Core Strategy Issues & Options

Comment

Representation ID: 18931

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

Enabling end encouraging the private sector to flourish can promote sustainable tourism, land based industries and others with links to local distinctiveness will be encouraged by ensuring there is a market for their goods and services. Affordable and accessible public transport could support part time working. Needs of individuals in helping to continue to improve education and skill levels identified in connection with economic development/regeneration initiatives.

Comment

Representation ID: 18932

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

. If there was only one thing you could do in the whole strategy this would be it. Without substantial upgrading of Rother's communications and transport infrastructure all the other plans will wither and die.

. A259 East/West to Brighton and Ashford, A21 North to London. Rail links are the most important links.

. Managing speed is a quality of life issue - and lowering speeds in built up areas and through villages is a must - it is mystifying why this is not already done.

. Until there is a regular, cheap, reliable and ubiquitous bus service, people will opt for other forms of transport. Don't ignore rail for the coastal strip - additional stations and a metro rail service Eastbourne to Hastings would be great.

Comment

Representation ID: 18933

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

What are the main issues for car parking? There should be more car parking which is planned with public transport systems (park and ride?). With car ownership and usage continuing to grow it does not make sense to continue not to invest in car parking. In fact this failure to invest is a likely contributing factor in the decline of Bexhill town centre as a shopping destination.

Some early indicators from the Local Action Planning programme have shown a desire for people to have the opportunity to access office facilities locally where they are out-commuters (usually to London) but able to work from home for part of the time. Should this question be part of economic sustainability rather than communications and accessibility?

I would replace this with a theme of Transport and Accessibility.

Comment

Representation ID: 18934

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

Whilst conservation is a nice idea, the "natural environment" has to have an economic rationale or it will be abandoned. Other uses of the "natural" environment should be explored -using the tie up with health, recreation and energy generation.

More than 50% of Rother will be living in urban areas. Op en and green spaces, investment in recreation and healthy living infrastructure, improved design of buildings and in Bexhill's case, replacement of parts of the crumbling 19th century infrastructure including seafront thoroughfares to make them bike and foot friendly.

The strategy has glossed over investment in water conservation technologies, power generation, the creation of environmentally friendly transport systems, green route ways etc.

I would replace this theme with Environmental Sustainability.

Comment

Representation ID: 18935

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

By lumping very different issues together it is difficult to define a coherent strategy. Using the term community facilities is now slightly out of date. Community Services is a probably more accurate description of this theme.

Physical infrastructure facilities should be covered under a revamped Social Sustainability theme - especially the availability of sport and community buildings which in Bexhill's case are completely lacking outside the traditional Church Hall.

However you should ensure that you have the right infrastructure through benchmarking against a "best in class" town and establishing the gap between what we have and the benchmark. In Bexhill's case there is no doubt that any such exercise would establish a serious shortfall for sections of the community e.g. young people.

Comment

Representation ID: 18936

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

There are 14 of them! Are these the most appropriate? Sounds like Grouch Marx. "If you don't like these I have others". Nothing here to disagree with but what is the difference between a Theme and a Principle? Looks like a degree of overlap.

Comment

Representation ID: 18937

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

Respective merits of higher or lower levels of growth? No growth equals stagnation. High growth requires commensurate investment in community infrastructure and the transport network.

Comment

Representation ID: 18938

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

Limiting factors such as space and water and ability of infrastructure to cope. Bexhill’s population could increase by as much as 25% in 10 â€" 15 years. Plans needed for community infrastructure, parking, transport. Increasing population without this investment is a recipe for disaster. Corresponding investment in infrastructure with high growth rate scenario for Bexhill could redress the demographic imbalances and assist in economic regeneration. Otherwise Bexhill is likely to have slow economic decline. The status quo is not an option.

Comment

Representation ID: 18939

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

It is also sensible to treat Bexhill in line with development in Hastings and a rural/coastal split seems logical.

Comment

Representation ID: 18940

Received: 19/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Voluntary Action

Current objectives under Policy BX1 are limited and tame. They also have not produced many positive results for Bexhill.