Seafront hotel back on town agenda

A new railway station concourse at Devonshire Square has been broadly welcomed.

So, too, has an extended supermarket on the Sainbury's site.

But, controversially, the hotel on the Metropole putting green still forms a major part of the plan.

Nearly 1,000 Observer readers voiced their disapproval of a seafront hotel earlier this year.

Save Our Seafront campaign chairman John Lee said this week that regeneration group Sea Space are still "hell-bent" on putting a hotel on the Metropole site, although it would be disguised by a steep grassy bank.

But Malcolm Mitcheson, speaking for the area investment framework board, said: "Sea Space has shown it can listen. It has produced a good plan, now let's get on with it."

He was speaking after attending Tuesday's Beyond Green consultative meeting at Bexhill Leisure Centre.

Mr Mitcheson said: "Among many, Bexhill Regeneration Partnership (BRP) was not satisfied with Sea Space's earlier proposals for town centre regeneration and privately expressed this view to Sea Space. Sea Space did listen, and went back to the drawing board."

He added: "ABK Architects put forward new imaginative proposals that include a much broader and more sympathetic development of the central seafront, a big increase in town centre off-road parking with some covered shopping areas linked to a new rail station in Devonshire Square, and the linking of Devonshire Square with Town Hall Square over the railway."

He believes the Sea Space team should be congratulated, saying: "They are now on the right track for helping to make Bexhill better."

"It is our generation's civic duty to provide our children with the right to a better life with more opportunities.

"By this definition, like it or not, Bexhill has become less civilised. Bexhill is in real decline.

"It exports it's most talented, and imports many less willing or able. The result is Bexhill, as we know it, is unsustainable.

"To reverse things and provide prospects locally for our youth and have a vibrant town, we require civic regeneration.

"Successful civic regeneration requires civic leadership and a lot of investment. Investment in urban renewal, education and skills, health and leisure facilities, sound communications, and a stimulating environment for art and enterprise."

In his opinion, the outline proposals are an excellent start to Bexhill's long overdue urban renaissance. If implemented in their entirety they will provide the catalyst for a much needed private investment boost and local prosperity.