Row over Channel View access

The council has written a letter to homeowners explaining bollards will be installed at the entrance to the seafront within days to prevent people from illegally parking cars outside properties which back on to the pathway.

Rother say the extent of the abuse has left them with no alternative.

But residents argue vehicular access is essential for the disabled and elderly, as well as being useful for large deliveries to homes.

They say cars only stop for a short while to collect or drop off residents or items before being parked elsewhere.

Many say cars parked for longer usually belong to visitors to the town centre.

But their appeals have fallen on deaf ears with Rother insisting the bollards will be put into place 'imminently'.

The move has so angered some residents they are looking into the possibility of a legal challenge to the council.

Protestors say they do not object to the clamp down in principle but would like to see Rother take a more flexible approach for residents.

They say Rother has give too little notice, has failed to consult with residents and is not taking their needs into account.

Antonia Chitty, of Channel View, said in a letter to the council: "I do not like the decision the council has reached on erection of bollards at the bottom of Channel View West. But I am particularly irritated by the way in which the decision-making process has been (mis)handled, when it would have been so easy for you to have involved affected residents directly.

"In accordance with the pre-action protocol on judicial review, I should like your response within the next fourteen days, but I should also like an immediate undertaking that you will proceed no further with the bollards while you consider the points I have raised."

Charles Wright, another Channel View resident, said: "They just need to be more flexible. Residents could have a key, do what they need to do and then park elsewhere. If it's being abused that's what the coastal control officer is there for and something can be done.

"We are not against it, we don't want cars on the seafront, but when you have disabled people or people who just want to unload shopping it seems draconian."

A council spokesman said: "This is a matter that comes up from time to time but the council's position is fairly clear.

"The paved area in front of Channel View is a promenade that is owned by the council and the owners of properties in Channel View do not have any rights of vehicular access over the promenade nor do they have the right to park there. Whilst we have made this clear on many occasions and pointed out the dangers to pedestrians of cars using the promenade, the scale of abuse is such that we have no alternative to the installation of bollards.

"People who have bought properties in Channel View would have been aware, at the time of purchasing the property, as to what rights of access, if any, they had along the promenade to their property. Unauthorised use of vehicles on the promenade also contravenes the council's byelaws."