Protest over seafront bench plans

The protest was organised by chairman of Vox Pop Jackie Bialeska, who has collated thousands of questionnaires giving views on Rother District Council's plans to redevelop the seafront.

The main thrust of Monday's rally was to highlight that under Next Wave the wooden memorial benches, which have been newly painted, could be replaced with more modern seating.

Jackie Bialeska said: "We at Vox Pop organised this protest against possible removal of the western seafront memorial benches in order to bring again to the attention of the council officers the fact that a large number of people in the town, including all the writers of the 3,000 letters we collected, are for the retention of the present benches.

"The council officers, although they have already instructed HTA Architects to go ahead with the designs for the new contemporary benches, say they haven't yet decided about removing the benches.

"Well if that's the truth, they'd better take note of ratepayers' anger before they spend any more of our hard-earned money on something that is not wanted.

"The council calls itself the listening council '“ it's about time it listened."

Bexhill resident Jean Bishop fears the putting green and crazy golf by the De La Warr Pavilion could be axed under plans to redevelop the seafront.

Mrs Bishop said: "I am very alarmed that since the Next Wave plan was first put forward, nobody has been able to give a reassurance that the putting green would be preserved. This is a backward step.

"This is supposed to be an improvement to the seafront, not a plan that will lose facilities.

"There is no point in removing facilities that are well used in the summer by children, locals and visitors."

Commander John Allen, who is the Rother representative of the Federation of Sussex Amenities Society and has worked as an engineer, is also concerned at how Next Wave is developing.

The cost of the project stands at 5.1million and Commander Allen feels the bill could easily rise to 8million.

He said: "The handling of the contracts is not being handled properly and the involvement of the public is lamentable."

His major concern, he said, was that all entries for the design needed to be in by August 31 and that no further consultation would take place.

Next Wave project sponsor Cllr Christopher Starnes said: "The Next Wave scheme is a 5.1million regeneration project designed to make the most of Bexhill's key asset '“ its seafront.

"No final decision has been made yet on the memorial benches. What we can say is that no seating will be lost and the council is keen to see improved seating for our elderly and disabled residents as part of the scheme.

"We are aware the subject of memorial benches is a sensitive one '“ that is why the council was careful to trace as many families as possible to tell them that work is due to be carried out and ask what their preferred options are. Many people have already requested to take delivery of their bench or have it relocated.

"Once we have received all of the correspondence and we have the final designs from the architect, our steering group will take a view on what will happen to the remaining memorials. It is wrong to say they will be removed at this stage, as we are considering all the possible options.

"The Next Wave project remains on schedule and on budget. Once the final designs have been completed the public will be given the opportunity to view them and submit their comments."