Bexhill guest house owner plans to sell up due to controversial hotel plans

Tony Cunningham, who owns Park Lodge in Egerton Road, says that plans to demolish 10-12 Egerton Road and replace the buildings with a five-storey hotel will destroy his trade.

He firmly believes the plans, which are due to be discussed at a later date, will get the go-ahead by the council.

Tony said: “I’ve put this hotel up for sale as I’m taking precautions. I bought this place after selling four properties I owned only for this to be taken away from me.

“If I could sell this hotel now, I would. The old-style B&Bs are being ruined here so I have to get out.”

Residents have also set up a campaign group, called Egerton Rd Hotel Action Group, to fight the plans, which can be found on Facebook.

Sara Stokes, of Cornwall Road, lives a few doors down from the site and said: “I’m not against a hotel being built in Bexhill but it’s the wrong place to build one in this residential area with no provision for parking. It will increase traffic here.”

Tony said illegal parking in Egerton Road is a serious problem and has kept a dossier for several years, making numerous complaints to Sussex Police and Rother District Council.

Andrew Stirk said: “People do not come to Bexhill to stay for a week’s holiday. It’s not like Eastbourne or Hastings.”

Phil May said: “A 74-bedroom hotel is very big so where is the study to show there is a need for such a hotel in this area?”

Ken Barrett said he believed the proposed hotel would never be ‘financially viable’.

Jean Guilmant said Bexhill had seen several big hotels over the years, such as the Sackville, close down because of a ‘lack of useage’.

“These plans represent a complete change from what we came here for 28 years ago.”

Michelle Pilbeam said: “Bexhill is a retirement town, not a hotel town so those wanting to build a hotel in this area have no idea of what is needed for Bexhill.”

To comment on the application visit www.rother.gov.uk and search for RR/2016/2210/P under the Planning and Building Control section.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.bexhillobserver.net/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bexhillobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BexhillObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Bexhill Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.