IN THIS time of economic uncertainty, it is good to note that so far the decline in Bexhill does not appear to be too drastic.

In recent months several shops and businesses have moved into the town centre, showing there are at least some shoots of growth in what has become a downturn of global proportions.

One of the biggest blows to Bexhill was the closure of Woolworths in Devonshire Road in January, when the much-loved and long-established chain finally went bust.

But work is still underway to convert the empty shop into an Iceland, despite rumours the supermarket chain was going to pull out of Bexhill.

It turns out there are still a number of jobs at Iceland, which will be interviewed for very soon.

The opening of the new town store was delayed for 10 weeks due to builders finding asbestos in the roof – no doubt prompting a sigh of relief from shoppers and job-seekers alike.

But Iceland isn't the only breath of fresh air.

Other recent shop openings include Bexhill Computer Centre in Sackville Road, Pete's Discount which relocated to Western Road from Battle three months ago, and SMS Consumables - which sells paper, printer ink and other stationery items - has relocated to bigger premises on London Road.

St Michael's Hospice now has a shop in Devonshire Road and The Original Factory Shop is due to open soon in St Leonard's Road.

Add in talk of SBS and Bexhill Computer Centre perhaps forming a Bexhill Business Consortium, the Social Enterprise Centre expanding in London Road and the £2.1m go-ahead for the Sidley Goods Yard business park scheme, and the future does not look as bleak as perhaps it could.

And then there's AM Commercial Ltd's Moving Gallery idea, which cheers up empty shops by displaying local artwork in the windows.

Not only does this help negate the depressing image of boarded-up shopfronts, one of the reasons why it is so fluid is because shops in the town are being snatched up and traded too quickly for the gallery to remain in one place for long.

So, with luck and a good collective business sense, Bexhill should be well placed to resist the recession with as much strength as possible in the months to come.