Let's light up the town all year round!

It comes from Town Centre and Tourism Action Group chairman Steve Ayres.

In a progress report for Bexhill Regeneration Partnership he outlines a self-help proposal for the town.

"After the debacle of this past Christmas, where the lighting in the town centre was non-existent and the message sent out by Bexhill to residents and visitors alike was so poor, I would strongly recommend that the Action Group take on the task of installing permanent lighting in and around the town centre.

"This lighting could be designed in such a way that it could be used at other times of the year to celebrate or enhance other events and should also be installed in such a way as to be added to over the coming years as and when finances are available.

"I feel that an investment in the infrastructure would be of long-term benefit to the town but at the same time feel very strongly that Rother District Council should not bear the total cost of putting in lighting that benefits not only the community as a whole but town centre traders in particular.

"I would encourage a campaign to raise funds from individual businesses within the town centre, in a similar way to the successful funding of CCTV some years ago."

He adds: "The town can no longer rely on volunteers to carry on this sort of work as there are insurance restrictions and seven areas within the town centre, including the Marina and Town Hall Square, that need to be lit and it is impossible to coordinate this number of disparate areas as has been so graphically proven in recent years."