Bay Life, working with a researcher, has discovered documents relating to the original sale of land comprising the site of the Beach Tavern site, dated 1904.—Bay Life, 12 March 2017
The valuable documents, which confirm the Bay Life view that the Beach Tavern site was in operation as early as 1906 as a tea room is likely to inform development plans for the site.
The architect in his design statement to Wealden Council gave the view that the date of the building is unknown. This is not the case, since the building can now be dated.
The importance of the discovery of these documents is to establish (amongst other things) whether any covenants related to use of land on the site are still in existence.
In writing about the comments of the architect, Selma Montford, Honorary Secretary of the Brighton Society, 1973-2016, one of the people in 1973, who was actively involved against the proposal to demolish Brighton Station, and also one of the people who opposed the Wilson Womersley plan for an elevated motorway from Preston Circus to a multi-storey car park in Church Street which would have involved the demolition of 700 houses in North Laine in Brighton, has given her view of the proposed development.
She has explained to Bay Life, that in her view it was not the case that the architect did not know the date of origin of the Beach Tavern site, but that the architect did not want to know the date of the building.
Bay Life is now to apply to Wealden Council to seek a legal review with regard to the decision making process in this case on the basis that ‘potentially salient details about this development have now been discovered’.
The legal review will involve the establishment of whether or not “any development, subject to the nomination of the building as an asset of community value, in the light of these circumstances and the discovery of these documents, should inform the planning process”.
The basis on which the Localism Act 2011, provides for a legal review to be considered in these circumstances, is to be tested.
The full title to the sale states, “Wall’s End or Pevensey Bay Near Eastbourne- Particulars, Plans and Conditions of Sale of Nine Residences and valuable Building Land to be sold by Auction at the Royal Oak Hotel, Pevensey, on Thursday 28th Juy, 1904. 17″ x 10 1/2″; 8p stapled into grey wrapper. 15 lots described amd illustrated on a coloured plan showing Pevensey Bay hotel and adjacent land eastwards to and beyond Seaville Drive. The area currently occupied by the Bay Hotel BN24 6EJ, Beach Tavern, Sea Road BN24 6EH, Pevenset Bay Aqua Club and numerous private houses about Sea Road, Bay Terrace and Seville Road bounded by Coasr Road. Condituin VG though some browning and chiping if edges an rusting staples. Map /pal near fine. See scans. Size: Elephant Folio – over 15″ – 23″ tall.
The documents which are being supplied by a specialist company, working with Bay Life, are to be made available to Wealden Council.
