Plannning committee's concern over Colonnade plan

Councillors' fears about Rother District Council's own plan to extend the Colonnade rearwards and create six shop and restaurant units came to the surface when the scheme came before last Thursday's planning committee.

The area behind the Colonnade would be excavated and soil replaced and turfed over after the shops and restaurants had been built.

The Colonnade scheme is a key element in Rother's 5.1m seafront regeneration plan. Rother is seeking a 1m Government grant under the CABE scheme and European funding from the Interreg II scheme.

But the overall Next Wave proposals could involve the authority dipping into its capital reserve by 3.5m.

Officers hope that income from the shops and restaurants will help offset the costs but councillors are worried that in the currently economic climate the Colonnade could, like so many shops and restaurants in the town at present, stand empty.

As planning committee members last Thursday sought ways to reject the scheme they were constantly reminded by officers and by committee chairman Cllr Brian Kentfield that these had to be solely on planning grounds, not on the viability of the overall scheme.

But councillors were clearly concerned about the commercial credibility of the scheme.

Cllr Joanne Gadd said: "In the climate we are going through, to go on a big decision like this and create more shops and whatever is going to be there, it's not the right time.

"We should be looking closer at this than we have."

Cllr David Vereker said: "I'm getting more irritated by this debate.

"If we think something is wrong and if we are going to turn Bexhill into a derelict estate with a lot of empty buildings, we should stand up and say 'that's not right'."

Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism had echoed the council's concerns, pointing out that current eateries and bars in the town are already struggling, without introducing more competition.

Cllr Deirdre Williams said she felt the plans put before the council were "too vague."

Committee members had made a site inspection of the exposed seafront area in high winds and driving rain the previous day.

Cllr Williams said the development would only be viable in good weather. Women would not risk having their clothing and hair put in disarray by having to run the gauntlet of the weather to get to the restaurants.

Councillors also raised concerns about the risk of flooding to the development.

Cllr Paul Lendon said: "If you walk along by houses on Channel View, you will notice most of their gardens have flood protection and some of the basements have flooded, so it's that part of the seafront I'm very concerned about."

Cllr Gadd said: "I would like to see a detailed impact report on costal defences."

Cllr Joy Hughes said she wanted to hear if English Heritage had any comments to make with regards to the change of use of the building.

Tom Mayor Cllr Patrick Douart said: "I think a lot of question marks are still here and a lot of people are not entirely satisfied.

"Before we spend the money on this project, everyone should be satisfied."

The application was deferred for a detailed report on coastal erosion and comments from English Heritage.