No Favours from Rother DC for Colonnade Traders
HUGH SULLIVAN
The Bexhill Colonnade, which accommodates a parade of independent shops and cafes along the seafront promenade immediately below the De La Warr Pavilion, is to undergo extensive renovation and refurbishment from September.
The whole parade, an Edwardian structure which pre-dates the Pavilion, is suffering from structural problems, including water ingress from above in various places, and it’s universally accepted that this work is overdue. Rother District Council (RDC), who own the freehold, propose to undertake it over the 2025-26 winter months at a projected cost in the region of £650,000, and have served termination notices on all the retail outlets in order to gain possession for this purpose.
The traders–a mix of small craft-based emporia such as the Pebble People, the Bag Lady, Rachel’s Glass Store and Eleven@Colonnade plus Hughies Café–have sought assurances that they will be welcomed back once the works are completed, and that future rents will not be significantly increased. RDC is giving none.
Some have operated there for up to 13 years. However, their respective leases run for only one- or two-year terms at most, without (it is understood) automatic rights of renewal. Only the main licensed bar at the eastern end, the Colonnade Café, which has a lease with substantial years still to run, will retain any legal rights to return.
‘BEST VALUE’
A council spokesperson told HIP: “Once the work is complete, we will openly market the available units, and any businesses will be welcome to apply. As a local authority we have a responsibility to demonstrate best value, meaning we must conduct a fair process for all prospective tenants rather than offering guarantees to any specific business…We are regrettably unable to guarantee that existing tenants can return, as we do not yet know what interest there may be from others in taking on the Colonnade.”
RDC’s approach is based (the spokesperson said) on a Service and Asset Devolution Framework agreed by its Cabinet in March under which the council’s assets and services are to be protected and sustained “by empowering local partners and ensuring financial and operational sustainability”. That “will enable us to secure assets and services for future community benefit and place decision-making and accountability at a truly local level.”
Not local enough, it seems, to include the existing traders. Rachel Hoad, who sells her own glassware artefacts from the Glass Store, commented: “Rother keep saying that we can re-apply for tenancies so that we have a chance to get our premises back. But they’re also talking of devolving the whole site, so they won’t be in charge any longer.”
Sonia Valentini, who has been making jewellery and selling it along with crystals, clothing, cosmetics and accessories at No.Eleven since 2012, confirmed that Rother will neither guarantee to re-offer a tenancy to her, nor indicate what rent would be charged if they did. She has initiated a collective change.org petition on behalf of the traders, seeking the promise of more favourable treatment. It has attracted over 2,000 signatures.
They are fully supported by Bexhill Chamber of Commerce, according to its President Howard Martin. “It’s a unique set of businesses right at the heart of the community–a mini-Covent Garden selling craft-based artefacts right on our seafront”, he said. “They’ve proved by their longevity that they’re the right businesses in the right place. But without help and support these entrepreneurs, whom the council professes to support, may go to the wall.
“We would like the council to step forward with a package of measures that will keep them together.”
Martin added that the Chamber of Commerce is in discussion with RDC “to ensure that the businesses have a future and are adequately compensated for disruption”. The RDC spokesperson gave a less positive summation: the council has “developed a package of support for those businesses impacted and will continue to work with our tenants over the coming months.”
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