Seafront scheme overspent

A report by the authority's seafront strategy working group will be put to the cabinet at its 2.30pm meeting at the Town Hall.

If approved, officers will be instructed to submit a detailed plan to the executive priority programme board and seek funding to proceed to the next phase.

Cabinet will also be asked to approve replacement of ageing noticeboards publicising the annual Bexhill 100 Festival of Motoring, the last of which was held in 2002, with Smugglers Trail boards.

The seafront strategy group found in June that the height of a Seven Sisters feature included in design proposals by consultant Tim Gale had proven to have "health and safety implications."

Officers had selected landscape architects Michael Ditch Associates to work up detailed alternative proposals based on the Tim Gale design.

The strategy group recommends landscaping West Parade in four phases westwards to spread the cost.

Proposals include:

'¢Replacement of the existing shelters with new structures with solar panels to the roofs to help generate energy to run the promenade lighting

'¢Replacement of public seating, some of which is in poor condition, with new ergonomic-design benches to meet the needs of the disabled. Dedication nameplates would be transferred to the new seats;

'¢Replacement of sections of promenade railing currently in a poor state

'¢Replacement surfacing - possibly with polished concrete giving a marble effect

The lease on the Sovereign Light Caf expires in February 2015. The current lessee is concerned that proposed work to the building would affect the profitability of the business.

The workng group says "The lessee had investigated the possibility of erecting an extension to house public conveniences as the existing WC for staff use was not currently accessible to the public. However, an earlier application to extend had been refused planning permission."

Council policy requires the lessee to provide public conveniences for patrons of the caf by 2009 to comply with health and safety obligations.

"Consideration was given to the options available to the council prior to the expiry of the lease and to the design, cost and timing for building a replacement structure. As the deferment of work on the Sovereign Caf would not impinge on the rest of the proposed work, it was agreed that the building be excluded from the work being undertaken and that it be reconsidered in the future."

It is anticipated that a future phase of work for the section between West Parade and the Colonnade would include the promenade kiosk and Rotary wishing well and human sundial.

The strategy group has been told that it now clear that the scheme would be dependent on the availability of funding.

"The scheme for West Parade was likely to cost in the region of 1m and it was hoped that work could start in 2009-2010, resources permitting.

"It was anticipated that the actual cost of the whole seafront scheme would now be significantly higher than the 6,315,000 estimated in the original Tim Gale document.

"It was unlikely that the council would be able to resource the whole scheme with its own funds.

"As such, officers would continue to explore the options for external funding including the INTERREG IV programme and possibly from the National Lottery.

"Although INTERREG would require the development of a joint project with a partner in France, Belgium or the Netherlands, the eligibility criteria for INTERREG funding had not yet been determined and the possibility of securing funding from the Lottery was considered to be low."

Bexhill 100 information panels have been removed as they were in a bad state of repair and contained out-of-date information.

Funding has been secured as part of the Maritime Heritage Trail project to erect a series of information panels in and around Bexhill to chart the Smugglers Trail.

Consultation and negotiation about a further landscaping phase at Marina Arcade is ongoing.

"It was noted that the main area of concern in relation to Marina Arcade would be resourcing the project and getting support from the residents in the vicinity."

The working group will also be considering proposals for the Colonnade.