Week one: Bexhill Rowing Club and the Colonnade

A controversial issue in the town for years, the Next Wave project is coming to a head next month, when RDC vote on two crucial planning issues.

This four part series in the Observer sees Mr Storkey, chairman of protest group Save Our Seafront, go head to head against Cllr Starnes, sponsor of the Next Wave seafront regneration project, in the run-up to this meeting. They aim to provoke debate, and provide authorative answers to questions about some features of the scheme.

This week, Mr Storkey and Cllr Starnes kick off the debate with a discussion of the Bexhill Rowing Club and the Colonnade.

If you have a view on the seafront, or a question you'd like answered, why not leave your comments below? People will be able to view, and respond to, your thoughts.

The Protestors View - Ron Storkey

ON Thursday, February 18 at 9.30am, the RDC planning committee will meet in the Town Hall to make decisions on two of its own planning applications. These concern the Bexhill Rowing Club and the Colonnade.

The original Next Wave proposal for the Rowing Club sought to attach the new clubhouse to the east side of the Colonnade with an entrance through a rectangular structure, which would have completely unbalanced this listed building. This proposal has now been discarded.

The first application, number RR/2009/2833/P, now involves demolishing and rebuilding the clubhouse on the existing site and excavating westwards behind the Colonnade to provide much-needed training, shower and toilet facilities. Though there have had to be compromises, this planning application meets with the approval of the Rowing Club and we wholeheartedly support it.The original proposal for the Colonnade was to excavate behind it to form six subterranean retail units with access through the front of Colonnade at a cost (in a recent estimate) of more than 3m. This proposal has also now been discarded.

The second application, number RR/2009/2834/3R, now details alternative alterations to this listed building. Save Our Seafront support the proposals to glaze between the columns to provide additional commercial space at much less cost and other proposals to improve the appearance of the building and its surroundings. These include canopies and concealed blinds.

Careful attention to the interior decor and lighting should significantly improve the overall appearance, particularly at night. The Colonnade forecourt is also to be resurfaced with stone paving.

We have however objected to the creation of a helical (spiral) staircase in the centre of the Colonnade as an entrance to the proposed "destination" restaurant below, as it is an unnecessary and obtrusive 21st century addition to this elegant, 100 year old, listed building.

The entrance to this staircase, which will be built on the upper level, halfway between the Colonnade balustrade and the De La Warr Pavilion terrace, consists of a flat-topped glass and steel cylinder. It will become Bexhill' s own "carbuncle on the face of a much-loved friend".

This expensive development is completely out of character with both of these listed buildings. And isn't there already adequate and equidistant access from the upper level to the Colonnade by way of the paths, steps and promenade?

Any building in this position will be intrusive and will permanently spoil the existing views from every direction. The architectural setting of these two listed buildings, which are so redolent of Bexhill, will never be the same. We have also objected to the formation of seven timber fronted kiosks in the east and west 'wings' of the Colonnade.

These will be made available to be rented for short periods.

The objections are based on the detrimental effect this continuous timber frontage will have on the appearance of this elegant listed building and to the possible downgrading effect of this type of trading, which many will have experienced in other seaside towns.

Similar objections have also been made to the granting of Listed Building Consent by English Heritage.

The Council's Reply - Cllr Christopher Starnes

WE are delighted that Mr Storkey and the SOS group support many of the elements of the Next Wave scheme in this particular area.

The subjective nature of any design means you will never get total agreement on such plans, but it shows the value of the open dialogue Rother District Council has entered into. We have listened to comments made by the public and we will continue to listen. Officers have always been keen to meet with Mr Storkey and we thank him for his input.

The Council is pleased that SOS backs our development of the rowing club. The club clearly deserves new facilities and we see this as an important part of Next Wave.

We are also happy to see the SOS group supports proposals to provide additional commercial space in the Colonnade and to conduct a much-needed refurbishment of this grade II listed building.

The purpose of the Next Wave scheme is to make the seafront, including the Colonnade, a more attractive offer for visitors and businesses. While SOS may not agree with our plans to create a staircase and kiosks, we believe the refurbished Colonnade structure will provide the opportunity for a much improved food and drink outlet.

The new restaurant and caf space will provide both outdoor and indoor dining areas. Outside in the colonnade circle, the area will be levelled off to provide an improved dining area, creating a unique destination for residents and visitors.

The scheme should be seen in the context of the council's regeneration programme for Bexhill and the rest of Rother. The council has invested millions of pounds to make Rother a better place in which to live and work, and we are committed to doing even more.

For more information on the plans visit www.next-wave.org.uk

Do you agree? If you have an opinion, or any questions about the scheme, please leave your comment below. The website is checked regularly by Ron Storkey as well as the Observer, and questions are welcomed.