Last Friday, I spent the morning delivering a survey to businesses in Bexhill town centre with members of my team. With the recent levelling up funding opportunities which have been announced for Bexhill and Rother, including a £20million 10-year endowment style fund for Bexhill, I am keen to hear ideas and views from those whose businesses make Bexhill a special place. This is a warts and all survey. I want to hear about what makes Bexhill town centre great, what lets it down, how we can build on its sense of community and what would make it even better.
It was good to speak to so many business owners and I’d like to thank those who have returned their surveys already. Some issues which came up in conversations were the new parking zones, the sinkhole in Sackville Road and the pavements. The sinkhole is a real problem for businesses as buses are no longer able to drive down Sackville Road. Parking has become more challenging for those working in the town who commute by car as new parking zones have been introduced, creating more residents’ only bays and extending the controlled parking zone.
Later that day, I had a meeting scheduled with East Sussex County Council during which I took the opportunity to discuss the sink hole and parking issues which had been raised with me that morning. I am now awaiting an update on the sinkhole repair schedule which is a complicated project but one which we must get fixed. As for the parking, I am assured that the new parking zones will be reviewed after a period of bedding in to see how well they work for the town – for residents, businesses, and employees. Given that on-street parking charges and parking restrictions are still relatively new to Bexhill, I suggested that a clear map of all available parking in the town would be helpful.
I am still of the view that Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) has been better for Bexhill than the free-for-all which existed for many years due to no enforcement being carried out. The spaces in central Bexhill are freed up more quickly and, importantly, disabled parking bays are rarely abused and therefore more available to those who need them.
I often hear some quite negative views about Bexhill town centre from those who live here. I consider it has a lot to offer but, like many coastal and inland towns, keeping the high streets vibrant, alive and attractive can be a challenge. I have recently employed Ollie, an intern from Sussex University, who will be with our office for three months as part of his course. Last Friday, was Ollie’s first ever visit to Bexhill so I asked him what his first impressions were. It was good to hear that he had a very positive impression of the town and felt it had a lot to offer with so many independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
We are indeed very lucky to have so many hard-working businesses in the town. I am confident that the town centre will continue to thrive and I will do all I can to ensure that it not only remains relevant to Bexhillians, but is the sort of town which people want to visit and spend time and money in. This is why I welcome views from residents, employees and businesses of Bexhill. I want to hear about what makes Bexhill a special place, what are its challenges and what more can we do to build on the sense of community and civic pride in the town. The survey is on my website www.huwmerriman.org.uk and will remain open until the end of March. I’ll be contacting businesses again to share the results.
Today, I will be in Battle for the official opening of the refurbished railway station building. Not only have the waiting room and toilets been renovated and restored but the attached former station master’s house has undergone a complete restoration project and will now be used a community resource. It is a great example of a community project and I’m delighted that Battle Town Council has been closely involved in the restoration and will be managing the community space.
Hopping on a train between Battle to Bexhill is a great way for locals and tourists to enjoy all that both towns have to offer without the worry of driving or parking. Tourism is a vital part of our local economy. English Tourism Week runs from 8 to 15 March is a great opportunity to highlight the amazing places to visit in the Bexhill and Battle constituency. The constituency has so many attractions for residents and visitors to enjoy - beautiful gardens, historical buildings, quirky glamping, boutique hotels, vineyards, independent breweries, a steam railway, art galleries and a plethora of places to eat and drink and be entertained. The 1066 Country Marketing website helps to promote these. I’ll be doing as much as I can to promote the constituency during English Tourism Week and I hope all those working in the visitor economy take part too.
