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Businesses fight to stay at historic landmark

Lucinda Adam
BBC Sussex, political reporter
BBC Martin, Charlotte and Sonia pose with their petition in front of The Bag Lady shop. On the left, Martin is tall with grey hair. He wears a grey suit with the chamber of commerce chain around his neck. In the middle, Charlotte has cropped grey hair. She wear sunglasses and a denim dress over a green and blue stripy tshirt with a white patterned scarf. On the right, Sonia has long purple hair. She wears glasses and a brown coat. Behind them we see displays of patterned bags, purses and washbags for sale.BBC
Howard Martin, Charlotte Arundell and Sonia Valentini are calling on the council for an action plan to allow businesses to return

Business owners who rent space at a historic landmark on East Sussex seafront said they were being forced out by plans to refurbish the building while local government devolution takes place.

They said with the local government reorganisation currently under way, they had been given no timetable for the works to take place at the Colonnade in Bexhill, no guarantee of returning and no alternative space to trade.

A petition against the plans has so far attracted more than 3,000 signatures.

Rother District Council said it had a responsibility to safeguard the future of the building and once work was completed, it would openly market the available units.

Businesses are fighting to stay in the Colonnade which was built in 1911

The Colonnade was built in 1911 to commemorate the Coronation of George V. It was given Grade II listed status in 2008.

Hughie's Beach Café and arts and crafts shops The Bag Lady, Eleven@Colonnade, Rachel's Glass Store and The Pebble People say they have all been told to leave the site when their current leases end in September.

The Colonnade Café is not affected by the plans.

Charlotte Arundell, who has run The Bag Lady for 13 years, said the work coinciding with local government reorganisation, which will see district councils abolished, added to the uncertainty.

She said: "Our concern is that it will close and if there's a delay in the work, with devolution happening, it may never reopen in its current form.

"There could be a handover to a new unitary authority and we wouldn't be part of those plans.

"It would be absolutely devastating. We have so many regular customers and at the moment we have no idea where we will go or what we will do."

A wide range of jewellery made with silver and gemstones is displayed on many shelves inside the shop at Eleven@Colonnade.
At Eleven@Colonnade, Sonia Valentini has been handmaking jewellery for 13 years

Sonia Valentini, the owner of Eleven@Colonnade, has been making jewellery at the shop for 13 years.

She said: "I'm proud to say we made this area the vibrant area that it is today. That's why it's so heart-breaking.

"The support we have received from the public with the petition is tremendous."

Lorraine Hopwood, an assistant at Rachel's Glass Store, said she knew there would be a temporary closure for repairs, but "always understood that we would be coming back".

"I think a big misconception is that because these are arts and crafts shops that we're all just hobbyists, and that's not the case at all," she said.

"This is people's livelihoods, this is how they pay their rent and their mortgages and keep the lights on."

Fin and Karen stand hugging in the cafe kitchen. Fin is tall with wavy dark hair. He wears a black t-shirt and a silver chain. Karen has blond hair tied back. She wears a black t-shirt beneath a bright blue apron with 'Hughie's' written in yellow.
Fin Hensley and Karen Dupree run the family's beach cafe that was started by Karen's uncle Hugh

Fin Hensley, from Hughie's Beach Café, said: "I don't think it's right as everyone's been here for so many years.

"I think they should give the original business owners the opportunity to come back to where they've been for so long."

Howard Martin, president of Bexhill Chamber of Commerce, said: "What we would like to see is the council work with us to put together an action plan to make sure that these businesses can come back and survive and thrive."

In a statement, Rother District Council said: "In order to carry out these essential works, we regret that the existing leases must come to an end.

"Once the work is complete, we will openly market the available units and any businesses will be welcome to apply."

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