Plans for Colonnade are clear of the first hurdle

THE first stage in the controversial process of upgrading the Colonnade has been given the go-ahead.

Councillors at Rother District Council's Cabinet committee meeting voted on Monday to release 2m of capital for the redevelopment of the Grade II- listed building.

Architect HTA's plans for The Colonnade include providing a restaurant with 170 covers, seven small retail units, and undertaking works to the beach inspector's office and the stairwell.

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There are also ideas for linking the development to providing Bexhill Rowing Club with a new boathouse.

Works are also in the pipeline to repair roofing and walls, which at the moment are allowing water to leak into the interior.

Some "essential" excavation behind The Colonnade would be carried out in order to link in with the plans for Bexhill Rowing Club.

This excavation would take up 145 square metres.

While this plan is a scaled-down and less-expensive version of the original 3.6m idea to excavate a greater amount of space into the small hill behind the building, it is still fiercely controversial.

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Rother District Council's council chamber was packed with concerned residents who had all come to hear the debate over the future of the building.

Councillor Angharad Davies told the meeting she felt the plans needed to go ahead now as the council could be considered as negligent if it waited another 20 years.

She said: "We've got to bring Bexhill forward and to go forward with it now. People come to Rother, they visit and they go because there is nothing to hold them here.

"It's going to be a great asset to Bexhill and it really will work."

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Cllr Sue Prochak critisised the scheme for not including public toilets, adding that was what the people of Bexhill wanted. Other councillors said private toilets would be included for those using the restaurant.

Cllr Ian Jenkins told the meeting public toilets had already cost Rother District Council more than 30,000 this year.

He said: "We are going to have more people living in Bexhill because the Link Road will be built in the near future.

"This scheme will enhance Bexhill."

Cllr David Vereker raised concerns the cost of the refurbishment might rise to 2.5m-3million.

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"It's a gamble we are being asked to take with ratepayers' money," he added.

And project sponsor Cllr Christopher Starnes commented on worries that the shops and restaurant might not generate a high income from rents.

He said: "This is a community programme and not really to generate income for the council.

"It is for the benefit of the community.

"The scheme should be seen in the context of the council's regeneration programme for Bexhill and the rest of Rother.

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"We are investing millions of pounds to make Rother a better place in which to live, work and visit.

"The scheme clearly shows our continuing commitment to regeneration."

Before the vote was carried, leader of the council Cllr Carl Maynard wrapped up the debate.

He said: "This is part of an ongoing commitment with our corporate plan. We are not saying that the Colonnade will solve all of Bexhill's problems.

"We are committed to the regeneration of Bexhill."

The final decision on this scheme will be made by Rother District Council's planning committee and full council.