In spite of the fact that we we wanted to welcome Starbucks to the coffee lapping shores of our community, our readers appear, by a clear majority, to disagree with what we have done
We saw the arrival as an opportunity to promote local issues related to employment and the wider cause of regeneration for both Pevensey and the Bay. In our view, there was also the cause of the Castle and the promotion of a historic icon and the encouragement of important commercial and philanthropic institutions to the possibilities of promoting the Castle and all its value to visitors from across the country to consider.
Our readers do not agree with our views.
We are very proud to have built the most successful independent community platform for any small coastal community in Sussex.
In the light of what is a clear consensus against our promotion of Starbucks, we acknowledge, not for the first time, that we got it wrong.
We have a growing audience, readership base and a small influence with stakeholding issues in the community. Without our readers, we are nothing.
Our promotion of the arrival of Starbucks will be discontinued and all our promotional material and articles about the company will be removed from the pages of Bay Life.
It is important to us also to explain that Starbucks paid us nothing for any promotion that we offered.
Had we entered into any promotional arrangements with the company, in the light of what our readers feel, that money would have been returned.
Starbucks have also asked us to nominate a first charity that they will support in the community.
We will also no longer have conversations with Starbucks about any such recommendations.
To Matt, Paul and the other 23 people who asked us to reconsider our position, we want to say that we have listened to what you have said.
We got it wrong, and we apologise to all our readers.
Simon Montgomery
editor, Bay Life
IMAGE CREDIT: SHARNFOLD FARM, Hailsham Rd Westham, Pevensey, East Sussex BN24 5BU, 01323 768490
