We need another hotel

Speaking at a question and answer session at the Mermaid, De La Warr Parade, Rother director of services Tony Leonard revealed occupancy rates were up in accommodation across the town and demand existed after the re-opening of the De La Warr Pavilion.

He said investors want to build hotels in Bexhill, but they all demand a seafront location.

The chamber was one of the few groups to support plans for a seafront hotel on the Metropole putting green last year.

The proposal by architects ABK as part of the Bexhill masterplan for regeneration was widely rejected by the public and was dropped.

Suggestions by chamber members at the meeting to use the Grand Hotel site were deemed unlikely due to its location.

Mr Leonard said: "Investors are saying if they are going to invest in Bexhill they want something within walking distance of the De La Warr Pavilion and the town centre and they want sea views.

"There is need for a hotel but not the location for a hotel."

Chief executive Derek Stevens said: "It's a medium term priority to attract a hotel within the town. My understanding is there are plenty of private sector investors who are looking to it. The problem is where do you put it?"

Mr Stevens said the controversial Sea Space plan was not the regeneration programme Rother had been looking for.

"To draw a line under the hotel situation it would be fair to say from the outset certainly our officers and members were not happy with that at all."

He added: "It wasn't changed and we were very much fighting a rear guard action. The council collectively weren't happy with it."