort to extend opening recently with its Dune events on the top deck, but apparently this is just to compensate for a lack of access to the real beach.

I visited one Sunday evening and it looked to have real potential, apart from some difficulty in getting a drink and the music volume increasing just as you tried to soak in the relaxed seaside atmosphere as invited.

With seating and a floor covering, you do get a sense of the original “pretend you’re on the deck of an ocean liner” concept which apparently was one of the Earl’s original ambitions for the buildings.

The really irritating experience was to note that after a couple of years unheeded warnings about the danger to children from the railings there is finally some plastic in place, but it’s ugly and opaque (it showed up clearly on TV though).

Apart from suggesting that nobody cares that much (Listed Building?) actually sitting down in a deck chair on top means you can no longer see the sea or, in fact anything. Is this to protect us from the building work in some way?

DAVE WALSH

Rotherfield Avenue

Bexhill-on-Sea