DLWP view changed?

She is concerned that Next Wave building work around the new Bexhill Rowing Club boathouse has affected the historic sight of the DLWP from the eastern side.

Now she is appealing to residents to check for themselves and make their feelings known to the council if they think planning permission has been breached.

Jackie has already voiced her doubts about the ventilation shaft and concrete wall to the side of the steps and it is this apparent change from the original planning application she has issue with.

She said: “The council seems to be a law unto itself these days. It has thrown up this massive structure in what seems like secrecy... We have never seen plans or pictures which show this building, and we campaigners keep a pretty close eye on the council.

“As for the appearance of the structure, policy BE6 of the South East Plan, which the council claims to adhere to, clearly states that any development should “enhance the historic environment” and that “nationally designated historic assets should receive the highest level of protection.”

“Why did the council not apply these rules to the former view of the Pavilion?”

She added: “Whether ones likes the look of the ventilation shaft and its attendant concrete wall or not is immaterial.

“The fact is that the whole Next Wave scheme, which cost a vast amount of public money, was conceived by the council to conserve and promote the DLWP. So why have they obliterated the important view of it?

“It appears that a picture showing the effects of this building was never shown to the planning committee and so never approved by them.”

Rother’s chief executive Derek Stevens said: “In approving the scheme, the planning committee took the view that the finished structures did not detract from the visual amenity of the area.

“Both the De La Warr Pavilion Trust and English Heritage were consulted and raised no objections to the works.”