Next Wave: Councillors divided over party lines

The Lib Dem bench presented a united front in labelling the 5.1million seafront regeneration incomprehensible, grandiose and ignorant of Bexhill's community.

Leader of the council Carl Maynard hit back, saying he made no apologies for putting the project forward as part of Rother's capital programme, and condemning the Lib Dems for being "more interested in public conveniences than positive regeneration".

During the impassioned debate chairman of the council Martin Mooney was forced to remind members of Rother's planning committee not to air opinions which might prejudice their decision-making.

A brief report noting points raised during a September 7 Cabinet meeting about the Colonnade and Next Wave scheme was objected to by Cllr Stuart Wood.

He claimed designs submitted to Councillors were not detailed enough, and did not take into account the risk of flooding at the Colonnade.

He also drew attention to hire charges faced by prospective tenants of the Colonnade, saying: "Who is going to pay for the services to be installed - heating, electricity, kitchen lighting. Are the hirers expected to pay for it on top of their high rents?"

Cllr Martyn Foster supported his Lib Dem member, saying: "The response of Rother District Council to the worst recession in living memory is apparently to build a 2million sand castle on the beach, only to see it washed away by the next high tide.

"This town still has toilets which are not fit to be seen dead in and no official tourism office to promote our seaside town in the way our business community desperately wants."

In the final prong of a triple attack, Cllr Sue Prochak spoke about the "doubt, scepticism and general unease which have surrounded Rother's plans for the seafront."

She argued that Bexhill's public felt out of touch with the council, who were now locked into a project with the largest budget Rother have ever approved.

Cllr Robin Patten, conservative, dismissed flooding concerns, saying: "Over the past three years there have only been two minor incidents of flooding.

"In both cases there was no internal water damage to the cafe or Colonnade.

"Bexhill is not identified as a flood risk area."

Cllr Maynard rejected Cllr Wood's claims that the presentation wasn't detailed enough, saying: "Quite clearly it wasn't just about showing some maps of the area. I do not know what seminar he was at, but it must have been a different presentation."

He cited the De La Warr Pavilion, the new High School and Bexhill Museum as examples of the kind of positive regeneration he believed would bring people back to Bexhill.