My heart bleeds

Although it may not seem like it, I am actually all in favour of smartening up the seafront and making it an area that all age groups can enjoy.

However, in my opinion, this regeneration of the seafront primarily has to be fit for purpose - and above all safe. In an earlier letter, one of the children from the Bexhill Primary Schools Council wrote that they were looking forward to kicking footballs through the holes in some of the walls. I’m sure they are, any child would... but has anybody looked to see where these balls will end up? Best case scenario is on the promenade (hopefully avoiding those walking along it) or on the beach, but much more likely - and more worryingly - is in the road. They could hit a parked car or worse still go into the road with a child hot in pursuit to recapture their ball. I think we can all imagine the outcome of that. I know a hedge has been planted along the roadside but that is going to take years to get established... if it ever does, given the elements and probable “play wear” it will be subjected to, so that will be no safety barrier. In an earlier letter I voiced my concern about the fact that I understood there were no plans to install safety matting beneath the play features. Councillor Elliston assures me that they all meet ROSPA’s playground standards but I wonder if anybody has actually inspected the area. We could have had a beautiful seafront that all generations could have used and enjoyed in all weathers and total safety... instead we are left with shelters that offer minimal shelter and from one direction only, gardens that will probably only survive a couple of seasons at most, seating with no connection to the past population of Bexhill and potentially dangerous play areas. A resounding success I think you could call call it.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I know, but if only they had used designers who actually knew what seaside living was all about.

My heart bleeds for our poor little town...

Christine Hamilton

Southcourt Avenue, Bexhill-on-Sea