Our future is looking bright, says council leader Gubby

BEXHILL's future is looking bright thanks to regeneration plans, according to leader of Rother District Council Graham Gubby.

Cllr Gubby told residents and business leaders at a 'Meet the Chamber' meeting about Government investment being made available in the town and surrounding areas.

He told the audience of over 80 about the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) Hastings-Bexhill Task Force five-point plan and said 100 million Government money was being invested for a new university.

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Cash would also help businesses to start up and expand while various local facilities would be improved along with road and rail links, he said.

Cllr Gubby went on to say that the Task Force plan for a new Bexhill-Hastings link-road now had the support of regional bodies and would shortly be put before the Minister for approval.

This would bring huge investment with new houses, investment in education and jobs, Cllr Gubby added.

It came at a 'Meet the Chamber' meeting after the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism annual meeting last Thursday at the Jarvis Cooden Beach Hotel.

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The meeting featured talks and discussions from Malcolm Mitcheson, chairman of Bexhill Regeneration Partnership, Rother Chief Executive Derek Stevens and Dr Richard Sykes, the recently appointed Chairman of the new Charitable Trust that will direct the De La Warr Pavilion.

Cllr Gubby said after the meeting: "It was very pleasing to see so many people from across the town and outside the area there.

"We are all determined to improve quality of life for everyone living in the area and visitors so that they all want to come and share what we have to offer.

"The breadth of discussions was not just aimed at the business community. We talked about education, transport, IT, young and old people.

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"And I was delighted to receive a number of e-mails from people about the meeting."

Mr Mitcheson, talked about the history of regeneration in Bexhill before Dr Sykes explained how the Pavilion Charitable Trust would be overseeing the extensive renaissance programme with day-to-day control delegated to Director Alan Haydon and his management team.

Gerald Matthews from the Rowing Club and Ray Dixon from the Sailing Club then made a plea for all-weather inland water facilities to extend and improve their performance and training schemes.

Both Cllr Gubby and Mr Stevens agreed to help by working with the clubs to get these amenities locally.

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Phil Morris, leader of the Making Bexhill Brighter Festive Lights campaign, concluded the evening by assuring the group that the funds from traders were flowing in to support the appeal.

Cllr Gubby once again asked all Bexhill residents to click onto the Hastings and Rother Task Force website at www.ourfuture.org.uk to find out more about the regeneration plans.