'Pavilion symbolises town's vision'

THE reopening of the De La Warr Pavilion symbolised the culmination of over a decade of work by council members and officers, in attracting very substantial external funding, in creating the DLWP Trust and in developing a new financial arrangement for the future running of the Pavilion.

In fact, this has brought in new revenue funding and particularly a major ongoing commitment from the Arts Council while also substantially reducing Rother council's annual contribution into the Pavilion by over 250,000.

The Pavilion was seen by some within the district as a "white elephant" that "sucked-in" all their Council Tax and was deemed by others to be more relevant to people outside the area.

This view is changing and the council continues to see this iconic building as being a key part in the regeneration of Bexhill and the wider Rother community.

The refurbishment works themselves, have already injected many thousands of pounds into the local economy, and the status which the Pavilion holds on both the national and international stage, will guarantee to attract a new audience to both the building and the town.

With a resident town population of 45,000, and a catchment area in excess of million people, the Pavilion Trust recognises the need to present a programme which will be attractive to local as well as national tastes, and one that will keep visitors coming back for more.

Perhaps a less recognised area of the Pavilion's work, lies in its connection and involvement in education at all levels.

Research has shown that investment in education and educational opportunities has a greater pound for pound impact upon an area in terms of regeneration benefits, than any other form of investment.

A better educated and skilled workforce will draw "higher paying" employers into the area, and will begin the process of increasing average earnings in the district.

Unemployment within Rother is currently very low, but average earnings in the area are, apart from the Isle of Wight, the lowest in the South East. Our focus, therefore, has to be on raising our skills levels, and the Pavilion has a key role to play in this alongside our existing, excellent educational establishments across the district.

Last year saw much discussion within Bexhill about regeneration, more specifically about two particular sites.

Throughout the "seafront debate" the council listened to and has "captured" the mood and ideas of our residents, any regeneration proposals in the town will reflect these feelings.

Undoubtedly, the De La Warr Pavilion will be critical to the council's approach. As well as an attraction in its own right, it will be key to an emerging initiative to boost the evening economy, it complements '“ in form and function '“ the adjacent Edwardian town centre, which is also now attracting public and private sector investment, and will be the centrepiece of proposals to enhance the seafront area.

It is also important that we continue to seek opportunities within the town as a whole, to make it attractive to new business and in particular to respond to the impact which the planned North Bexhill new community and business park will have in terms of demand for workforce, services, leisure and retail facilities.

Recent publicity about the De La Warr Pavilion in the architectural press, as well as on the BBC's Culture Show, has again raised the profile of Bexhill.

Looking ahead, I believe that there is the vision and foresight in Bexhill today, that Earl De La Warr showed by the building of the Pavilion in 1935 to bring about greater prosperity to the town and, 70 years on, it will herald the beginning of the revival of business and community confidence in Bexhill.

The Pavilion itself will be both a symbol and an integral part of the regeneration of this area.