PRESS RELEASE
Rother says ‘no’ to shabby town centre shops
OWNERS of shabby shop fronts in Bexhill have been warned to take action as Rother District Council clamps down on the town centre eyesores.
Rother’s Town Centre Steering Group, the body tasked with providing a vision for the regeneration of Bexhill’s main shopping area, has ordered a zero-tolerance policy on unsightly retail buildings.
Owners will be faced with a simple choice, ‘tidy up your shop front or Rother will do it instead and send you the bill.’
The steering group is at an early evidence gathering stage in their project. Shortly they will be engaging with residents and businesses about what they want to see in the town centre.
In the meantime, they have identified ‘quick wins’ that can make the town centre a more pleasant place to visit in the short term.
Councillors noticed there are shops, both vacant and occupied, which present a poor image to the public. Some are in need of maintenance work or repainting.
The Council has the ability to issue notices on shops considered to be detrimental to the look of the area due to a lack of care and attention to the façade.
Rother will now take a hard line with owners in order to improve the aesthetics of the town centre. However, the Council has said it will work with people who are willing to cooperate and will provide support to improve shop fronts where necessary.
Town centre steering group chairman Cllr Brian Kentfield said: “Unsightly shop fronts damage the look of the town centre and present an unappealing image for both residents and visitors.
“Although the group will be drawing up much more detailed regeneration plans using public feedback in due course, we felt this was something that could be done right away to improve the feel of the town and encourage investment.
“We are happy to work with the owners of these buildings where we can, but the Council won’t be a soft touch on this. If the shop front doesn’t come up to scratch they will improve it or we will force them to act.”
STATEMENT ENDS
Date 27 January 2011
For further information please contact Daniel Collins at the Town Hall, Bexhill on
01424 787705 or e-mail him at