Seafront future - a lesson in history

"As one of the great planned seaside resorts, the seafront at Bexhill-on-Sea has always been the town's greatest cultural asset, at the core of its very raison d'etre and fundamental to why people have visited, lived and invested in the town over the last 100 years.

"The town of Bexhill provides a fine example of an unusually completed Edwardian townscape, planned with a grid pattern of streets, and built principally between 1880 and 1905 under the patronage of the seventh an eighth Earls De La Warr, who, like a number of their aristocratic contemporaries in the nineteenth century, pursued a vision of creating a fashionable seaside resort."

The ninth Earl raised the profile of the town in the 1930s by championing the building of the De La Warr Pavilion.

The exhibition explains how Rother's seafront scheme fits in with the Five-Point Plan for regeneration prepared by the Hastings and Bexhill Task Force with backing from the South East England Development Agency.

*Seafront - Vision to create a high-quality promenade complementing the presence of the De La Warr Pavilion, with imaginative design and improved circulation between the seafront and the town's retail centre, Bexhill Museum and Egerton Park.

*Colonnade '“ Restoration of this heritage seafront structure, and redevelopment to provide accommodation for a cluster of cafes, bars and restaurants, to stimulate greater activity on the seafront, with a particular focus on the evening economy, and a destination with year-round offer.

A question-and-answer board deals with the points most frequently raised.

Q. How much will the project cost and will my Council Tax be increased to pay for it?

A. The total project has been budget costed at 5.1m. It will be funded in part by a combination of external funding, developer contributions and budget already committed by RDC for car park maintenance. The remainder, funding the bulk of the Colonnade redevelopment, will come from the council's reserves and it is anticipated the let units in the Colonnade will generate a return on this investment. Council Tax will not be increased to fund the Next Wave proposal.

Q What type of usage do you envisage in the Colonnade?

A. Our intention is for a "honey pot" of cafes, bars, and restaurants providing a quality offer for locals and visitors. We are currently carrying out a marketing exercise on the Colonnade for expressions of interest in the units, as ultimately it is the market that will decide uses, but investors have expressed interest in the Colonnade in the past and we believe it is a good trading opportunity. However, if there is no interest at this time, the council will naturally have to review its options.

Q. Why not just refurbish the Colonnade as it is?

A. The necessary structural repair work and preservation of the Colonnade is estimated at a cost of c30,000. Meanwhile, to refurbish the building with glazed frontages, internal works, services and improved external areas would cost in the region of 900,000, giving a total cost of 1.2m. However, the lettable space would be greatly reduced in such a scheme, which would both reduce the income generated, and would be likely to rule out larger potential tenants.

A reduced scheme may well also make the scheme less attractive to tenants who would provide a daytime and evening offer, or those who would only be attracted by the levels of activity created by a higher number of businesses.

Q. What about a cycleway on the seafront?

A. The provision of a cycleway along Bexhill seafront is the responsibility of East Sussex County Council and we are presently awaiting their latest proposals.

Q. Will car parking spaces be lost?

A. No, there is no intention to reduce the total number of car parking spaces in the De La Warr Pavilion car park and Marina Court Avenue area.

Q. I don't want Bexhill seafront to lose its charm and special character?

A. Neither do we! That's why the Next Wave project is all about retaining what's best about the seafront at the moment, including its heritage and character, and improving those bits that presently let it down.

Q. What happens to the putting green and crazy golf?

A. We're inviting comments on the feedback form as to what you think should happen on this area of grass '“ the Next Wave proposals allow for the crazy golf and putting green to remain in their present form, if that's what people want.

Q. I don't like the design of the new shelters.

A. The new shelter designs presented are only indicative of a more fun and contemporary approach to replace the poor late-Twentieth Century ones on West Parade. We do not intend to replace any of the Edwardian shelters.

Q. What about the existing memorial benches along the promenade and the wishing well and human sundial?

A. We are very much aware that these are sensitive issues, compounded by the varying ages and states of repairs of the existing benches. We are presently in the process of contaacting, as far as possible, those families who have donated benches, to look at relocating memorial plaques on to new street furniture. Similarly, to help create a cohesive vision for the seafront in terms of design, landscape, street furniture and public art, it is proposed to remove the wishing well and human sundial. However, we may work with local groups to incorporate new pieces of public art in the proposals.

Q. What about the Rowing Club?

A. We have held discussions with the Rowing Club throughout the development of the seafront proposals and they are very excited about the proposed new Rowing Club facility.

Q. Isn't it all just a waste of money?

A. We don't think so! Bexhill is in competition with other seaside towns, not only to attract visitors, but also to promote itself as a good place to live, work and invest. This project will give an important boost to Bexhill's seafront and send a strong message that the town is looking forward. For that reason it's an important part of the council's Corporate Plan.