We're here to help

Bexhill Town Forum chairman Ken Hutchinson was loudly cheered when he made the comment when declaring open Bexhill's independent Visitor Information Point.

The VIP is run in the Colonnade coffee house by a team of volunteers under the leadership of Bexhill In Bloom chairman Sandra Melvin

They have been opening the Visitor Information Point this summer on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays in a bid to fill the gap left since the town lost its Rother-funded TIC.

Now, as Cllr Paul Lendon explained to guests at last Friday's opening ceremony, the VIP is also housing the new community noticeboard, brain-child of Bexhill Community Network.

The network has been set up to co-ordinate the work of local community groups and currently has 30 affiliated organisations.

Centre volunteers were sporting VIP t-shirts bearing their names as Cllr Lendon thanked Sandra and her team for their public-spirited work.

The centre stocks leaflets giving information on a wide range of tourist attractions. A lap-top computer enables volunteers to access accommodation information.

Historic pictures of the town decorate the centre's end of the Colonnade coffee house.

Ken Hutchinson said: "Town Forum officers have tried for a long time to persuade the council to have a proper TIC. I have had meetings with the Chamber of Commerce, Rother council and the De La Warr Pavilion and, strange as it may seem, representatives of all three were unanimous in saying we ought to have a TIC.

"When it comes down to who is going to pay for it we have a problem.

"The council is advertising for someone to run a TIC. They are still offering the 30,000 they offered for a Bexhill TIC.

"But it would be known as Bexhill and Battle TIC.

"Bexhill is two and a half times the size of Battle and I personally find that repugnant. It is really unwieldy to have to contact Battle to find out about Bexhill."

Kissing Sandra Melvin, the forum chairman added: "Thanks to Sandra and to all these volunteers here who keep this visitor information point going.

"I am delighted that Sandra instigated this.

"It is the old story '“ if you want a job done, ask a woman!"

Thanking coffee shop proprietors Keith and Paul for accommodating the visitor centre, Sandra Melvin paid tribute to the work of her fellow volunteers '“ and appealed for more, particularly those able to help on Sundays.

She was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Beryl Gebbie.