Coronation Street actor joins his Eastbourne neighbours in fighting proposed development

Actor Jim Whelan is pictured on the set of Coronation Street with Tina O'Brien who plays Sarah Platt and Ryan Thomas who played Jason Grimshaw during their 2007 wedding service. SUS-200519-161349001

Jim Whelan, who has appeared several times in ITV’s longest running soap, has lived in Eastbourne for the last five years and is backing the campaign to stop 10 houses being built on a site off Broomfield Road in Old Town.

Plans were recently submitted to Eastbourne council to demolish what the developer described as ‘40 disused, partially occupied or dilapidated lock up garage units’ and build new houses.

The proposal is for eight three bedroom semi-detached and two semi-detached two bedroom houses with rear gardens and a new road.

Actor Jim is pictured with his life long friend Bill Tarmey who played Jack Duckworth on the Coronation Street set in 2008 during filming of the funeral of Vera Duckworth who was played by Liz Dawn SUS-200519-161422001

But scores of neighbours in Broomfield Street and the surrounding roads have objected, say many of the units are still being used and a petition has also been launched to fight the development.

Mr Whelan, who lives with his wife in Longland Road, said, “Our garden backs on to the proposed development. To see 10 houses within feet of our garden, being overlooked by every rear facing window would be intolerable.

“This development would be just disastrous for me and my neighbours.”

Residents living in Broomfield Street, Longland Road, Dillingburgh Road and other surrounding streets have voiced their concerns on the council’s online planning portal with many saying the proposal would be an over-development of the site, the development is not sympathetic, it would overlook scores of properties and lead to an increase in traffic and parking congestion.

Jim in an early scene with Liz Dawn and Bill Tarmey on the set of Coronation Street SUS-200519-161400001

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