Traders launch online survey into £5.1m Rother seafront plan

If European funding is not available Rother could be forced to put 3.5m into a venture which has already cost local taxpayers 600,000.

The seafront scheme is one of two issues which could force Rother council to take a large bite out of its capital reserve.

Both come before councillors on Monday.

Thousands of householders still await the green wheelie bins for compostible garden waste which were part of kerbside recycling launched in June 2007.

Officers will advise Monday's 5.30pm Town Hall meeting that it will be necessary to take 150,000 from reserves if every applicable household is to have a green bin.

The meeting will also be told that Euro-funding for the seafront scheme is doubtful.

The New Wave project seeks:

*To create an "evening economy" by digging out the headland behind the Colonnade to create space for restaurants and shops

*To redesign West Parade lawns and flower beds

*Lay paving to link the Museum visually with the seafront at Park Avenue

*Pave a pubic area on the Metropole putting green, creating pedestrian access to the sea

*Build a new boathouse for the Rowing Club

*Replace the path alongside it with a broad flight of steps.

In an e-mail to members on Wednesday the Chamber of Commerce said: "The Colonnade's redevelopment should be a fantastic opportunity to enhance our seafront, really get Bexhill's visitor numbers up and generally give our economy a shot in the arm for 365 days of the year.

"However there is concern that RDC's current proposals fall far short of this aim.

"Indeed there has been little or no consultation with the town's stakeholders regarding these plans; and it is far from clear if any developers have expressed any interest in actually executing them."