Seafront scheme on back burner

Members chose to support the Robertsbridge Mill Creation and Enterprise Centre plan as a possible application for the new Living Landmarks aid scheme, at their meeting on Monday.

An ambitious Bexhill seafront revamp based on Tim Gale's study in 2002 will effectively be second choice and examined if a working group finds the Robertsbridge application does not meet the Lottery criteria.

Living Landmarks funding provides up to 25 million for potential projects and is awarded on three themes; community learning and creating opportunity, promoting community safety and cohesion and promoting well-being.

If successful in their application, Rother would have to secure a minimum of 3.34 million in match funding from partners. Stage one applications must be entered by January 6 2006.

Councillors felt it better to focus on one bid and excel, rather than split Rother's efforts with two applications.

A sum of 10,000 per application has also been freed from the economic regeneration land banking fund to further develop any bid.

Cabinet may in future recommend to council that, if one of the schemes is chosen to be submitted, they ring fence 1 million in match - funding from the capital reserves.

Members were warned that to secure funding, financial risks may have to be taken.

Rother leader Cllr Graham Gubby, said: "At the moment we are talking about whether we do or do not support one or both at 10,000 and then, whatever results from that work we will be asked whether or not we continue with them whatever the cost maybe.

"For the sake of 10,000 I would certainly welcome us exploring the possibility of Robertsbridge."

Rother chief executive Derek Stevens said: "Let's be pragmatic about this. For this to succeed it has got to be special - you will come up against some of the best minds and achievers in the country. Perhaps that's why you should focus on one."